Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., February 01, 2008 Shvat 25, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:01 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski. (Lior Mizrachi/BauBau) Last update - 20:18 31/01/2008 Jerusalem to build city's first non-Orthodox secular burial site By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Jerusalem, Orthodox  The Jerusalem municipality is expected to erect for the first time a cemetery designated for secular burial, after the project, initiated by Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski shortly after taking office in 2003, was approved Thursday. All burials conducted in the city until today have been carried out in accordance with Jewish law. The area designated for secular burials will be located inside the new cemetery at Har HaMenuchot. The project encompasses an area of 350 dunams on which a new cemetery will be built in Givat Shaul, and a part of this cemetery will be specifically designated for secular burials. Advertisement In this designated area, which will be operated by the "Menucha Nechona" organization, citizens will be able to bury their loved ones without a religious ceremony, or alternately in a Jewish ceremony that is not Orthodox. The secular cemetery will also be available for people who, according to Jewish law (Halakha), cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery. In response to the approval of his plan, Lupolianski said Thursday that "Jerusalem is a pluralistic city, committed to allowing every person choose his own way of life and to choose how he is buried without anything being forced upon him in any way." Meanwhile, Meretz faction chair in the Jerusalem municipal council Pepe Alalo said that presenting the project as Lupolianski's initiative was a "bluff." "The mayor is obligated to building a secular plot by law. Meretz and the Menucha Nechona organization have been working for years on this initiative, and Lupolianski has no choice but to erect the cemetery," Alalo added. The new cemetery aims to battle Jerusalem's burial space crisis and will offer a plethora of burial methods - joint burial, vertical burial, burial in crypts and multi-level burial. In the lot adjacent to the cemetery, the municipality plans to build centers for eulogies and purification, an information center and upwards of 800 parking spaces for private and public vehicles. In addition, the municipality is also discussing a plan to designate an additional 50 dunams for burial purposes in an area connecting the old Har HaMenuchot cemetery with the new cemetery. Related articles: Analysis / Every burial spot poses a problem Graves on the black market Multilevel burial plot Bookmark to del.icio.us   Painful lessons The IDF has already learnt lessons of the Second Lebanon War. Brothers in guilt 'We are all guilty; is an effective summary of the final Winograd report.   1.   The Pals are gonna shout"Occupation" again. 00:13  |  Stephen. 01/02/08   2.   Not enough land for burial sites, crematorium needed ! 00:49  |  Benjamina 01/02/08   3.   Yes there IS Jewish law that forbids cremation. 09:43  |  Burned Liberal 01/02/08

Today Online Netanyahu: Olmert is incompetent, not fit to lead state Responses: 117 Jewish group to build 200 new homes in East Jerusalem Responses: 242 Winograd: Current use of cluster bombs not in line with int'l law Responses: 124 Israel says Libya unworthy of seat on UN Security Council Responses: 103 Visiting U.S. singer Erykah Badu says she backs Farrakhan Responses: 115 Rosner's Domain Not despite Iraq - because of Iraq Has the era of Orthodox women rabbis arrived? (WTR) Rosner's Guest: Too many Jewish organizations? Poll: Is there a "constant virulent campaign" against Obama? The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one More Headlines 09:57 Gunmen shoot at Israeli embassy in Mauritania 08:40 Top IDF brass: Winograd war report is an 'earthquake' 08:44 Senior Labor Party sources: Barak expected to stay in office 08:45 Haaretz-Dialog poll: Third of public calls for Olmert to stay 08:49 Construction halted at site near J'lem despite pledge to Shas 21:35 Brazil judge bans carnival float depicting naked Holocaust victims 07:33 U.S. primaries / The final Republican face-off before Super Tuesday 06:41 Study: Arab women most exploited group in Israeli workforce 23:47 Israel's new TESCAR spy satellite transmits first top quality images 01:51 Amnesty Int'l: Winograd report fails to address Israel's war crimes 06:04 Solana, Blair to travel to Middle East next week to discuss Gaza border crisis 05:39 UNESCO chief: We are trying to mediate over Mugrabi Gate 07:23 Israeli reality TV series 'Survivor' causing ecological damage Previous Editions Select Day 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan

Special Offers Advertisement ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved