A Jew Passes On

Tsvi was a usurer in life. A greedy man who worshiped gold more than God.
Never once did he donate to a charity, always did he charge criminally high
rates of interest on the money he loaned, foreclosed on properties without
a qualm, and paid as little as possible to those who worked for him.

It was no wonder that nobody outside of his immediate family mourned his
passing, Even then, his sons and daughters had also acquired their father's
love of money, so when they were told by the Chevra Kaddisha that it would
cost 5 times as much to inter him, the sum to be charged against his
estate, they reported the officers of the burial society to the rabbi for a
din Torah.

The rabbi studied the charges against the Chevra Kaddisha, then asked their
spokesman, "On what grounds do you charge five times more than anyone else
has had to pay for a grave?"

"Because of the Judgement Day," was the reply. "We stand on the principles
of traditional Judaism. The Torah tells us that usurers will not be
included in the mirable of resurrection when the Messiah comes."

"Nu?"

"Then it must be understood that the body of Tsvi will not remain in the
grave merely for the duration, but will stay there forever, throughout
eternity."

"I still don't understand," said the perplexed rabbi.

"What's to understand? If we had assigned the burial site on a lease basis
until Judgement Day, the price would not be so high. However, we are not
leasing it until the Messiah comes, we are selling the grave into
perpetuity!"

The rabbi nodded and replied, " The way you explain it, I believe you are
not charging enough. I say it should be ten times the lease rate!"