A recent article on msnbc.com asked the question, "Did Winehouse's funeral violate Jewish law?" The answer sadly is that since Amy Winehouse was cremated, that was a violation of Jewish law and tradition. Our bodies were born into this earth whole, and when we pass, they are to be returned to the earth whole as well.
What can we do to prevent more cremations from occurring? The most important thing is to let our wishes be known, preferably in a legal document, that when we pass away, we want to be buried and not cremated. Then, we need to discuss our choice with others, and let them know that we hold burial to be sacred. Engage friends who may not know that cremation is against Jewish law. Tell your children that cremation is wrong.
There is much work to be done on this front, but it is important to take sad stories in the news, and use them as teachable moments in the fight against cremation.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Don't Cremate
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
What a pity that this has to be written, so soon after millions of us were reduced to ashes with no place for their relatives (any that survived) to visit.
In the economy of today the cost of burial becomes a serious consideration for those with limited income and few assets. I believe that cremation is about one thousand dollars while an average burial can cost about six to seven thousand dollars. For some the cost differential may be a critical factor.
That is a common misconception. While cremation may be cheaper than burials, it isn't cheaper by $4000 or $5000. If cost is an issue, that's why Hebrew Free Burial Association is here. But what I'm discussing is not necessarily a financial consideration but rather a personal one. Where people are choosing cremation because they want to. And that's where education becomes so important.
What about anatomical gifts? I signed up for organ donation--it can be done through a drivers' license because the delays inherent in finding and probating a will can make language relating to disposition of remains rather moot. As a Jew and a citizen of the human race, I consider it a mitzvah and a sacred duty to use my body to save or enhance another's life rather than wasting ot by having it rot in the ground. Any G-d who would consider this wrong is not a G-d in whom I wish to believe.
A final note on your post, I agree that it is a mitzvah to donate organs. Regarding how to do so, I'd refer you to the Halachic Organ Donor Society (www.hods.org).
My former husband had insisted that, in case of his death, he wanted to be cremated. At that time I asked a Conservadox rabbi if it was necessary to honor the wishes of the deceased if that wish were cremation, and his response was an unqualified "no." Though this is the opposite situation, our wishes, according to that rabbi, do not have to be carried out, whether they are cremation of burial - the survivor will have the ultimate choice. Agree?
At the end of the day, the next of kin will always have the final choice, regardless of what's in the will (and that goes both ways). The exception would be if the next of kin disagrees with each other, then a court may force the choice of the deceased (if it's clearly known).
My father (obm) had always wanted to be cremated, though he never explained why. He was adamant about it, although he was raised as a religious Jew. None of us could talk him out of it.
Then, I lost a baby when I was 6 months pregnant, and we named her Rachel. My father insisted on handling all the burial details for her, and she was buried next to my grandparents in the family plot.
After that, my father began saying he wanted to be buried next to his granddaughter. :) I wondered for the longest time why Hashem allowed her to be taken from us, and now I saw that she was called into existence for that very reason.
Post a Comment