Rabbi:
I visited Israel for two weeks in 1993 and two weeks in 1999. I have a question about archaeology in the State of Israel.
It is my understanding that during frequent excavations for office buildings, apartments, parking lots, etc., ancient underground Jewish tombs are discovered. After the authorities are notified and studies have been made, the tombs are covered with concrete. I am told that Jewish religious law and, perhaps, Israeli law requires that a metal pipe about 25 centimeters in diameter be installed from the inside of the tomb to the outside atmosphere. The reason behind this is to allow the person’s soul to escape from the tomb. I think that the Hebrew word for this metal pipe is nebish or nepish. I have been told by a scholar of ancient and modern Jewish history that this story is “completely false.”
Do you know whether this information about the “soul pipes” is true? Also, if so, could you please correct the spelling of the word?
Robert G. Harris
United States of America