Rabbi Ron Broden

Funerals & Unveilings

Compassionate guidance to honor a life with dignity and remembrance.

About

Funerals & Unveilings Ceremony

Funerals and Cremations - Saying goodbye to your loved ones is one of the most challenging phases that tears your heart apart. According to Jewish law, one must enjoy life by embracing the truth of death. Funeral services in Jewish traditions are deeply connected with centuries-old customs and traditions. Funeral services for Jewish ceremonies are a way to offer spiritual support and comfort to the mourners for the loss of their loved ones. According to Jewish funeral law, a deceased should be buried as soon as possible within 24 hours. That’s why the immediate relatives should plan the funeral arrangements on time and contact a reliable and right rabbi to officiate the funeral.  In addition to the religious aspects of the funeral service, some specific customs and traditions are observed within the Jewish community. For example, it is customary for mourners to avoid mirrors, new garments as a symbol of their grief, and sit on low stools or the floor during the mourning period. Cremation is strictly prohibited in orthodox Jewish tradition, but reform Jews have accepted cremation under some circumstances. Other than that, organ donation is also accepted in Jewish funeral traditions as it is a part of good deeds. Desecration of the deceased is also not accepted in Judaism. In the case of post-mortem, a trustworthy rabbi should be present. 

Funerals Service for Jewish Ceremonies

Must Followed Ettiquetes to Honor The Soul

"As a modern Reform rabbi and experienced funeral officiant, I provide compassionate, dignified, and personalized Jewish funeral services for families of every background. My role is to guide you through each step of the mourning process with clarity, warmth, and respect—honoring your loved one’s life while upholding the core values of Jewish tradition.

A Jewish funeral is typically held soon after death and focuses on simplicity, dignity, and truth. The service may include traditional prayers, readings, personal reflections, and a eulogy crafted in close collaboration with the family. At the graveside, mourners often participate in placing earth on the casket—an act of love, respect, and finality.

I work closely with families to ensure the ceremony reflects their values, level of observance, and the unique story of the person being remembered. Whether the family is fully Jewish, interfaith, or secular, I create a service that is accessible, meaningful, and comforting.

I also provide guidance for those attending a Jewish funeral for the first time. Jewish tradition emphasizes presence, modesty, and respect. Guests are encouraged to dress simply and modestly. Non‑Jewish mourners are welcome to participate in prayers, readings, or the symbolic act of placing earth on the casket if they feel comfortable.

Following the funeral, I support families through the early stages of mourning, including Shiva and the Unveiling ceremony. For information about officiating an Unveiling, please feel free to contact me directly."

TESTIMONIALS

“Rabbi, I’d like to thank you again for giving my mother such a beautiful funeral. You conduct yourself with a very gentle and sincere countenance. We visited my brother Isaac afterwards, and I know your service as well as her children reunited would have pleased my mother greatly.”

 Jacob Bondell

“Dear Rabbi Broden, I just want to thank you for doing such a wonderful job at my mother, Joy Raden’s, funeral today. Your remarks not only captured the essence of my mother as a person but were also delivered in a comforting and healing manner. I left the ceremony feeling calm and peaceful. You did a mitzvah by helping me through my grieving process. I spoke to the others in attendance, and everybody else felt exactly the same way”

 Matthew Raden

“Please accept this donation to your discretionary fund in memory of our mother and grandmother. We all thank you for the lovely service which you conducted and for the eulogy which celebrated her life. To all in attendance it sounded as if you knew her very well.”

– The family of Bertha Steinberg

“Ron: I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your handling of my mother’s funeral and unveiling this past weekend. If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn you had known her all your life! You were able to pick out the salient points in the stories we all threw at you just moments before you had to speak, and you helped us through a most difficult time with grace and dignity – and a sense of humor my parents would have appreciated.”

– Joanne Mahnken

“Dear Ron, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful service you conducted on Sunday for mom and dad. I heard so many nice comments from my family and friends, and I know mom and dad would tell you the same if they could! If I’m in need of a Rabbi in the future, you will be the man I call. I’m so happy to live in the age of the internet or we never would have found you. Again, thank you so much.”

