In a new essay Rabbi Anchelle Perl makes the Jewish case for burial over cremation

Rabbi Anchelle Perl, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chabad Mineola, has released an essay titled "Covenant Over Consent: A Jewish Answer on Burial and Cremation," which explores Judaism's commitment to burial over cremation. The essay, inspired by Mark Scherer, examines the religious and historical foundations of Jewish burial, presenting a Torah-based perspective on end-of-life decisions. Perl argues that a Jew's relationship with God is founded on covenant, not personal preference, stating, "Modern culture teaches that the human body is personal property. Judaism teaches something radically different—that our bodies are entrusted to us by God." The essay traces the Jewish commitment to burial from the Torah through history, addressing the historical resonance of cremation after the Holocaust while maintaining a compassionate tone towards grieving families. Perl emphasizes that burial affirms human dignity, the sanctity of the body, and the eternal bond between the Jewish people and God, aiming to offer the "beauty, dignity and timeless wisdom of Jewish tradition."