If more rabbis don’t start sounding more like Rabbi Waxman and less like anti-Gentile halakhaocrats, the continued modern exodus of Jews out of Judaism will continue.

LOOK BEOND THE GRAVE In responce to “grave matters” my opinion as one person among all people as a whole, would be to support the spouses that are non-jews that wish to be buried in a jewish cemetery.In a marriage the spouse becomes one with god as well as their partner,to reject the spouse is to reject the seed.

It is with sorry that last year my husband and I purchased plots in a municipal cemetery in the town where we live. Surrounded by altars and crosses, it was our only choice. I so wanted to be buried in a jewish cemetery but to be beside by beloved is more important. We have raised our children jewish and they are very torn about this decision. I explained it doesn’t truly matter where we are laid to rest as long as we are together. So many jews in the world have ‘ended up’ in graves that were not where they were expected to be but with G-D’s outstretched hand are where they should be now.

I know of at least 2 Canadian Jewish Cemeteries where a part has been set aside for mixed marriages. Seems a chain is put between the two graves and this makes it kosher.

I have been married for 32 years to a great wife and mother who is not of the Jewish faith. I will be put to rest beside her in a non sectarian plot of land that we will both decide on. We have had two children together who have been brought up Jewish and have gone thru everything to make them Jewish. My wife was the bigest help to them in doing this. I would not want my wife buried in a Jewish plot as we both respect and understand thousands of years of tradition. When we are gone our friends and familys will pay us the respect of what we did when we were alive and our love for each other will live on forever. I love being a Jew. My wife loves what she is also. My advise is > Love your family with all your heart and sole and g-d will love you and you will sit on his (her) side for all time.

It is so sad to hear of this. Tearing families apart even unto their resting place, just because of a Rabbi’s opinion, bringing upon all G-d’s children…. segregation. In my opinion this type of segregation only brings more anti-Semitism upon our faith.

I am surprised and disturbed by the tone of Rabbi Grossman’s post stating her opposition to allowing non-Jews to be buried with their Jewish spouses in a Jewish cemetery. She writes: “Let us… not undermine the final resting places of those who currently rest in peace.” It almost appears that Rabbi Grossman believes that the souls of those buried in a Jewish cemetery will catch cooties from the presence of a non-Jew buried nearby.
I understand Rabbi Grossman’s concerns about the current levels of intermarriage, but I also think that threatening to separate a couple in death who have been together in life will just alienate both members of the couple and won’t serve as a practical dis-incentive. There are many reasons people choose not to convert and this does not mean that they are working against the interests of the Jewish people or the Jewish community. On the contrary, they can often be active partners in raising Jewish families, supporting Jewish rituals and observances, and building Jewish community. If someone wishes to be buried in a Jewish cemetery I believe they are affirming their intent in death as in life to be fellow travelers: people who love and support the Jewish people and our communities
what a load of crap