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NEWS
New Help for Burial in Eretz Yisroel
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
"There is a great deal of interest in reserving a burial plot
in Eretz Yisroel but at the same time there is a great deal
of misunderstanding." So said Rabbi Michoel Fletcher,
rabbinical director of the Achuzat Kever Organization, this
week. "The various chevros kadisha have different
systems. Some are paid for the funeral expenses when the plot
is reserved; some only accept payment at the time of the
funeral. There are different areas under the same chevra
kadisha, with large variations in price. There are
chevros kadisha around the country, which also have a
variety of prices. Some strictly maintain traditional
minhagim for the levaya and the matzeva,
others are less particular and matzevos of all
shapes and sizes are appearing in certain cemeteries. With
all these variations in arrangements and many more, in
addition to mistakes due to a language barrier, it is not
surprising that misunderstandings and disputes occur."
In an attempt to facilitate a smooth and dignified
arrangement between Jews in chutz la'aretz and the
chevros kadisha in Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Fletcher,
previously a rav in Scotland, U.K., and Mr. Dovid Kentridge,
previously a senior member of the chevra kadisha in
Johannesburg, South Africa, have established the Achuzat
Kever Organization, based in Beit Shemesh where they live.
Mr. Kentridge explained: "We are English-speaking with a
knowledge of the mentality and aspirations of Jews in
chutz la'Aretz together with a detailed knowledge of
the systems and organizations here. We hope that we can
advise people in such a way that it becomes absolutely clear
to a potential customer what his or her choices are, and what
the precise cost will be including any `extras.'
"It is much better to reserve in advance," continued Mr.
Kentridge, "not only so that one can decide for him/herself
where their mokom kevurah will be, but also because a
recently bereaved family is not in the proper state of mind
to make important decisions. There is no time to investigate
all the options and often the cost is much higher than it
needed to be. One recently-widowed lady told us that when her
husband suddenly passed away, a well-meaning friend arranged
an expensive plot on Har Hamenuchos, not realizing that there
are far cheaper options available. Now, as she has to pay an
equivalent amount again to reserve a plot next to her late
husband, she regrets the fact that he wasn't buried in Beit
Shemesh, where one of her children lives, which would have
been more convenient and considerably less expensive."
Rabbi Fletcher, who is well known in Beit Shemesh for his
Amud Yomi Shiur and his popular Hilchos Shabbos Shiur for
ladies, says that there is an educational value in reserving
a mokom kevurah in Eretz Yisroel despite having lived
in chutz la'Aretz. Quoting Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch
from his commentary to Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov Ovinu
commanded Yosef not to bury him in Mitzrayim but in Eretz
Yisroel. Yaakov sensed that his descendants were beginning to
assimilate in Mitzrayim. "The Nile was their Jordan, Egypt
was no Golus. You want to live here. But I don't even want to
be buried here." He was reminding them that wherever a Jew
lives, home will always be Eretz Yisroel.
By arranging a mokom kevurah in Eretz Yisroel a
parent can, in fact, continue to educate his children even
from the kever. He will, in effect, be able to speak
to his descendants for eternity. They will visit the kever
and be reminded: "Eretz Yisroel is home,
kedusha is our priority, chutz la'Aretz is a
station, not a destination."
It is a message not about death, but about life.
Rabbi Fletcher or Mr. Kentridge can be reached on tel/fax:
+972 29913027; 24hrs: +97268540514 / +97256740359. email:
info@israelburials.com
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