Madrid, Spain – U.S. embassy cables Briefing notes for US senator tells about the concern of the New York Jewish community about the excavation of the Jewish cemetery, It specifically mentions the concern of Rabbi David Niederman of UJO in Brooklyn, NY.
See below note:
Uncovered by accident during excavation for construction or road projects, and in each instance the local authorities did not handle the graves in keeping with strict Jewish dictates, more likely out of ignorance than malice.
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Based on interest from concerned Americans, among them Representative Edolphus Towns, Chairman Warren Miller of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, and Rabbi David Niederman of the United Jewish Organization, I, my DCM and our Consul General in Barcelona have expressed our concern to the Spanish government that these culturally and religiously sensitive sites need to be protected and handled in a manner in keeping with the wishes of the Jewish community in Spain. Because each municipal government has jurisdiction in affairs dealing with cemeteries, the government has sought to place the responsibility on each local jurisdiction. The FCJE and local Jewish organizations have lobbied the national and local governments to enact a national protocol for addressing any future excavations and are hoping to secure funding to research the location and condition of other cemeteries that have been lost for centuries.
The exhumed remains have since been re-interred in other Jewish cemeteries with religious authorities present.
What do cables to Israel say about digging up our ancestors?
who was this Senator?