cemeteries and graves
16
votes
3answers
296 views
Placing stones on a grave
My office is situated right next to a Jewish cemetery. A coworker, noticing the yarmulke on my head, asked me why he sometimes sees stones placed on some of the gravestones. I told him that as far as ...
12
votes
3answers
251 views
Why do plastic bags and not fuselages protect against impurity?
In a picture on this article, we see a kohen who has enclosed himself in a plastic bag so as to avoid becoming impure as a result of flying over a cemetery. Why is it that a pressurized fuselage does ...
12
votes
1answer
178 views
Non-Jews Tending to Abandoned Cemeteries
Those of you who may have read my profile know that I have been reading and transcribing information on tombstones in towns in the Spis Region of Slovakia, in which no Jews remain. My colleague is ...
11
votes
7answers
334 views
Do surgically removed body parts require Kevurah?
If one has surgery (may it never be necessary) that requires the removal of an organ of the body (e.g. a gallbladder or appendix), is burial required? Or can the body part simply be discarded?
9
votes
1answer
100 views
6
votes
1answer
341 views
What are the halachot of suicide?
It used to be that a person who committed suicide was buried in a separate part of the cemetery and the relatives did not sit shiva (see Shulchan Aruch YD 345). We no longer do these things and we ...
6
votes
1answer
207 views
Can non Jews be buried in a Jewish Cemetery?
Can a non Jew be buried in a Jewish Cemetery under any circumstances?
5
votes
3answers
174 views
Have not gone to parents grave in seven years
A friend recently mentioned that she has not gone to her parents grave in over ten years due to its distance and when she wanted to go she was told by a Rabbi that if she has not been there for over ...
5
votes
1answer
172 views
Is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery?
Besides the permitted reasons for male kohen, is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery for other reason?
4
votes
1answer
119 views
Historical account of Jewish worship via the graves of saints and Prophets
Are there any examples in the Jewish history of Jewish people falling into worshiping the dead saints and prophets in their tombs ?
Also, does building Tomb and concrete structures over the graves ...
4
votes
1answer
269 views
Kohen flying over a cemetery?
Is there a problem with a kohen flying in an airplane that may fly over a Jewish cemetery? If so, how can a kohen be sure that a flight does not go over a Jewish cemetery?
4
votes
1answer
132 views
Drying hands after leaving cemetery
I understand that we are supposed to let our hands air-dry after washing them (when leaving a cemetery). Can we blow dry them?
4
votes
1answer
104 views
What to do when visiting Kivrei Tzaddikim?
When visiting Kevarim of Tzaddikim, when are proper procedures to follow?
I would hope an answer would cover:
What and how to daven
If there's any specific Tehillim to say
If one should (or must) ...
3
votes
2answers
114 views
Is there a Halacha that sons may not be present at the burial of their parents?
Is there a Halacha that sons may not be present at their parents' burial? I've heard that if the sons wasted seed (G-d forbid) negative forces are created which would be detrimental at the burial site ...
3
votes
2answers
91 views
Burial in Kittel
There is a custom for men to wear a Kittel, a special white robe, on the High Holidays and at the Pesach Seder. Also, a Kittel is one of the traditional Jewish burial garments. The same word is used ...
3
votes
2answers
100 views
Do modern Jewish cemeteries separate the “righteous” from the “wicked”?
Do modern Jewish cemeteries separate the "righteous" from the "wicked"? I have read in various sources that "we don't bury rashim near tzadikim"--that people must be buried near others of similar ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
Eating for strength to bury on Tisha B' Av
Can one (halachically) eat to have the strength to dig a grave for a recently passed away Jew?
Assume you can't pay a gentile to do it for you.
3
votes
0answers
85 views
Can a born-Jew who converted out of Judaism be buried in an Orthodox Jewish cemetery?
We've discussed previously that halacha prohibits the burial of non-Jews in the same cemetery as Jews. But what about born-Jews who converted out? What about Jews who were simply atheists?
1
vote
2answers
164 views
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Going to Cemetery on a yarhzeit
I heard before from a Talmud Chacham that if someone has a yahrzeit and they are unable to go to the kever where the person is buried then there is still and "inyun" of going to a Cemetery on that ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
How do Rabbonim know where graves are located?
There is an (or more than one) organization whose job is to ensure that Jewish graves aren't desecrated when construction companies do digs.
How do they know that there are graves there? ...
