Chevra Kadisha officials on motzei shabbos were informed of the petira of two women in Shaare Zedek Hospital, resulting in immediate arrangement for immediate kvura on the second night of yomtov, in keeping with minhag Yerushalayim. The families of the chareidi women requested from ‘Prushim’ Chevra officials not to permit the bodies to remain until after yomtov, and their request was received.

The two levayos, held simultaneously, were held in different locations, in Har Menuchos and Har HaZeisim. While the vehicle carrying the niftar was driven by a goy, the Chevra Kadisha officials walked, alongside the mourners, with the levaya heading to Har HaZeisim encountering a group of drunken Arabs in the area of Rockefeller Museum, and they immediately fell target to the Muslim hoodlums as they celebrated their post-Ramadan holiday at the expense of the aveilim. The group was assaulted with objects, but Baruch Hashem, there were no injuries reported.

The levayos were lengthy, with Chevra Kadisha members returning home for their seudas yomtov at 2:00am.

There were reports that a number of people who were not at all familiar with the niftar, decided to join in the name of observing the mitzvah of escorting the niftar.

Chevra Kadisha officials acknowledge there are many halachic challenges associated with carrying out the levaya on yomtov, but they met those challenges while giving final kovod to the niftar and adhering to minhag Yerushalayim.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)