16 | MARCH 19 • 2020

T

he coronavirus has
upset Jewish life cycle
plans since it arrived
in Michigan March 11. Bar
and bat mitzvahs as well as
weddings — and accompa-
nying parties — have been
postponed. But, in Judaism,
funerals are not delayed. A
loved one should be buried as
soon as possible.
Keeping to that tradition but
operating as safely as possible in
these days of the coronavirus,
all three local Jewish funeral
homes have united in suggest-
ing that funeral services in a
chapel or graveside be limited to
the immediate family. Smaller
gatherings mean less chance of
spreading the virus; this notion
also complies with Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’
s
statewide safety guidelines for
restricting large gatherings.
“The theme is to be respon-
sible and safe,
” said David
Techner, funeral director at Ira
Kaufman Chapel in Southfield.
After listening to Dr. Adam
Rosh, an ER doctor, talk on
the phone March 12 about the
coronavirus to the Michigan
Board of Rabbis, Techner and
funeral directors from Dorfman
Chapel in Farmington Hills and
Hebrew Memorial Chapel in
Southfield discussed the situa-
tion together.
Each funeral home’
s website
now carries a similar message
of limiting funerals to immedi-
ate family. All three also direct
mourners to live-stream ser-
vices or to watch a video later.
Clover Hill Park Cemetery
announced it will only allow

graveside funerals of limited
size. Its chapel and shivah cen-
ter are closed through April 27.
The cemetery will be open to
visitors from 8 a.m.-4:40 p.m.
Sunday through Friday.
“We are trying to make smart
decisions and take care of a
family with respect and com-
passion, but there will be lim-
itations to keep the community
safe,
” said Techner, who added
that he believes some families
will opt out of shivahs because
of the potential danger, espe-
cially to older adults. He thinks
they may meet for a meal at a
restaurant after burial rather
than having shivah at a home.
The funeral homes are
providing hand sanitizers for
mourners. And, in at least one
instance, Techner said a fam-
ily requested no hugging but
“elbow bumps.
”
Jonathan Dorfman of
Dorfman Chapel said some
synagogues are keeping their
volunteers from leading shivah
services for health reasons.
“This is a learning a curve
for all of us,
” Dorfman said.
“It’
s a family’
s choice, but they
are trying to limit things, too.
Everyone understands it’
s a
different day, and we’
re trying
to deal with it. The goal is all
about health and safety for the
community.
”

Death at a Distance

KERI GUTEN COHEN STORY DEVELOPMENT EDITOR

Local funeral homes aim to follow
governmental guidelines.

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RANCH HOMES IN
BLOOMFIELD HILLS

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(248) 963-8913
Lahser Rd, South of Square Lake

FURNISHED MODEL OPEN DAILY

CLOVER HILL PARK CEMETARY

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