(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The question whether cremation is practiced among the Jews and whether the rabbis in Germany officiate at the crematoria was addressed by Elsa Dormitzer, German Jewish writer, to the 70 crematoria in Germany.
The replies, published in the “Juedische Liberale Zeitung” show that in 49 of the crematoria, rabbis do officiate, and that the organ is played during the services. In 9 crematoria the rabbis have refused to officiate and in 12 no Jews had been cremated and therefore the question has not been considered.
Some crematoria reported difficulties because of the presence of Christian symbols in the halls. An example of this is the crematorium of Munich, where the rabbi officiates outside the hall.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
