Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Minister pushing to allow virus victims to be buried in Israel — report
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleHealth Minister Yaakov Litzman is pushing to okay the burial of Diaspora Jews who die from the coronavirus in Israel, despite opposition from his own office, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
Some religious Jews believe it is an honor to be buried in Israel and arrange to have their bodies interred there after death.
But Health Ministry officials say allowing the bodies to be buried here could pose a health risk. Experts believe the virus continues to live after host bodies pass away, leading some Jewish leaders to even urge cremation, usually forbidden in Jewish tradition.
Orthodox communities in New York, London and elsewhere have been especially hard hit by the virus.
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