About us

The Cemetery is managed by the Edgwarebury Joint Burial Board (EJBB) on behalf of the S&P Sephardi Community, the West London Synagogue, Liberal Judaism and Belsize Square Synagogue.  EJBB comprises 3 representatives from each of the 4 owning communities and Board meetings are held 4 times a year.

There is also an Operations Committee that meets every 3 months. The Operations Committee provides support and guidance to the Cemetery Director in matters relating to day-to-day operational needs and activities of the cemetery. The Operations Manager is responsible for the general Grounds operations and ongoing maintenance, leading a team of 6 Cemetery Operatives. Our cemetery operatives are highly trained professionals in safe burial practice and qualified in many areas of horticulture and memorial maintenance.

What to do in the event of a Bereavement

Burial services are available every day except on Shabbat, Jewish religious Festivals and Xmas Day. We are closed on the following days:

• Rosh Hashanah on both days
• Yom Kippur
• the first two days of Succot
• Shemini Atzeret
• Simchat Torah
• the first two and last two days of Pesach
• Shavuot on both days

Burial arrangements are made through members’ respective synagogues and contact should be made directly with the communities below. If the deceased is a non-member, burial can still be arranged by all 4 owning communities. Please note that any questions about burial fees and other charges should be made to the individual communities. Burial plots cannot be purchased through the cemetery.

S&P Sephardi Community (Registered Charity Number: 212517)
2 Ashworth Road, London, W9 1JY
Contact: 020 7481 7827: Diana Zelouf (9.00 am – 4.00 pm, Fridays until 1.00 pm)
Alternative contact: Helen Doherty, Hebra Manager: 020 7481 7843 (8.30 am – 3.30 pm)
Out of office hours: 020 8958 2112
Email: diana@sephardi.org.uk or hebra@sephardi.org.uk
Website: www.sephardi.org.uk

West London Synagogue (Registered Charity Number: 1155821)
33 Seymour Place, London W1H 5AU
Contact: 020 7723 4404: Micky Nathanson
Out of office hours: 020 7723 4404
Email: micky.nathanson@wls.org.uk
Website: www.wls.org.uk

Liberal Judaism (Registered Charity Number: 1151090)
The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE
Contact: 020 7580 1663: Tanya Garfield
Out of office hours: 020 7580 1663
Email: t.garfield@liberaljudaism.org
Website: www.liberaljudaism.org

Belsize Square Synagogue (Registered Charity Number: 1144866)
51 Belsize Square, Belsize Park, London NW3 4HX
Contact: 0207 794 3949: Lee Taylor
Out of office hours: 07876 340059
Email: lee@synagogue.org.uk
Website: www.synagogue.org.uk

Funeral Directors
Calos Funeral Directors Ltd (S&P, West London, Belsize Square)
Glengall Road, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 8SX
Contact: 020 8958 2112 (24/7)
Email: info@calosfuneraldirectors.co.uk
Website: www.calosfuneraldirectors.co.uk

Kings Funeral Directors (Liberal Judaism)
26 Oakleigh Road South, Barnet, London N11 1NH
Contact: 020 8368 7453 (24/7)
Email: rkingfunerals@gmail.com
Website: www.michaelkingfunerals.co.uk

General

1. It is not permitted to plant shrubs or trees anywhere in the Cemetery. These will grow to a large size, produce roots which unbalance headstones and cause additional maintenance and cost. We reserve the right to remove any such plant shrubs or trees.
2. Smoking is forbidden within all areas of the Cemetery.
3. Vehicles are not allowed in the cemetery beyond the car parking area, with the exception of vehicles of approved contractors.
4. The speed limit in the cemetery is 10 miles an hour.
5. The following items are not permitted anywhere within the Cemetery:

• Glass vases, glass Yahrtzeit containers, or any other glass item.
• Food and drink.
• Fencing, edging or borders of any kind around or within a defined memorial space.
• Any item deemed to be offensive, unseemly or dangerous.

Many of the above items often end up on the surrounding grass and either get thrown up by mowers and cause personal injury, or cause damage to the machinery or adjacent memorials. Glass is a major hazard to people, animals, machinery and other memorials. Food and drink are not permitted as they attract vermin.

Why Do We Wash Our Hands?

It is customary to wash one’s hands after participating in a funeral or visiting the cemetery. The common custom is to wash each hand three times, alternating between the right and left hands.

Life is represented by water; the basis of our sustenance and material existence. Washing the hands also serves as a reminder to the living that they should go about their lives in a pure way. After washing following a funeral (but not when just visiting the cemetery), many have the custom to spill out the extra water in the washing cup and set it down overturned so that there is no water leftover.

Many people also have the custom not to dry their hands but rather let them dry on their own. This symbolises the idea that we don’t want to forget this day of death – we are not eager to “wipe away” our thoughts of mourning and loss.

It is also usual, on leaving the cemetery, to give Tzedakah (charity) in memory of the deceased.