The beginning of Khevra Kadisha (burial association) in Zabludow was in old generations. It was surrounded with a halo of holiness and was always strict on admitting new members. Not all were admitted to the association. This right was granted to the relations only; usually it was passed with inheritance.
If a member's child got married- the association sent a bottle of wine for the seven benedictions. The small Beit Hamidrash was called the khevra kadisha's Beit Hamidrash. On the eighteenth day of kislev a special day of fasting and prayer was conducted. After that they used to have a festive banquet. They served wine, meat, fish and plenty of good food. The town's jokers used to sneak into the kitchen and steal ducks, geese and all kinds of food. These mischievous acts were done so well that it was impossible to suspect anyone.
People feared Khevra Kadisha; they shouldn't be treated lightly. There's a notebook with names. Any name written there is doomed.
They instituted a custom that the admission of new members should be done at a mealtime. How was the selection done? The candidate should know Gemara. He should not be poor, and should have contacts and be someone whose opinion is accepted. The candidate also gave 25 rubles and some barrels of bear for the banquet. Such a young gentleman was granted the acceptance of all.
At the beginning the new member was an aid in the ceremony of the purification of the dead. He gave water, helped people who held the body above the purification bath, and learnt how to use the silver forks that were used to clean the dead man's nails.
Khevra Kadisha had grave diggers. One of them was Leibel Abba Ben Hodil, a tall Jew, whose appearance made the kids tremble. When Leibel came to the home of a dead person, with a measuring stick in his hand so he can measure him for the grave- children ran away from fear. As soon as he arrived they had to serve him with a glass of wine. They did so in the winter. But in the summer one must also drink while he is digging a grave. Leibel was a heavy drinker. Once he drank too much and being so drunk he fell asleep in an open grave; he fell into a deep sleep.
Ways of managing the affairs of Khevra Kadisha and the functions of its leaders were set many generations ago. No one dared appeal on these rules. The managers of the association used to decide how to treat each dead. "Dignitaries" were treated better; they were washed and purified with more water than others.
One-day things were turned over. Shmuel Kashiner, a Jew all year round, very pious, not a simple man and liked by others, died. It seems like he himself was among the carriers of the bed of the dead. When the purification was performed the crowd demanded that they use more water, but Khevra Kadisha disagreed. A dispute immediately began. Paltiel Derales, who led the simple people, demanded they treat the dead with respect- "who are these who manage Khevra Kadisha? What gives them the right to interfere?" Paltiel raised his voice. His words impressed others and many gathered around him. Representatives of Khevra Kadisha tried to overcome the mass of people that gathered around Paltiel calling them "shkatsim" (impure people). But none regarded them as so. They honored the dead and right there decided to form a new Khevra Kadisha. Paltiel did not rest. His patience ran out, he was fed up with the discrimination between the rich and the poor- "they dare refuse doing this charity one of our friend deserves, and after all are righteous after death". All are equal, all are Jews, and a simple Jew deserves as much water and purification as the rich.
The conflict grew. They began to register new members to the new Khevra Kadisha and turned to Nahum Oks, experienced in the purification ceremony, asking him to head the Khevra Kadisha. Nahum oks, a tall and husky Jew, was one of the bed carriers in the old khevra kadisha; he wanted to be a member in the old Khevra Kadisha but was refused. He refused to head the new Khevra Kadisha. He was loyal to the old one, hoping to become a member one day.
The conflict continued; but when it was declared that there could not be two Khevra Kadisha in one town Rabbis from Narev and Michalova and from other towns interfered and tried to put an end to the dispute. Khevra Kadisha surrendered at the end. Many of the young became members and the public elected them.
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