Funeral Times

Last Updated: 19/10/2020, 10:46 am

Community Advice regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

28 September 2020

Cemeteries are open. 

Funerals: up to 10 people, plus infants under 12 months and people required to conduct a funeral. (Funeral Attendance Guidelines-  see further details below)

Visiting a resting place: A person may attend the resting place (a cemetery) of a deceased relative for remembering a key milestone (e.g. birthday, date of death, anniversary). Exempt from the 5km rule, but can only travel to the resting place if it is within metropolitan Melbourne and must observe gathering requirements. Gathering limits are a household or up to five people from a maximum of two households. 

The Victorian Government has advised that you must wear a face mask whenever you leave your home, therefore face masks are manadatory at funerals. 

MCK Office Update

The MCK administrative office in St Kilda is CLOSED.

To report a death, please call 03 9534 0208 (24/7).

Administration matters can be emailed to info@mck.org.au and Accounts matters to ruth@mck.org.au

Funeral Attendance Guidelines - (Please DO NOT attend at the Cemetery unless invited)

MCK understands that these are trying times for us all, especially for families dealing with grief and loss, and we are here to guide you through the current Government guidelines. We are therefore instituting the following for all Funerals as of Thursday 9 July & continuing from 28 September , and respectfully expect full compliance.

The Victorian Government has restricted the number of attendees at a funeral to a maximum of no more than 10 people with social distancing directives applying both inside the Chapel and outside in the cemetery. 

The Rabbi plus 10 family members (as chosen by the family) will attend in the chapel for a web streamed service.

MCK staff and are not included in the 10 attendees. MCK staff will act as pallbearers escorting the deceased to the grave.

All individuals MUST always adhere to social distancing and the 1 person per 4 sq metre rule everywhere (chapel, gravesite, roadways, pathways and carpark) .

Download attendance register : http://mck.org.au/resources/Attendee%20Register%20Funeral%20COVID-19

Link to Prayers for a Funeral Service: http://mck.org.au/resources/Prayers%20at%20a%20Funeral%20Service

Consecration Attendance Guidelines

Consecrations may NOT be scheduled as per current Government guidelines until further notice.

Minyan and Shiva Guidelines

As per Government guidelines, NO visitors are allowed in the house. Please refer to your Rabbi for guidance. 

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Due to current Government directives regarding social distancing MCK has instituted the following policy effective immediately;

• All Funerals are by family invitation only. 
• The family of the deceased are to personally invite only close family/friends to attend at the cemetery (maximum 10). 
• If a minyan (10) of Jewish men are not available, MCK will ensure that there are 10 Jewish men in attendance.
  
• All Chapel services will be webstreamed, allowing everyone to participate remotely.
• Social distancing within the Chapel will be expected.
• Hand sanitiser will be available. 
• For advice regarding Minyan and Shiva etiquette, please refer to your Rabbi. 

13 March 2020: Please be advised that while assisting families following the passing of a loved one (irrespective of the cause of passing) and bringing that person into our care, our Funeral Attendants will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as prescribed by The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS ) to protect both families and ourselves during the current period of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) concerns.  

As an essential community service we must attend and perform our duties, so the PPE equipment is now a mandatory requirement. We apologise if this causes any extra stress at this already sensitive time. 

When attending a Funeral please be mindful of all the precautions and guidelines issued by Government and Communal bodies regarding public gatherings and social distancing. Obviously, please refrain from kissing, hugging and hand shaking mourners or other attendees. 

As a community service MCK will be offering all families free webstreaming of the Shtiebel service, allowing friends to particpate from home, rather than attending a large community gathering.