My daughter’s wedding is in 4.5 weeks and we just paid the Rabbi this weekend. As my daughter is marrying out of our faith, our conservative Rabbi Was not able to marry her, so she is using a Reform Rabbi from a neighboring synagogue. His fee was $1,000, which includes his 9 hour counciling with the couple, the ceremony and assorted emails with the bride and groom to be. The way he made both feel so comfortable at the first meeting, I would have been willing l to pay double or triple that!
I do know the money goes directly to the Rabbi, not the synagogue. My wish is if they ever moved to our area, maybe they will join this synagogue as the Rabbi was so warm and welcoming to the non Jewish groom
We recently made pre funeral arrangements for 2 family members. The fee was $800 per funeral to cover the priest, altar servers, organist and choir member. An invitation to the priest to attend the lunch after the burial will be made, but I don’t have plans at this point to add any tips.
Wow–we paid a lot more than that for my relative’s services a few years ago–maybe about $5000 or more. Prices are likely variable and regional. One issue around here is that some mortuaries have gone out of business, AFTER folks have prepaid for multiple things and there was a big scandal about it that eventually died down. It is supposed to be regulated by the state, so adequate reserves are maintained and they don’t go bankrupt.
My choir sometimes volunteers to sing at memorial services, to date for former members of the choir, choir members spouses, and clergy. It never crossed my mind that we could be offered a tip! Of course, we have a relationship and are volunteering, different from a soloist who is engaged for the event, even if they are a choir member.
I am also part of a group of people who help with receptions after memorial services, usually for members. Sometimes we provide all of the food, sometimes we supplement it. We set up, serve, and clean up. There used to be some modest charge per person for a standard menu of tea sandwiches, cookies (homemade), tea/coffee/punch. It was probably $2 per person. Those who participated, almost all women, regarded it as a fundraiser for the church. We’ve also done some more elaborate receptions for special people in recent years: a long term pillar of the community, for example. In those cases the spouse might contribute $100 or so toward the expenses, which is appreciated.
