Kever Avot will be held at the Edmonton Jewish Cemetery on September 20

(AJNews) – Edmonton Chevra Kadisha will be holding their Kever Avot – Visiting the Graves program on Sunday, September 20, at 10:00 am at the Old Cemetery located at 7622 101 Ave .in Edmonton.

In the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews have long visited the graves of their family members and of the people who built their community. The custom is called Kever Avot, “the graves of the ancestors.” We come before the Day of Atonement to remember those who are no longer with us and to bring them into the new year with us.

“The service takes place at the graveside. We read several psalms, recite El Malei Rachamim — the memorial prayer — and say Kaddish together,” explains the Chevra leadership. “Afterward, there is time to walk to the graves of your own family. Many people place a small stone on the headstone, a sign that someone came to visit. It is also customary to give tzedakah while at the cemetery.”