Bereavement, Burial and Cremation

In case of a bereavement please call the Jewish Joint Burial Society on 020 8989 5252, they will help and support you to make the arrangements you need.
Please also call the Synagogue on 020 8238 1000, we are here to help you.

This is to advise all current EHRS members that the burial rights included within the synagogue membership subscription provide cover through the Jewish Joint Burial Society for burial at the Western Cemetery, Cheshunt or cremation at Golders Green Crematorium.  This has been the case since 1969 for EDRS and continues to be the case after the merger with Hendon Reform Synagogue, since the Hendon members have transfered in to the JJBS scheme.

The Jewish Joint Burial Society are also able to offer the option of a Woodland Burial in Cheshunt at an additional extra cost which can be paid up front (cost as of 2023: £1,950 per single plot, £2,350 per double depth plot).

They are also able to offer the opportunity for Mixed Faith Burial at Cheshunt through the EHRS/JJBS scheme.  This is in a separate area at Cheshunt.  Non-Jewish Partners are invited to become an Associate of EHRS and pay an annual fee for this provision.  If the non-Jewish partner is over the age of 50 an age adjustment payment would be payable on application.

The EHRS/JJBS scheme does NOT include burial at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery.  However, the scheme does enable a grant to be provided towards the cost of burial or cremation elsewhere but is unlikely to meet the full cost of the funeral/cremation.  There is no grant available towards the cost of purchasing a plot elsewhere now or in the future.

In the 1990’s there was a brief option, for an additional annual fee, for EDRS members to join the WLS Undertakings Ltd scheme for burial at Edgwarebury Lane but this was closed by them and remains closed to members from other synagogues.  Only those who took this option out at the time and pay both their EHRS annual subscription and the WLS additional annual fee or those who have purchased plots at Edgwarebury are currently guaranteed burial at Edgwarebury and their estate/next-of-kin would need to meet the bill from WLS Undertakings and then make a claim from JJBS via ourselves for a grant towards the funeral cost at the appropriate time as explained above.  A copy of the Death Certificate and receipted WLS Funeral account would be required.

Should you have any queries or require additional information kindly email membership@ehrs.uk

This guide to Jewish funeral practices from our Jewish Joint Burial Society may answer many questions that you have https://www.jjbs.org.uk/jewish-funeral-practices/

If you will be saying the Kaddish prayer at a funeral or Shivah (memorial) prayers then you can find a copy to practice from in both Hebrew characters and transliteration into English characters by clicking here, together with other memorial prayers that you may find helpful.

Our Clergy (Rabbis and Cantor) and Community Care teams at EHRS, together with bereavement support groups and volunteer bereavement supporters are here at EHRS to help you to cope with your loss.  Please call us on 020-8238 1000 if we can help you at any time.