Reinterment

Hirhurim Musings recently posted a write up of the laws of disinterring a body. On occasion, HFBA has dealt with disinterment requests, and while each case is addressed on its own merits, the Hirhurim article is a solid overview of the topic. Click here to view it.

Oskar Schindler's Gravesite

According to a recent report on The Yeshiva World, the grave of Oskar Schindler, who is buried in a Catholic Cemetery in the old city of Jerusalem, has been neglected. This is a sad story, that the Righteous Gentile's grave, who saved so many from Hitler's wrath, has been ignored.

Oskar Schindler was a wealthy person. He obviously was able to arrange to be buried in Jerusalem. He obviously has the well wishes of the entire Jewish people. If such a person's grave can be neglected after death, what hope is there for people who died poor, anonymously, without any fanfare?

The Hebrew Free Burial Association is devoted to preventing this from happening. Every Jew deserves a proper Jewish burial. Every Jew deserves a grave that is cared for. HFBA's Leave Your Mark campaign has marked over 15,000 previously unmarked graves. We care for the graves, making sure they are treated with respect.

The other lesson from this story is that of HaKaras HaTov, acknowledging the good that has been done for us. Hopefully, someone in Israel, an organization, the government, someone, will respond to this story, and ensure that such an honorable person's burial site is also treated with honor and respect.

Memorial Day at Mount Richmond Cemetery

Who Created You With Justice

It is well known that one says a bracha (makes a blessing) prior to eating food. However, it is not as well known that there is a bracha that is said when one hasn't seen a Jewish grave in the past thirty days. This bracha is called, Asher Yatzar Eschem BaDin (Who created you with justice).

The bracha is an acknowledgment that one's entire life, from when he is born to when he died (and when he will eventually be resuscitated), and all that he experienced in his life, was overseen by G-d's attribute of justice. This is an important lesson that helps give one perspective when he hasn't been in a cemetery for a while.

As we live our life, we are caught up in day to day living. We don't focus on the whys and hows of our existence. We don't focus on our place in the world, and what G-d does to us and for us. However, when we experience a death, we are shocked into thought. And when we go to a cemetery, we question why? And that's why we say the blessing. We are stating our belief that even though we don't know all the answers, we affirm that everything that G-d does is with justice.

This past month has seen many tragedies for the Jewish people. It is precisely at this point where we need to affirm our belief in G-d's justice. And as we greet the holiday of Purim, which tells the story of our triumph over our enemies, we should see another triumph this year, and see the end of all sorrow with the beginning of our redemption.

Hate Exists

While looking for some more information about the desecration of the Poile Zedek Cemetery in New Brunswick, NJ (see previous blog post about this), I was shocked to see how many recent cases of cemetery desecration have occurred in the United States. The Kansas legislature is reviewing legislation to make cemetery desecration a felony (as opposed to a misdemeanor). Among the most appalling recent instances of cemetery desecration occurred in a suburb of Chicago.

As reported by the local NBC affiliate the cemetery was desecrated by a 21 year old Polish immigrant, who is a member of a neo-Nazi organization.

"When you deal with people who are involved with these hate groups, their rationale is not something that most of us would ever understand," said Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. "They usually are looking to stand out among their group."

How do we fight such movements? What can we do to protect our cemeteries?

On a practical level, we need to ensure that our cemeteries are properly enclosed. They should be fenced in and locked at night. While someone looking to commit a crime will find a way, all practical deterrents need to be employed.

Addressing the root of the problem, education is needed. Our children need to be taught about the injustices of history. Whether it is the Holocaust, or the historical oppression of African-Americans in the United States, or the current genocide in Darfur, we need to teach and inform others about history. Why these events took place? Why weren't the injustices stopped? What are the lessons that we can learn?

Hate exists. We need to educate our children that hate is wrong. We need to educate ourselves about hatred throughout history. Otherwise, society is doomed to a continuance of hate and intolerance.

