Taipei marked a historic milestone this week with the opening of Taiwan’s first Jewish cemetery, and its first burial took place at the same event. The deceased was a 73-year-old Israeli citizen who had lived in Taiwan in recent years and was laid to rest in the country’s first Jewish burial on its soil.
Until now, Taiwan’s small Jewish community faced major religious and logistical hurdles when someone died. In the absence of suitable burial infrastructure, Jewish bodies were usually flown to cemeteries in other countries, a process that added high costs, long delays, and distress for families. The new cemetery gives the community a way to ensure burial according to Jewish law and tradition in Taiwan itself.
The funeral drew mixed emotions, sorrow over the loss and excitement over the significance of the moment. Family members arrived on special flights from around the world, including a large delegation from Israel, to pay their last respects. Chabad emissaries and volunteers from the international division of ZAKA Tel Aviv also came from Hong Kong to handle the burial properly.
Rabbi Shlomi Tabib, the local Chabad emissary in Taiwan, asked ZAKA for help after the man’s death. A team led from Hong Kong by Rabbi Mendy Ravinovitz, Chabad emissary there and ZAKA commander in East Asia, traveled to Taiwan and managed the tahara and burial. Baruch Nidam, head of ZAKA’s international division, said the volunteers operate worldwide for the dignity of the dead and came at Tabib’s request to handle all burial matters.
