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I write these words after far too many tears shed together with bereaved families—families placed in painful and often avoidable situations simply because the right conversations did not happen earlier. My hope is that this article helps open those conversations with clarity, compassion, and care.
When families face end-of-life decisions, they are often doing so in moments filled with emotion, love, and uncertainty. Judaism approaches these moments with deep sensitivity, offering guidance not to judge or criticize, but to bring dignity, comfort, and peace—to the soul of the departed and to those left behind.
Jewish tradition teaches that the human body is a precious gift from G‑d. Throughout life, it enables a person to perform mitzvot, express kindness, and bring light into the world. For this reason, Judaism asks that the body be treated with profound respect even after life has ended. Burial is understood as a final act of care—gently returning the body to the earth from which it was formed.
It is important to say clearly: this article is not a judgment of past decisions. Rather, it is a loving wake‑up call for those who may be unsure, undecided, or simply unaware of the significance of proper Jewish burial. Unfortunately, cremation is becoming increasingly common. My intention here is to shed light on this sensitive topic and to offer a Jewish perspective that can help guide thoughtful, informed decisions.
Cremation, which involves the active destruction of the body, stands in contrast to the tenderness and guardianship that Judaism encourages at life’s end.
The Torah speaks of burial not as a technical requirement, but as an act of chesed shel emet—a “true kindness.” It is kindness because it is done for someone who can never repay it. Through burial, family and community come together to honor a life lived and to escort the soul forward with dignity, reverence, and love.
This sacred process—often including tahara (ritual purification), prayer, and a simple burial—has brought comfort to Jewish families for thousands of years. It provides continuity and quiet meaning at a time when so much can feel overwhelming.
Judaism teaches that death is not an end, but a transition. The soul lives on, and one of our core beliefs is Techiyat HaMeitim, the resurrection of the dead. Choosing burial gently affirms this faith and expresses hope in the enduring bond between body and soul. While G‑d’s compassion is limitless, Jewish tradition views cremation as inconsistent with this belief, as it symbolizes finality rather than continuity.
For many Jewish families, cremation also carries deep emotional weight because of our collective history. The forced cremation of millions of Jews during the Holocaust left an indelible imprint on the Jewish soul. Even generations later, this memory can make cremation especially painful, evoking times when Jewish dignity was brutally stripped away.
Jewish teachings explain that the soul remains connected to the body after death. Burial allows for a gentle, natural separation—bringing peace to the soul and comfort to the living. The familiar rhythms of Jewish mourning—burial, shivah, prayer, and remembrance—help families begin the healing process with structure, support, and community.
Even for Jews who lived largely secular lives, choosing a Jewish burial can be a powerful final connection—to family, to heritage, and to timeless values. It is a quiet but profound way of saying: I belong. I am part of this story.
Judaism’s preference for burial is not meant to pressure or condemn, but to guide families toward a choice rooted in dignity, compassion, and faith. In moments of loss, Jewish tradition seeks to wrap families in care, reminding us that even in goodbye, there can be meaning, holiness, and peace.
If you are navigating these decisions, please know that you are not alone. Rabbis and community leaders are here to listen, to support, and to help you find a path that feels both loving and true. I encourage you to reach out to your local Chabad or Chevra Kadisha—they will guide you through these challenging decisions with sensitivity and respect.
We have lots of information gathered at ChabadChayil.org/LifeToLife and have a list of affordable burial options available in South Florida at ChabadChayil.org/Cemetery. If there is anything we can ever help with please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 305-770-1919
As rabbis, we are privileged to share in the most meaningful moments of a family’s life. We rejoice with parents at baby namings and circumcisions, welcome children into preschool, laugh with them at Hebrew School, prepare them for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, support them through teen years and young adulthood, counsel couples before marriage, celebrate life’s milestones—and we cry together when loved ones pass on.
May we experience less crying and more celebrating. And may we merit the time when G‑d will remove death and sadness from the world entirely. May it happen speedily, in our days. (More about that at ChabadChayil.org/Moshiach).
About the author:
Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of Gan Chabad Preschool, your local CTeen & CKids chapters, CHAP – an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at (305) 770-1919 or rabbi@ChabadChayil.org. You can also support the community with your partnership at ChabadChayil.org/Partner.
