The Forward had a much-talked-about article this week called “Cemeteries Are Becoming New Challenge for Interfaith Families” which tussled with what Reform and Conservative cemeteries are supposed to do when the non-Jewish husband of a Jewish wife dies, or vice versa. If the Jew is already buried in the synagogue, can the non-Jew be buried with his/her family? Maybe. Depends.
The issue is a thorny one for many communities, especially given the traditional response (which is no), and yet the desire to value Jewish families in whatever permutation they present themselves.
The article reports that the Conservative movement’s rabbinical association just decided that plots for intermarried families should be separated from other Jewish plots by about six feet. Does that solve the problem? Or just make things worse?
Is there value in keeping Jewish cemeteries for only those Jewish according to Jewish law? And if the cemeteries, why not the synagogues, and the Hebrew Schools?
Of what value is the separation?
Weigh in on this one in the comments folks.
Two Jews, three opinions. We want to hear it.
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I don’t know enough halacha wise to answer that.
What I will say is that for the orthodox as well as the conservative and reform jews, this is a highly charged issue because both sides believe in their stance.
I don’t see the point in keeping them separate. The two cemetaries affiliated with our synagogue allow non-Jewish spouses to be buried next to the Jewish spouse.