Q. Dear Rabbi. As trips to our moon have restarted. I wonder if a Jewish person can be actually buried on the moon? (Or send their ashes to be deposited there). In a weird Baal Teshuva movement that i teach and try to be mekarev (bring closer), some have that idea, as they feel that then they would be closer to Hashem.
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it would not be a proper burial since the lack of air would impede the body of decomposing and returning to its original earthly status. After all our Torah expresses that the Kevurah is part of Hashem’s will that the body should return to the earth it was created from. And then our Neshama returning to Him that gave it to us.
You must teach them that becoming closer to Hashem, is truly reached while we are alive, and us following then His will and helping others of His children to also do so.
Indeed, we do honor and bless the moon every month blessing (Kidush Levanah) as a source of life, while establishing timing and giving light, but not as a burial place.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a
Important Numbers
