Compensation for Families of Former Soviet Immigrants Buried in Separate Plots in Petah Tikva
Families of immigrants from the former Soviet Union who were buried in separate plots in Petah Tikva between 2009 and 2017 are eligible for compensation. The Supreme Court ruled that the local Chevra Kadisha engaged in discriminatory burial practices.
Families of immigrants from the former Soviet Union who were buried in separate plots in Petah Tikva between 2009 and 2017 will be compensated. The Supreme Court ruled that the Chevra Kadisha in Petah Tikva discriminated against immigrants from the former Soviet Union in the provision of burial services. Eligible family members can submit a request for compensation until December 2026.
Starting today, immigrants from the former Soviet Union who were discriminated against by the Chevra Kadisha in Petah Tikva are entitled to compensation of several thousand shekels. According to the ruling, the company buried deceased Jews who were immigrants from the former Soviet Union in separate plots designated for them at the Yarkon and Segula cemeteries. Family members are required to fill out a form to claim compensation, which stands at at least 2,300 shekels per family.
Legal Background
The case began in 2016, when a class action lawsuit was filed against the Petah Tikva Chevra Kadisha by Arik Avrukin and Niki Zinchenko. The plaintiffs argued that the policy of burying immigrants from the former Soviet Union in plots separate from the rest of the population constituted discrimination based on origin. The Chevra Kadisha claimed it was not discriminating, but rather following a custom regarding engraving photos on tombstones.
About two years ago, the Central District Court, presided over by Judge Hanna Kitzis, determined that this was prohibited discrimination and ordered the company to pay 4.3 million shekels in compensation. Judge Kitzis emphasized that the establishment of designated plots created feelings of exclusion and cast doubt on the quality of the deceased's Jewishness.
Supreme Court Settlement
The Chevra Kadisha appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court. Last May, a settlement was reached, reducing the total compensation to 3.6 million shekels, with payments determined by the number of graves rather than the number of family members.
Eligibility criteria:
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The deceased, or their parents/grandparents, must have immigrated to Israel from a former Soviet Union country.
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The burial must have occurred between November 17, 2009, and May 31, 2017.
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Relevant locations: Segula cemetery (plots HH/G, Tet-Vav/A, or rows Tzadi-Tzadi-Gimel in plot Vav/B) or Yarkon cemetery (plots Gimel/1 or Dalet/12).
Attorneys from the law firm Gil Ron, Keinan & Co., in collaboration with the Tel Aviv University Clinic for Class Actions, stated that this is a final stage in a long process to address the injustice caused to the families.
Application Details
Eligible applicants include spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and siblings. The deadline for submission is December 4, 2026. The application process is free of charge. For assistance, contact Marina Kigel at 052-488-0150 or via email at class_action@ronlaw.co.il.
