This past December, friends, community leaders, and supporters gathered to celebrate Amy Koplow’s retirement after 25 years of devoted service to Hebrew Free Burial Association. The evening was marked by tribute and inspiration as we recognized not only her extraordinary commitment, but also HFBA’s critical...
The Times of Israel recently published two poignant stories highlighting HFBA’s work on behalf of those who might otherwise be forgotten. The first recounts the tragic story of a man lost to his family for decades, and the moving journey of his great-grandson to rediscover...
Dear Rabbi Plafker, The enclosed donation to the Hebrew Free Burial Association is in your honor, for all the time, care, and concern you took to make today’s Kaver Avos visit the most memorable one I have had in years. Because of you, I was finally able...
HFBA learned through NamUs (National Missing & Unidentified Persons System) that Sam S. had passed away in April 2024 and had remained unclaimed for 15 months. HFBA had buried his wife in 2022 after her estranged family declined involvement. Efforts to contact Sam’s relatives —...
Wendy Linderman An organization with as many moving parts as the Hebrew Free Burial Association depends on dedicated volunteers working quietly behind the scenes. The Chesed newsletter sat down with HFBA’s longest-serving volunteer, Wendy Linderman, to learn more about her commitment and the role she plays...
The Jewish community is blessed with organizations that nurture Jewish life — caring for our children, supporting families, preserving memory, and strengthening our future. But when life comes to an end, who is there for the Jew who has no one? In the New York area, that...