26 | NOVEMBER 28 • 2019

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the deceased) and nichum aveil-
im (comforting mourners) with-
in the bounds of Jewish law.
“This new resource will allow
such families a warm, intimate
setting by which their friends
and extended family can offer
them comfort,
” he added.
While the Mandell Berman
Administration Building was
being renovated, Clover Hill
decided to renovate its near-
ly 100-year-old cherished
Davidson/Hermelin Chapel as
well, putting in new bathrooms,
new carpeting, a new rabbi’
s
study, which will provide a pri-
vate room for families to meet
with the rabbi, as well as a new
live-streaming video service.
The renovations were com-
pleted at the end of the summer
and “requests to have services
and eulogies in the chapel have
already increased,
” Orley said.
The Berman Shiva Center
can accommodate 50-60 people
,
Raznik said. The center holds a
reception area open to families
that has the feel of a living room.
There is a kosher kitchen area,
and kosher food can easily be
brought in, she added. The build-
ing also has a conference room/
eating area. Windows have been
added to the back of the building
to provide a peaceful view of
Clover Hill’
s historic grounds.
The Berman Shiva Center is
open to anyone in the commu-
nity, even those who don’
t have
a burial at Clover Hill Park. Call
(248) 723-8884 to find out about
fees.
Clover Hill recently hired a
program coordinator to man-
age the Berman Shiva Center.
“We are overwhelmed with the
response we’
ve been getting from
the community,
” Orley said.
“People think it’
s a great idea.
We are coordinating many of the
resources you will need during
this time.
”

Clover Hill is planning an
open house event soon for
rabbis and funeral directors to
tour the Berman Shiva Center.
“Many have already been here,”
Orley said. “But we look for-
ward to showing everybody
what we created.”
Additional plans can serve the
community in the near future.
According to Orley, the newly
renovated Davidson/Hermelin
Chapel will be able to hold cul-
tural events, such as author talks
and films on topics of interest to
the community, such as death,
mental illness or ethical wills, for
example.
Also, work is under way to
upgrade the cemetery’
s mapping
system. According to Raznik, the
entire cemetery is being mapped
and photographed and, once
integrated, visitors will be able
to search for a loved one and get
directions to specific gravesites
through Google Maps. Once
complete, online burial searches
will be available on your phone,
at the cemetery kiosk or from the
Clover Hill Park Cemetery web-
site, cloverhillpark.org.
Clover Hill is also working
with the nonprofit ReBoot to
connect the life stories, photos
and memories of loved ones right
from the cemetery website.
“Everyone I’
ve talked with
is enthusiastic about the new
Berman Shiva Center, upcoming
programs and the technological
advances we are bringing to the
cemetery and to the community,
”
Raznik said.
Added Starr, “In so many
ways, Clover Hill Park Cemetery
continues to expand its ability
to serve modern Jews and to
care for them with the dignity,
warmth and compassion that
Judaism demands of us in walk-
ing through the valley of the
shadow of death.
”

Jews in the D

“This new space will provide
an opportunity for families
holding shiva or unveiling
their loved one’
s marker to sit
together in a quiet, relaxed
space,” says Rabbi Aaron Starr.