Why is the Jewish section of the cemetary separate?

Question

I was at the cemetary today on Maui taking some pictures off a bluff and noticed the Jewish section of the cemetary seemed to be separated from the rest of the cemetary by markers and a chain. It got me to thinking about other cemetaries i had been in and how i had seen the same thing. Just curious why?

Answer 1

A Jewish cemetery has physical boundaries that set the cemetery off from its surroundings, making it holy for Jews.

A Jewish cemetery is considered consecrated ground where Jewish burial practices and customs are observed. There are services of consecration for new ground added to any cemetary.

A Jewish cemetery is owned by the Jewish community whose rules and regulations are governed by a duly authorized Board of Directors for Jewish cemetery purposes.

Only Jewish symbols are permitted on a Jewish cemetery.

Only Jewish clergy or lay people may officiate at a burial service or any other religious service on a Jewish cemetery.

The cemetery is closed on Shabbat and all major Jewish holidays.

HTH

Charles

Answer 2

A Jewish cemetery is often owned by a synagogue or a Jewish community, and it is a place where Jewish law is observed. It is closed on Shabbat and it is a place where our specific burial laws can be followed. We have these for three reasons--one, because it's just what cemeteries do. Muslims, Catholics, different sects of Protestant, all their cemeteries are separated. This isn't meant to offend, but in Judaism, worshiping J*sus as a god is idolatry. Being buried next to a cross would not be a good thing. In fact it would be a very bad thing. This isn't meant offense, it is just a fact.

Second (and more abstract) reason is that as Jews, our lives are devoted to G-d and a part of G-d is the laws he gave us to guide our lives. A Jewish cemetery is a place where those laws are followed. We are following the laws even in death.

Third, yes, it is true that for centuries people have viewed it as a good thing to break into and/or desecrate Jewish graves. So we bought our own.

Answer 3

For many years the Jews were not allowed rooms in many Hotels. They were not allowed to join the Country clubs of the Goyim. I believe the Bigotry about burial were a bit more subtle, but the Jews had learned centuries earlier that the Christians were told they would be without sin if they plundered Jewish graves and that was a prime impetus to buy the ground for a separate Graveyard. There were also those Churches where the Shouter let his congregation know that to bury a Jew in a Christian Graveyard was to "corrupt the blessed soil."

Christian seem to believe that the best way to justify themselves is to disrespect other religions.

If you want the truth....Ask a Pagan.

BTW, Wikipedia is biased and sometimes carries false information. Always get a second source before you accept anything from them as knowledge.

Answer 4

Because you have Jewish Tradition and Christian Tradition when it comes to burials. Jewish people should be allowed to have their own parts of the cemetary, they have their own traditions and I totally respect that. Jewish people prepare their loved ones differently for burial and Jewish people have a certain time frame in order to be buried in. If I were Jewish I too would want to be buried in a Jewish cemetary.

Answer 5

Jewish law requires that bodies are prepared for burial differently than the mainstream funeral. Synagogues often own that little sub-plot. In other words, it's their idea. Muslim groups are doing the same in cities where they're large enough.

Answer 6

Its a religious belief. You have to be a Jew and have not broken any major taboos to be allowed to rest there. Catholics have their own cemetery too

Answer 7

But you don't say if the Christians or the Jews have the better view.

Answer 8

It's nice to see that you are so open-minded and not bigotted- as to actually have to ask this question.

Not all people are like you, however.

Answer 9

The Christians wouldn't let the Jews be buried near them.

.

Answer 10

catholics always have their own section too. segregation, even in death, i guess