A historic ceremony was held this week in Taipei with the inauguration of Taiwan’s first Jewish cemetery, where the first burial at the site also took place.
The deceased was a 73-year-old Israeli citizen who had been living in Taiwan. The funeral was attended by family members who traveled from several countries, including Israel, to pay their final respects and ensure burial in accordance with Jewish tradition.
Baruch Nidam, head of the international division of ZAKA, said the organization’s volunteers operate worldwide to ensure dignity for the deceased.
“International division volunteers of ZAKA operate in every place and every scene around the world for the sake of human dignity,” he said. “This week, members of ZAKA’s international division from Hong Kong, led by Chabad envoy Rabbi Mendy Rabinowitz, traveled to Taiwan at the request of local Chabad emissary Rabbi Shlomi Tabib to assist and handle all aspects of the funeral and burial.”
Rabinowitz, who also serves as ZAKA’s commander in East Asia, said the team was dispatched at the request of local Jewish leadership.
The deceased was a 73-year-old Israeli citizen who had been living in Taiwan
(Photo: ZAKA)
“We arrived in Taiwan at the request of my friend, the Rebbe’s emissary Rabbi Shlomi Tabib, and assisted them in carrying out the ritual purification and burial,” he said. “In Hong Kong we have a Jewish cemetery and are experienced in handling and ensuring respect for the deceased.”
He added that ZAKA provides services across the region. “As part of ZAKA’s global activities, we respond to every deceased person in East Asia,” he said. “Until now it was customary to transfer Jewish deceased from Taiwan for burial in Jewish cemeteries in other countries around the world. The burial held this week marks a significant milestone for the local Jewish community, with the first Jewish burial in the new cemetery.”