Secular-Civil burial does not conflict or contradict Jewish burial.
The term “civil” according to the Civil Burial Act of 1996, states “according to the will of the deceased or his family members”. This means that it is definitely possible to perform a completely religious burial ceremony and still maintain a civil essence to it.
Civil burial does not impose the form, course or content of the farewell ceremony, and there is no impediment to incorporate traditional religious characteristics in the civil burial ceremony.
A tear, Kaddish and the prayer for the dead (‘God full of mercy’) are of the most familiar religious characteristics, and their integration in the civil burial ceremony depends solely on the wishes and preferences of the person and his family. Beyond that, there is nothing preventing a Rabbi from taking part in a secular burial ceremony.
Aley Shalechet has many Rabbis and Cantors from all streams of Judaism, who are able to integrate in a secular burial ceremony, and many times we are called upon to perform farewell ceremonies in cemeteries run by the Chevra Kadisha.
In fact, the entire choice is up to you. Aley Shalechet is fully prepared to perform any style and character ceremony you define – starting with a farewell ceremony of a civil burial without any religious characteristics and up to an entirely religious burial ceremony.