For 125 years, the Hebrew Free Burial Association (HFBA) has been ensuring that every Jewish person, regardless of family or funds, receives a proper and dignified Jewish funeral and burial. Our two Staten Island cemeteries convey a sad, yet important chapter in the history of Jewish life in the tri-state area. But why are we needed? Why is burial important?

When Sarah died, the Torah details for us the arrangements that Avraham Avinu made for her burial. The Torah could have written, “Sarah died, and Avraham buried her.” Instead, the Torah tells us the story of Avraham and Ephron. The Torah wants to teach us that burial is not an afterthought. Burial plays an essential role in the Jewish lifecycle. The Torah is also teaching that arranging a funeral and burial can be complicated and costly, as evidenced by Avraham paying a substantial sum for the Ma’arat HaMachpela.

When discussing the current state of funerals and burials, rule #1 to keep in mind is “death is big business,” to the tune of $17 billion a year in the United States. Funerals and graves are expensive. Another cost that takes families by surprise is the grave opening fee that each cemetery charges to open the grave. The starting point for a traditional Jewish funeral and burial is more than $5,000, a number beyond the reach of many. The 2011 Jewish Community Study of New York commissioned by the UJA-Federation found that one in five Jewish households are considered poor. These families struggle to put food on the table and to pay rent. When faced with a death, they don’t know where to turn.

That’s where the Hebrew Free Burial Association comes in. We will arrange for a funeral and burial in our Mount Richmond Cemetery in Staten Island. Every person that we bury is treated with the utmost dignity and respect. We provide a tahara and tachrichim. The funeral is conducted by our rabbi and attended by a minyan of local volunteers. The care of the cemetery is on par or better than any Jewish cemetery in the tri-state area.

In 2012, HFBA buried 381 indigent Jews. Since 2008, we’ve seen a 25% increase in our caseload. The need for our services is growing, and we’re committed to filling that need in a responsible manner. Charity Navigator, the nation’s leading evaluator of charities, has given us their highest ranking: four stars. We rely on the generosity of our donors who place their trust in us. It’s a sacred trust and we are committed to being transparent and accountable.

For over 25 years, HFBA has asked the Jewish community to partner with us during the week of Parshat Chayei Sara to raise awareness about those in our community who need HFBA to arrange for their funeral and burial. We ask that next Shabbos, you join in our mission. To date this year, HFBA has provided burials for more than 275 Jews who died indigent or alone. Every case is unique and requires significant resources to properly arrange for the funeral and burial.

In addition to arranging funerals and burials, HFBA collaborates with schools to teach students about chesed shel emet. Every year, hundreds of students from RYNJ, Yavneh Academy, Ma’ayanot, TABC, The Frisch School, JEC, Bruriah, as well as hundreds more from the tri-state area participate in our Cemetery Clean-Up Project.

How can you help? Consider making a donation to HFBA. We rely on donations to perform our important services. You can do so, and learn more about HFBA at www.hebrewfreeburial.org.

We will be hosting our Community Chesed Day on Sunday, October 27^th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at HFBA’s historic Silver Lake Cemetery, 926 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY. Join volunteers from the entire tri-state area as we rake leaves and clear debris from the cemetery. For more information, visit our Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/hebrewfreeburial, or call 212-239-1662.

As we reconnect with Ma’arat HaMachpela, the first Jewish cemetery, let us also reconnect with Mount Richmond and Silver Lake Cemeteries. Remember that by partnering with HFBA you are performing the ultimate act of kindness, chesed shel emet, for those who have no one else to care for them.

Andrew J. Parver is Director of Operations at Hebrew Free Burial Association.

By Andrew J. Parver