Community Chevra Kadisha Los Angeles (Formerly Valley Chevra Kadisha) Launches New Name, Website, And Social Media Channels
Volunteer Organization Serves Los Angeles Jewish Community, Making the Sacred Traditions of Shmirah and Tahara Available to All
Los Angeles, CA (August 11, 2026) – Community Chevra Kadisha Los Angeles (formerly Valley Chevra Kadisha) has launched its new name, website, and social media channels to better reflect its mission and the community it serves. Established in 2022, the all-volunteer organization is committed to performing the sacred tasks of Shmirah and Tahara for the Jewish communities of greater Los Angeles, regardless of affiliation or level of observance, and at no cost. Information about the organization can be found at www.CCKLA.org or on Instagram and Facebook.
“Our new name, Community Chevra Kadisha Los Angeles, reflects our commitment to serve the entire Los Angeles community in performing traditional end-of-life rituals in accordance with Jewish laws and customs for anyone who requests them,” said Steven Poretzky, who co-founded the organization with Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard. “In just a few years, we’ve grown to 80 volunteers from all over Los Angeles. We’ve served hundreds of families and educated hundreds more about our beautiful and supportive services.”
“Caring for the departed is both a communal responsibility to the deceased and their loved ones and a privilege for our volunteers, as they perform some of the greatest mitzvot a Jew can do. Steven and I started this organization with a simple mission: To provide the greater Los Angeles area with Chevra Kadisha services and education about Jewish end-of-life traditions. Looking ahead, we are inspired by what we have accomplished and the opportunities we have to share this sacred work with others,” said co-founder Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard.
Adhering to traditional Jewish practices and welcoming all who wish to join, Community Chevra Kadisha Los Angeles assists bereaved families in the caring of loved ones in the time between their death and burial. The organization provides an opportunity for its volunteers to perform the mitzvot of Shmirah and Tahara, and acts as a resource for education about the rituals and traditions related to dying, death, and funerals. The not-for-profit group works with JCC’s, synagogues, schools, funeral homes, chaplains, death doulas, and others.
Upcoming events include:
CCKLA Launch Party (Aug. 26)
CCKLA Celebrates Sukkot (Sept. 30)
CCKLA Information Session (Oct. 14)
CCKLA Volunteer Training (Oct. 25)
Additional events will be announced soon, including virtual educational programming and the organization’s popular Death Over Dinner. Further details and registration for the monthly newsletter are available at www.CCKLA.org.
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About Community Chevra Kadisha Los Angeles
Community Chevra Kadisha Los Angeles (formerly Valley Chevra Kadisha) serves Jewish communities of greater Los Angeles, regardless of affiliation or level of observance, in the sacred tasks of Shmirah and Tahara at no cost. Established in 2022, the all-volunteer organization assists bereaved families in the caring of loved ones according to Jewish tradition in the time between their death and burial. The organization also provides an opportunity for volunteers to perform the mitzvot of Shmirah and Tahara and educates the Los Angeles community about the rituals and traditions related to dying, death, and funerals, while adhering to traditional Jewish practices and welcoming anyone who wishes to join. Community Chevra Kadisha Los Angeles is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
About a Chevra Kadisha
A Chevra Kadisha (“sacred society”) is always on call to carry out the traditional Jewish communal responsibilities of Shmirah and Tahara. Shmirah reflects the Jewish belief that the soul does not depart the body immediately after death. For this reason, a shomer (guardian) stays with the deceased prior to burial, often reciting from the book of Psalms to ease the soul’s transition. Families and communities can be comforted knowing that their loved one is not alone. In the tradition of Tahara, members of the Chevra Kadisha recite special blessings, prayers, and selected readings while showing great care for the deceased by washing and ritually cleansing the body, which is then dressed in a simple burial shroud.
Contact:
Nicole Goldman
NicoleGoldmanCCKLA@gmail.com