Rabbi Perl launches Jewish burial awareness campaign

Rabbi Anchelle Perl of Chabad of Mineola is urging Jewish families to learn Judaism’s teaching on burial before facing end-of-life decisions. The campaign aims to counter confusion about cremation, encourage advance planning and make a free essay available to families and community leaders.

Why it matters: - Rabbi Anchelle Perl is trying to shift Jewish burial decisions out of the middle of grief and into advance planning. - The campaign targets families who may not know Judaism’s view on cremation until a loved one has died. - The effort matters because cremation is becoming more common, and end-of-life choices are often irreversible.

What happened: - Rabbi Perl, spiritual leader of Chabad of Mineola, launched the educational campaign “Learn Before the Crisis.” - The campaign accompanies his new essay, “Cremation or Burial? What Does Judaism Really Teach? — Covenant Over Consent: A Jewish Answer on Burial and Cremation.” - Rabbi Perl said families should learn Judaism’s position on cremation before a crisis, not during one. - The campaign is based in Mineola, New York.

The details: - Rabbi Perl says Judaism does not treat the body as personal property. - He describes the body as created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of God, and as the housing for a holy soul. - The essay points to Jewish burial as a long-standing tradition, citing Abraham burying Sarah, Jacob asking to be buried, Joseph’s remains being carried from Egypt and the Torah command kavor tikberenu, or “you shall surely bury him.” - Rabbi Perl calls Jewish burial “the final act of sacred stewardship.” - The essay’s core theme is “Covenant Before Consent.” - Rabbi Perl compares burial at life’s end to brit milah at life’s beginning, saying Jews belong to family, generations, the Jewish people, the covenant and God. - Jewish tradition calls burial chesed shel emet, or the truest kindness, because the deceased cannot repay it. - The essay also addresses the Holocaust, when Jews were deliberately denied graves, and links burial to techiyat hameitim, or resurrection of the dead. - Rabbi Perl said the campaign is not meant to condemn families that have already chosen cremation. - He said many people make these decisions out of love without having been taught what Judaism says. - Rabbi Perl urged families to discuss burial wishes now and not assume cost, fear of burial or other practical concerns leave no alternative to cremation. - The complete essay is available free to individuals, families, rabbis, educators, funeral professionals and community organizations. - Requests for the essay should be emailed to rabbiperl@chabadmineola.com with “Burial Essay” in the subject line. - Questions about Jewish burial, advance planning or family circumstances may also be directed confidentially to Rabbi Perl. - The campaign message is: “Learn before the crisis. Ask before deciding.”

Between the lines: - The campaign is as much about education as persuasion. - Rabbi Perl is framing the issue as a Jewish covenant question, not only a funeral preference. - By stressing compassion and advance learning, the campaign avoids directly shaming families while still making a strong religious argument against cremation. - The Holocaust reference adds emotional and historical weight to the essay’s message about burial.

What’s next: - Rabbi Perl is encouraging families to have burial discussions before they face a death in the family. - He is asking readers to seek guidance and explore what help may be available before assuming cremation is necessary. - The free essay is now available for distribution to community and religious leaders.

The bottom line: - Rabbi Perl wants Jewish families to make burial decisions with knowledge, not urgency.