# Orthodox prohibition against cremation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705 "2012-06-20T01:18:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/41 "2012-06-23T22:58:46Z")
> [@benbo1](#): > > Now how about addressing the OP’s topic? How to convince 1 guy not to listen to another crazy guy to ignore his mother’s wishes? The question presupposes craziness. Which is not in evidence. ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/42 "2012-06-23T23:08:11Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > The question presupposes craziness. Which is not in evidence. The rabbi & the brother. OK, if u don’t like ‘crazy’, how about ‘overbearing’ or ‘pompous’? Whatever the word, being obnoxious enough to impose ur own beliefs on some1 else? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/43 "2012-06-23T23:11:55Z")
> [@benbo1](#): > > The rabbi & the brother. OK, if u don’t like ‘crazy’, how about ‘overbearing’ or ‘pompous’? Whatever the word, being obnoxious enough to impose ur own beliefs on some1 else? I seriously doubt **LavenderBlue** ’s telling of the story, if only because of the “on the grounds that she will go to hell if she does [get cremated]” statement she assigns to the rabbi. No orthodox rabbi would ever say something like that. But in any case, the orthodox rabbi and the brother are just telling the husband of the deceased woman what the Jewish law is in this case, since he (not being Jewish himself) probably has no idea. The husband is free to decide whatever he wants, he doesn’t have to follow their advice. ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/44 "2012-06-23T23:19:01Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I seriously doubt **LavenderBlue** ’s telling of the story, if only because of the “on the grounds that she will go to hell if she does [get cremated]” statement she assigns to the rabbi. No orthodox rabbi would ever say something like that. > > But in any case, the orthodox rabbi and the brother are just telling the husband of the deceased woman what the Jewish law is in this case, since he (not being Jewish himself) probably has no idea. The husband is free to decide whatever he wants, he doesn’t have to follow their advice. So it’s obvious how u think. What the rabbi & Orhto brother are dictating are NOT Jewish law - it’s Ortho law. A galaxy of difference between the 2. Not enough space left on the entire internet to debate \*that \*topic, but suffice it to say Orthodoxy routinely takes the most extreme rabid position, ostensibly to ‘guard the culture & protect from outside influences’. Thanx for demonstrating why the rabbi, brother, and u r all wrong. Millions of people including Jews get cremated daily, as per their wish. No one has the right to our bodies except ourselves. The family would do the right thing by listening to the dead mother - it was her wish what to do with her body. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/45 "2012-06-23T23:29:30Z")
> [@benbo1](#): > > So it’s obvious how u think. What the rabbi & Orhto brother are dictating are NOT Jewish law - it’s Ortho law. As the Orthodox rabbi told his Reform friend: “It’s ok. You worship God in your way, and I will do it in his.” ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/46 "2012-06-23T23:39:05Z")
if only that were how Orthos acted - witness the Ortho rabbi in LavenderBlue’s story. Let’s hope LavenderBlue is strong enough to stand up to his brother & the crazy rabbi. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/47 "2012-06-23T23:41:48Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > As the Orthodox rabbi told his Reform friend: “It’s ok. You worship God in your way, and I will do it in his.” All I have to say to that is, PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPHTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/48 "2012-06-24T00:02:42Z")
> [@benbo1](#): > > No one has the right to our bodies except ourselves. I don’t think I agree with that. I don’t think Jewish law agrees with it either. Consider that under Jewish law one cannot- Get a tattoo round the corners of their head round the corners of their beard or keep their foreskin. ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/49 "2012-06-24T01:39:22Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I don’t think I agree with that. I don’t think Jewish law agrees with it either. Consider that under Jewish law one cannot- > > Get a tattoo > > round the corners of their head > > round the corners of their beard > > or keep their foreskin. Again, ur confusing Jewish law with the \*Orthodox spin on \*Jewish law. The tattoo thing is now a relic - Jews with tattoos are buried in Jewish cemetaries without a 2nd thought. The haircut thing is just dumbass - many have routinely cut their hair how they want for many years. Many Ortho men are also clean-shaven, so even they reject the idiocy of the ‘corners of their beard’ thing, whatever that is. The foreskin thing, if not done at 8 days, is something again that is left up to choice. There is evidence to suggest a health benefit for circumcision; okay then, what about the women? To sum, there is no ‘Jewish law’ that forbids doing what u want to ur body, including cremation. The rabbi & LavendarBlue’s brother are engaging in emotional blackmail, taking advantage of a grieving family. The good news is, that blackmail is ineffective against strong will. Were we all to ignore it, it would go away. ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/50 "2012-06-24T01:46:39Z")
if only that were how Orthos acted - witness the Ortho rabbi in LavenderBlue’s story. Let’s hope LavenderBlue is strong enough to stand up to his brother & the crazy rabbi. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/51 "2012-06-24T01:50:03Z")
> [@benbo1](#): > > The tattoo thing is now a relic - Jews with tattoos are buried in Jewish cemetaries without a 2nd thought. Why is it a relic? Simply because you say so? > [@](#): > > The haircut thing is just dumbass - many have routinely cut their hair how they want for many years. Many Jews also eat bacon double cheeseburgers. That does not mean it isn’t against Jewish law. > [@](#): > > Many Ortho men are also clean-shaven, so even they reject the idiocy of the ‘corners of their beard’ thing, whatever that is. Ya got a cite for there being many clean-shaven Orthodox men? > [@](#): > > The foreskin thing, if not done at 8 days, is something again that is left up to choice. Where in the Torah does it say ‘This shall be the sacred mark of the Covenant twixt you and your G-d. But only if ya feel like it?’ > [@](#): > > To sum, there is no ‘Jewish law’ that forbids doing what u want to ur body, including cremation. Sure there is. Despite your rather weak arguments to the contrary. > [@](#): > > The rabbi & LavendarBlue’s brother are engaging in emotional blackmail, taking advantage of a grieving family. This, I agree with. I despise their actions. But, halachically, they are correct. ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/52 "2012-06-24T02:23:44Z")
halacha \<\> Jewish law. Gnite & Shavua Tov. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705/53 "2012-06-24T14:55:27Z")
> [@](#): > > The rabbi & LavendarBlue’s brother are engaging in emotional blackmail, taking advantage of a grieving family. LavenderBlue’s brother IS grieving family. He just happens to be a part of the grieving family with different religious beliefs than the member who posted here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-prohibition-against-cremation/625705.md?page=2)