Background

Since a person’s days are limited, after death they are usually buried underground. The place dedicated to graves – a cemetery – is usually of religious importance in almost all religions: Christianity , Judaism and Islam .

Cemeteries have existed since the beginning of history, when burial was done in many different ways: burial caves , , burial circles , in many cases an impressive building was erected to mark the burial place Some of the buildings are considered heritage sites (the pyramids in Egypt), as are cemeteries: the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, the Trumpeldor Cemetery in Tel Aviv and more.

In special cases, the dead are buried in places other than cemeteries. Usually these are people for whom the place of their burial has special significance. Thus, the burial chambers located in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where the Popes are buried , , Lenin’s Mausoleum in Red Square in Moscow,

In the Jewish religion, priests are prohibited from entering cemeteries, for fear of defilement of the dead. Therefore, in Jewish cemeteries there are special priestly plots, so that the family members of the deceased can stand in a safe place. In some cases, they have increased the duty, and even forbade reaching out across a bridge or a place of passage where graves may be located

Graves of the righteous
Although the Jewish religion prohibits amulets, worship of symbols, and the like, and even defines them as idolatry, a tradition of visiting the graves of the righteous has developed. The pilgrims believe that visiting the grave of the righteous will protect them, and grant them health, marriage, and more.
In many cases, there is no guarantee that the person who is supposed to be buried there is actually there. For example, two places claim that Benjamin ben Jacob is buried there, one in Jerusalem and one near Kfar Saba. This does not prevent believers from visiting both places, and of course the industry of amulets and donations that usually accompany these places.
Well-known places in Israel and the West Bank where the graves of the righteous are located: the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus (where, due to attempts by settlers to enter the place, both those who came to the tomb and the Palestinians who tried to prevent the visit to the tomb were killed and injured).

Tombstones
Tombstones serve as a marker for the burial place of the deceased. Tombstones come in a variety of shapes and styles. They are usually made of stone, and in their simplest form, they include the name of the deceased, the year of his birth and death, and additional details such as his place of birth, his occupation, and more .
In many cases, especially when it comes to a famous personality, the tombstone becomes a statue, a memorial pillar, and more.
For example, the tombstones on the graves of Leon Trotsky and his wife , Chaim Nachman Bialik and his wife , Ahad Ha’am , Meir and Zina Dizengoff , Arik Einstein , and many others.

There are cases in which tombstones commemorate an entire community that was destroyed, especially those who were murdered in the Holocaust. Such are the tombstones for the Jews of Mir , Babi Yar , Lida , and more.

Mass graves
Graves in which many people are buried because the dead could not be identified. These events usually occur due to wars, natural disasters, etc.
Thus, in the Tel Aviv Deportees’ Plot in the Kfar Saba Cemetery, where dozens of gravestones are found , solitary graves in the Trumpeldor Cemetery in Tel Aviv , the mass grave in the same cemetery for those murdered in the 1921 riots and more.

Military cemeteries
Cemeteries intended for the burial of soldiers , . The gravestones in these cemeteries are usually in a uniform style.
One of the best-known cemeteries is Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States – a cemetery that was established during the American Civil War and has since been used to bury soldiers killed in wars in which the United States participated.
In Israel, the most famous military cemetery is in Jerusalem, on Mount Herzl.
Sometimes a military plot is dedicated within the general cemetery

Other ways of treating the dead
There are many other ways, including cremation (and keeping the ashes, or scattering them), embalming, and more.