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The Concept of Shmira
Many of the traditions and laws that pertain to the care and preparation of the Jewish dead are founded on two basic principles:
1. The body as the container of the soul is to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect.
2. Although at death the soul departs the body, it still remains present near the body and is fully aware of all that transpires in its vicinity.
Thus the Shmira serves two purposes:
1. To guard the body from becoming prey for rodents and insects.
2. To give respect to the remains and consolation to the soul by not leaving the body unattended like something useless and no longer worthy.
In addition, the reciting of Psalms (T’hillim) is comforting and soothing to the soul at a time in which it is distressed and confused. (See Aryeh Kaplan’s Immortality & The Soul).
Of course the best way to perform Shmira is to be with the body at all times, while reciting T’hillim. Some local Shul Chevros or family members can perform such Shmira. The structure of our Chevra, however, does not allow for such Shmira. The response of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt'l, states that when the body is in no danger of becoming prey to rodents and insects, such as when under refrigeration or casketed, it is sufficient to maintain a presence of Shmira in the building, having a Shomer who will visit the area where the body is located from time to time and recite T’hillim.
Based on this, we have created our Guidelines and Regulations for Shomrim as a minimum standard for our Chevra. For the Shomer to go beyond the minimum standard is certainly a great Mitzvah, and the greatest kindness of all, often called “Chesed Shel Emes.” To do less is unethical, and theft that can never be repaid.
GENERAL GUIDELINES & REGULATIONS FOR VAAD SHMIRA AND SHOMRIM
1. Each 24 hour period has 3 Shmira periods. The daytime hours include 2 periods. The first day period is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the second is from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The night period is from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. A 24-hour period can have 4 Shmira periods when it contains part of 4 periods (e.g. a Shmira from 10 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be 4 periods).
OBLIGATIONS OF THE SHOMER
1. Arrival must always be promptly on time. When a Shomer will be more than 15 minutes late, the Chevra office must be notified.
2. A Shomer must dress with a jacket and tie, in a conservative manner, whenever families may be present in the funeral home. Shomrim must dress appropriately at all times.
3. A Shomer should know where the body is at all times.
4. Shomrim should assist in moving the body they are watching. When an ID takes place, it is the Shomer who should replace the “Sharbelach” and shroud.
5. A Shomer must stay with a body at all times when family is present before the funeral, at a visitation, or when an ID is being made.
6. When one Shomer is present, T’hillim is said for a minimum of 15 minutes per hour. These periods must begin on the top of the hour until 15 minutes after the hour, and must be said in the closest proximity of the body as possible. Upon arrival and departure and at the first and last T’hillim of the day, 20 minutes of T’hillim is said.
7. If two Shomrim are present, these 15 minutes must be rotated. One Shomer says the T’hillim on the hour, and the other on the half-hour. When the bodies are in separate locations, each time of T’hillim should be split between these locations.
8. A Shomer may retire at 12:20 a.m., after the last T’hillim, and arise at 6:00 a.m. When two Shomrim are present overnight, an effort must be made to extend the time of Shmira. Therefore, one Shomer retires at 11:20 p.m. and arises at 5:00 a.m., and the second Shomer retires at 1:20 a.m. and arises at 7:00 a.m.
9. Whenever Shomrim watch 3 or more people at one time, or when there is a request by a family for continuous Shmira, the entire night must be split. One Shomer retires at 10:00 p.m. and arises at 3:00 a.m., and the other retires at 3:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m.
The Shomer must always provide the means of being awakened on time.10. Prayer, eating, and other activities must be done during the 45 minutes between the times designated for T’hillim, in the area designated by the director for use by Shomrim. The Shomer must maintain absolute cleanliness of this room at all times and keep his belongings neat and out of the way. Shomrim should refrain from walking around the building, speaking on the phone loudly in public areas or for long periods of time, and from spending time in the office talking to funeral directors.
11. Under no circumstances is a Shomer to use any funeral home equipment, watch T.V., or listen to the radio, while performing Shmira. Shomrim may use office phones only to contact the Chevra office, and with permission.
12. A Shomer must inform the funeral director when he arrives and when he is leaving. He must also notify the funeral director before leaving the building for whatever reason, and must state the purpose and duration of leave. Unless permitted by the Vaad office, a Shomer should never be out for more than 45 minutes. Under no circumstances may a Shomer leave a funeral home or leave an outside door open at night, for any reason.
13. In summary, Shmira schedules must be strictly followed and communication between Shomrim and between fellow Shomrim & funeral directors must be very clear at all times.
14. Shomrim are required to be respectful of the funeral director, the family, and the Rabbi, and are responsible for the cleanliness and safety of the funeral home at all times.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE DIRECTOR
a. The Funeral Director must provide: A) A comfortable, suitable, & private place to rest and to pray; B) a place to eat and to discard food; C) a place to sit when saying T’hillim near the body; D) access to refrigeration for food; E) a place to warm food for Shabbos.
b. The director is required to notify the Shomer when a body has been moved if the Shomer is not there when the move is made. It is best to ask the Shomer to assist whenever moving the remains he is watching. When a Vaad Removal (Hotza’ah) is involved, the body must be moved by the Shomer, or other Chevra personnel.
c. When an ID is made by the family, the director should allow the Shomer to replace the “Sharbelach” (pottery) and shroud in the traditional manner.
d. Funeral directors should deal with the Shomrim in an understanding and respectful manner that properly reflects their appreciation of the Shomrim, the difficulty of their job, and their respect for the function that the Shomer serves.
If there is any deviation from these guidelines and a Shomer or funeral director has a grievance, please bring such an issue to the attention of Rabbi Zohn at the Vaad Office.
GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES FOR VAAD-ASSISTED REMOVAL/HOTZA’AH
1. The body is to be handled by Chevra Kadisha personnel only, unless assistance is requested by the Chevra. It is not for the funeral director to offer help and certainly not to pressure. This applies to raising, lowering, and moving the stretcher or bed, etc.
2. The Chevra will always provide two people for Hotza’ah, unless specifically told otherwise (where family or the Rabbi may assist at the hospital, before Shabbos, etc.)
3. One of the Chevra people will always accompany the body back to the funeral home in the car. This means that one of the Chevra people must arrive at the place of pickup without a vehicle. This will often require the director to pick up one of the Chevra people on the way to the removal.
It is therefore imperative that the funeral director ascertain whether and where a Chevra person is to be picked up.
4. Jewish law requires that unnecessary talk and certainly foul language not be spoken in the presence of the body. No music or radio is to be played in the car when the body is inside, unless necessary for a traffic report.
5. When arriving at the hospital, the director must know where and when to meet up with the Chevra personnel in the hospital (e.g. at the admitting office, the room, morgue, lobby, or at a designated place on the street).
6. The funeral director will always provide the stretcher and vehicle. In the unusual event that the Chevra Kadisha vehicle is to be used, clearance must be given by the funeral home.
7. The funeral director will go directly back to the chapel with a Chevra person in the car, unless a certificate must be filed by law.
8. The second Chevra person will follow back to the chapel and the two Vaad personnel will remove the body from the car and place it under refrigeration. If the funeral director arrives back at the funeral home and the second Chevra person has not yet arrived, the director must wait.
9. If there is any deviation from any of these guidelines, the Vaad office and the funeral home responsible for the call must be consulted and informed. Examples are: If the Vaad personnel are late or not where they were arranged to be, either at the place of death or at the chapel; if a second body is to be picked up; if a stop is to be made to pick up or file a Death Certificate; if a director will be late; if a body is exceptionally large, etc. In all of these cases, the Vaad office is to be contacted at (718) 849-9700 and a request made for any procedural changes.