Years ago, I had a friend – a young lady – let’s just say her level of Yiddishkeit didn’t impress me.

Anyway, she sewed the tachrichim for the Chevra Kadisha and I though, if she can do that, so can I…and every winter, when Motzei Shabbos is long, I think, I should volunteer!

And every year I don’t do it. Something comes up to occupy my time, and the next thing I know, it’s time to begin the Pesach cleaning and then it’s hot summer and I’m too uncomfortable to move!

So – this year, a co worker nudged me to call. He said – it can’t hurt, see what they need. Surely you can put your name of the volunteer list.

WELL! Long story short – for a lady volunteer – you have to be past menopause. They never used to be strict about it, but now they are.

So – I may be (one of) the oldest ones here, but I’m not THAT old – yet!

I told her, I’d talk to her in a good few years time!

Interesting. Did she why they have that requirement?
Does anyone know if and what requirements there are for men volunteers?

um, I think you have to be over a certain age to sew tachrichim..don't know if it's a halachah per se, but it makes sense it'd pretty much be upheld

How come you don't have to be a certain age to do taharas?

Scary...Scay..Scary

got the chills just thinking about it...

What a "Zchus" to the people who did it..

Ahh Mamesh"

why would you?

Ladies have to be past menopause to volunteer for ANYTHING involving the Chevra Kadish. If you don't understand why, PM me and I'll explain it to you.

I have no idea about the men's requirements. If any.

Let me revise my question. Why would you need to be a certain age to sew tachrichim, but not be of a certain age to perform taharas?

See my earlier post.

Could you let us all know? Because I thought burying the dead was a mitzvah incumbent on all Jews.

I guess different Chevra Kadishas have different requirements. My parents have both volunteered for years. . .

so you don't have 'unbidden' thoughts. you can concentrate solely on the kadosh task at hand with a clear mind..

am I going to get Warned of Kicked Off if I'm truthful?

Certainly so.

OK. So PM me then. I'll explain it in a delicate and aidel way.

I did it for the most part. you can breathe

hmmm. i've known women who were chevra kadisha volunteers who were definitely premenopausal.

Me too. It definitely depends on the city.

i also know people who have volunteered. young people.

each city is different. i was just sharing!

I think men have to be married to do it, so maybe women have to be past menopause not to have bad thoughts... but be it for men & women, I don't see how they could have bad thoughts in such situations and about dead people

The mother of my fiance volunteers at the chevra kadisha, she washes the people and so on. I really think I couldn't do it.

I've asked my dad back when i still lived at home to join him on his volunteer stints.No way at my age was the reply.