by AJNews Staff, (from information supplied by the Chevra Kadisha of Calgary)
(AJNews) – On August 23rd, the Chevra Kadisha of Calgary will be publicly opening their Gan Hazikaron (Garden of Remembrance) at the Erlton Cemetery. The Garden is a dedicated beautifully landscaped area set apart from the gravesites where mourners can visit with family and friends and still be near their departed loved ones. There will be benches in the garden where visitors can take their time to reconnect with friends and remember those who have passed.
In the Garden we will unveil a sculpture dedicated to the memory of those who perished in the tragedy of October 7, 2023 and in the ensuing conflict. An original piece of art created by Jewish artist Charles Sherman, this sculpture will be a unique memorial to the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
Another feature of the Garden is to provide Kohanim a place where they can go to attend funerals and unveilings and still comply with the Biblical prohibition to remain a certain distance from gravesites.
When members of our community gather at a cemetery to pay respects to a departed loved one, they often encounter friends they have not seen in a while. Naturally, they begin to reconnect. A little known aspect of Jewish cemetery etiquette is to refrain from behaviours that the departed can no longer perform, such as socializing. The Chevra Kadisha of Calgary has undertaken this initiative to give mourners a place where they can reconnect with friends in compliance with this custom and also provide the space to remember those who have passed.
The Chevra Kadisha thanks those individuals and families whose generosity has made the creation of this garden and memorial possible. They will be formally acknowledged in the near future on a donors’ board to be erected in the chapel at 37th Street.
The entire community is invited to this dedication which will begin at 11:00 AM on August 23rd in the west section of Erlton cemetery.
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