Li-Yam Levy's family contacted Religious Affairs Ministry about bringing son's body back to Israel for burial, but ultimately decided to perform alternative ceremony locally

Levant's first deliberate cremation occurred between 7013-6700 BCE, according to new analysis of remains of young adult discovered in northern Israel's Beisamoun site in 2013

Local authorities deal with Ruben Bercovich's body in contravention of mainstream Jewish law, prompting dialogue between rabbis and officials