In its ongoing commitment to serving the community, the Cemetery Association of North Jersey, in conjunction with the Community Alliance for Jewish Cemeteries, will once again host a community book burial. Now in its third year, the event will take place Sunday, May 4, from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Americus Cemetery on Midland Avenue in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Two graves will be opened for the burial of sacred texts and religious items.

Mickey Levine, the executive vice president of the Cemetery Association of the Jewish Federation said, “The Cemetery Association community book burial is an opportunity for institutions and individuals to properly dispose of religious items, shaimos.”

This event is sponsored by the Cemetery Association of North Jersey. Schools, faculty, staff and families are encouraged to participate. If any members of a school community have shaimos to bury, please share this information with them.

Also, please review the following important guidelines:

All books must be delivered in paper bags only. There is no storage available, and boxes will not be accepted. Attendees may bring their own paper bags or purchase them at the cemetery for $1 per bag. Any boxes, milk crates or containers brought must be taken back.

A suggested donation of $18 covers up to four bags. A donation of $36 covers up to six bags. For more than 10 bags, please contact them directly to discuss an appropriate contribution.

Volunteers are welcome and encouraged, especially younger individuals, who will have the opportunity to learn about the respectful handling and burial of sacred materials.

To help them prepare, contact Levine at (917) 699-6057 or [email protected] by Thursday, May 1, with an estimate of how many bags you plan to bring. Feel free to reach out with any questions or comments as well.

They thank you for helping uphold the dignity of this tradition and look forward to your participation.