Why is it advisable to order services in advance?
According to the National Insurance Institute data, nearly a third of the population purchases a burial plot while they are still living. However, the vast majority are unaware of the fact that the burial plot is merely part of the solution, and the people they leave behind are left with quite a few unanswered questions.
In order to understand this better, we recommend you to read the answer to the question “what is the meaning of free burial?”
When a person pre-orders a full package of services in advance, he guarantees himself a number of things. First, delivering a clear message regarding his wishes in selecting the manner (cremation or burial), both in terms of location as well as in respect of the “how”, meaning what type of farewell ceremony or ceremony he wishes to have. Moreover, usually he saves a great deal of money just because he purchased a package.
In addition, there is a professional body which accompanies the family, enabling them to be focused on their grief and not on purchases and examinations.
When a person orders services in advance, he has the time to conduct a “market survey” and examine the alternatives available and not stress out and make a purchase at the last minute by default, finding a solution which does not necessarily suit him.
Since in the State of Israel a resolution was reached that cemeteries will transition to layered burial (it has been done already in all the major cities), (types of tightly packed burials in order to save space), the spaces for ground burials are becoming scarce, and those who wish to guarantee a ground burial for himself and/or his family members, have no other choice but to make a purchase today.
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What is the difference between a funeral home and a cemetery?
In most countries in the western world, there is a distinct separation between the entities whose role is to work with the family and the final resting place of the deceased.
The funeral home in which the funeral director works, is entrusted with caring for the family and the body of the deceased. His role is to provide the family with all the necessary information (regarding the law, the main psychological stages, available alternatives, the principle religious guidelines of the family’s affiliation, etc.), in addition to the physical care of the deceased body, tying all ends with the cemetery or the crematorium, transportation and all the other services chosen by the family.
The profession of a funeral director, is acquired through organized studies of one to two years (depending on the country) and through an internship which changes according to the country.
The cemetery is a place where the body is being buried. Naturally, its specialty lies in “real-estate” – the selling of burial plots only. A funeral home specializes in providing services and helping the family through their tough times.
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What is the meaning of “free” burial?
The answer to this question is complicated. The State of Israel strives to provide free burial services to all its citizens. However, most of us can attest to the fact that it is not exactly so. If so, where lies the gap?
First, we need to define what is burial by the State’s definition and what it is by the cities’ definition. The State divides the burial into three; the burial location, burial day expenses, and everything that wasn’t included in the first two. As if this isn’t complicated enough, the State makes further divisions in nearly each of the stages. For example between a free plot, and a plot at a cost, between a supervised plot on which the price is fixed by the State and plots in which the burying company has the right to determine its price. Between services for which a permitted tariff is set (transporting the deceased by the burying company) and services the burying company is forbidden to supply (headstones).
On the other hand, the reasonable person sees the total expenses which derive from the burial as a single expense and does not make the distinction as the State does.
Therefore, a person is entitled to a free burial in his city of residence, in a burial plot selected by the burying company only. Any change of a plot on demand is subject to a fee. The tariffs range from a few thousand Shekels to many tens of thousands of Shekels. The burying company usually operates only during working hours and therefore most of the time families are required to engage the services of a private ambulance company. Even in cases where the burying company transports the deceased, deviation from it is subject to a fee (transportation not from the city of residence, passing through the residence or the synagogue, adding people to the quorum of 10 to escort the deceased etc.). Paying Magen David Adom for determining a death costs hundreds of Shekels. Of course, a headstone is not included in the service. Generally estimated, without considering those who pay for the burial plot, it is possible to say that “free” burial costs about 10,000 NIS on average.
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What is a “Farewell Ceremony”?
The farewell ceremony is saying goodbye in your own way, which completes the circle of life in a respectable manner. Saying goodbye in this manner enables you to continue on with your life, knowing you have said your goodbyes in the right way, in a manner which reflects the life of the deceased as well as your own.
The farewell ceremony accompanies the burial and/or the cremation and allows people to share their most inner feelings, in a process in which you and your loved ones are in the center. The manner in which you choose to uphold your personal farewell ceremony has a great impact on you and your loved ones who are present, and the way it will be etched onto their memories forever.
Aley Shalechet takes care of all the arrangements and accompanying logistics, assists in selecting and adapting the nature of the farewell ceremony, accompanies and guides you on its construction with all its details, and takes care of all the various issues with professionalism and sensitivity.
In this manner we take care of all the arrangements and enable you to focus on the most important issue at this time – coping with your grief.
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What are the green aspects of burial and cremation?
Burial has a significant impact on all that relates to the environment and public health.
Land shortage
One of the senior members of the Planning and Development Department of the Israel Land Administration, best describes the land shortage in the State of Israel: “…Among the land consuming uses, we are all familiar with the cemetery… the rate of land consumption for the purpose of establishing cemeteries is an alarming figure. Every year, about 70 dunams are allocated for burial… in a cemetery which spreads on an area of 300 dunam, together with the required separation areas around it (according to the Planning and Building Law), it takes up about 900 dunam.”
Even if the State of Israel transitions into saturated burial (without mentioning the difficulties in implementing the issue of saturated burial), the actual savings will not reach even half of the use of land reserves. Needless to say, the cremation solution maintains the precious land reserves of the State of Israel, in addition to savings on the various burial costs.
The proper quote to end the description of the shortage in burial sites, also taken from the abovementioned report by the Israel Land Administration:
“Our future, the future of our children and of the next generation, is dependent on the way we treat our small piece of land. More than the cemeteries serve the dead, they service the living. Therefore, we must preserve and utilize each piece of land in the best way we can, in order for the next generations to continue living in Israel in the conditions and qualities from which we enjoy today.”
