COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOR JEWISH-AFFILIATED CEMETERIES

ENSURING NO JEWISH CEMETERY OR MEMORY IS FORGOTTEN

In keeping with the Jewish tradition to honor the dead, CAJAC represents the organized Jewish community’s efforts to preserve Jewish cemeteries and to create permanent solutions for ensuring their long-term sustainability.

 

CAJAC utilizes a model of centralized management and governance, bringing together a consortium of Jewish cemeteries, burial societies, and other cemetery organizations under one umbrella organization.

 

Through a collaboration of volunteers, community leaders and local agencies, CAJAC actively addresses the decline of Jewish cemeteries, frequently spearheading rehabilitation efforts to restore dignity and respect to distressed burial grounds.

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RESTORE

SECURE

SUSTAIN

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Years of Tradition Honored

Know Who We Are

ABOUT US

In accordance with Jewish tradition, the Community Alliance for Jewish-Affiliated Cemeteries (CAJAC) acts to assist the living in honoring their departed ancestors, who can no longer speak for themselves.

CAJAC provides the critical link in setting standards, developing strategies, and assisting those tasked as fiduciaries for Jewish cemeteries.  These standards help to fulfill the sacred task of preserving sanctity, ensuring physical well-being, and providing for financial stability into perpetuity.

 

CAJAC exists to address and mitigate the decline of Jewish cemeteries by absorbing those organizations in peril and creating succession plans for those at risk for future insolvency.

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Organizations Partnering

CAJAC can advise Jewish cemeteries on:

  • Succession planning
  • Financial analysis and risk assessment
  • Physical well-being and infrastructure
  • Indexing of graves and recording genealogy
  • Matters pertaining to Jewish law (Halacha)

CAJAC’s Core Objectives

  • Partner with the broader Jewish community to support and sustain a centralized model of cemetery management, through creating economies of scale and systems for sound fiscal management.
  • Provide day-to-day management and oversight of Jewish cemeteries, in accordance with best practices.
  • Raise awareness within the broader Jewish community about the vulnerability of Jewish cemeteries and their systemic challenges.
  • Provide guidance, resources, and training to Jewish organizations who manage and/or operate Jewish cemeteries.  This includes synagogues, burial societies, and cemetery administrators.
  • Emphasize education and volunteerism as the primary vehicles to make kavod ha-met, respect for the deceased, a core concern to all Jewish people.
  • Rehabilitate abandoned and distressed Jewish cemeteries.
  • Maintain liaison relationships with relevant governmental and regulatory authorities.  These relationships will serve as the Jewish community’s principal resource, and the secular community’s key partner, in securing the future of Jewish cemeteries.

Andrew Eisner to Assume CAJAC’s Presidency

The Community Alliance for Jewish-Affiliated Cemeteries (CAJAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Eisner as President of CAJAC’s Board of Directors. Andrew succeeds Alan Friedman, who served commendably in this role for the last decade.
Prior to this appointment, Andrew had been CAJAC’s Vice-President and played a pivotal role in the organization’s recent expansion. Andrew leveraged his professional experience to grow CAJAC’s media presence, including the implementation of a robust social media strategy.
Rabbi Andrew Schultz, CAJAC’s Executive Director, expressed excitement about Andrew’s appointment. According to Rabbi Schultz, “Andrew has demonstrated a firm commitment to CAJAC’s mission. He is a great partner and continues to help direct our efforts to ensure no Jewish cemetery is forgotten”.
Alan Friedman, CAJAC’s outgoing President, also expressed his excitement about Andrew’s appointment. Alan shares: “I’ve had the pleasure of working side by side with Andrew over the last several years. When I first met him, it was clear he believed in the Jewish community’s sacred duty to honor the memories of our forebears. This is an exciting time for CAJAC, and I am highly confident in Andrew’s leadership abilities”.
Professionally, Andrew Eisner is a seasoned strategic partnerships executive with extensive expertise in marketing, business development, and media sales. He has held leadership roles at media properties including CNN, Weather Channel, Food Network, HGTV and the Travel Channel.
Presently, Andrew serves as the Managing Partner at Lifestyle MBD&S where he works with multiple organizations to market and sell products in the home, food and travel verticals. According to Andrew, “CAJAC continues to respond to emerging challenges facing Jewish cemeteries. Many cemeteries and burial organizations lack succession planning. We are continuing to get ahead of the curve by absorbing these organizations and ensuring their effective continuity. I am honored to succeed Alan Friedman and work alongside Rabbi Schultz, both of whom have led CAJAC with great distinction”. 

