
The Jewish faith has traditionally looked upon cremation with horror. Cremation is considered a violation of the body's sanctity, as it is the temple of the soul. The body is also a medium through which people do goodness in this world, and so it must be treated with respect.
The Torah states that You will return to the ground, for it was from the ground that you were taken, and Deuteronomy 21:23 insists on burial directly into the ground. Cremation is seen as destructive and denigrating, and an unnaturally sudden disengagement of the body and soul.
However, some Reform Jews have adopted the practice of cremation, and the movement does not consider the practice to be sinful.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Jewish view on cremation | Cremation is looked upon with horror by every sector of Jewish thought |
Burial | Burial is considered a mitzvah and is the dominant Jewish practice |
Cremation | Cremation is considered destructive and denigrating |
Reasons for cremation | Environmental concerns, mobility concerns, discomfort with decomposition, financial concerns |
Cremation and the environment | Cremation uses a lot of fossil fuels and releases toxic chemicals into the air |
Burial and the environment | Burial is more environmentally friendly than cremation |
Reasons for burial | Burial is a Torah commandment, burial allows the soul time to slowly depart the body, burial is a natural process of decomposition |
Cremation and the soul | Cremation causes the soul tremendous and unnecessary agony |
Burial and the soul | Burial gives the soul comfort and provides the transition it requires to enter the spiritual world |
Cremation and history | Cremation was historically associated with pagan practices |
Burial and history | Burial has been the dominant Jewish practice for millennia |
Cremation and God | The body is considered God's property and therefore it is forbidden to defile it |
What You'll Learn
- Cremation is considered a desecration of the body, which is seen as a holy instrument or temple of the soul
- Cremation is believed to cause the soul unnecessary pain, as it suddenly disengages from the body
- Cremation is associated with pagan practices that Jews are repeatedly enjoined in the Torah to reject
- Cremation is considered a rejection of the belief in the resurrection of the dead, a core principle of the Jewish faith
- Cremation is seen as a declaration that the body has no value after death, which is at odds with the Jewish belief that the body is invested with permanent value and sanctity
Cremation is considered a desecration of the body, which is seen as a holy instrument or temple of the soul
Cremation is considered a desecration of the body, which is viewed as a holy vessel or temple of the soul. In Jewish law, the body is sacred and must be treated with respect.
The body is seen as a holy instrument because it is through the physical body that people do good in this world. It is the medium through which people fulfil their mission in life. Therefore, the body is invested with permanent value and sanctity.
The body is also considered sacred because it is created in God's image and likeness. As such, any violation of the human body is considered a violation of God. The body is God's property and must be "returned" in its entirety, just as it was given.
Cremation is seen as a destructive and denigrating act that prevents the soul from slowly departing the body and becoming accustomed to its new heavenly abode. It causes the soul tremendous and unnecessary agony.
The act of cremation is also considered a rejection of the belief in the resurrection of the dead, a fundamental belief of Judaism. Cremation implies that once the soul has departed the body, it has served its purpose and has no further value.
In summary, cremation is viewed as a desecration of the body because it fails to treat the body with the respect and honour it is due as a holy vessel or temple of the soul.
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Cremation is believed to cause the soul unnecessary pain, as it suddenly disengages from the body
The soul is confused and disoriented after death, staying close to what it knows best—its body. It hovers around the body until burial, and shares in the mourning, going back and forth from the gravesite to the house of mourning. The soul is fully aware of what is happening to its body, and it is painful for the soul to see its body mishandled, abandoned, or defiled. Cremation, therefore, causes the soul tremendous and unnecessary agony.
The soul is prevented from gently returning to God and must instead go through a lengthy and difficult struggle to adjust to a new reality. Burial, on the other hand, gives the soul great comfort and provides the transition it requires to enter the purely spiritual world.
The Talmud says, "Burial is not for the sake of the living, but rather for the dead."
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Cremation is associated with pagan practices that Jews are repeatedly enjoined in the Torah to reject
The Torah states that God created man from the dust of the earth, and that when a person dies, their body must be returned to the earth. Cremation, therefore, is seen as a rejection of God's creation and ownership of the human body. The Torah also commands that executed criminals be buried, and this is reiterated in later rabbinic sources.
