Alison Cowan, a freelance journalist and popular author who worked as a reporter and editor for the New York Times for 27 years, will speak on Monday, May 20 at 8 p.m. at Temple Beth El in Stamford, sharing her observations about her trip to the Shura army base in Israel. The program is being sponsored by the Stamford Chevra Kadisha.

Cowan wrote a very powerful article for the Wall Street Journal about her trip to the Shura army base, which is where the 1,200 individuals who were massacred by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 were first brought to have their remains identified and have their bodies prepared for burial.

The rabbis, reservists and other volunteers at Shura were thrust into what might have been the most brutal part of the war in Gaza — helping to identify all of the people who were slaughtered on Oct. 7. These individuals working at Shura are the ones who were entrusted with the grim but sacred task of preparing the deceased for burial and then making sure the families of those who had perished were notified.

Cowan gained newfound respect for the work of the chevra kadisha in Jewish communities across the globe and will be sharing some of her reflections with members of the Stamford community.

The primary function of the chevra kadisha is the preparation and burial of the deceased in accordance with halacha. The three major aspects that are involved are: shmira, guarding the body of the deceased from the time of death until the time of burial in order to comfort the neshama before it goes up to heaven; tahara, the washing and cleansing of the body and the ritual purification of immersing the body in the mikvah; and tachrichim, dressing the purified body in special clothes of simple, pure, white handmade cotton or linen garments that are identical for each Jew.

The Stamford Chevra Kadisha is responsible for the execution of this holy task in the local Stamford Jewish community. Its volunteers provide this important service of making sure that Jewish individuals are properly prepared for burial and are attended to until internment. The organization also provides support for the families during the shiva.