Make your desire for Jewish burial known to your loved ones ahead of time. The form below is a model you can use. You do not have to be affiliated with a particular organization to choose Jewish burial.
Please consider organ donation in your planning. Organ donation is not only permitted by Jewish law, it is encouraged as part of the mitzvah pikuach nefesh, saving a life.
Jewish burial should take place as quickly as possible, preferably within 24 hours of death. Burial is delayed in some cases such as waiting for family to assemble, legal reasons, or to avoid burial on the Sabbath or other holy days.
There are funeral homes on the Central Coast who know how to work with Jewish families and are extremely supportive. You can request traditional Jewish burial and the services of the Hevra Kadisha when you make your plans with them.
Traditional Jewish burial includes a simple wooden casket, no cremation, no embalming, and preparation of the body by the Hevra Kadisha. "Traditional" does not mean "orthodox." Neither the family nor the deceased needs to have been observant to have a traditional Jewish burial.
All Jews are treated equally, and Jewish burial ensures the deceased will be treated with dignity and respect.