Reform leaders have written to the movement’s members to explain this week’s unprecedented decision, taken jointly with Liberal Judaism, to restrict funeral services to officiating clergy with no family present.
The rabbis acknowledged that the move would be “terribly painful” for many but emphasised that it was done to save lives.
“These are exceptional times for our world and it is important that we uphold the value of pikuach nefesh (saving a life),” said Reform Senior Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, the chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors Rabbi Fabian Sborovsky and convenor of the Reform Beit Din Rabbi Jackie Tabick.
In a letter to Reform members, they wrote: “In taking this action we are seeking to ensure that the health and the lives of you, your families, your clergy, your service leaders, the cemetery staff and the funeral directors are all protected to the best of our abilities.”
