The custom of placing a monument over the grave of a departed person is a very ancient Jewish tradition. The Book of Genesis, for example, records that Jacob erected a tombstone (Matzevah) over the grave of his wife Rachel. From Biblical times onward, wherever Jewish communities have existed, Jews have continued this practice of erecting a memorial in honor of their deceased. Monuments are required for all burials at Baron de Hirsch-Back River Cemeteries and may be ordered directly from the approved monument maker of your choice. Approved monument makers are familiar with the size and styles of monuments permitted at the cemetery.
 

When you order a monument, the maker is required to submit a “permit to erect a monument” to our office for approval. A permit cannot be approved if the monument does not meet our size and style standards or if there are any unpaid balances for the grave due to Baron de Hirsch-Back River Cemeteries or its affiliates. Headstones must meet the requirements of Halacha. Embellishments, such as curbing, fences, lamps or ledgers that hamper our ability to maintain the grounds are not permitted.

Footstones are discouraged as they can be susceptible to damage beyond our control. Baron de Hirsch-Back River Cemeteries Inc. will not be responsible however caused.

Authorized Monument Makers 

 Baron de Hirsch – Back River Cemeteries Inc  ( BDH-BRC) Monument Regulations

1. Enforcement of Monument Regulations
   The BDH-BRC Monument Regulations are enforced at all cemeteries managed by Baron de Hirsch – Back River Cemeteries Inc.  The Monument Regulations are designed to provide clear guidance as to what is permitted to be installed at BDH-BRC. Once a monument and/or footstone has been approved for both specification and halacha requirements and is installed,  the monument and/or footstone becomes part of the cemetery land and can not be altered except in the exceptional circumstances indicated below in section 6. It is the responsibility of the monument provider to ensure that the Monument Regulations are strictly adhered to. Any questions or concerns should be directed to [email protected]. Any monument or footstone that is installed or altered without the approval of BDH-BRC will be removed from the cemetery, and the monument provider will be held responsible for all costs required to restore the monument or footstone to its original approved condition.
    
2. Monument Specifications:
   

Type	Max Height*	Min Height	Max Width	Min Width	Max Thick	Min Thick
Single	36	36	24	24	10	6**
Single Base	12	10	28	28	14	12
Single Foot Stone	24	24	12	12	6	4
Double	32	30	52	48	10	8
Double Base	12	10	56	56	14	12
Triple	32	32	74	10	10	8
Triple Base	12	10	80	80	10	12
*All measurements are in inches.		**Recommended thickness for single monuments is a minimum of 8 inches

All monuments and footstones must be purchased from BDH-BRC approved monument providers.
Headstones are required for all gravesites.
Footstones are optional.
BDH-BRC is not responsible for damage to footstones.
Monument bases can be polished on a maximum of 2 sides (front and back).
Footstones can not be polished on sides.nly single footstones are permitted.  

3. Composition
   Monuments must be made exclusively of granite.
   No one-piece monuments are permitted.
   No monuments with glued-on sections are permitted.
   No cement or granite ledgers are permitted.
    No curbings are permitted. 

4. Stone Colours
   Only dark tones are permitted.
   Bright colours are not permitted.   
   It is the responsibility of the monument provider to write to BDH-BRC and obtain its prior approval for all tones and colours. 

5. Engraving
   All monuments must comply with the following halacha requirements, on either the headstone or footstone, in Hebrew:
   Hebrew name 
   Hebrew date of death 
   ת נ צ ב ה    
   פּ'נ
   Additional inscriptions are permitted in languages other than Hebrew. If the inscription is not in English or French, a translation into English must be provided for approval.
   
   General Restrictions:         
   All inscriptions must be approved by BDH-BRC.
   BDH-BRC reserves the right to withhold approval of anything that it, in its sole and absolute discretion, considers offensive or that does not conform to the BDH-BRC Monument Regulations. 
   All installed monuments must correspond to the rendering approved by BDH-BRC failing which the monuments will be removed at the monument provider’s expense.  
   No inscriptions are allowed on the base of a monument except on the 2-inch lip at the top of the base of the monument.
   Only the following colours for the engraving are permitted: grey, black, gold, brown or white. It is the responsibility of the monument provider to write to BDH-BRC and obtain its prior approval for all colours. 
   Religious Jewish-based symbols, such as Magen David, Cohen’s hands etc., may be any size. 
   One small symbol reflective of the deceased is permitted but is restricted to a maximum size of 7.5″ (height) x 7.5″ (width). 
   Additional colours on the small reflective symbol are permitted on footstones only. 
   Trademarks or commercial images are prohibited. 
   No pictorial representations of people or animals are permitted.
   No electronic items or signs may be attached to any monument.
   All monuments must have a label indicating the monument provider on the lower left corner of the monument. 
   Special requests for exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis if these requests are based on similar monuments for family members nearby. No monument or footstone may exceed the current size specifications indicated in section 2. 
   Special requests for children’s or babies’ monuments will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  No monument or footstone may exceed the current size specifications indicated in section 2.
    
6. Alterations to a Monument or Footstone
   Alterations to a monument or footstone are only permitted in one or more of the exceptional circumstances indicated in a) to d) below. BDH-BRC must approve all alterations in writing prior to the work being performed. No monument/footstone may be altered or removed from the grounds without prior written approval from BDH-BRC
   Adding a new inscription to a double or triple monument that is already installed for a deceased that was not inscribed on the monument already.   
   Changing a single monument to a double or triple monument is permitted with the prior approval of BDH-BRC subject to the following restriction:

Where the change is not requested by the original purchaser, the inscription on the original monument must be transferred to the new double or triple monument
Halacha omission or error. 
Next of kin may request that a halacha omission or error be corrected by requesting approval from BDH-BRC. The essence of the original inscription must be retained. Future generations may not change monuments or inscriptions except when the monument does not adhere or correspond to halacha requirements.  
Any other circumstance constituting, in the sole and absolute discretion of BDH-BRC, an exceptional circumstance

7. Memorial Candles
   Memorial candles may only be embedded in the side or front of the headstone
   Memorial candles cannot be a separate item next to the grave.
   BDH-BRC is not responsible for any damage to the memorial candle holders or enclosure.
   Memorial candle holders which are not embedded will be removed 

8. Installation
   Monument permit applications must be submitted to the cemetery office for approval prior to installation and must include a detailed rendering including size, colour and inscription
   No monument installations will be allowed without an approved permit application.  
   No monument can be erected if there is no foundation in place.
   Monuments must be installed within one year of the date of death.
   Monument deliveries must be no later than two weeks prior to a scheduled unveiling.
   No work or deliveries of any kind on Fridays,  Sundays or Jewish Holidays.
   BDH-BRC and its affiliates must be paid in full prior to the installation of a monument.
   After Installation, a photo must be taken of both the monument and footstone (if applicable)  and emailed to [email protected]. 
   All monument installers must provide a current certificate of insurance with a commercial general liability coverage, including coverage for bodily injury, property damage and non-owned automobiles, in an amount not less than $2,000,000 (two million dollars).
   No monument may be installed between November 30th and May 1st. BDH-BRC may, based on weather and soil conditions,  modify these dates.

9. Prepayment of Monument:
   At the discretion of the BDH-BRC a "monument deposit" may be required, prior to burial, when the person making burial arrangements for the individual is not a resident of Quebec or when BDH-BRC  has any other reasonable concern that the next of kin may not provide a monument in a timely fashion as required under the Burial Service Agreement. This deposit will be used to purchase a basic monument for the deceased if, one year after the demise, a monument is not installed. If a monument is installed, the "monument deposit" will be returned to the person who originally tendered the deposit.