What provisions does Judaism make for disinterment and re-burial?

Question: What provisions does Judaism make for disinterment and re-burial?

Dear Rabbi,
My father-in-law would like to disinter his dear mother from the Orthodox cemetery in which she was buried 8 years ago. He would like to re-bury her in a public cemetery which would allow him (as well as three grandsons and wives and many great-grandchildren) to visit her grave site more easily. My father-in-law is aging and his mother's current burial site is on a steep hill. The cemetery is also 30 miles out of the city. Is this something that could even be considered? Is there halakah (Jewish law)on the subject of disinterment? Thank you very much.
Respectfully,
Roberta

Answer: Dear Roberta,

You asked about the possibility of exhuming the grave of your father-in-law's mother and reintering her in another local cemetery that would be more convenient for your family to visit.

If you have not already resolved this question, you should contact the cemeteries involved to ask about their policies. It is quite possible that your father-in-law's position on this matter may change when he finds out what is involved in disinterment and re-burial, including the cost.

In general, disinterment is frowned upon by Jewish tradition, although provisions are made for it in some cases (Y. D. 363:1-7). These are:

1. In order to reinter in the land of Israel.
2. In order to reinter in a family plot, especially if the deceased was buried in a temporary grave after dying in a place far from the place where he or she resided.
3. In order to move the burial site away from a place where it is threatened by hostile people or by an unforeseen natural event -- such as a landslide, flooding, erosion, etc.

You describe a situation that does not fit any of these categories. Your father-in-law wants to move his mother's grave site from a Jewish cemetery to a public cemetery (presumably non-Jewish) for the sake of making it easier to visit her. I strongly suspect that this would not be sanctioned by any orthodox authority and it may be prohibited by the orthodox cemetery where she is currently buried.

I believe that it should be discouraged strongly.

I hope this is helpful to you and your family.

Best wishes,
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser

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