Transcript Cremation vs Burial A Jewish View By Doron

Cremation or Burial?
A Jewish View
Based on the book, by Doron Kornbluth
A Publication Sponsored by
JewishDeathandMourning
The presentation is a project of the National Association of Chevra Kadishas
Peacefulreturn.com, NASCK.org
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of Cremation or Burial; A Jewish View
The Problem: Shocking Statistics
The US cremation rate is 43%.
 There are approx. 50 Jewish cremations
every day. (a conservative estimate)
 More than a third of Jews choose cremations.
 In Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and
Maine: cremation is 70 percent.
 Cremations are now a tradition for some
Jewish families in successive generations. It’s
become fashionable.
 The cremation industry has a very strong
marketing machine.
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How Many of You Know
Someone Cremated or Thinking
of Cremation?
If you think you know no one –
think again.
The Solution is:
Questions
and Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is burial or cremation better for the
environment?
What are Jewish traditions
regarding burial?
If I am not traditional, why not
cremate?
What are the costs involved?
Cremation or Burial Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a
7FBPlOs2XQ
Environmental Questions
Burial Seems to Waste Land, Is
that True?
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Burial uses very little land.
If ALL Americans were buried it
would take 10,000 years to use just
1% of America’s land.
Doesn’t Burial Pollute the
Environment?
 Environmentalists
worldwide choose
green burial (no embalming, no metal
caskets).
 Cremation causes pollution by releasing
mercury and other toxins into the air
and uses enormous amounts of fossil
fuels.
Burial Scares Me. Isn’t Cremation
Quicker and Cleaner?
• While decomposition isn’t a comfortable thought, it is the
way of all living things. Burial respects the cycle of nature,
and our bodies give back, in some small way, to the Earth.
Burial is gentle.
• Cremation is not quick. It is a terrible process with very
little oversight, control or closure. There are many news
stories of organs being sold for profit and other
unscrupulous activities. The body can wait in the
crematorium for days or weeks. The body burns at 1800
degrees for hours, bones are removed and ground up to fit
in an urn. There is no way to really know whose ashes are
in the urns received.
• If you do not believe in the soul – why are you scared? If
you do believe in the soul, burial is the safer bet.
What are Cremated Remains?
Ashes have no religious or legal significance.
 There is no requirement to bury or show
respect to ashes. Ashes are devoid of DNA
and have no legal status as human remains.
 For example;
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– Ashes are just ashes and can be put out with the
trash.
– A Cohen, by Jewish law can’t be in the presence
of a dead body, yet is permitted to be in the
presence of ashes.
Jewish Tradition
What do Burial and Cremation
Represent?
We bury treasure. We burn trash. For more
than 3000 years, Jews have avoided cremation
and chosen burial.
 Burial represents a calm acceptance of death,
symbolizing an eventual rebirth.
 Cremation ends life with a total violent and
lack of respect to the body that gave us life.
 No matter how religious you are, choosing
burial means wanting to be remembered as a
Jew.

Why is Judaism Opposed to
Cremation?
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The body is to be respectfully treated because
it housed the holy soul that was created in the
image of G-d.
Jews go to great lengths to bury soldiers’
remains, Torah scrolls, and other holy objects.
Burial is a commandment while cremation is a
severe Jewish transgression - denying many
fundamental Jewish beliefs.
Why is Judaism Opposed to
Cremation?
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The bible talks about burial often – including
the patriarchs and matriarchs. G-d himself
buried Moses.
For thousands of years Jews have gone to
gravesites to pay respects.
A cemetery is called a Beit HaChaim – home
of the living. The soul maintains a presence at
the body’s burial site forever.
Why Should I Care if I am Dead?
We have no right to hurt or disrespect our
bodies in life or death. Cremation is
disrespectful.
 At a deep Kabalistic level, burial provides
comfort and cleanses for the soul.
 Cremation causes anguish and great pain for
the soul and hinders its return to G-d. “The
dust returns to Earth as it was and the spirit
returns to G-d who gifted it.” (Ecclesiastes)
 Judaism holds that burial provides for the body
and soul’s future resurrection. Cremation
rejects these core beliefs.
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You Might Not Believe all This.
 But
what if you are wrong?
 Burial
is the safe choice.
 Burial
provides closure to family and
respect and stability for the continuity of
family.
 Burial
come.
plants roots for generations to
Why is Cremation Chosen?
Usually, cremation is chosen due to social
or cultural influences based on
misconceptions about the impact on
family, our soul, the environment and our
Jewish values and beliefs.
 People often regret cremating their loved
ones and making the wrong choice is the
biggest burden of all. In its spiritual place,
the soul very much wants to be buried and although Jewish law usually requires
following the deceased’s wishes, this is a
clear exception.
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Costs
Isn’t Cremation Cheaper?
Cremation is cheaper but cremation and
burial are not equal choices.
 Burial can be affordable with extended
payment periods, pre-planning and family
and community financial resources if
necessary.
 Important life events like marriage and
having children affect our lives and family
forever. End of life decisions are not to be
made by the cheapest choice. The impact
is eternal.
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Jewish Burial Society – The
Chevra Kadisha
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1,000s of men and women nationwide
volunteer their time preparing Jewish people
for burial. Members are on call 24 hours a
day to ensure that the laws and customs are
followed properly.
Their greatest concern is the sensitive care,
modesty and dignity of the deceased.
Men care for men. Women care for women.
Jewish Burial Customs
Shmira/The Vigil: Guarding the body, showing
respect to the soul
 Tahara: the body leaves the world the way it
entered. A newborn is immediately cleansed
and so is the deceased when it leaves this
world to enter the next world.
 Tachrichim/Shrouds: Every Jew is buried
exactly the same in handmade white clothes
with no pockets.
 Wood Casket with in-ground burial as
immediately as possible.
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Jewish Mourning Customs
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For thousands of years, Jews have prayed, studied,
and done good deeds on behalf of deceased loved
ones – deepening the soul’s connections to G-d and
to those of us who remain on Earth. There are many
ways to elevate the soul:
Shiva for seven days
Kaddish Recital for eleven months
Mishnah Study
Giving Tzedakah
Yizkor Recital
Burial Form : NASCK.org
Additional Resources
Closing Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j
8D2L7cF3rw&feature=youtu.be
Inspirational True Stories
Video – Robin’s Story
 http://www.jewishdeathandmourning
.org/watchvideo.asp
Burial Is Better
FOR YOU
YOUR
YOUR
YOUR
YOUR
Family
Environment
Soul
Eternity
BURIAL IS BETTER
Questions