Jewish Burial

Natanya and I are getting ready for a trip to Israel in a few weeks to attend my sister, Rivkah’s wedding (the soldier who is now in university).  This will be my first time in the Holy Land, and we’re very excited about it.

One of the places I’m eager to visit is “The Cave of the Patriarchs (and matriarchs)” in Chevron (Hebron).  

This is where the founders of humanity and the Jewish people were buried.

Adam & Eve

Abraham & Sarah

Isaac & Rebecca

Jacob & Leah

Unfortunately, we’ll have to take an armored bus, because it’s in a dangerous neighborhood in the “occupied west bank”, but what I call Shomron.

Ironically, of all places in Israel to be disputed, the purchase of this cave & grave is recorded in the Bible (Genesis 23), which we will be reading this week!  After Sarah died, Abraham searched for a burial plot for his wife, and purchased it at an above market rate from Efron the Chittite.  I believe it is the first recorded real estate transaction in history!

This Biblical story has many implications that I’m passionate about regarding Israel, but it’s also a reminder for us to make burial arrangements.

The holy Jewish books teach that buying a plot young is a “segula” (“good luck charm” for lack of a better word) for living a long life.

From a Jewish perspective, it’s important to be buried in the ground, and cremation is a no-no. Here are a few reasons why:

• While the essence of a person is their soul, Judaism views the body as a holy partner in the person’s mission on this world.  Mitzvahs are done with the body, not the soul, and through physical mitzvahs, the physical body becomes holy.

• The Jewish burial preparation is unlike any other tradition.  The body is treated as a person, not as a thing.  Not only is the body prepared to be “presentable” (even though we don’t do viewings) but the way in which it’s prepared reflects respect and empathy.  

• Our tradition teaches that the soul does still feel what happens to its body.  It feels embarrassment & pain during the transition from body-soul to only soul.  Our traditions make it as comfortable as possible.

• “You are from the dust and to the dust you will return” is what G-d told Adam.  Judaism teaches that the soul cannot fully fly back to heaven until the body is buried (returned) to the ground.

• Part of the soul actually remains in this world, and doesn’t fly to heaven.  And it stays at the grave.  This is why it’s a Jewish tradition to visit our loved one’s graves.  It is a physical place in this world where we can be “closer” to them.  Even if someone thinks they may not be visited, it still is important to be buried in the ground.

• Perhaps most importantly, it is a principle Jewish faith that the Moshiach will come and eventually, the dead will come back to life (their souls will come back into their bodies).  This process will happen through the body being built back up from the luz bone, which doesn’t disintegrate.  Burial in the ground is a statement of belief that death is only temporary, and that our loved ones will come back.  

• Even Jews who didn’t live religious lives, have been very particular to “die as a Jew” and have a proper Jewish burial.

For all of these reasons, it should be obvious why we don’t do cremation.  Cremation destroys the body as much as possible, and is not respectful.  It’s how the Nazis “disposed” of the Jews, wishing that nothing be left of us.

It's never too early reach out to a Jewish burial home and make arrangements.  Please reach out for suggestions, either local, or in San Diego.