As of today, the State of Israel looses close to half a dunam of land a day in favor of burial plots.
The pollution of ground water
One of the main laws pertaining to environmental pollution is the law which prohibits the burial of animals. This law is actively enforced and its purpose is to prevent the pollution of Israel’s sources of drinking water. The provisions of the law are especially strict when it comes to mammals. The Ministry of Environmental Protection makes sure to enforce these laws especially in the coastal aquifer region. Unfortunately, the results of human burials are no different, and it is clear to all that cemeteries situated over the various aquifers, (and especially above that of the coastal plain), impact the quality of our water no less than when burying animals…
The reasons for the existence of the law and its enforcement stem from clear definitions; Public protection. Mammals may carry disease, hormones, antibiotics, bacteria and as such, which endanger the human being and no one will assume the responsibility for their seepage into groundwater. In addition, mammals are treated with antibiotics and other medications which do not break down and again, there is no factor who will assume responsibility for a situation in which there is doubt that these substances will seep into the groundwater.
Since the establishment of the country, the water sources have not increased, yet the population has increase by eightfold. The expected continued growth only worsens the state of the water economy. The number of deceased a year which summed up to a few thousands in the period the country was just established, today amounts in tens of thousands (close to forty thousand deaths per year), and the numbers are expected to quadruple.
Water pollution is a state in which the concentration of various substances (not necessarily toxic) in the water increases, and the water is unable to fulfill its function. While the reservoirs are emptying and the consumption increases – a very little amount of substances is required for contamination.
To the best of our knowledge, no routine and regular tests are being conducted for detecting the presence of drug residue, antibiotics, hormones etc.
In groundwater pollution testing using various disciplines, the Ministry of Infrastructure determined that “the entire region is an area with relatively high sensitivity, and that by mapping the sensitivity of the coastal aquifer it is mainly for the purpose of making a distinction between more sensitive or less sensitive areas.”
In an article published in March of 2009 in Ynet, it was said that “50% of the hormones and drug residue excreted into the sewage water, survives the sewage treatment process. The substances which remain in the water are used for the irrigation of agricultural crops and seep into the groundwater – so says the chief scientist at the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The substances can lead to a variety of serious health problems. “These substances can “climb” into the fruit and vegetables,” he warns.
Methods for treating animal carcasses – Taken from the website of the Ministry of Environmental Control
Sewage treatment plants are unable to remove from the sewage water all the residues of hormones and antibiotics secreted by human beings. “Between 40 to 60 percent of the amount of drugs and hormones – which usually originate in birth control pills – manage to survive the sewage treatment processes.
One of the most prominent studies on this issue is by Dr. Dror Avishar, head of the Hydro-Chemistry Laboratory at the Tel-Aviv University, who examined samples of sewage taken at the entry point and exit points of the treatment plants.
Medical studies have shown that the presence of hormones in a quantity of 1 nanogram per liter is of medical consequences,” explained Avishar in an interview with Ynet. “In our tests we found (in the treated waste water –Y.A D) quantities of tens of nanograms per liter.”
In his research, Avishar calls the phenomenon “new generation pollutants” – the kind that come from the residues of human medications and even veterinary drugs given to animals. In this group there are also pollutants such as hormones, pain killers, and psychiatric drugs.
According to his research, these residues can “survive” in the soil for a day, a week, and even for several months – depending on the temperature and the composition of the active ingredients. “The presence of antibiotics in the groundwater and in surface water many constitute a catalyst for disease and health disorders,” he writes.
Avishar emphasized that antibiotics are prescription drugs, and as such are intended to remain in our bodies for a limited time and for a specific purpose only. “Although there are still no medical studies on the issue of antibiotics, it is already clear today that we would not want antibiotics inside our body throughout the year, even if we are talking of low quantities.”
Needless to say that unlike the waste water treated in one way or another, there is no system which treats the waste products of a cemetery.
Contamination studies for the presence of hormones in ground water conducted by the Hormone Research Laboratory of the Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture states: “The use of hormone testing of groundwater to determine the sources of pollutants (financed by GLOWA): Estrone, Estradiol and Testosterone reach the environment from two major sources – human and animals. The sewage water contains among other things Ethenyl Estradiol which originates in birth control pills and Estriol from pregnant women. Hence the findings of these two hormones may indicate a human contamination source.
In a press release issued by the Water Authority in 2007 it was said: …”Another finding is the presence of male and female hormones (Estrogen and Testosterone) in groundwater. These hormones are found in cow feces and this study shows they find their way into groundwater in a depth of 46 meters from the surface.”
Hormonal therapy for menopausal women, especially when starting it close to the onset of menopause, may reduce morbidity and contributes to quality of life. Nowadays the hormonal treatment receives a new life worldwide, since it can help in solving many problems resulting from the Estrogen deficiency during menopause.
Antibiotic treatments, varied hormonal treatments, chemotherapy, radioactive drugs and many other substances are introduced into the human body in order to save it.
Despite all the aforesaid, various water institutes and corporation perform water testing and search for a long list of different pollutants, yet they do not look for antibiotics, hormones and new generation pollutants.
Air pollution
The impact of 3CH Methane gas is considered much more severe than that of Carbon Dioxide-Co2. The Methane gas is produced, among other things, as a result of decay and decomposition processes of organic materials. Meaning, in the decomposition process of an organic body (the burial process), Methane gas is released. When burying in the ground, some of the Methane remains there, however by transitioning to saturated burial in all its various types, we increase the emission of Methane gas into the atmosphere.
The cremation of bodies takes place in special ovens, built in closed systems with filters, designed to prevent the emission of pollutants.
In every large city in the world, in city centers and within residential neighborhoods, there are funeral homes which operate these ovens without polluting and/or causing any odors or other hazards.