Membership meeting of the Chevra Kadisha of Pest

According to religious law, in every Jewish community of Hungary, there was a chevra kadisha (holy society), which was financially and organically separate entity from the community itself. These societies carried out all activities related to burials and also had other charitable tasks. The Chevra Kadisa of Pest grew to a prestigious institution by the beginning of the 20th century. It had two cemeteries, where 70 percent of the burials were provided for free. Besides the cemeteries, the holy society maintained a hospital, a house for the poor, a shelter, a home for the elderly, and a number of smaller charity institutions. The costs were covered by the rents of its tenement houses, the income from its foundations, as well as from donations. The latter was also significant because the expectations of Judaism regarding charity and social responsibility did not change over the time. Therefore, being a member of the Chevra Kadisha and the donation suitable to one’s financial position was a prerequisite of social success and “social presence”.