Cemetery Policies

The Cemetery Committee administers the following policies for the Jewish Cemetery at River View.

1. The Jewish Cemetery at River View (JCRV) was founded to provide a sacred burial ground for members of congregations and their families and for other Jews who are not members of our congregations in the Portland area.
2. The member congregations of the JCRV are: Shir Tikvah, P’nai Or of Portland, and Kol Shalom CHJ.
3. Participating congregations will provide governing body-approved representatives to sit on the Cemetery Committee which will have administrative responsibility for the JCRV.
4. Administration requires ongoing coordination with River View Cemetery.

Definitions

Responsibilities of the Cemetery Committee

1. Administration authority of the JCRV.
2. Keep books, documentation, records.
3. Advise participating congregations’ governing bodies regarding legal proceedings.
4. Respond to all requests from purchasers
5. Sell interment rights; process contracts with purchasers.
6. Coordinate finances with the treasurers of all congregations.
7. Set the price of the interment rights.

Responsibilities of the Estate of the Deceased

1. Notify River View and Cemetery Committee of the death of the person owning interment right.
2. Arrange and pay for:
   1. Funeral, time & date, Rabbi or other officiating person.
   2. Mortuary to prepare body, provide casket.
   3. Chapel, if service will be held.
   4. River View to open and close grave; kosher grave liner.
   5. Marker/Headstone within one year of interment.

Interment Right: Purchase, Use, Services and Ceremonies, Markers

1. Purchase of an interment right is available to a Member-in-Good-Standing for their use and use by their spouse or partner, their lineal ancestors and descendants, named or unnamed, whether Jewish or not, at the Member price.
2. A Non-Member may also purchase an interment right for their use and use by their spouse or partner, their lineal ancestors and descendants, named or unnamed, whether Jewish or not, at the Non-Member price.
3. Price: There are two prices for an interment right: a Member price and a Non-Member price. The two prices will vary and are subject to change. Specific prices are listed on the Price Sheet. Cost covers only the interment right; it does not cover casket, kosher liner, grave opening and closing, funeral, chapel fee, marker, headstone, other peripherals, etc.
4. Family plot rule: The price of each interment right will be the same as for a single purchased interment right.
5. Plots may be chosen from those that are available and can be used only upon full payment of the interment right purchase price.
6. Purchaser may arrange terms for purchase over time with the Cemetery Committee.
7. No interment right may be transferred/sold without the express written consent of the Cemetery Committee. All transfers and resales are subject to fees, as listed on the Price Sheet. A transfer or resale from a Member-in-Good-Standing to another Member-in-Good-Standing, from a Non-Member to a Member-in-Good-Standing, or from a Non-Member to another Non-Member, is subject only to the written consent of the Cemetery Committee and fees. A transfer or resale from a Member-in-Good-Standing to a Non-Member shall be subject to the written consent of the Cemetery Committee, fees, and an additional charge equal to the Member vs. Non-Member price differential at the time of initial purchase.
8. Interments are not allowed at night, on Shabbat, or on the first day of a Jewish festival.
9. It is expected that, to the extent allowed by law, Jewish burial customs be followed, i.e., no embalming and the deceased wrapped in a shroud.  Burial of cremains shall be allowed.
10. Regarding caskets and grave liners, the following should be followed:
    1. Caskets: To the extent allowed by law, all caskets used shall be constructed exclusively of wood and/or other materials subject to rapid decomposition and without the use of metals, plastics or similar materials.
    2. Grave liners: Not allowed.
11. A graveside service shall be Jewish or an approved secular graveside service.
12. Markers.
    1. It is currently anticipated that upright grave markers will comprise approximately 25% of the markers with the balance being either flat or “pillow” markers.  These uprights shall be restricted to a set pattern in the layout of plots in order to allow grave digging equipment to have access to all plots.
    2. There is no restriction on the size of a marker provided that it is sized proportionate with the number of plots purchased.
    3. The only religious symbols and inscriptions permitted as or on monuments, markers, or headstones in the cemetery shall be Jewish symbols and inscriptions.  The Cemetery Committee shall determine the appropriateness of all symbols and inscriptions. No photographs are allowed on markers/headstones.
    4. No monument, marker, headstone, embellishment or inscription shall be placed in or upon a plot or grave which is, in the opinion of the Cemetery Committee, offensive or improper.  The Cemetery Committee reserves the right to remove any such offensive monument, marker, headstone, embellishment or inscription.
13. Plantings and Embellishments for burial plots. No plantings are allowed.
    1. No artificial flowers are allowed.
    2. Stones placed on the markers at the time of a visit are allowed.
    3. No embellishments in the JCRV are allowed without the express written   permission of the Cemetery Committee.
    4. Benches at JCRV are the responsibility of the Cemetery Committee and require written approval.  A bench may be allowed on a purchased plot dedicated for that purpose only.