The Prohibition of Cremation

Question

Why is cremation prohibited in Judaism?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    In general, cremation declares that this world is the beginning and end of Man. A basis of Jewish faith is that this is not true. The body is held on deposit, and together with the soul it really belongs to God. He decides when and where man should die, and He decides what to do with the body once it has fulfilled its worldly purpose.

    In fact, so severe is the prohibition that Jewish Law dictates that one should not sit Shiva over someone who was cremated voluntarily and one is not obliged to bury the ashes of one who was willingly cremated. In addition, the body of a cremated person is not eligible for resurrection – not so much because of the physical impediment, but, rather, in line with the diction that one who does not believe in resurrection will not experience it.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team