The controversy over burying ashes from cremated bodies – an unknown responsa from Ha’Gaon Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. Never Printed!
A Halachic responsa from the Gadol Ha’dor Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski of Vilna author of Achiezer, to Rabbi Yehuda Leib Gurowitz of Melbourne Australia Kislev 1938.
The letter begins with a thank you from R. Chaim Ozer for funds received for yeshiva bochurim that paid for clothing and shoes. The letter continues with a short halachic response regarding curdled meat and goes on to discuss the raging controversy regarding the burial of ashes from those cremated."…
Regarding those who have asked to be cremated… I have already forbidden to bury their ashes in the cemetery in Warsaw."
The Melbourne Chevra Kadisha asked Rabbi Gurowitz a question regarding burying the ashes of those cremated in Australia. This response is attached to the letter Rabbi Gurowitz.
In the beginning of the 20th century
, many assimilated Jews unfortunately wanted to be cremated after death. There was a controversy about whether the ashes left after cremation may be buried in a Beis Ha’Chaim. Ha’Gaon Rabbi Meir Lerner of Altona collected the responsa of Gedolei Yisrael, who stringently ruled that it is prohibited to bury the ashes. He printed his responsa in the sefer Chayai Olam. The Gaonim Rabbi Ahron Walkin of Karlin (Shu"t Zekan Aharon Ch. 60) and HaGaon Rabbi D. Z. Hoffman (Shu"t Melamed Le’Hoil Yoreh De’ah Ch. 113) and in sefer Shu"t Chavalim Baneimim (vol. 2 Ch.73) brings the opinions of Gedolei Ha’Dor of Levov, Berzan, Yerushalayim Teveria among others who all concur with Ha’Gaon Rabbi Meir Lerner.
Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski did not include this halachic responsa in the sefer Achiezer; this is the first time his opinion on this matter is being publicized.
