Regarding the article Cemeteries Are Becoming New Challenge for Interfaith Families – Forward.com - it seems to me that one argument that is missing in this discussion is respect for the decision of the deceased not to convert to Judaism. To bury the deceased in a Jewish cemetery is to essentially ignore the decision that the deceased made during life, which is that conversion to Judaism was something that they chose not do pursue. To then bury them in a Jewish cemetery is to ignore and even disrespect this decision.
One of the decisions that an intermarriage creates is how to address burial. We need to raise this within our communities with respect and love. Should the non-Jewish partner choose not to convert, that decision should be made with knowledge of the consequences. Then we should respect that decision, not brush it away.
No comments:
Post a Comment