The Jewish community in Taiwan inaugurated its first-ever cemetery with the burial of a 73-year-old Israeli man who died on Tuesday.
Chabad Taiwan described it as a "significant milestone" for the community in an Instagram post. "Sad but important," the post added.
The man had lived in Taiwan for over 20 years, Chabad Taiwan announced, and was the first to be buried in the Taipei cemetery.
Previously, deceased members of the Taiwan community had been transferred to Jewish communities in other countries for burial.
Hong Kong rabbi joins Taiwan community for inauguration
“Volunteers from Zaka’s International Division work everywhere and in every arena around the world for the honor of the deceased," Baruch Nidam, head of ZAKA's International Division, stated. "This week, members of the ZAKA International Division from Hong Kong, led by Chabad emissary Rabbi Mendy Rabinowitz, arrived in Taiwan, at the request of the local Chabad emissary Rabbi Shlomi Tabib, to assist and handle all aspects of the funeral and burial.”
Rabbi Rabinowitz explained that he had come to assist in the purification and burial at the request of Rabbi Tabib.
"We have a Jewish cemetery in Hong Kong, and we are skilled in caring for and respecting the dignity of the deceased," he said. "As part of ZAKA's activities around the world, we provide a response to every deceased person in our areas of East Asia."