Burial Archives - AskTheRav

Burial using a coffin with a cement liner

Question: The nearby Jewish cemetery encourages people to get buried with a wood coffin that has a cement liner (which prevents the sides of the liner from disintegrating as…

כתיבת תאריך לועזי על המצבה

שאלה: נשאלתי ממשפחה הגרים בחו"ל וקברו היום בארץ. האם יש בעיה לכתוב תאריך לועזי על המצבה. ועד כמה זה בעיה כיון שכך נוהגים שם. ואם אסור מן הדין משום ובחוקותיהם…

אדם שהיה משכים ומעריב לבתי כנסיות וירא שמים אבל לא זכה ללמוד כלל. האם לכתוב על המצבה שלו את השם בלי תואר או לכתוב את התואר ר׳?

מענה: לכתוב רבי. וכן המנהג. מקורות: מנהג ישראל לכתוב ר׳ על כל אחד. וכן המנהג גם בעלי׳ לתורה. והרי קיים מצות ת״ת בתושב״כ גם כשאינו מבין. ובע״ז יז,…

אדם שעובר ניתוח ומוציאים ממנו אבר (למשל כליה), מה צריכים לעשות עם אותו אבר?

תלוי איזה אבר: כליות: כיון שכליות הוא רק בשר מן החי ואין בגדר אבר - דהיינו בשר גידים ועצמות - אינו צריך קבורה. - ראה שו״ת אג״מ יו״ד…

Is erecting a Matzeiva obligatory?

Matzeiva is a kavod for the niftar and a tikkun for the neshma. Poskim address the need for a child or husband to pay for Matzeiva of parent or…

Is it permissible to bury remains of a body that was cremated?

Question: A man died in another country of natural causes. The caregiver had the body cremated (due to issues of cross-border transportation during these times). This man had previously…

Can a Jew who has a tattoo be buried in a Jewish cemetery?

Yes, they may be buried in the Jewish cemetery. There is a prevalent myth out there that people with tattoos may not be buried in a Jewish cemetery. This…

האם מותר לקחת אבן מהאוהל?

שאלה: ישנה אישה שמבקשת מאוד ונפשה בשאלתה כי יביאו לה אבן קטנה שהונחה בציון הקדוש. היא רואה זאת כסגולה. האם מותר הדבר? או שהוא נכלל בגדר של איסור הנאה…

What Should Be Done With An Amputated Leg?

Question: A Yid I know will probably have his leg amputated (from above the knee and down). Does the leg need to be buried in a cemetery or can…

Is disinterring and re-burying allowed?

Someone who died in a NY hospital was deemed an apparent indigent person, no family or contacts. The family living in a different state found out a couple weeks later,…

A not yet frum person is asking me about burial in a wall. Is this allowed?

There is a Halachic requirement to bury the deceased in the ground itself. This prohibits burial in a wall, such as in the wall of a crypt or mausoleum.…

My wife is pregnant. Can she go to a relatives funeral; to the cemetery?

The custom is to avoid going, although strictly it’s permitted. When there is need to go (she really wants, etc.), it’s best not to be in the same room…

My cousin passed away yesterday. Since then we have fought nonstop day and night to prevent her body cremation scheduled for by her non-Jewish attendant and guardian. However unfortunately, we did not manage to stop the guardian from doing it her way. I have started, as a Nedava B’li neder, to say kaddish, Mishnayot, candles. Which practical differences exist between this case and common Chiyuv cases, apart from the mandatory mourning restrictions upon Chiyuvim, and the priority of Chiyuvim, if such are present, to be Shliach Tzibur?

One who is cremated by their own choice is not mourned nor is Kaddish recited for them. However if it was not by choice or they did not have…

If someone bought a family grave plot in a cemetery, is there any issue of Ayin Hara with putting up a headstone with the (English) family name, if no one is buried there?

There are two issues: 1. English on a Tombstones: Many Poskim forbid the usage of languages other than Lashon Hakodesh on a tombstone. As part of a Zechus for…

Article: Does the placenta need to be buried?

Question: Is the placenta considered a part of the person and therefore requires burial or can it just be thrown out in the garbage? Short Answer: No need…