On Friday, May 6, 2005 I was asked the following question:

Rosalind asks:

Does a Rabbi have to be present at the unveiling of a memorial stone, or can a family member say the appropriate prayers?

Thank you.

This was my response:

Dear Rosalind,

It is not necessary to have a rabbi at an unveiling. However, the prayers that are to be recited at an unveiling as well as the brief sermon or D'var Torah should be conducted by someone other than the mourners and, of course, by someone who is knowledgeable in both prayer and procedure.

Shalom,
Rabbi Dan

If you have questions about a personal matter, or jewish practices and customs, you can submit them to me by e-mail. I answer all queries directly, or through this column, when the question is informative to our community.

Thank you for your kind attention and this opportunity to share with you,
Rabbi Dan S. Wiko
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