Cemetery Clean-Up Project

It's snowing today in New York, but my mind is thinking about the spring. The Hebrew month of Adar begins this week, the Super Bowl is over, pitchers and catchers report in two weeks, and the schedule is filling up for HFBA's Cemetery Clean-Up Project.

The Cemetery Clean-Up Project was instituted to ensure that Silver Lake Cemetery, and the people buried there, would not be forgotten. Our volunteers are the only visitors the cemetery receives. The work that our volunteers do is a major element of the cemetery's maintenance. By raking leaves, clearing debris, and moving downed tree limbs (among other tasks), our volunteers are involved in Chesed Shel Emes.

Our volunteers come from all over the tri-state region. We have students from middle school, high school, and college. Families coming on a Sunday with their children of all ages. Senior citizens participating in our annual chesed day. Every participant leaves our cemetery with a feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment. Beyond the physical work performed, they are making an impact just be being there. Recognizing that Silver Lake Cemetery is an important place in the history of Jews in America, and in New York City, in particular.

With the spring rapidly approaching, we are asking groups to sign up to participate in the project. For more information, please call our office, (212) 239-1662.

Cemetery Desecration

In the beginning of January, the Poile Zedek Cemetery in New Brunswick, NJ was vandalized. Hundreds of tombstones were toppled over, many of them suffering permanent damage. The alleged perpetrators of the crime are four teenagers. What has happened where teens can confuse a graveyard with a play yard?

I don't know what could motivate anyone to commit such an act of desecration, but I was moved by the coverage of this story in the media. Fortunately, the story wasn't ignored, and fortunately, work is underway to raise funds to restore the cemetery.

This is an opportunity to raise awareness of important cemetery issues. The Jewish concept of funeral and burial goes beyond the funeral. We erect monuments by the deceased. We visit the graves of our ancestors on a semi-regular basis. We go to the cemetery prior to important events, and before the High Holidays. The cemetery is not forgotten.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are cemeteries where the dead aren't visited. The graves aren't cared for. Everything is left and abandoned. At the Hebrew Free Burial Association, we work hard to ensure that doesn't happen. Our Cemetery Clean-Up Project enlists the help of volunteers to clean and maintain Silver Lake Cemetery. The volunteers walk around the cemetery, showing a commitment to not forget the people buried there. At Mount Richmond Cemetery, HFBA's donors have erected over 15,000 stones for previously unmarked graves.

There are sick people who seek enjoyment by desecrating a cemetery. Besides the financial loss incurred, there is a strong emotional loss as well. It is scary and traumatic. Hopefully, the perpetrators will be brought to justice. And perhaps, we can all learn a valuable lesson about the importance of cemeteries, and we can renew our commitment to ensuring they're treated with proper reverence and respect.

Welcome - Death could be beautiful

It was not an easy decision to start a blog about my work. I decided to go ahead with it, with the hopes of being able to present information in a more contemporary, new media manner. I am viewing this blog as an extension of my desk. My digital notepad. I hope to update this space with interesting stories, stimulating links, and any other relevant information to all issues of death.

My opening message is about perspective. When I started working at HFBA, the message was about death and darkness. HFBA's promotional video was filmed in brutal winter weather, with no life and beauty to be found. Promotional materials were targeted to an older, aging, population.

There was another approach, that I believed would be more relevant in the 21st century. That of life and positives. Our new video was filmed in the late summer. The cemetery is shown with is beautiful foliage. There are videos of children volunteers cleaning Silver Lake Cemetery. New promotional materials emphasize the life of HFBA's clients.

The constant challenge is presenting death in a positive light. At the end of the day, death is scary. It is dark. It is gloomy. There is no avoiding that reality. However, it can be framed in a positive light. A clean cemetery. Students clearing garbage and raking leaves. Stressing the importance of the work that's done. Explaining, that while death is sad, what's sadder is someone dying and being left to rot. Being buried in a mass grave, without any ritual involved.

What's beautiful is that HFBA exists to ensure that every Jew who passes away receives a dignified Jewish Burial. That, my friends, is a beautiful thing.