Cremation

A friend of a member of my dad's congregation was cremated. The member has a problem with this as he believe that those who are cremated will not be able to rise from the grave in the days of the second coming of Jesus Christ. My dad, believing that Christians should learn from Jews as this is where their religion came from, asked me to ask the following questions here:

1 What is the general idea under Jews regarding the various ways such as burial, cremation etc. - is there a specific preferred way with reasons?
2 Does the Tenakh and Talmud say anything about burial or cremation?

SpentaMaynu said:

A friend of a member of my dad's congregation was cremated. The member has a problem with this as he believe that those who are cremated will not be able to rise from the grave in the days of the second coming of Jesus Christ. My dad, believing that Christians should learn from Jews as this is where their religion came from, asked me to ask the following questions here:

1 What is the general idea under Jews regarding the various ways such as burial, cremation etc. - is there a specific preferred way with reasons?
2 Does the Tenakh and Talmud say anything about burial or cremation?

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The preferred way is to be buried directly in the ground dressed in shrouds, no casket.
It is prohibited to cremate or otherwise ruin a dead body in anyway as it is disrespectful to the body.

SpentaMaynu said:

A friend of a member of my dad's congregation was cremated. The member has a problem with this as he believe that those who are cremated will not be able to rise from the grave in the days of the second coming of Jesus Christ. My dad, believing that Christians should learn from Jews as this is where their religion came from, asked me to ask the following questions here:

1 What is the general idea under Jews regarding the various ways such as burial, cremation etc. - is there a specific preferred way with reasons?
2 Does the Tenakh and Talmud say anything about burial or cremation?

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The Tanach says nothing specific, although there are a couple of commandments that have to do with respecting the body and not desecrating it. The Rabbis do prohibit cremation as disrespectful to the body, which was created by God as the house for the soul, which in turn was made in the image of God.

Many centuries ago, when belief in a physical resurrection was still commonly held, that also contributed to a strong prohibition on cremation and other ways of destroying the integrity of the body. But even now that few indeed-- if any-- espouse such a belief, the prohibition remains, because of the issue of disrespecting the body.

Levite said:

The Tanach says nothing specific, although there are a couple of commandments that have to do with respecting the body and not desecrating it. The Rabbis do prohibit cremation as disrespectful to the body, which was created by God as the house for the soul, which in turn was made in the image of God.

Many centuries ago, when belief in a physical resurrection was still commonly held, that also contributed to a strong prohibition on cremation and other ways of destroying the integrity of the body. But even now that few indeed-- if any-- espouse such a belief, the prohibition remains, because of the issue of disrespecting the body.

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I think "few --if any" is an exaggeration.
I'm under the impression that Orthodox Judaism generally does believe in Techi'at Hametim.

dantech said:

I think "few --if any" is an exaggeration.
I'm under the impression that Orthodox Judaism generally does believe in Techi'at Hametim.

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In a literal, physical techiat hametim?? Really? I grew up MO frum, and I never met anyone who professed a literal belief in physical resurrection-- everyone I spoke to about life, death, and life after indicated a belief in the eternality of the soul and Olam haBa, not physical techiat hametim. None of the frum friends I have have noted a literal belief in physical resurrection, either. Do you think it's really still widespread in Orthodoxy?!

Levite said:

In a literal, physical techiat hametim?? Really? I grew up MO frum, and I never met anyone who professed a literal belief in physical resurrection-- everyone I spoke to about life, death, and life after indicated a belief in the eternality of the soul and Olam haBa, not physical techiat hametim. None of the frum friends I have have noted a literal belief in physical resurrection, either. Do you think it's really still widespread in Orthodoxy?!

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I do, and its a big reason why many Orthodox Jews want to be buried in Jerusalem.
I may be wrong here, let's hear what the other Orthodox Jews think.

dantech said:

I do, and its a big reason why many Orthodox Jews want to be buried in Jerusalem.
I may be wrong here, let's here what the other Orthodox Jews think.

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Good Lord, that is stunning. I am truly surprised, and also a little appalled that such an eschatological theology is still being held, despite all the flaws that have been pointed out in it over the years.

Levite said:

Good Lord, that is stunning. I am truly surprised, and also a little appalled that such an eschatological theology is still being held, despite all the flaws that have been pointed out in it over the years.

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You realize that believing in the resurrection of the dead is one of Rambam's 13 principles of faith...

Levite said:

In a literal, physical techiat hametim?? Really? I grew up MO frum, and I never met anyone who professed a literal belief in physical resurrection-- everyone I spoke to about life, death, and life after indicated a belief in the eternality of the soul and Olam haBa, not physical techiat hametim. None of the frum friends I have have noted a literal belief in physical resurrection, either. Do you think it's really still widespread in Orthodoxy?!

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Yeah, I have to agree with Dantech. I find it difficult to believe you grew up in any sort of Orthodox circles that don't believe in the Resurrection.
I'm guessing if you did, you grew up in some version of Orthodoxy that it was so far left, that Conservative was on your right. Ultra-Orthodox certainly and to the best of my knowledge, YU, the bastion of Modern Orthodoxy, takes that position. I don't think I've ever met an Orthodox group that doesn't believe in the resurrection. Even know the people over at Open un-Orthodoxy are only just starting to officially move away from it. Like Dantech said, from the Orthodox standpoint, those who disbelieve in the Resurrection today, have the full status of apikores.
Anyway, I think you're probably just confusing Orthodox with Reform.

Levite said:

Good Lord, that is stunning. I am truly surprised, and also a little appalled that such an eschatological theology is still being held, despite all the flaws that have been pointed out in it over the years.

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Not nearly as appalled as we are at the ease of which you discard the Torah of your mother, I'm sure.

I believe in Resurrection. of my soul but not this earthly body ...

I became disillusioned by neglected and abandoned graves ,,
and as i have no descendants to follow me i have instructed and paid
for Cremation of my remains .. I personally consider my dead body
to be little more than a discarded overcoat i will have stepped out of ...

SpentaMaynu said:

1 What is the general idea under Jews regarding the various ways such as burial, cremation etc. - is there a specific preferred way with reasons?
2 Does the Tenakh and Talmud say anything about burial or cremation?

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In my generation, rejection of cremation is more due to it being the method of disposal of Jewish bodies during the Holocaust.