Minister of Religious Service Yaakov Margi has instructed members of the Ministerial Burial Committee to enforce the law, to crack down on kibbutzim, moshavim and others who have decided to ignore the law and bury people in open areas, areas not designated for kvura. In many of these cases, they are demanding exorbitant sums of money, far more than permitted by law.

Margi points out citizens are the losers, paying too much for a service he is entitled to receive. In addition, using land for kvura that is designated for other sectors adds to the nationwide land shortage.

The committee is also discussing a NIS 158 million project to build a multi-level cemetery in the center of the country towards alleviating the shortage of burial plots.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)