For Jews, burial in Israel is considered a highly virtuous practice, so much so that it is customary to sprinkle a little earth from Israel in the coffin of Jews who are buried elsewhere. ​This tradition of burial in Israel is grounded in a number of Jewish sources, the best-known of which may be the teaching that, all Jews will be resurrected from the dead, and according to statements in the Midrash, those buried in Israel will be resurrected first. Those buried elsewhere will be brought to the holy land through underground tunnels, according to statements in the Talmud and elsewhere. (Content adapted from ​myjewishlearning.com)

​Burial in Israel requires both the purchase of a burial plot as well as the logistical arrangements necessary to prepare, transport and inter the body. ​Arrangements must also be made to have the body received at the airport in Israel and transported to the cemetery for interment. Typically, this is done by the burial society associated with the cemetery where the plot was purchased.

Plots can often be purchased directly from a cemetery, but it’s often easier to use an intermediary. A number of American synagogues and Jewish organizations own blocks of cemetery plots that they resell to their members. There are a number of organizations that ​assists Jews from abroad who seek to purchase burial plots in Israel.

For Jews, burial in Israel is considered a highly virtuous practice, so much so that it is customary to sprinkle a little earth from Israel in the coffin of Jews who are buried elsewhere. ​This tradition of burial in Israel is grounded in a number of Jewish sources, the best-known of which may be the teaching that, all Jews will be resurrected from the dead, and according to statements in the Midrash, those buried in Israel will be resurrected first. Those buried elsewhere will be brought to the holy land through underground tunnels, according to statements in the Talmud and elsewhere. (Content adapted from ​myjewishlearning.com)

Jerusalem has always been the most sought-after location for burial in Israel, but space in the city is increasingly hard to come by and prices are substantial. The city has two major cemeteries — one in eastern Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City, and the other, Har Hamenuchot, at the western entrance to the city. Lack of space at Har Hamenuchot has prompted the building of a massive underground catacombs to meet demand.

Beit Shemesh, a city roughly 20 miles to the west of the Israeli capital, has emerged as a popular alternative. Various Jewish organizations from around the world have reserved sections of the city’s privately owned Eretz Hachaim cemetery, which will also sell plots directly to consumers from its Brooklyn office. Burial plots are available in other Israeli cities as well;, however increasing space pressure has made it difficult to secure a plot in certain locations.