Designing a Monument With Care and Tradition
Guiding you through every step with compassion, clarity, and a deep understanding of Jewish customs and cemetery requirements.
Understanding the Monument Design Process
Designing a monument for a loved one can be both a painful experience as well as a cathartic closure of sorts.
Most individuals are surprised to discover how many decisions must be made during the selection process. Cemeteries have rules and regulations regarding size, composition, and design for each of their sections. There are many types and colours of memorials, along with various shapes that can complement your monument choice.
Custom-Built Monuments to Suit Every Family
All our monuments are custom built to your specific needs and unique design. We offer a large selection of granites in various shades and colours, and we have extensive experience in matching and replicating existing monument designs and colours.
Melbourne Chevrah Kadisha also has numerous laws and regulations regarding monument specifications and inscription wording. We ensure your monument meets all necessary requirements.
The Ancient Tradition of the Matzeivah
The ancient tradition of erecting a Matzeivah (monument) dates back to our earliest ancestors:
“And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrat which is Beit Lechem.
And Jacob erected a tombstone on Rachel’s grave.” (Genesis 35:19–20)
The Hebrew word for a gravestone, Matzeivah, means “to guard” or “to bear witness.” Inscribed stones define the final resting place as a physical space — a place to visit, remember, and honour.
A stone is symbolic: unlike living beings, it does not grow. It represents a soul that can no longer acquire new merits — though the good deeds performed by the living in their memory can elevate their soul.
A Matzeivah serves three important purposes:
To mark the grave so that Kohanim can avoid areas of ritual impurity
To provide a place for family and friends to visit and remember
To honour the deceased with a respectful and fitting monument
A tombstone stands as a physical reminder of a life lived — and a legacy that continues through the memories and good deeds done in their merit.
Understanding Cemetery & Halachic Requirements
Cemeteries and the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha have specific regulations regarding monument size, design, inscriptions, and installation.
Our team ensures that every detail — from the wording to the structure — complies fully with:
Melbourne Chevra Kadisha standards
All cemetery rules
Australian Standard AS4204-1994 for headstones and cemetery monuments
We handle all permits, applications, and approvals on your behalf, removing the burden from your family during a difficult time.
