Death in the Holy Land: Coronavirus changes burial for Jews, Muslims

Published April 2, 2020
Employees of Chevra Kadisha, the main group that oversees Jewish burials in Israel, stand together as they wear protective gear at a special centre that prepares bodies of Jews who died from the coronavirus at a cemetery in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 31. — Reuters
Employees of Chevra Kadisha, the main group that oversees Jewish burials in Israel, stand together as they wear protective gear at a special centre that prepares bodies of Jews who died from the coronavirus at a cemetery in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 31. — Reuters

A rising death toll in the coronavirus crisis is forcing a change in Jewish and Muslim burial and mourning traditions in the Holy Land.

In Israel, Jewish dead are normally laid to rest in a cloth smock and shroud, without a coffin. Now, the bodies of coronavirus victims are taken for ritual washing — performed in full protective gear — wrapped in impermeable plastic.

They are wrapped again in plastic before interment.

“Feelings are very much mixed,” said Yakov Kurtz, who works for Chevra Kadisha, the main group overseeing Jewish burials in Israel. “We don’t know what to expect, we don’t know how many dead we will have to tend to. There are many fears.”

New decrees for handling the coronavirus dead have been given for Muslim burials, said Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories.

“This is a rule of necessity and necessities allow for prohibitions, therefore the deceased is not washed, nor shrouded and is buried in a plastic body-bag,” Hussein said.

Palestinian workers make their way to disinfect religious sites as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in Ramallah, in the Israeli occupied West Bank. — Reuters
Palestinian workers make their way to disinfect religious sites as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in Ramallah, in the Israeli occupied West Bank. — Reuters

Israel has reported 29 coronavirus deaths so far. The Palestinians have confirmed one fatality so far.

Funerals and mourning rituals have changed for everyone since Israeli and Palestinian authorities imposed stay-at-home directives and restricted the size of public gatherings to try to halt the spread of infection.

Funerals in Israel can be attended by no more than 20 people in an open space only. Social distancing rules mean that embracing the bereaved is just not done.

That has affected the Jewish tradition of Shiva — a seven-day period that begins after a funeral, in which people come to the family home to offer condolences, bring food and reminisce about the departed.

In Gaza and the occupied West Bank, bereaved families have taken to accepting condolences over social media.

Ihab Nasseraldin lost his brother to cancer last week. His body was taken from the hospital to the cemetery, and the family could not hold a service they had planned at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque.

“We buried him and condolences were accepted at the burial site. We had already requested everybody not to shake hands, no hugging or kissing, which is custom here. This was uncomfortable,” said Nasseraldin.

Few were able to attend the funeral. Friends and relatives were told not to visit the family home during the customary three-day mourning period.

“I truly feel sad that we were not able to pray at al-Aqsa over the body,” said Nasseraldin. “But there is nothing we can do. May God accept this from us.”

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...