Compensation Process Opens for Soviet-Born Jews Discriminated in Burial Services in Petah Tikva

Following a decade-long legal battle, families of Soviet-born Jews who faced discriminatory burial practices in Petah Tikva can now apply for compensation. The Supreme Court ruled in May 2026 that the Petah Tikva Chevra Kadisha (burial society) had discriminated against these individuals by burying them in separate sections at Segula and Yarkon cemeteries. The separate burial practice was linked to some families engraving photos on tombstones, which was claimed to violate religious law. The Chevra Kadisha denied discrimination but canceled the separate sections policy in 2016.

The district court initially ordered compensation of about 4.3 million shekels to eligible families, but after an appeal, the Supreme Court reduced the total payout to approximately 3.6 million shekels. Compensation will be distributed equally among families based on the number of graves, not the number of family members. Each eligible family will receive at least 2,300 shekels.

Applications opened on August 4, 2026, and will remain available until December 4, 2026. Eligible applicants must be relatives of deceased Soviet-born Jews buried between November 17, 2009, and May 31, 2017, in the specified cemetery sections. Eligible relatives include spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and siblings. The compensation claim can be submitted free of charge through a dedicated online form.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs, including the firm Gil Ron, Keinan & Co. and Tel Aviv University's class action clinic, praised the ruling as a step toward rectifying the harm caused by the discriminatory burial policy. They highlighted the courage of two individuals, Erik Avrokin and Niki Zintchenko, who initiated the lawsuit after their relatives were affected. The Chevra Kadisha has since adopted a non-discriminatory burial policy. For assistance or inquiries, claimants can contact the case administrator Marina Kigel by phone or email.