Grave of Paulina and Mark Schynzvit

Grave of Paulina and Mark Schynzvit

This is the grave of my mother and stepfather, Paulina and Mark Schynzvit. There is a memorial sign on the tombstone that mentions my father Samuel Kraemer, executed by Germans in Tallinn prison. He does not have a burial place, at least this plaque will be reminding of him. There are also mine and my wife's name embossed on the stone. The date of our death will be inserted by our daughters. The photograph was taken in Tallinn in 2000.

After the war my mother was given a small two-room apartment in the semi-basement. She managed to make it clean and cozy. My stepfather was still alive. Neither my mother, nor my stepfather worked after the war. They got some skimpy pension, but they could get by with that. Of course, I tried helping them out with money, though my salary was not high. Besides, I was supposed to support my daughters. I could give my mother much less than I wanted to. 

My stepfather Mark died in 1967. He was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Tallinn.  My mother died in 1978. She was buried in the Jewish cemetery next to my stepfather. It was a traditional Jewish funeral. There was a synagogue at the cemetery and we stuck to the rite. My friends also helped me out. We put a memorial plaque on the tombstone mentioning my father’s name Samuel Kraemer.

My and my wife Mayli’s name are also mentioned there. In due time, my daughters will have to insert the date of death. Here I had some disagreement with the rabbi of our Jewish community. First, according to the Jewish traditions, a dead Jew cannot be put in the grave with other bodies, even if they were buried 20-30 years ago. I do not think it is right. Secondly, I would like to be cremated after I die. I know that for instance in America, Jews are cremated and nobody considers it a violation of Jewish traditions. But we cannot do it here. Why not?
 

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