he Tel Aviv-Jaffa District Chevra Kadisha has decided to
provide terror victims free plots at the Cholon Cemetery,
setting aside a special section in coordination with Bituach
Leumi.
A similar section was set up at the Yarkon Cemetery in Tel
Aviv based on a recommendation by Chevra Kadisha Director
Yehoshua Yishai. The Chevra Kadisha management also decided
to accept a recommendation by Religious Affairs Minister
Asher Ochana to refund the money paid by the families of the
four victims killed in the attack in Rishon Letzion and
buried at the Cholon Cemetery. The Chevra Kadisha's decision
only applies to residents of South Tel Aviv, Bat Yam and
Cholon.
Two years ago Bituach Leumi declared the Cholon Cemetery
"closed," a classification that requires the Chevra Kadisha
to charge for all burial plots there since Bituach Leumi no
longer pays for them. In light of the large demand for burial
at the Cholon Cemetery even for a fee, Chevra management
decided burial rights would be granted only to those whose
spouses or children are already interred at the cemetery.
Last month the Chevra Kadisha completed work on additional
burial plots at the Cholon Cemetery. Even those who do not
have a family member buried at the cemetery can purchase
plots in the new section, but the price is higher.
Gush Dan residents are not charged for burial at the Yarkon
Cemetery, but the Chevra Kadisha is required to charge for
plots purchased by the living for their eventual interment
since this -- along with charges for plots in closed
cemeteries -- is the only way for the Chevra Kadisha to fund
the development of new plots.
"There is no government funding for the development of burial
plots," says Yishai. "We are between a rock and a hard place,
for only by charging for the purchase of plots in advance by
the living and the purchase of plots in closed cemeteries can
we ensure smooth, continued operations in burying the dead of
Gush Dan. On one hand we are required to provide a government
service that was supposed to be handled by the state--the
development of burial plots and cemeteries--and on the other
hand we are expected, and we also feel obligated, not to
charge payment in events of this type and other similar
cases. In effect we are becoming state tax collectors, and on
more than one occasion we have been unjustly criticized for
this."
