The Case against Cremation and for Traditional Burial – A Timely and Urgent Resource for Every Jewish Community
In recent years, a troubling and deeply concerning trend has emerged: too many Jews are choosing cremation without fully understanding its implications for the Torah, Jewish tradition, and eternal Jewish values. What may seem like a modern or convenient choice is, in fact, a decision with profound spiritual consequences.
My new booklet, The Case Against Cremation and for Traditional Burial, offers a clear, powerful, and accessible response to this growing crisis. Born of my own observations and reinforced by communal leaders’ concerns, it brings together key articles and teachings into a compact yet impactful publication that speaks directly to one of the most urgent issues facing the Jewish community today.
The pressure to normalize cremation is real. Nationally, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4 percent in 2025, while burial is projected at 31.6 percent. Within parts of the Jewish community, cremation rates are already above 40 percent nationally and appear to exceed 50 percent in South Florida.
Those numbers should alarm every Jew who cares about tradition, continuity, and the honor owed to the dead. The issue is not only that cremation is becoming more common; it is that its spread has blurred the line between what is fashionable and what is permitted. Jewish law is unequivocal: the dead must be buried in the earth, and cremation is forbidden.
The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, addressed this issue with extraordinary force. He wrote that the body retains a kind of life after the soul departs, and that some aspect of the soul remains attached to the body until decomposition is complete. Therefore, one who orders cremation is, in effect, agreeing to burn not only the body but also part of one’s own soul. The Rebbe called it “an act of unparalleled cruelty.” These are not words to be taken lightly. They reveal the deep spiritual gravity of this matter and the urgency of educating our people before irreversible decisions are made.
I also included two chapters: one on God as the sustaining source of all existence, uniting the physical and spiritual and deepening faith and trust; and another on gratitude as a central Jewish practice that turns both joy and hardship into greater awareness of God, purpose, and blessing.
This booklet is offered at a discount because the goal is impact, not profit. For 25 or more copies, the price is only $4.99 per copy, plus shipping and handling. It is ideal for Chabad Houses, shuls, outreach programs, and community centers, especially as the High Holidays approach and people reflect on life, death, legacy, and eternity.
The response has already been phenomenal. People are often surprised by what they learn, and once they understand the issue, many reconsider their decisions. In several cases, individuals changed their minds about cremation and influenced others to do the same. A single booklet can spark a chain reaction of awareness, responsibility, and renewal.
This is more than a booklet. It is an opportunity to protect Jewish dignity, preserve sacred tradition, and help ensure that others do not make a life-altering decision out of ignorance.
Now, before the High Holydays, is the best time to stock up and make this resource available where and when it can do the most good.
Let us pray that we soon see “awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust” (Isaiah 26:19), our expression of ultimate hope, comfort, and faith in the future resurrection of the dead and the coming of Moshiach.
www.rabbishlomoezagui.com
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/shlomo-ezagui/
To order 25 or more copies at the bulk price of $4.99 per copy, plus shipping and handling, please contact me at [email protected]
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