A memorial tree is one of the few condolence gifts that does not run out. Food is eaten, flowers are not part of Jewish mourning, but a tree keeps growing in the Land of Israel long after the shiva ends.
How it works
- Choose the number of trees. One tree is $18. A Memorial Grove of 3 trees is $54, a Circle of Five is $75, and an Orchard of Ten is $165.
- Write the dedication. Pick *In Memory Of*, enter the name, and add the Hebrew name if you know it. Memorial certificates add ז״ל ("of blessed memory") after the name.
- Add a short message and who it is from. For example: *Forever in our hearts. With love, the Cohen family.*
- Add the family's email if you want the certificate to go straight to them. One email goes to both of you.
- Pay. The certificate arrives by email, usually within minutes, as a printable PDF with a link to view and share it online. A printed copy can be mailed to the family for $3.
The trees are planted by our planting partner, the Jewish National Fund.
What the certificate says
Each certificate is titled *Certificate of Dedication*. It states that a tree has been planted in the Land of Israel, shows *In Loving Memory Of* above the name, your message beneath it, and a Hebrew blessing from the tradition of planting: *and may the trees of the forest stand as an everlasting testimony*. It carries the date and a certificate number. You can see a sample certificate before you order.
When a memorial tree fits best
- During the shiva, when you cannot be there or the house already has more food than it can use. The email arrives the same day.
- At the shloshim, thirty days after the burial, when the visits have stopped and a family notices who still remembers.
- On the yahrzeit, the yearly anniversary of the passing.
- At the unveiling of the headstone.
One tree or several?
Many people give in multiples of 18, the value of the Hebrew word *chai*, "life". A single tree at $18 is a complete gift on its own. A grove of 3 is a common choice from a family or a group of friends signing together.