26 | NOVEMBER 28 • 2019 

continued from page 24

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.

