Question:
What is the Jewish view on cremation?
Answer:
Cremation has always been looked upon with horror by every sector of Jewish thought. The body is sacred, because it is the "temple of the soul" and because it is the medium by which we do goodness in this world.
Belief in the resurrection of the dead is counted by Maimonides as the thirteenth of the Thirteen Principles of the Faith. There is no rabbinic authority who does not consider this to be a fundamental belief. The Mishnah declares denial of this principle to be heresy. The reason is quite apparent: As Jews, we believe there is purpose to life, purpose to this world, purpose to the act of Creation. Therefore, anything that is used towards that purpose has a permanence — and a sanctity.
Six million of our people were denied proper burial, most of them cremated. Should we willfully continue that which our enemies began?
SSI recipient focused on improving Jewish life while on disability realizes that cheaper cremation is not an option but he would need financial help to get a Jewish burial plan in order This topic has recently emerged for me as I am currently disabled U.S. Jew. I'm finding it hard to believe that the financial restrictions to stay on the program that I do in fact currently need could be so insane because they don't leave options to bury a person. A relative has chosen cremation and I was told this was in conflict with Jewish law. You and my best current personal friend, who would both be considered Orthodox, have convinced me that cremation is not a choice for me. The problem is the lack of income and the inability to raise income: for disability insurance reasons. I'm not sure what I'm going to do but I'm certain that I cannot just die without a way to pay for my basic wish of being buried in a box in the ground in a respectful fashion. As of this second I am quite grateful that I was able to post a comment: semi-anonymously. I'm not with Chabad and I am currently even awaiting an answer on membership where I have been going. In short, I feel insecure.
Most Jewish communities in large cities have a burial fund. Why don't you call your local Chabad rabbi and ask what is available?
Dealing with a non-Jewish SSI case leads me to discover good news, this time without my iPhone submitting my post multiple times There is one piece of good news on the burial note for this very strict program:
[Link to SSI Resource on SSA website rules omitted]
Burial plots do not count as resources, if you can afford them. Burial funds count after $1500, which is typical of them. $1500 will not get you far. This program came about in the 1970s. I feel like it has improved my quality of life, while acting like it's Monopoly money. The rules are the same nationwide for any person.
I do have access to a general-purpose lawyer's telephone service that I pay less than a dollar per day for. I guess I could try again.
It's just that it's time-consuming to wait on the call and I found their lawyer unhelpful when I considered SSI.
I'm sure some way exists. A Chabad plot agreement as tzedakah would be quite fine.
My Chabad leader is beyond too busy to talk, much less about my hopefully distant burial. I have not given up on him. He is kind to me but absolutely occupied.
That's the update.
I am in certain how qualifying for an Orthodox burial fund would work given my documents situation but think I definitely need the help and security of being enrolled in some kind of plan I guess I'm going to have to. I was born into a foreign-born Jewish population that often does not have intact documents in Hebrew. Currently I am with the Reform Jews, and I have my own reasons for this. I'm usually only one who can talk to people who are not native English speakers and I've applied for formal membership but there's no sign it's actually been processed. The last time I went to a synagogue service with a member of this ethnic group of mine (native speaker who is actively Jewish) was with Chabad and it was kind of out of my league. Regardless, something has to be done. Not being able to afford a burial plot is out of the question. I spoke to a Jewish funeral care service of unknown sect affiliation and they failed to call me back. I feel I have difficulties because while Israeli people walk up thinking I'm Israeli, I don't have any documents in Hebrew for the Orthodoxy. A Reform rabbi stated that Chabad converts nobody: I have no documents. Concerned; will call.
Seeking what is available in Chabad by suddenly being a part of Chabad, writing from a twitchy website tonight! My circumstances have changed since I first started posting in this forum. For the better. Although Jewish organizations have been immeasurably supportive of me, the child of a suburban situation, I was afraid to approach Chabad for help with anything after my experiences taking part in a Reform synagogue. I blame the office more than the super head rabbi or members. I arrived during a time of a mortgage crisis followed by a rabbi’s sudden resignation for another job, & my application was processed unfairly. Another member pays—receiving SSD funds for two diagnoses I filed for—a sum I can afford! The leader heard us together. The leader admitted he did not send my application for processing because he knew the rules accommodating members with excellent reasons to have low income would change to become less forgiving; it was just never processed! I sadly sought Chabad. I fear less. Chabad has been awesome. Now, a burial plan is secondary to my surgery funds. Soon. Good recommendation.
Ouch! Sometimes getting things right takes multiple tries! I am writing to report in, to the Editor & to the Readers progress. I have a small income due to disability & take only SSI funds: benefits. I chose to leave the Reform Jews & instead join up with my local Chabad by Yom Kippur. The rabbi has approved my designed Hebrew name, quite tricky with my parentage! I will my mother’s family for burial plans. I regretfully consider them immoral people, not just Jews. This means the tricky task of funding a Chabad burial plot: still under investigation. I left my thermos at the Chabad rabbi’s lovely house during Simchat Torah. Still working alone on getting it back! Getting arrangements made will be worth the wait. Chabad is surprisingly refreshing: not lonely at all & culturally diverse. I even knew one woman! Many new faces. I have an unpleasant, long-term medical problem & waited for SSI & medication coverage before I filed for membership. I will pursue Reform friends, not status. I believe Chabad will serve my very reasonable needs. On it.