11 Responses

1. They plan on burying him in a christian cemetery in Jamaica. A Yid doesn’t belong there. Please work on stopping it.

2. We should all be there.

3. Is there any way Misaskim, YWN or anyone else can do anything about what #1 wrote?

4. #3, I’m sure Misaskim is aware of the situation. After all, they handled the scene and cared for the Kavod Hameis at the medical examiner. They are probably trying to work with the family (who probably couldn’t care less about a Jewish burial) on something. I believe their Poskim have alternatives in case they don’t oblige (such as putting up a fence around him). They are definitely preparing him a Jewish funeral (in Shomrei Hadas) so I suggest they know what they’re doing.

5. 1&3,

   before you jump to major conclusions, keep in mind it may be a non-secterian place, which in the overall scheme of things isn’t as bad.

6. If his (former) family wants him nearby, which is certainly understandable from their perspective, there are 21 Jewish cemeteries in Jamaica, mostly of Sepharadim, some no longer used. Trying to get him into one of those could solve all the halachic problems, and could turn out to be a Kiddush Hashem in the process. There is no reason to antagonize the family if it can be done. It might even lead to some restoration of old kevarim. Some info and contacts here:
   http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/jamaica.html
   http://www.jnht.com/heritage_site.php?id=304
   http://www.iajgsjewishcemeteryproject.org/jamaica/index.html
   http://www.culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/documentation_of_18th_jewish_cemetery_at_hunts_

7. From what i know the family has a family burial plot on their own land. So perhaps some concessions can be made by the family. There is only 1 active cemetery currently in Jamaica and it is known as the Hunt’s Bay Cemetery. I was there in January. Hopefully all will work out so that Yosef can get a kosher burial which he certainly deserves.

8. Hunt’s Bay, near the original community in Port Royal, near what is now the airport, is the oldest, but I had the impression it was no longer being used. I assume your information is more recent – obviously the easiest and fastest way is to go through whatever site is currently being used, but it appears there is at least one functioning site there. I get the distinct impression that there is not the frum presence, Ashk or Seph, that there used to be, but especially if Misaskim is sending at least once person to accompany the aron and oversee, if it’s in a Jewish cemetery, it’s still 100% improvement over the alternative, at least the alternative there. The links I posted have contacts for whatever community is there now; the first and third links have telephone numbers.

9. Anyone with any information about ANY options for kosher Jewish burial either here or in Jamaica is obligated to do ALL they can. Did he have a Rav? shul? Perhaps someone can convince the family … The clock is ticking

10. from what I understand, it is being arranged that a section on his family plot is being sectioned off to become “it’s own separate cemetary” and that is how it is being considered a Jewish cemetary, as it is kind of separate from the rest of it.

    There was really no choice here, his mother is his next of kin and she had the last say, at least she agreed to this.

11. #10 is correct – it will be done properly