Cremation
Jewish tradition prohibits
the cremation of a deceased body, because
it impedes the body’s natural decay. Rabbis believe
cremation and the burning of bodies inflicts
impurity on the body. When a body is cremated,
the ashes are usually not buried in the ground,
thus not fulfilling the verse “for
dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19).
Once a body has been cremated, Jewish tradition
does not allow the ashes to be buried in
a Jewish cemetery or to receive a ritual
funeral (this does not apply to bodies that
have been accidentally incinerated). Some
rabbinic bodies, however, have allowed the
ashes of cremation to be buried in a Jewish
cemetery so that at least part of the deceased
is returned to the earth. Cremation also
is contrary to the Judaic idea of the resurrection
of the complete body following the arrival
of the Messiah.
Sources: Eisenberg, Ronald L. The
JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. PA:
Jewish Publication Society, 2004; Kolatch,
Alfred J. The
Jewish Book of Why/The Second Jewish Book
of Why. NY: Jonathan
David Publishers, 1989; Kolatch, Alfred J. The
Jewish Mourner's Book Of Why. NY:
Jonathan David Publishers, 1996. |