Subscribe for Join Austin Shmirah as a Shomer

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First Name *

Last Name *

Cell Phone Number *

Second Phone Number

What phone should we primarily call you on? *

Cell Phone Number

Secondary Phone Number

Third Phone Number

Second Email

Are you over 18 years of age? *

Yes

No

All shomrim will receive an initial email when shomrim are needed. You may opt to receive a one-time text announcing the need for shomrim.

Would you like to be notified by text as well as by email? *

Yes

No

Area(s) Served *

Greater Austin Area

With whom are you affiliated? *

To meaningfully serve deceased and families from all backgrounds, each congregation sets its own standards regarding who may serve as shomrim. Please check the box(es) of the congregation(s) you're considering and read the requirements that appear above the choices. Then uncheck the boxes of any congregations you will NOT be partnering with.

Chabad of Greater Austin (COGA): Male kohanim may not serve; female kohanim may serve. Shomrim must be considered Jewish by (Orthodox) halachic standards. Please consult Rabbi Levertov (512-418-9770) or another Orthodox rabbi if you need further clarification. We ask that shomrim engage in appropriate reading (preferably Tehilim), prayer, or meditation during their shifts.

Congregation Agudas Achim (CAA, Conservative/Masorti): Shomrim must be born of a Jewish mother or have undergone a formal conversion that included mikvah (ritual immersion) and beit din (rabbinical court) and is recognized as binding by the rabbi of their own Austin congregation. Please consult your rabbi if you need further clarification. Kohanim and b’not kohanim (daughters of kohanim) may not serve. We ask that shomrim engage in appropriate reading, prayer, or meditation during their shifts.

Congregation Beth El (CBE, Traditional Conservative): Jews by birth to a Jewish mother or by formal conversion are invited to participate in shmirah. Male Kohanim are not eligible, but b'not Kohanim (women from Kohen families) are eligible. We prefer that shomrim read T'hillim (Psalms), but other appropriate reading is acceptable.

Congregation Beth Israel (CBI, Reform): We welcome all who wish to serve as Shomrim (watchers), Jewish or not, and we will provide Tehilim (Psalms) and other texts for use during their shifts.

Congregation Kol Halev (CKH, Unaffiliated): No congregational restrictions. If an individual family requests restrictions, these will be specified in the e-mail calling for shomrim.

Congregation Shalom Rav (CSR, Austin's Reconstructionist and Renewal Congregation): We welcome and appreciate all who wish to serve as shomrim with the gifts that each one brings, shaped by their own unique spiritual path, and at the same time fully conforming to all the specifications that each family of the deceased may request. Resources for Death and Mourning are available at https://ritualwell.org/topic/death-mourning.

Congregation Shir Ami (CSA, Reform): We welcome all who wish to serve as shomrim. Rabbi Reice will meet with families to discuss any personal requests or preferences they have. We provide Shomrim with Tehilim and other texts for their shifts.

Congregation Tiferet Israel (CTI, Orthodox): We welcome those who wish to share in this ultimate mitzvah of kavod hamet (honoring the deceased). Men and women who are born of a Jewish mother or who underwent an Orthodox conversion are invited to serve. Please consult Rabbi Dan (847-612-3393) with any questions you may have. Male kohanim may not serve as shomrim, although they may be involved in the administrative portions of the mitzvah. We ask that shomrim engage in appropriate readings (preferably Psalms), prayer, or meditation during their shifts.

No restrictions on who may serve.

Temple Beth Shalom (TBS, Reform): We welcome all who wish to serve as shomrim. If an individual family makes specific requests, these will be communicated in the e-mail calling for shomrim.

No restrictions on who may serve.

Which of these are you able and willing to serve? *

Other Affiliation? *

Would you serve for someone being cremated? *

Yes

No

Note that for privacy considerations, you may not be informed of burial-vs.-cremation decisions on specific occasions.

Are you often available on very short notice during the times you're willing to serve? *

Yes

No

What is your GENERAL weekday availability? *

What is your GENERAL weekend availability? *

ON-CALL OPTION: To help streamline the scheduling process, you can offer to be "on call" to take a particular shift whenever it's needed (not counting sick days, vacations, etc.). First select the day(s) of the week you're willing to be "on call." Then use the pop-up menus to choose shift(s) and frequency.

I can be "on call" on this/these day(s):

Sundays

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

Saturdays

for this/these shift(s):

and at this frequency:

Every week

First week of month

Second week of month

Third week of month

Fourth & fifth weeks of month

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