Jewish Direct Burial & Cremation Services, Jupiter FL

JEWISH LAW REQUIRES BURIAL AND PROHIBITS CREMATION. HOW WE TREAT OUR DEAD TELLS US A LOT ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR SOCIETY.
“WE BURN TRASH. WE BURY TREASURE"
check out the website of National Association of Chevra Kadisha

10 REASONS FOR BURIAL
1
Burial is better for the environment
Environmentalists have great concerns about modern burials - but almost all of their critiques center on the effects of embalming and the use of metal caskets. Because cremation releases mercury and other toxins in to the air and uses an enormous amount of fossil fuels, it is not the choice of environmentalists. Rather, environmentalists worldwide choose 'green burial' (with no embalming or metal caskets). Interestingly, burial uses very little land, and there is a surprising amount of land available. If ALL Americans were buried, it would take 10,000 years to use up just 1% of America's land - and presumably few cemeteries would exist that long, anyway. Furthermore, Jews constitute only 1.5% of the population! The point is that there is PLENTY of land available, most of it within 1-2 hours of urban centers.

2
Burial leads to closure while cremation, often, leads to regret
While no statistics are available, tremendous anecdotal evidence shows that many people later regret their decision to cremate their loved ones. Usually the decision was made in haste in the midst of grief, or based on misleading advertising. Closure is missing, and it hurts. Burial brings no such regrets. The family says their good-byes, escorts the casket to the cemetery and often participates in the burial. They feel the body of their loved one has found a permanent place of rest, the soul has returned to its Maker, and the mourners know in their hearts that they have done the right thing. They know when they come back to visit, they will be visiting their loved one.

3
Burial shows respect for our loved ones
In burying the body, we show it care and concern. Rather than trying to quickly burn and get rid of it, we calmly demonstrate our gratitude and respect for the body that housed the soul and enabled it to live – and love – in this world. By burying our deceased loved ones, we show our love and respect for their bodies – and thus their lives.

4
Burial is the monotheistic choice
It is an undisputed historic fact that burial is much more common in monotheistic societies while cremation rates are higher in pagan, polytheistic, and 'post-Christian' communities. By choosing burial, we are joining with those who believe in God.

5
Burial connects us to Jewish tradition
For more than 3000 years, Jews have avoided cremation – and chosen burial – although both options (and many others) existed. When Roman historian Tacitus described the Jews, he noted that Jews "bury rather than burn" the dead. The Bible itself talks about burial often, including that of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. G-d himself buried Moshe. Burial respects and honors the body which housed the soul. Burial is a commandment while cremation is a severe Jewish transgression. No matter how religious you are or aren't, choosing burial means declaring, "I was born a Jew and I will die as a Jew. "

6
We burn bad things, not good ones
Historically, when you detest something and want to completely eradicate it, you burn it. This is why the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was, sadly, burned (twice), and ancient cities were burned to the ground by their conquerors. Ironically, not too long ago, cremation and the scattering of ashes were done as a punishment to the worst criminals – showing that their memory and impact was gone forever. From Abraham to the Holocaust, our enemies have not only wanted us to disappear – but to deny our very existence, via consuming fire.

Compare that to burial. Children lovingly bury their pets in the backyard when they pass away – they don't burn them. We bury things we love. In Jewish thought, the body is considered holy and created in the image of God. For this reason, Jews go to great lengths to bury Torah scrolls, and other holy objects – including human bodies.