Misaskim Buries ‘Unknown’ Jews

An urgent appeal was issued by Misaskim to help it immediately pay $20,800 for four Meisei Mitzvah that it handled recently. A spokesman for Misaskim said that these bills must be paid within 10 days.

“Bringing a Meis Mitzvah to kever yisroel is a responsibility that each one of us has,” the spokesman said. “We dare not ever turn our backs on such a fundamental responsibility.”

In halacha, attending to a Meis Mitzvah is the only instance when a kohen gadol is permitted to become tameh. An ordinary Jew is required to stop whatever task they are involved in, including stopping work or closing a business, to take care of a Mes Mitzvah. In these recent cases, Misaskim stepped in and assumed the responsibility for the community.

The four cases included a Jew who died alone in an institution in an upstate New York facility without next of kin. Misaskim volunteers retrieved the body, made the funeral arrangements in upstate New York and New York City, and purchased a plot and grave opening for a total cost of $4,300.

A second case involved an elderly woman in Richmond, VA who was almost cremated when a caretaker forged her last will and testament. Horrified relatives contacted Misaskim, who retained a lawyer to prove the forgery. Volunteers drove some 670 miles through the night to transfer the body to New York.

Misaskim coordinated with funeral homes in Virginia and New York, and purchased the plot and grave opening. The outstanding bill is $7,600. As a result of the dedication of the volunteers, there was no cost for transporting the body.

Another case involved a Jew who died in prison in Rochester, NY. When the family could not pay for the funeral, Misaskim stepped in, driving 680 miles roundtrip to retrieve the body and bringing him to kever yisroel. The outstanding bill is $4,000 to cover the costs of the funeral arrangements in Rochester and New York, purchase of the plot and grave opening.

In the final incident, Misaskim volunteers received a surprising call from a priest (prison chaplain) to make funeral arrangements for a deceased Jewish prisoner. The Misaskim team brought the prisoner to kever yisroel. There is an outstanding bill for $4,900 for the funeral arrangements, plot and grave opening.

Misaskim officials said that they would need the money within 10 days to preserve their trust and integrity for any future eventuality. The community was urged to help defray the bill of $20,800 for the Meisei Mitzvah. For more information or to donate visit: www.misaskim.com or call 718-854-4548