Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 6/15/2004

Question
Is it more proper for a Jew's body to be buried or cremated after death? Will the choice, in any slightest way, affect the resurrection or ultimate destiny of the person?

Answer
Dear Candy,

Thanks for writing.

This is ultimately a question for the Rabbi of the family of the deceased, the deceased or for the officiating Rabbi. None of us should offer a judgment.

In terms of information, Judaism prefers burial overwhelmingly to cremation. Perhaps the Holocaust/Shoah has finally made the horror of burning Jews a less acceptable option.

Given however the Holocaust, can we say that God will not honor those who were killed and cremated? Of course a good and gracious and compassionate God would do so.

I hope that this answers your questions.

Consider this snippet from the Encyclopedia Judaica:

CREMATION. Disposal of the dead body by burning is not a Jewish custom and inhumation is considered by traditional Jews to be obligatory and a religious commandment. The passage in Deuteronomy (21:23) "his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day" has been advanced as a scriptural proof text, as well as other biblical sayings such as "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19). Cremation, however, was not unknown to the early Hebrews, and "burning" was one of the four death penalties imposed by the biblical code for a number of offenses (Lev. 20:14; 21:9). The ancient rabbis, however, found the execution of this death sentence so abhorrent that they refused to interpret the injunction literally (Sanh. 7:2 and TJ, Sanh. 7:2, 24b). In biblical times, cremation was clearly considered to be a humiliation inflicted on criminals (Josh. 7:15, 25; Isa. 30:33) and the practice as such was reprobated. . . .

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov