LaFoto, I am going out on a limb and assuming that you are not a member of the Tribe

Judaism is a very fascinating and bizarre religion/way of life. I am Jewish, both of my parents are as well, and I've had many unique opportunities to learn way more about my religion than I really ever thought that I would want to know. As I said, it's a fascinating religion, and much of it just doesn't make sense on the surface (and truthfuly even when you delve into it, some of it still doesn't make a whole lotta sense).
But, the tradition of burying the dead outside the city limits I'm sure comes from several sources. One, like all nomadic peoples, and all ancient peoples, Jews have their own set of superstitions. Pretty much across the board everyone is afraid of their dead and will do some radical things to ensure that the departed are happy and content, and deep in the ground where they won't be able to come back and bother you! (Think Irish wakes or Egyptians burying treasure with the dead.)
Two, it's a basic health issue. If you are living amongst your dead, disease, odor, and the unghastly sight of decaying parents will not be good for the whole of the community.
We are a very sensible and practical people. And in the middle ages, we were a very hygenic people (not to say we aren't anymore, but we were more so then others at that time--it's actually what spared the Jews the brunt of the Plague--but of course since we were clean and buried our dead outside the city we didn't get the Plague and of course the Church came to the logical conclusion that we were in league with the devil and it was all our fault. Very smart, logical thinking that).
Anyway, there you go...did I ramble on too much?
If anyone else in interested in listening to me ramble, please feel free to start a thread in the off topic forum so we don't have to take over this one.
We now return you to your regularily scheduled thread...