Cremation Stopped Just Before Shabbos

An hour before Shabbos and under heavy snow, Rostov's Shliach Rabbi Chaim Danzinger officiated a funeral in the Jewish section of the local cemetery for a 65-year-old Jew named Shimon and felt that the funeral was special for the fact it existed. Full Story

January 17, 2021 – 4 Shevat 5781

By COLlive reporter

An hour before Shabbos, under heavy snow, Rostov’s Shliach and Chief Rabbi Chaim Danzinger officiated a funeral in the Jewish section of the local cemetery.

The weather was freezing cold as he uttered Keil Malei Rachamim and buried the 65-year-old resident named Shimon.

While there was no crowd present, Rabbi Danzinger felt that the funeral was special for another reason.

Shimon had no living relatives and was in line for cremation in Moscow, he told COLlive.com.

“With little time to spare and with the help of our friends in Moscow, we convinced the crematorium to release his body, and arranged for his transfer back to Rostov, for a proper Jewish burial near his mother,” he said.

May the neshama of Shimon Ben Pavel have an aliya.