12 | JANUARY 20 • 2022

T

raditionally, families
who have lost a loved
one conduct daily
services and receive visitors
at the family home for a week
after the funeral. They gather
with friends for comfort and
often share memories of the
deceased individual. Family
members often eat together
during the shivah period.
But times have changed.
According to Kim Raznik,
executive director of Clover
Hill Park Cemetery in
Birmingham, today many
shivahs have been reduced
to one to three days. This is
due in part to distance —
Detroiters have spread out
geographically and more fam-
ily members live out of town.

Sometimes there is no family
member left in Detroit who
has a home for a shivah.
Clover Hill Park Cemetery,
which was established by
Congregation Shaarey Zedek

in 1918, is trying to meet fam-
ilies’ changing needs. Raznik
explains that “just prior to
COVID, we renovated the
Berman Administration
building (located at the cem-
etery), creating an indoor
area to accommodate families
who wanted to gather after a
funeral service or an unveil-
ing to hold shivah or gather
with family and friends. It was
well received as many people
travel from out of town and
have no space to gather other
than a restaurant.”
A few events were held in
the Berman Remembrance

Center before COVID spread.
As COVID progressed, it
became more challenging to
hold funerals and shivahs
safely. Families were reluctant
to welcome guests into their
homes and risk virus trans-
mission. The Michigan Board
of Rabbis recommended its
members refrain from visit-
ing private homes for safety
reasons. Some temples and
synagogues began offering
outdoor or indoor space for
shivahs.
“Ideally and traditionally,
shivah belongs at home. But
people are becoming more

A Place
to Mourn

OUR COMMUNITY
An outdoor
terrace in front
of the Davidson/
Hermelin Chapel
is planned to be
built in the spring
of 2022.

Clover Hill Park Cemetery plans
on-site shivah center expansion.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A rendering of the new Barnett Family
Reflection Room, which features
capacity for 75 people.