Leadership

  • Herbert Block
  • Dr. Mark Berger
  • Judy Chanowitz
  • Andrew Eisner, Board President
  • Howard Feinberg
  • Alan Friedman, President Emeritus
  • Stephanie Garry
  • CJ Kaplan
  • Rabbi Joseph Potasnik
  • Howard Schulberg
  • James Schwartz, Treasurer
  • Toby Weiss
  • Barry Yood, Vice President
  • Rabbi Andrew Schultz, Executive Director
  • Justin Laken, Outreach

Rabbi Andrew Schultz has served as a Jewish communal professional for the last 25 years, having held several senior level positions in Jewish agencies throughout the Tri-State area, including BBYO, the Jewish Educational Center, and Yedei Chesed.

Rabbi Schultz has spent a significant portion of his career as the Executive Director of the Community Alliance for Jewish-Affiliated Cemeteries (CAJAC), a nonprofit organization responsible for the administration and oversight of nearly 10,000 Jewish graves throughout New York and New Jersey. As part of his portfolio with CAJAC, Rabbi Schultz provides critical assistance to synagogues and Jewish organizations seeking to transition their cemeteries to the model of community-based cemetery management, a hallmark of CAJAC’s work.

Rabbi Schultz earned Yoreh Yoreh Semicha from both Kollel Hachsharus L’Rabbanus and Machon Halacha Lemaan Yilmedu. He is presently engaged in advanced rabbinical studies through Lemaan Yilmedu. Rabbi Schultz is also a member of MORASHAH, the rabbinical arm of the Union for Traditional Judaism and the New York Board of Rabbis.

Rabbi Schultz is a certified police chaplain and actively serves both the Fair Lawn and Elmwood Park police departments. Rabbi Schultz is also active in Chaverim of Bergen County, a community organization providing non-medical emergency services.

Rabbi Schultz is the proud father of five sons: Ari (20), Coby (14), Rafi (12), Aidan (9), and Liam (7).

Testimonials

When you mention Jewish cemeteries in America, the interest is not always there. My feeling is, Jewish history is Jewish history and how could you allow Jewish cemeteries to fall into disrepair and be overgrown? CAJAC represents the Jewish community’s collective response to cemetery preservation and it is continuing to become backstop to take care of Jewish cemeteries in Metropolitan New York.

Richard Fishman Former Director of the New York State Division of Cemeteries

I am pleased to to support this worthy cause. Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing. It is said that the highest chesed is doing for those who have passed because it is not possible for them to repay or reciprocate. Our sages call this chesed v’emet.

David Lobel Past President, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun

CAJAC shares with the National Association of Chevros Kadisha (NASCK) a commitment to highlighting the Jewish community’s sacred duty towards end-of-life issues. I am pleased CAJAC continues to address the systemic challenges facing Jewish cemeteries, simultaneously sensitizing the Jewish community as it relates to its obligation to care for its cemeteries.

Rabbi Elchonon Zohn Executive Director, NASCK

Jewish Community Legacy Project (JCLP) is pleased to be an active partner with CAJAC to ensure the preservation of small congregations’ cemeteries. We appreciate CAJAC’s expertise, commitment and concern in their interaction with synagogue lay leadership and cemetery committees. The metropolitan New York network of Jewish cemeteries is strengthened by the dedicated work of CAJAC’s professionals and lay leaders.

Noah Levine Senior Vice President, JCLP

CAJAC’s broad experience has provided wise counsel for the benefit of our Jewish cemeteries in central New Jersey. It is such a relief to partner with such caring, talented and committed people. I praise the day we started working together.

Michael Wasserman President of the Greater Middlesex, Jewish Cemetery Management Corporation

Our Core Partners

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Our Affiliate Partners

Organizations in which CAJAC is a member

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