[Avodah] halachos of tahara

[T613K at aol.com]

I wrote to Rabbi Kalman Baumann, the head of the Chevra Kadisha in Miami,  
and summarized the recent thread, asking some of the questions that have 
come  up.  His response follows.
 
--Toby  Katz
==========




 
The issues you raise do not lend themselves to quick answers  (surprise!). 
 
Historically, the Minhag in every Jewish community from the time of Chazal  
was to appoint a Chevra Kadisha that was always comprised of the most 
honorable  of people in the community.(Nidah 24b - Aba Shaul Omair Kovair Meisim  
Hayisi )  The minimum standard is given as Yehudim Kasheirim  Metzuyanim  
V'Chashuvim (Sefer Kol Bo al Aveilus (p. 87) .  Nowadays the accepted minimum 
is Anshei Das Ma'aminim B'HaShem U'B'Toraso,  V'Shomrim Mitzvas Shabbos, 
Kashrus, V'Taharas HaMishpacha. (Zichron Meir al  Aveilus p. 290 note 6)
 
That of course, is the ideal. If such people aren't available, the next  
best are less observant and less honorable Jews.  Non-Jews should not even  
touch the body during or after the Tahara, nor should they carry the Aron.  On 
the other hand, if waiting for Jews to arrive to do the Tahara will  cause 
a long delay in the burial, such as on Yom Tov Rishon when a Jew can't do  
most of the preparations, the Halacha for some communities is to have 
non-Jews  do the burial on Yom Tov Rishon, rather than having Jews do it on Yom Tov 
Sheini  (Shulchan Orach Orach Chayim 526:2).  
 
It seems therefore, that when a gentile does a Tahara when Halacha  
dictates, it does satisfy the requirement of a Tahara. 
 
I don't know if a non-believer's Tefillos are good or not - can such a  
person be a Shaliach Tzibbur? What constitutes non-belief? Apikorus? Mumar? 
(not  my area of expertise)


Concerning the practical ramifications of Conservative and Reform Chevras,  
it's anyone's guess. Interestingly, my experience has been that 
Conservative  Jews have been receiving Taharos for decades and many smaller communities 
have  had conservative dominated Chevras for the same time.  As to its  
desirability, they are clearly not the candidates for the Chevros Kadisha we  
strive for, and clearly will lower the standards for any Tahara that  
otherwise would have been performed by a proper Chevra. That goes for  suitability 
of Metaharim and Metaharos, as well as following Minhag Yisrael in  
important details such as using buckets for Tisha Kabin as opposed to using  water 
from a hose, which is unacceptable.  Therefore, if funeral homes will  start 
calling reform and conservative chevras for Niftarim that they currently  
call us for, that would be terrible, as you say. However, if it's part of a  
movement to make Taharos universally practiced among Jews as Bris Milah is, 
it  certainly has a positive aspect to it.


Hope I've brought some clarity to the table.


Kol Tuv,
Kalman Baumann










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