Providing a proper Jewish burial for those who have no one to arrange it.
An increasing number of Jews die alone, indigent, and without advocates. Without communal intervention, these individuals lie in community morgues for weeks waiting for someone to take responsibility
These are not Jews without identity:
Homes marked with mezuzot
Personal items engraved with “Shema Yisrael”
Expressed wishes for Jewish burial
They are simply without family or financial means.
A meis mitzvah is a Jew who dies with no one to arrange their burial.
The community where the death occurs is obligated to act:
This obligation overrides all normal boundaries, even for a Kohen
This is not charity — it is a communal mitzvah
This responsibility has historically been borne collectively by the Jewish community.
Burton, died alone in his 80s. No family, no funds. His only recorded connection was a mortuary. He was ultimately buried through emergency intervention.
Aaron, age 45. Mezuzah on his door, rings engraved with Shema Yisrael. Completely alone. Burial cost totaled $4200 including cemetery and mortuary services.
These were true meis mitzvah cases.
Nearly 100% of these cases involve Jews who were estranged or disconnected in life and at risk of being abandoned again in death.
Jewish tradition calls this chesed shel emet — the highest form of loving-kindness, given without expectation of return.
The Meis Mitzvah Project seeks partnership:
Ensure proper, dignified Jewish burial
Remove profit from indigent burial cases
Restore Jewish dignity and communal accountability
Support is requested to:
Participate in communal funding allocations
Inform community of low-cost, dignified Jewish burial options
Affirm that no Jew is expendable, even in death
By acting, we affirm:
Jewish dignity is not dependent on wealth or family
No Jew is abandoned in death
Contact Robin Meyerson to get more information on The Meis Mitzvah Project.
robin@meismitzvahproject.org
602-469-1606