Nuisance even in death: Safed residents against Berg grave • view

What are burly and grim looking security guards, searching for in the ancient cemetery n Safed, where they allow only authorized access to the burial?

Two and a half years ago, anonymous bought a burial plot in the ancient cemetery in Safed, for "the righteous Rebbe of America," later anonymous built them over the plot structure of a burial cave, at an estimated cost of 180 thousand dollars.

Residents, who are not used to new burial caves being built and at such large investment, moreover the purchaser bought dozens of adjacent grave plots, trying to find out for whom the noise, but just two weeks ago the mystery was solved.
Founder of the Kabbalah Center Rabbi Shraga Berg (86) Brooklyn native and resident of Los Angeles, has died. On the eve of Sukkot morning, a coffin landed in Israel, and to the surprise of the ultra-Orthodox residents of the Mekubalim City, immediately began preparations for burial in the cave.

Thousands attended the funeral, Jews and Gentiles, religious and secular, including movie star Ashton Kutcher – a student of Rabbi who came specifically and Environment Minister Amir Peretz.

The cave in which he was buried, is equipped with lighting operated by solar energy, ventilation systems and the locked gate special coding system. On the inner wall of the cave is an elegant embossed candelabra and opposite a mounted stone bench wall.



"We sold the plot without knowing the name of those who bought it," said a member of the religious council to NRG Ma'ariv. "Representatives of the Rebbe came to us, said they want to buy, paid and left. After two years we realized that Rabbi Shraga Berg planned to be buried here, and it was a great shock", the source added. "In terms of the Haredi public, this tomb is a 'red flag'. They say he took the Kabbalah to forbidden places". The grave of Rav Berg has more room reserved for his wife, Karen Berg.

Rabbi Berg was boycotted over the years by rabbis, mainly due to non separation of men and women as needed according to Jewish law, and more importantly - because of the hidden studies to many people as well as to Gentiles.

Residents planning a protest

Meilech Gerstel, photojournalist and resident of Safed, said to B'Chadrei Charedim, that since Berg was buried, the burial cave area has become private property. "During the funeral, cemetery deployed 20 security guards who are not Jews, and did not allow Jews to visit the tombs of the holy Ari and the Beit Yosef. Worshipers passed the entrances in different ways, and only then managed to pray."

"For the two hours where the funeral took place, those who were not dressed in white, and were not among the participants of the funeral, were not allowed to enter the house to the cemetery."

Funeral participants were dressed in white and holding the Zohar, but almost all women were dressed immodestly despite the white hair cover. "They underestimated the holy dirt dwellers, women alongside men sang the 'Ani Maamin'. I heard rabbis who wanted to hold a big protest at the ordination, but officials were trying to silence them, and even succeeded.

"If we thought the routine returned again after the funeral, we were wrong," says Meilech in rage. "Two burly guards are situated at the tomb, and anyone who approaches is warned by them to stay away. Grave of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair is linked to the cave, and when I asked to surround the grave as usual, I had to beg the guards until they allowed me only one time to surround it."

"Eight members of the Attias family, who were killed in an accident at the entrance to Tiberias, are also buried next to the burial cave, and all who come near, is cautioned and removed by security guards."

"They're going to make this place into a pilgrimage, in violation of modesty and dignity and trampling of dirt dwellers. Probably next month, there will be organized protest from the initial residents.

In preparation for the thirty days, to be held in two weeks on Friday, angry residents are organizing a protest, on making the tomb area into a private area, and the desecration of the ancient cemetery and becoming of an immodest area.

Safed Police delivered to B'Chadrei Charedim that so far they have not received a complaint.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!