A historic milestone took place last week in Taipei, Taiwan, with the inauguration of the country’s first Jewish cemetery and the first Jewish burial held there.

The deceased, a 73-year-old Israeli Jew who had lived in Taiwan for more than 20 years, was buried in the new cemetery in a levaya attended by family members who arrived from several countries, including Eretz Yisroel, as well as members of the local Jewish community.

His children recited Kaddish at the levaya, and the community accompanied him on his final journey.

Until now, Jews who passed away in Taiwan were generally transported for burial in Jewish cemeteries in other countries. The burial held this week marks an important development for the local Jewish community, allowing Jewish burial to take place in Taiwan in accordance with halacha.

At the request of Taiwan shliach Rabbi Shlomi Tabib, Rabbi Mendy Rabinowitz, shliach in Hong Kong, traveled to Taiwan together with members of ZAKA’s international division to assist with the tahara, levaya, and burial.

“We came to Taiwan at the request of my friend, the Rebbe’s shliach Rabbi Shlomi Tabib, and assisted with the tahara and burial,” Rabbi Rabinowitz said. “In Hong Kong, we have a Jewish cemetery and experience in handling kevurah with proper kovod hameis. Through ZAKA’s international work, we provide assistance for every Jewish deceased in our region of East Asia.”

ZAKA International Director Baruch Nidam said, “ZAKA’s international division volunteers operate in every place and every situation around the world for the sake of kovod hameis. This week, members of ZAKA’s international division arrived from Hong Kong, led by Chabad shliach Rabbi Mendy Rabinowitz, at the request of the local Chabad shliach, Rabbi Shlomi Tabib, to assist and handle every aspect of the levaya and burial.”