We have had several expressions of upset from families who have found discarded cigarette butts on the graves of their loved ones. Please, out of respect for the deceased, kindly refrain from smoking while on cemetery grounds. Thank you.
THE GENIZA AT THE CHEVRA KADISHA
Spring and summer have come and gone, and it is time to remind you of the Chevra Kadisha’s fall/winter practice regarding our Geniza or burial area for sacred documents. As you are aware, it is an ancient custom not to trash documents containing the name of G-d or words of the Torah, and as such, the Chevra Kadisha’s cemetery at 37th Street has receptacles available for our Jewish community, synagogues and schools to appropriately bury these items.
Kippot, Hebrew secular literature, and non-religious school texts do not require special disposal. However, Tallaisim, prayer books and bibles are considered sacred, as well as the little prayer booklets given out at weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and photocopies of prayers and Biblical text. Tallaisim can be donated to the Chevra Kadisha for use in Tahara (preparing the deceased for burial) since they will be buried.
Anyone in the community is welcome to make use of our facility to dispose of these sacred objects, however we wish to advise you of the following:
- We typically bury sacred items during the period May through August 2025. We do not do so during the colder seasons of fall and winter.
- Please do not merely drop off boxes over the next few months, as this risks having them exposed to the elements until they can be properly handled, which disrespects the items.
- Please hold on to items needing disposal until the spring/summer and then wait until you have a sizable quantity of items before contacting the office.
We thank you in advance for trusting and allowing us to bury your sacred documents in a respectful manner.
JEWISH MEMORIAL CHAPEL 
A Voluntary Service to The Jewish Community
The Chevra Kadisha, literally “The Holy Society,” is Calgary’s oldest Jewish communal organization.
Its mandate is to provide Jewish burial services and is the continuation of an age-old tradition of burying the dead with dignity, with proper ritual, and as a communal service. Over a thousand burials have been conducted by the Calgary Chevra Kadisha over a 112 year period, all by dedicated volunteers from every spectrum of the community.
The Chevra Kadisha was formed in 1904 when Calgary had only a few Jewish families. An infant, Goldie Bell, died. Her father, Nathan Bell, and Jacob Diamond approached the City and the Jews of Calgary purchased a small plot adjacent to Union Cemetery on 30th Avenue S., on what is now Macleod Trail.
The “Hebrew Burying Ground” cost the tiny Jewish community $160, a substantial sum for the time. There was one burial in 1904 and one in 1906, and there were seven in 1907. The original plot of land was expanded in 1907, and again in 1909.
When the Congregation House of Jacob was formed in 1907, the Chevra Kadisha was carried on by a synagogue committee (with essentially the same leadership). The community was growing rapidly, and in 1914 the Chevra Kadisha was incorporated as an independent society. The first President was Charles Malkin.
Funeral services were conducted in a small building on the cemetery site, from private homes, and later at cooperating funeral homes.
The original cemetery continued to expand, and in 1943, the Chevra Kadisha took over management of a Jewish section of Queen’s Park Cemetery. In 1976, a third Jewish cemetery opened, and is owned and operated by the Beth Tzedec Synagogue.
In 1961, the Chevra Kadisha opened its own funeral chapel on 17th Avenue W. It has since relocated and is now located at the North East corner of Highway 22X and 37 Street SW. It is accessed via the 201 Stony Trail ring road at the exit on 154th Avnue/Fish Creek Boulevard. Here women and men still religiously perform Tahara – the ritual care and preparation of the deceased – arrange the memorial service, and supervise burial.
It is a labour of love, and a dedication to faith and community.
101 17818 – 37 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2Y 0M9
PHONE: 403-244-4717 (24 Hours)