 Sue Turturo

Testimonials

Happy Clients

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Stephanie Kurchack profile picture
Stephanie Kurchack
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Ron was exceptional! My daughter's Bat Mitzvah service was informative, heartfelt, and of course had the added bonus of acoustics. We received one compliment after another about the service. You will not be disappointed!
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Joseph Trevisani
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A wonderful service for which we received many compliments. Rabbi Broden was attentive, accommodating, knowledgeable and made everyone feel welcome. Many thanks.
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Scott Schneider profile picture
Scott Schneider
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Our ceremony was beautiful, and that was largely thanks to Ron being our rabbi. It was the perfect mix of English, Hebrew, tradition and contemporary wisdom. We had reviewed what he would say before, but hearing it in person, accompanied by his amazing voice, makes it far more meaningful.
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samantha weinblatt
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Ron did a phenomenal job listening and making my wedding ceremony perfect. My husband and I were nervous on how an interfaith ceremony would go, but Ron nailed it. He focused more on love, commitment, unity, family and sprinkled in bits of both of our religions. He made it personal with a few jokes and my family and friends gave us so many compliments on how great the ceremony was. We could not have been happier!!
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Danielle Berger profile picture
Danielle Berger
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Rabbi Broden was amazing. He was prompt, so kind, had such a positive attitude, and of course, ran an incredible service. My family and friends loved having him there and really enjoyed the ceremony. He made it what we wanted and was really great to work with. We couldn't recommend Rabbi Broden enough!!!
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Ilya Grosh
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Rabbi Broden was the rabbi for our ceremony. He did a great job and we found him easy to work with and talk to. The guests loved his thoughtful words.
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Alison Gould profile picture
Alison Gould
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I cannot say enough wonderful, amazing things about Rabbi Broden. Not only did he organize, create and of course officiate our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, but he made each and every step so incredibly easy. From giving us options of ceremonies to setting us up with a Hebrew tutor, to preparing our daughter, he was organized, generous with his time, and helpful at every turn. Planning was stress-free and even enjoyable! And that was just the lead up to the actual day. My daughter’s Bat Mitzvah was the most heartfelt and meaningful service I have ever been a part of. He made sure everyone was included and had a meaningful part, and his Torah reading and singing were just beautiful. I highly, highly, highly recommend Rabbi Broden for any ceremony and occasion. Our experience was just perfect.
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ilene weinshall profile picture
ilene weinshall
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Dear Rabbi Broden - please let me say thank you a thousand times over for the amazing service you did for us yesterday. My whole family was happy!! I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to say good bye to you but I will never forget how you helped a young man gain his confidence, make his Bar Mitzvah and be proud of himself! And thank you for your kindness and consideration to my Nephew with special needs be included in this most important Jewish rite of passage... Most Sincerely, Ilene Weinshall
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George Monas
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Hi Cantor Broden Thank you so much for the service this morning. It was perfect. Just what I wanted and my family appreciated. Pleasure to meet you and continue to stay safe and well. Warm regards George
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Jessica Bermudez profile picture
Jessica Bermudez
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Rabbi Ronald Broden officiated our wedding this past Sunday and planned a ceremony that was super special for us. My husband is catholic with Jewish lineage and his family is from Spain and Rabbi Ron did the ceremony in English, Spanish and Hebrew. Rabbi Ron also provided great suggestions and customized parts of the ceremony specific to our needs. We would highly recommend Rabbi Ron!!!
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Let’s Create a Ceremony
That Reflects Your Story

Whether you're planning a wedding, celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, welcoming a child, or honoring a loved one, every ceremony is thoughtfully crafted to reflect your values, traditions, and unique journey.

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Ready to Begin Your Journey?

What to expect

After you reach out, we’ll schedule a relaxed consultation to explore your vision, traditions, and preferences. From there, we can begin shaping your ceremony into a script that feels authentic and meaningful.

Contact details

  • rabbironbroden@gmail.com
  • +1 914-720-8509
  • Tri-State Area, U.S., and destination ceremonies
A note from Rabbi Ron

I’m honored to be part of your celebration. Whether it’s a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, baby naming, or memorial service, I’m here to listen and help you create a ceremony that feels true to you.

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