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Burial for Noahides - oceanoah - 06-16-2007

Shalom Rabbis,
Could Noahides be burried in Jewish cemetaries? Or cemetaries of their own beside a synagogue or beside a Jewish cemetary? Where Jewish people and Noahides would pray for them when they are deceased? Could a Noahide wish to be burried in Jerusalem or the land of Israel in her / his will? Thank you Rabbi


RE: Burial plots for Noahides - rabbiyitz - 06-17-2007

Gentiles are not permitted to be buried in a Jewish cemetary. Jewish cemetaries are not located near a synagogue as it would restrict a Kohain's (a Jew belonging to the priestly family of Aaron) free access to the synagogue. Once the soul departs the body no longer has any holiness to it, and acquires a spiritual impurity which must be avoided by a Kohain. Thus it must be buried in the ground if it is a Jewish body, and that is also the preferred way for a Gentile's body. (A Kohain has to avoid not only the body itself, but also the grave.)
As for burial in Jerusalem, I am not aware of any Gentile cemetaries aside from Muslim cemetaries. You would have to make inquiries of a funeral director who specializes in international burials to find a non-Jewish, non-sectarian cemetary or one which does not allow religious symbols on the monument. (There are cemetaries like this in the U.S.)

Rabbi Yitz.


Cremation/Burial - PlasticMan - 05-15-2008

I know Jews are not permitted to be cremated, so what about Noachides? This is kind of related so I guess I will piggie back this question on top: are Noachides forbidden to have tattoos and piercings as well?


RE: Cremation/Burial - Director Michael - 05-20-2008

Regarding cremation, here is the answer that's posted on this FAQ web page:

https://asknoah.org/faq/what-is-the-proper-burial-process-for-noahides

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As a Divine directive, Genesis 3:19 is a Torah commandment for Jews, who have many positive (“to do”) commandments in addition to many negative (“don’t do”) commandments. On the other hand, Gentiles do not transgress the Noahide Code if they utilize another process such as cremation or cryogenic preservation. But a meritorious soul will lack the mode of spiritual cleansing from unrepentant sins that burial in the earth can provide.

Rabbi Moshe Weiner of Jerusalem of Jerusalem provided these explanations:

Based on that Torah verse, burial in the ground is a moral obligation for all Gentiles, so they should not be cremated. Nevertheless, these matters are not Torah-law requirements for Gentiles.

From the Mishnah Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot) 3:14 – “[Rabbi Akiva] used to say: Beloved is Man, for he was created in the image [of G-d]; it is an even greater love that it was made known to him that he was created in the image [of G-d], as it is stated, “For in the image of G-d He made man” (Gen. 1:27).

This refers to all mankind, since the quoted verse in Genesis refers to all human beings. This was repeated to Noah in Genesis 9:6. A practical lesson that results from this is that since a human body is the temporary host to the image of G-d within a living person, which is the human intellect that can know right from wrong, it should not be treated disrespectfully, even in death. Therefore, burial is preferred and encouraged for Gentiles, since it is the most honorable way to treat the special significance of the deceased human body, which was a host to a human soul that is created “in the image of G-d.”

If a deceased person’s body has already been cremated, the ashes should be buried.
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So it is not a sin for Gentiles if they don't bury their dead intact, but as a part of Torah, they can accept it upon themselves in order to gain these advantages.

Regarding tattos, please see Rabbi Yitz's answer in the thread "Tattoo Markings" at
https://asknoah.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=58

Regarding piercings: this is a problem (in terms of the Noahide Code) if the piercing is hazardous to the person's health. For example, there are radio advertisements from the American Dental Association which warn people about the health hazards of tongue piercings.


RE: Burial for Noahides - alexdantas - 12-18-2014

By the grace of G'd!

Shalom!

Within this context, I ask:
There may be a problem for the soul of a Righteous Gentile, touch a dead, even if he one of your parents (G'd forbid)?
And if not a parents, but a neighbor, an idolater, but we need to investigate his alleged death, there may be spiritual problems?
Evil spirits (ruchot) does not take possession of these bodies?
It would be wise to avoid such situations? Something like asking someone else to do the "service"?

Thank you very much.
Alex


RE: Burial for Noahides - Director Michael - 12-19-2014

(12-18-2014, 09:50 PM)alexdantas Wrote: There may be a problem for the soul of a Righteous Gentile, touch a dead, even if he one of your parents (G'd forbid)?

There is no problem if that happens in a normal fashion and not for any bad intentions.

(12-18-2014, 09:50 PM)alexdantas Wrote: And if not a parents, but a neighbor, an idolater, but we need to investigate his alleged death, there may be spiritual problems?

There is no reason for such concerns. In fact it is a good deed to care for the process of respectable burial for any human corpse.

(12-18-2014, 09:50 PM)alexdantas Wrote: Evil spirits (ruchot) does not take possession of these bodies?

Contact with a human corpse transmits spiritual impurity ("ruach ha'tumah") to a Jew, which only restricts him from entering the area of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. That is a normal thing for all Jews, and it has no relevance to Non-Jews.

(12-18-2014, 09:50 PM)alexdantas Wrote: It would be wise to avoid such situations? Something like asking someone else to do the "service"?

Only out of respect, a person should avoid touching a human course unless that is definitely needed for some good reason. If it is needed for some good reason, then it is a good deed to do so.

One should try to avoid taking part in a funeral that involves idolatrous prayers, services or rituals. At the most, a Noahide may be a by-stander at an idolatrous funeral service if there will be people involved who will get very angry or insulted if the Noahide person does not attend.