Repairing Tombstones
Question
1) Is it a mitzvah to repair grave-stones or grave stone inscriptions (matzeivos) in a beis-kvoros? 2) If it is a mitzvah, is it preferable that a Jew should do it or that a non-Jew be hired to work in the beis-kvoros ? If this is a minhag, what is the appropriate minhag for bnei-yeshivos / litvish olam. Lemaaseh there is an older Jewish Cemetery in Johannesburg, South Africa, where inscriptions need repair before the names or information is totally lost.
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
Allow me to begin with some words on the importance of a tombstone.
Erecting a tombstone or monument on top of every grave is an important Jewish custom that likely originated when Yaakov Avinu erected a monument on the grave of his wife, Rachel. There is even a view that G-d told him to do so with some authorities insisting that erecting a tombstone of the grave of the deceased is actually a Torah obligation. According to other authorities, it is has the status of a rabbinic enactment. Either way, a tombstone is a mitzvah and halachically required. In the Talmud a tombstone is referred to as a "nefesh," a soul, which further testifies to the importance of having one. We are taught that the soul of the deceased receives pleasure by having a monument erected upon its grave.
There are a number of reasons why a tombstone is placed upon a grave. One reason is to inform visitors who is buried there and allows them to properly pay their respects and offer prayers. It is also serves to warn Kohanim that there is a dead person buried there in order for them to keep away.
It is a great mitzvah to repair or replace a tombstone that has broken or been worn out. The responsibility for paying for this work is upon those who inherit the estate of the deceased. They must use their own money or the inheritance money. If the inheritors cannot afford to fix the tombstone the Chevra Kadisha should do so. When repairing or replacing a tombstone one may add words of praise about the deceased to it but one may not diminish from what was already written. In practice, it may be either done by Jews or one may give it over to Gentiles in order to carry out the work of repairing the Tombstone, and any money saved one could give, to support poor people who study Torah.