The Jewish mystical tradition also states that the soul does not immediately depart from the body after death. Instead, it stays close to the body and slowly separates from it as the body decays. Cremation, therefore, causes the soul unnecessary agony as it is suddenly and violently wrenched from the body.
The body is also considered sacred in Jewish tradition, as it is the medium through which people do good in this world. It is seen as a holy instrument that must be treated with respect. Cremation, on the other hand, is considered destructive and denigrating.
For these reasons, cremation is prohibited by Orthodox and Conservative rabbinic authorities. While the Reform movement does not consider cremation to be sinful, it still discourages the practice.
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Cremation is considered a rejection of the belief in the resurrection of the dead, a core principle of the Jewish faith
The Jewish faith considers the body to be sacred, a "temple of the soul", and the medium through which people do good in the world. The body is also considered to be on loan from God and must be "returned" in its entirety. Cremation is seen as a violation of the body, and therefore, a violation of God.
The belief in the resurrection of the dead is a fundamental tenet of Judaism. Cremation, however, is seen as a rejection of this belief. According to Jewish mysticism, the soul does not depart the body immediately after death. The gradual decomposition of the body allows the soul time to slowly depart and acclimate to its new heavenly abode. The burning of the body caused by cremation is thought to deprive the soul of this adjustment period, causing it unnecessary agony.
Cremation is also seen as a rejection of the belief in resurrection because it implies that once the soul has departed the body, it has served its purpose and has no further value. This is in direct opposition to the Jewish belief that the body will be resurrected during the Messianic Era.
Additionally, cremation was historically associated with pagan practices that Jews were repeatedly enjoined in the Torah to reject.
For these reasons, cremation is considered a rejection of the belief in the resurrection of the dead, a core principle of the Jewish faith.
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Cremation is seen as a declaration that the body has no value after death, which is at odds with the Jewish belief that the body is invested with permanent value and sanctity
Cremation is seen as a rejection of the belief that the body is sacred and has permanent value and sanctity.
The Jewish faith considers the body to be a holy vessel for the soul. It is the medium through which people do goodness in the world. The body is also believed to be a vehicle for the soul to do good deeds or "mitzvot". This is why it is seen as sacred and invested with permanent value and sanctity.
The body is also believed to be on loan from God and must be "returned" in its entirety. This is based on the Biblical commandment that states: "For dust you are, and to dust you shall return." This is reiterated in Deuteronomy 21:23 which insists on burial directly into the ground.
Cremation, on the other hand, is seen as destructive and denigrating. It is also associated with pagan practices that Jews are repeatedly enjoined in the Torah to reject.
Cremation is also believed to cause the soul unnecessary agony. According to Jewish mysticism, the soul does not depart the body immediately after death. The gradual decomposition of the body allows the soul time to slowly depart the body and acclimate itself to its new heavenly abode. The instant destruction of the body caused by cremation deprives the soul of this adjustment period.
The increasing popularity of cremation is attributed to environmental concerns, mobility concerns, discomfort with decomposition, and financial concerns. However, these reasons are not seen as justifications for cremation in the Jewish faith.
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Frequently asked questions
Cremation is not permitted by Jewish law and is considered a taboo in Jewish tradition. The body is sacred as it is the "temple of the soul" and the medium through which we do good in the world. Cremation is seen as destructive and denigrating, and it is believed that the soul suffers great shock due to the sudden disengagement from the body.
The Torah states that "You will return to the ground, for it was from the ground that you were taken" (Genesis 3:19). This is reiterated in Deuteronomy 21:23, which insists on burial directly into the ground. Cremation is also associated with disgrace or tragedy in the Bible.
There are various reasons why some Jews opt for cremation, including environmental concerns, mobility concerns, discomfort with decomposition, and financial constraints. However, it is important to note that cremation is not always cheaper than burial, and Jewish communities often have resources to subsidize traditional burial.
Yes, generally, the remains of cremated Jews can be buried in a Jewish cemetery. While individual burial societies or cemeteries may decline to inter the ashes, there is nothing in Jewish law that bars them from doing so.
It depends on the circumstances and the rabbi's denomination. Conservative rabbis may choose to officiate at a ceremony prior to cremation but not at the interment if the family declines their advice against cremation. Reform rabbis do not object to presiding over a funeral at which a cremation is to take place.