16 | SEPTEMBER 29 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

C

lover Hill Park Cemetery is 
planning to open its newly 
expanded Shiva Center just 
after the High Holidays.
The 104-year-old Jewish cemetery, 
opened in 1918 by Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek, is hoping that the reno-
vated gathering space will provide com-
fort and convenience for mourners to 
focus on what’s most important follow-
ing the death of a loved one: healing.
With the ground broken in December 
of last year, Ken and Mari Barnett have 
endowed a 1,000-square-foot glass- 
enclosed room overlooking the cem-
etery where families can host shivahs 
and guests after unveilings. It will be 
named in their honor as the Barnett 
Family Shiva Room and is designed by 
architect David Lublin. The project is 
now nearing completion.
Combined with the Berman 
Remembrance Center and the Bleznak 
Family Patio, Clover Hill Park 
Cemetery executive director Kim 
Raznick believes the new offerings will 
make one of the most difficult and 
emotional experiences in life just a little 
bit easier for families in grieving.

“They can meet with their loved ones 
in a private area,” Raznick says. “No one 
would have to leave the premises and 
drive somewhere.”

CHANGING TIMES
Raznick says fewer and fewer people 
are holding full-week shivahs nowadays 
because it can be difficult for out-of-
town relatives to be in town that long. 
Plus, the energy and time spent setting 
up shivahs has become increasingly 
challenging for working families.
Now, most shivahs are reduced to just 
one to three days. The ongoing pan-
demic has also changed the way shivahs 
are held, leaving some wary of gather-
ing inside their homes. Instead, fam-
ilies are seeking spaces with room to 
adequately social distance and outdoor 
areas, a void Raznick believes the reno-
vated Shiva Center can begin to fill.
“This would be an opportunity 
to have the shivah outside of your 
home,” Raznick says of the expanded 
Barnett Family Shiva Room, which 
can accommodate more than 100 
guests in conjunction with the Berman 
Remembrance Center and the Bleznak 

Family Patio.
Clover Hill Park Cemetery has also 
hired Jacob Buchman as its new engage-
ment coordinator to work directly with 
the renovated shivah space. Buchman 
will be helping families coordinate the 
details for set up, food delivery, event 
supervision and cleanup. In addition, 
Buchman can lead a minyan service if 
requested by the family.
Clover Hill is still determining pric-
ing to rent the space. The fee to use the 
expanded facilities will depend on time 
of day, duration and number of guests. 
The cemetery also has a list of preferred 
caterers to use who can provide kosher 
meals.

CENTRALIZED LOCATION
Typically, after unveilings, Raznick says 
families tend to “splinter off.” Instead, 
the renovated space offers one central-
ized location for families and friends to 
meet, share food and remember their 
loved one without ever leaving the 
grounds of Clover Hill.
“People don’t have to rent a restau-
rant,” she says. “They can stay here and 
gather somewhere more meaningful.”

Clover Hill is expanding 
the landing to the entrance 
of the Davidson/Hermelin 
Chapel.

Clover Hill Park Cemetery plans to open expanded 
Shiva Center after High Holidays.
A Place to Mourn

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

PHOTOS BY CLOVER HILL

