Taiwan Opens Its First Jewish Cemetery, Holding Its First Burial

A historic ceremony was held this week in Taipei, Taiwan, where the country’s first Jewish cemetery was officially inaugurated. The same event also marked the cemetery’s first funeral and burial, for a 73-year-old Israeli citizen who had been living in Taiwan.

Family members of the deceased came from several countries, including Israel, to pay their last respects and ensure he was buried according to Jewish tradition. The burial was carried out with help from ZAKA’s international division in Tel Aviv, which said its volunteers work around the world to preserve the dignity of the dead.

Baruch Nidam, head of ZAKA’s international division in Tel Aviv, said volunteers from the group’s Hong Kong branch, led by Chabad envoy Rabbi Mendi Rabinovich, traveled to Taiwan at the request of local Chabad emissary Rabbi Shlomi Tabib to handle all aspects of the funeral and burial. Rabinovich, who is Chabad’s envoy in Hong Kong and ZAKA’s commander in East Asia, said the team performed the ritual washing and burial because Hong Kong has a Jewish cemetery and the group is experienced in caring for the dead.

Until now, Jewish people who died in Taiwan were typically transferred for burial in Jewish cemeteries in other countries. The new burial is described as a significant milestone for Taiwan’s Jewish community, and ZAKA said it works with Jewish communities, Chabad emissaries and local authorities worldwide to provide burial in line with Jewish law and tradition.