Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel

Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel, located at 1985 South Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, stands as a cornerstone of the Jewish community in greater Cleveland. With a legacy spanning over 120 years, this full-service funeral home is the only dedicated Jewish funeral home in the region, specializing in traditional and modern funeral services that honor Jewish customs and religious significance. The chapel serves Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and secular families, as well as those with interfaith marriages, ensuring every family receives compassionate, personalized care.

The roots of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz trace back to five founding families: J.D. Deutsch’s livery stable (opened in 1890), Berkowitz & Sons Orthodox Funeral Home (early 1900s), Cohen-Margowsky Funeral Chapel (1920s), Cleveland Temple Memorial (1936), and Miller Memorial (1940s). In 1957, the Berkowitz and Kumin families merged to form Berkowitz-Kumin Memorial Chapel. A decade later, Miller Memorial and J.D. Deutsch combined to create Miller-Deutsch. In 1977, Cleveland Temple Memorial joined Berkowitz-Kumin to become Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz, and in 1985, Miller-Deutsch was acquired, uniting all five legacies under one roof. Since 1998, the chapel has been a proud member of the Dignity Memorial network, North America’s largest provider of funeral, cremation, and cemetery services.

The chapel offers a wide range of services, including traditional burials, cremations, worldwide transfers—including to Israel—and personalized celebrations of life. The facility features two modern chapels: a large chapel seating up to 500 guests and a more intimate chapel for 95. Both are equipped with advanced audio/visual technology, including digital projection screens and simulcast capabilities. In March 2021, the chapel embarked on an extensive renovation and expansion project, adding 3,800 square feet to its existing 17,000-square-foot building. Planned with guidance from Rabbi Boruch Hirschfeld and the Chevra Kadisha of Greater Cleveland, the upgrades include modernized vestibules, redesigned chapels, ADA-compliant elevators and restrooms, a private identification room, a mikvah for ritual taharah, a dedicated shomer room, and an enlarged mailing room for yahrzeit notices.

The team at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz is deeply committed to community service. Staff members serve on boards of organizations such as the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, and many more. The chapel also provides dignified burial services for those unable to afford them, working with consecrated Jewish cemeteries. Additionally, as a Level One Founding Community Partner with We Honor Veterans, the staff is trained to honor veterans with specialized benefits and memorial services. Open 24/7, the chapel emphasizes a 100% service guarantee and offers pre-planning options with up to 10% savings. With over 900 reviews and a 4.9-star rating on Dignity Memorial, Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel continues to provide compassionate, expert care to families during their most difficult moments.