MIN ZIDELL used her family’s donation to Neveh Shalom’s capital campaign for the new mausoleum. A bench at the site was named in honor of Leonard Barde’s years of dedication to the cemeteries.

Neveh’s capital campaign funds new mausoleum

By Deborah Moon

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The first project completed through Neveh Shalom’s capital campaign, a 155-space mausoleum at Ahavai Shalom cemetery, was “dedicated by the family of Emery Zidell Sept. 16, 2007.”

“This elegant structure … represents Neveh Shalom’s commitment to providing a dignified, respectful final resting place,” said Neveh Shalom President Sandy Axel.

“From the earliest times, we’ve known the care of our deceased … is our responsibility,” Rabbi Daniel Isaak told the couple dozen people who visited the cemetery and attended the dedication on the weekend between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. “We maintain this eternal home—this cemetery and our other cemetery—in a dignified manner.”

While many people believe mausoleums do not fulfill traditional Jewish burial practices, Isaak said one should look at the very first Jewish burial—that of the matriarch Sarah, who was buried in the cave near Hebron, which tradition now says holds the remains of four couples important in Jewish history. So, he said, rabbis considering whether a mausoleum burial is appropriate have decided that an underground mausoleum is sound practice.

Rabbi Emeritus Joshua Stampfer called the idea to combine the original tradition of burial in caves in Israel with the tradition of burial in the ground that arose in the Diaspora an example of “Jewish ingenuity.”

Capital Campaign co-chair Merritt Yoelin praised Min Zidell’s decision to dedicate her family’s involvement in the capital campaign to naming the mausoleum.

“Naming the mausoleum ... is an opportunity to recognize the enormous contribution the Zidell family has made to our synagogue over the years,” Yoelin said, adding it was meaningful to him personally because his late wife
Cookie had wanted to be buried in Ahavai Shalom’s first mausoleum, but it was full.

The event also included dedication of a bench in honor of Leonard Barde, who has chaired the cemetery committee for several years.

“When Leonard Barde became involved, the cemeteries were in a state of serious disrepair,” said Alan Blank, capital campaign co-chair with Yoelin. Turning to Barde, he added, “What you have done is nothing short of miraculous.”

Bev Eastern and Debbi Bodie, who will succeed Barde as cemetery committee chair next July, chaired the dedication.

Reina Abolofia provided pleasant music in her clarinet during interludes throughout the event.

Executive Director Fred Rothstein concluded the event noting that “We have ‘caves’ available for reservation.”

For more information, contact Michelle Caplan at 503-293-7305 or mcaplan@nevehshalom.org.