Baltimore, MD – Apr. 4, 2016 - It has become traditional in communities throughout the Jewish world to observe an annual date on which the local Chevra Kadisha would fast, learn mishnayos and visit the cemetery.  In the evening they would hold a Chevra Kadisah Seudah, a meal which would be attended by all members of the Chevra Kadisha. 

Although there is no universal date for this Chevra Kadisha day and each community would observe a date in accordance with local custom, the most popular date for Chevra Kadisha day was the 7th of Adar, the date on which Moshe Rabbeinu was born and on which he died, exactly one hundred and twenty years later.

Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov, in his Sefer Hatoda’ah on the Jewish festivals, offers an explanation for the choice of the 7th of Adar.  He says that anyone involved in a business knows that in order to be successful, the enterprise has to be heavily engaged in its activity.  “Business is quiet” is a common complaint from those who look forward to more active and profitable days.  However, members of the Chevra Kadisha are not looking for business and frankly would be happiest if their services were not needed at all!  Therefore the day on which they hold their “annual reunion” is a day on which the Chevra Kadisha was not required.  The Torah, in describing Moshe Rabbeinu’s death (Devarim 24:6) states: “And He buried him in the valley.”  Rashi explains that G-d himself buried Moshe.  Therefore there was no need to call upon the Chevra Kadisha on that day.

Introduced by Head of the Chevra Kadisha and MC for the evening, Reb Yitzchok Steinharter, this year's guest speaker, Rabbi Dovid Katz, spoke about the importance of Chevra Kadisha, and in fact related that his father helped to bury those who died in the concentration camp, even though he was a Kohain.  He then went on to discuss a medrash about the petirah and burial of Moshe Rabbeinu on a Shabbos, vis a vis Haman and his lots. 

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For almost 60 years, Chevra Ahavas Chesed of Baltimore has held its annual Chevra Kadisha Seudah on the 7th of Adar.  All volunteers involved with any aspect of the Chevra Kadisha, and their spouses, were invited to attend.  Over the past few years, the entire Baltimore community has been invited to the Seudah to show appreciation to all the volunteers of the various different Chevra Kadisha groups operating in Baltimore.  The entire community is invited to next year's 7th of Adar II  Chevra Kadisha Seudah to be held on March 5, 2017.