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planning ahead
TEL SHALOM CEMETERY NEARING CAPACITY
The Tel Shalom Burial Association has been burying our beloved for 40 years in the Tel Shalom section of Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Richmond. When the visionary founders of Tel Shalom started purchasing the 900 spaces in 1968, they knew that they were ensuring our burial needs for many years to come. Well, many years have passed, and we now have about 70 grave spaces left, which we anticipate will last approximately three years. The Tel Shalom Burial Association's Board is working on the future needs for the two member synagogues, Beth El and Beth Hillel, as well as for the other local synagogues and unaffiliated Jews who utilize Tel Shalom. It is not determined at this time whether we will remain at Rolling Hills or start using the new Jewish cemetery, "Gan Shalom" (1100 Bear Creek Rd., Briones, CA 94553). However, even if we remain at Rolling Hills, any space we purchase will not be contiguous with the current Tel Shalom section. Why are we writing at this time? Three years is not a long time considering that the grave spaces are available to the entire Jewish community, not just our synagogue. Further, as we run out of room, we are running out of gravesites that are side by side. So, we at Tel Shalom want to make sure that if you have the desire to be buried in Tel Shalom, now would be a good time for you to start making your pre-need plans. One of the most stressful issues when there is a death in the family is planning the burial. Visiting the cemetery, picking out a gravesite, paperwork, money transactions, etc., while one is grieving, are all unnecessary stressors and time burdens, and avoidable for those who plan ahead. Now is the best time to do your pre-need planning, while you are still healthy and can make unhurried and informed decisions. And since Tel Shalom is running out of space, in its current section, it is an especially good time to plan. For further questions and assistance about pre-need burial planning, please call one of us below. As always, for any questions surrounding the spiritual and/or ritual nature of death and dying, please do not hesitate to call Rabbi Yoel Kahn.
Rich Aptaker, Chair (Beth El), 510-236-4857 Sharon Mittleman, Board Member (Beth Hillel), 510-245-7401 Fran Welstand, Secretary/Treasurer (Beth Hillel), 510-758-2873 Emily Marthinsen, Martin Dodd, Andy Ganes (of Beth El) Bobbi Nadler, Louise Snitz (of Beth Hillel) |
