AUGUST 5 • 2021 | 25

F

or many months during 
2020 and 2021, Jewish 
funerals were held at 
graveside with only a limited 
number of attendees; some 
were able to watch online ser-
vices. Shivahs were often held 
only on Zoom. These policies, 
established by the Michigan 
Board of Rabbis, were imple-
mented to comply with the 
state’s COVID restrictions on 
public gatherings.
As vaccinations increased 
and COVID cases declined, the 
state eased restrictions in June 
and removed all limits on pub-
lic events in July. Funerals can 
again be held indoors without 
capacity restrictions.
However, Detroit’s three 
Jewish funeral homes continue 
to conduct most services at 
graveside, often limited to fam-
ily members only. 
“Some people are 
still very nervous 
about COVID 
and rightfully so,” 
says Otto Dube, 
managing funeral 
director at Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel in Oak 
Park. Many funeral attendees 

are older and therefore more 
health-conscious, he says, and 
there is concern about the 
COVID variant. 
In addition, Dube says that 
some rabbis prefer services 
to be held outside. Currently, 
slightly more of Hebrew 
Memorial’s services are being 
held at graveside than in their 
chapel.
Jonathan Dorfman, co-
owner of the Dorfman Chapel 
in Farmington 
Hills, says, “We 
are on a path to 
get back to where 
things were, but 
a lot of people 
are still cautious.” 
About half of their 
funerals are being 
held at graveside and half in 
their chapel, compared to 80% 
inside prior to COVID. 
At the Ira Kaufman Chapel 
in Southfield, about 80% of 
funerals are held at the grave, 
compared to 30-40% previous-
ly. “People have gotten more 
comfortable with graveside 
services, but I think there will 
be a shift when the weather 
changes,” says funeral director 

Josh Tobias.
Graveside ser-
vices offer some 
advantages unre-
lated to COVID 
— such as a slight-
ly lower cost. In 
addition, Dube 
says that some people prefer a 
single location rather than hav-
ing to travel to both the funeral 
chapel and cemetery. However, 
indoor chapels — whether at 
funeral homes or cemeteries 
— are temperature-controlled 
while bad weather can make 
graveside services uncomfort-
able. 

LIVESTREAMING HELPS
Livestreamed funeral services 
have become much more com-
mon. “They provided a real 
benefit when people couldn’t or 
didn’t want to travel to Detroit,” 
says Tobias. “It’s become much 
more important. It was really 
heartbreaking when COVID 
prevented family members 
from attending funerals.”
All three Jewish funeral 
homes continue to take extra 
precautions to counteract the 
potential spread of COVID, 

including providing hand sani-
tizer and masks. Some families 
request that unvaccinated indi-
viduals wear masks or refrain 
from attending funerals and 
shivahs. Dorfman says that 
about 5-10% of funeral attend-
ees wear masks. “It’s a comfort 
issue,” he explains. Tobias 
points out that because chil-
dren can’t be vaccinated, they 
pose a greater risk for develop-
ing and transmitting COVID.
For many months, shivahs 
were relegated mainly to Zoom 
events — eliminating the 
warmth of in-person gather-
ings but providing access for 
those out of town. “Everything 
was on Zoom and then out-
side,” says Tobias. Some fami-
lies now hold shivahs outside 
at temples or synagogues, such 
as at Temple Israel’s outdoor 
pavilion.
“Shivahs have started to 
come back,” says Dorfman, 
although most temples and 
synagogues ask that volunteer 
or clergy-led services be held 
outside. “There are a lot of 
shivahs in backyards. They are 
very nice and comforting,” says 
Dube. 

OUR COMMUNITY

Funerals and shivahs edge 
back to usual practices 
without COVID restrictions.

Closer to 
Normal

Otto Dube

Jonathan 
Dorfman

Josh Tobias

SHARI S. COHEN 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL

About half 
the services from 
Hebrew Memorial 
Chapel are being 
held graveside.

