Burial in Israel
Buying a burial plot can be an emotional act. Whether you are purchasing one for yourself or for the burial of a loved one, we at the United Synagogue wish you and your family strength, and Arichut Yamim as you embark on this process.
This page provides practical and halachic guidance on the process of purchasing a burial plot in Israel through the US, as well as arranging a funeral and stone setting there.
The United Synagogue strives to provide the best possible pastoral care to our members at every stage of life. Burial can present many halachic and emotional issues. We very much hope that you will feel comfortable drawing on the guidance and support of our rabbis, rebbetzens and offices in Israel and Britain. Do be sure that your rabbi, rebbetzen or synagogue office have been informed of the bereavement and can offer the appropriate support.
Rabbi Michael Laitner
Director of Education
The place where we choose to be buried says much about the meaning of our lives. Choosing to be buried as a Jew in any country is a declaration of our faith and loyalties. Purchasing a plot in Israel further links our destiny to the Jewish people, its land and its faith. At the outset of our nation, Abraham purchases a burial place for his wife Sarah at the Cave of Machpela in Hebron marking the start of a distinctive family tradition which would emerge into a nation with a profound connection to the Holy Land.
Even when tragedy and famine prevented our forefathers from living in the Land of Israel, they did everything possible to ensure that their remains would be taken there for burial. So we see that Jacob asked his son Joseph to ensure his burial in the Land of Israel and later when the Jews finally left slavery in Egypt, they eventually brought Joseph’s remains with them for burial in Shechem (Nablus) after their entry to the Land.
Centuries later, the rabbis of the Talmud spoke of the greatness of living in Israel, adding that one who could not live in Israel should do their best to be buried there. When Jews are buried in the Diaspora, it is customary to place some earth from the Land of Israel in the coffin symbolically interring each Jew in the soil of the Holy Land.
Burial in Israel is the way that we connect to thousands of years of Jewish history, to the Promised Land and to the great future of the Jewish people. While in the past, this was a difficult mitzvah to perform, modern travel and communications have made it much easier. To enable our members to participate in this mitzvah, the United Synagogue has purchased a limited number of spaces within a British section in the beautiful Eretz Hachaim Cemetery near Beit Shemesh.
The Eretz Hachaim cemetery is conveniently located on the road to Beit Shemesh just half an hour from Jerusalem, not far from Tel Aviv and thirty minutes from Ben Gurion Airport. Jewish communities from around the world, including some in North America, have bought sections for the interment of their members, thus the cemetery staff is attuned to the needs of Diaspora Jews. Eretz Hachaim cemetery has a dignified prayer hall on the premises, with a fully staffed office to help visitors and families in their time of need.
A private family room is also available for the bereaved family for a pre-service gathering.
The following summary table sets out the costs as at the time of publication but are subject to change. Further details are provided below.
| Amount | Payment to | |
|
Plot purchase (per space) Including Cemetery Maintenance Fee (one off charge) |
£15,000 | The US Burial Society |
| Transportation of the deceased from London to Israel | £6,000 | Transportation companies – see contacts page (At time of transfer) |
| Funeral and burial services (Inc. Collection from airport & customs fees) | £3,000 |
Eretz Hachaim cemetery At time of plot purchase |
*Charges are indicative as of 1 June 2026 and may be subject to change, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
US members may buy single or double plots in the US section. The current cost of a single plot is £15,000. This may be subject to change in the future.
US members wishing to purchase a US plot at Eretz Hachaim should contact Mr. Adam Simble, United Synagogue Head of Burial Operations, on 020 8950 7767 or 07423 182453 or via email to [email protected].
We suggest contacting on of the specialist companies for arranging the transportation of the deceased to Israel, Mozes Travel or Feldan Travel (contact details at the back). In the event of bereavement, you should contact one of these companies immediately (Excluding Shabbat/YomTov). Where necessary, they will help you make the necessary arrangements for the deceased collected (subject to paperwork) for Tahara (washing of the body). Once the body has been prepared for burial, they will arrange for it to be taken to the airport and flown to Israel, where it will be met by Eretz Hachaim representatives who will handle all the necessary arrangements within Israel. If you wish to accompany the body, they will also be able to facilitate flight arrangements. Please note that these travel costs are not included within the plot reservation fee.
This cost covers bringing the deceased to the cemetery and the preparations at the cemetery. US Members have the option to prepay this fee, thereby locking into the cost as at the time of payment. The current cost is approximately 10,000 ILS (£2,600.00)*. Should the Tahara be required to take place in Israel an additional charge of $450.00 (£350) *would be required to be paid locally. Charges are indicative as of 1 June 2026 and may be subject to change, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Eretz Hachaim charges an additional, one-time maintenance fee for care of the cemetery. This is included within the price of the plot.
In order to bury an Israeli citizen who has passed away, it will be necessary to obtain a notification of death (hoda’at petirah) from a doctor and a burial permit (rishayon lekevurah) from the Ministry of Health, which Eretz Hachaim will require together with the deceased’s identity card (teudat zehut).
In any case, it is important to make copies of these papers which will be necessary for future administrative purposes.
Where the deceased was in Israel and had already purchased a burial plot, their next of kin should contact the Chevra Kadisha of Eretz Hachaim on 02 999 7526 or 02 991 1446. They will arrange the collection of the deceased and their preparation for burial.
Eretz Hachaim Cemetery:
Tel: 00972 2 991 1446
Fax: 00972 2 999 7527
PO Box 41136, Jerusalem 91410 Israel
USA Office Tel: 718 437 2200
Fax: 718 437 4266
https://www.eretzhachaim.org/
United Synagogue Burial Society
Adam Simble
Head of Burial Operations
Email: [email protected]
020 8950 7767 / 07423 182453
US Burial Society
United Synagogue
305 Ballards Lane,
London, N12 8GB
Transportation of the Deceased to Israel
Mozes Travel:
Mr. Shamshi Mozes
Tel: 07813 792 364
Email: [email protected]
Feldan Travel Limited:
Mr. Daniel Feld
Tel: 020 8800 3600
Email: [email protected]