Cemetery Policies

CEMETERY POLICY

 CONGREGATION BETH ABRAHAM-JACOB

ALBANY, NEW YORK

March 24, 2020

The following set of policies have been approved by the Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob Board of Directors. Conditions stipulated for members only apply to full members in good standing, as determined by our Board of Directors.

Funeral director fees include an administrative charge for non-members, set by the Capital District Board of Rabbis, which is paid directly to Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob.

Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob’s Rabbi, or a designee of the congregation in his absence, will officiate at all funerals in the synagogue’s cemetery. Members pay no fee for this service, and non-members pay the fee in effect at that time, as set by the Capital District Board of Rabbis. If another Rabbi is requested, Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob’s Rabbi must agree to share the pulpit.  Fees for Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob’s Rabbi shall be as designated by the Capital District Board of Rabbis.

A burial vault that is consistent with Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob’s halachic (Jewish Law) standards is required for interment in Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob cemeteries. The cost of the burial vault is paid by the family at the time of burial and is to be arranged with the funeral home that is overseeing the burial.

ALL FEES MUST BE PAID IN FULL BEFORE INTERMENT

A grave marker or monument is required on all burial sites. To ensure this, the synagogue requires a $350 deposit prior to interment. If after one year no monument has been placed on the site, then the synagogue will purchase a marker for the grave. Placement of a monument within the year will result in return of the $350 deposit. Maximum size for headstones and footstones must be within the parameters of our current requirements.

Single Plot                                     Length               Width                Height

Base or Foundation:                  30"                      14"                      8"-10"

Headstone or Die:                      24"                      8"-10"                36"

Double Plot                                  Length               Width                Height

Base or Foundation:                  60"                      14"                      8"-10"

Headstone or Die:                      54"                      8"-10"                48"

1. Individuals who join Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob under age sixty (60) and who remain members continuously and in good standing for a minimum of five (5) years, are entitled to a gravesite at the time of need. For these individuals, only the perpetual care fee of $500 is required. If membership has lapsed, then non-member requirements must be met.
2. Members may request an adjoining gravesite prior to the time of burial of the first spouse. For members, there is no fee for the reservation of a gravesite for a spouse. Burial in such sites requires only the perpetual care fee of $500 be paid for each site as long as membership has been continuous and in good standing. 
3. Members who join Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob at age sixty (60) or greater may obtain burial rights for a fee of $1,000 to purchase a single site, with an additional fee of $500 for perpetual care after the required five (5) year membership period. Individuals must maintain a Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob membership continuously for five (5) years before the burial fees in this paragraph are applicable; prior to the five (5) year required membership period, non-member fees remain in effect.

1. “Non-member” status applies to individuals who have never been a member of the Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob’s congregation, and to individuals whose Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob membership has lapsed.
2. If a deed is held for a grave site or sites, a perpetual care fee of $500 is required, for each grave used.
3. Single gravesites may be made available to non-members for $3,500, plus a $500 perpetual care fee, at the Western Avenue or Fuller Road sites.

Requests for special consideration must be discussed with the president of the congregation or designee in a timely fashion prior to the time of need.

Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob is endeavoring to ensure that all issues pertaining to the cemetery are taken care of before the “crisis” of death. Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob’s goal is to avoid any stress to the family or synagogue, so that all can properly honor the deceased while effectively providing cemetery services to the family with dignity and sensitivity.