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Photo: Tommy Harpaz
Remains' burial project underway
Health Ministry, Abu Kabir Forensic Institute preliminary program to see thousands of organs, tissue samples entombed
"Final Resting Place," a joint venture by the Health Ministry and the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, which aims to entomb 8,288 organs and tissue samples removed from deceased during autopsies, was officially launched on Sunday.
Health Ministry Director-General Ronny Gamzo told reporters that the first phase of the program will focus on increased efforts to contact all of the families.
Last Rites
Dr. Itay Gal
Some 8,288 body parts taken out of deceased during autopsies, collected by Abu Kabir Forensic Institute set to be laid to rest under new Knesset committee directive
The Abu Kabir Forensic Institute (AKFI) is scheduled to begin referring remains for burial in May.
The families will be asked to choose between burying the remains in their relatives existing graves or in a specially designated gravesite.
However, the ministry said that families who choose to use an existing gravesite will have to bear the cost. The statement was met with ire from both families and Knesset members alike.
Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, who heads ZAKA (Disaster Victim Identification) also voiced his objection to the project, saying that Judaism mandates that each and every part of a deceased's remains, no matter how minute, be buried.
However, Rabbi Yaakov Rosa, who works with the Forensic Institute, said several rabbis have endorsed the project.
The project was launched following a legal controversy regarding AKFI's right to keep forensic evidence over time.
The Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee weighed in on the matter, eventually ruling that AKFI will only be allowed to maintain minimal samples and not entire organs.
The first civil suit in the matter was filed against AKFI last week. The family claims that their loved one's tissues were removed and kept without their consent.
