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.

NEW LUXURY 
RANCH HOMES IN 
BLOOMFIELD HILLS

ROBERTSONHOMES.COM

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

FURNISHED MODEL OPEN DAILY

CLOVER HILL PARK CEMETARY

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