Liberal Judaism seeks not to separate in death those it
has welcomed together in life
Liberal Judaism is set to sanction interfaith burials in Jewish
cemeteries for the first time. It means non-Jewish wives or
husbands will be able to be interred with their Jewish spouses.
A landmark recommendation, which is expected to be passed at
the organisation’s council this month, recommends that
provision is made to ensure that “established partners”
who have not converted are not separated after death.
The new policy, condemned this week by orthodox rabbis as a
further watering down of the religion, would also pave the way
for the children of mixed-faith marriages to be buried in the
same cemetery as their parents.
The proposed move, which has the unanimous backing of Liberal
Judaism’s officers and rabbinic conference, goes a step
further than the current policy of the Movement for Reform Judaism,
which ruled that non-Jews and their spouses could be buried
together only in a dedicated section of a graveyard, separated
from the main cemetery by a path or hedge.
Liberal Judaism’s Chief Executive, Rabbi Danny Rich,
said he viewed such a separation as “abhorrent”,
insisting that the new proposal rejects the current divisiveness
which could imply there are two classes of people buried.
He told TJ: “It is a policy one might argue is long overdue.
A number of individual synagogues already carry out the policy
and, bearing in mind Liberal Judaism’s inclusive nature
when a Jew and a non-Jew are alive, it would seem cruel and
ironic to part in death a couple we had sought to nurture in
life.”
Rabbi Rich said the move would be in accordance with the body’s
current policies, including “offering a sympathetic and
encouraging conversion process, participating in the affirming
of Jewish identity in a relationship where only one partner
is Jewish”.
Proceeding from the talmudic concept that we should bury the
dead of the gentiles with the dead of Israel, for the sake of
ways of peace, the Liberal Jewish Synagogue’s Rabbi Mark
Solomon concluded the body should seek to offer the facility.
But Rabbi Alan Plancey, who holds the Jewish-Christian relations
portfolio in the Chief Rabbi’s cabinet, said: “In
orthodox Judaism, we will never condone mixed burials because
it is against the halacha. While I sympathise greatly with those
who wish to be buried together having lived together for a long
period of time, they should realise the consequences when they
set out on this route of intermarriage.
"They are watering down religion even more. It will come
to a stage where it will be totally unrecognisable.”
Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, another cabinet member, said: “I
fail to see the logic in allowing a mixed-faith couple to marry
together, to celebrate family events together but not to be
buried together.
“If you’re killing off the faith in life, then
why not in death?”
Even Rabbi Rich conceded that some members “may well”
be unhappy at the proposals, but he added: “Clearly it
is not our intention to offend or upset our members, but we
hope that, when the policy is explained and understood, their
misgivings will be allayed.”
There will, however, be no obligation on individual rabbis
to carry out mixed faith burials.
Such ceremonies have previously been carried out by individual
communities such as the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s
Wood, but this proposal, provided it is passed, could mean that
provision is made available at cemeteries where the central
body has plots.
Rabbi Rich acknowledges this will not be possible at orthodox-owned
Cheshunt cemetery, but said he hoped to institute the policy
in its section of Edgwarebury cemetery.
He said: “We are recommending to all our communities
that they make proper cemetery provision, including for mixed-faith
couples. We will ensure there is enough cemetery space for everyone
to have this provision, including examining the possibility
of purchasing new cemeteries.”
Welcoming the proposal, mixed faith couple Matthew and Wendy
Iveson said: “It is being done for all the right reasons.”
Front page article in 'The Jewish News' 15 September
2005
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