Each of us chose a task and set a goal.  Rachel M and Joshua S and Tsvi W restored graves of children, which had stones that had sunk into the earth.  Denise and I decided to focus on a large plot. After 1.5 hours of clearing we discovered the headstone of Clara and Isador Gross.  They were born a day apart in August of 1832 and died only weeks apart in 1907.  Hadar and her dad and sister Niki(age 7) painted rusted railings.  Although she would have liked more snacks than were offered this year, Miki was especially touched by the opportunity to do a Mitzvah and is looking to do outreach to her friends.  She sent me this note:  “I liked yesterday because it was fun painting.  I also enjoyed it because it’s a mitzvah.  I hope I get to do it soon again.  We should hand out flyers and if you want I can hand some out at school.  My science teacher was talking about cleaning the earth so I will ask her,  if you approve.  I also have a few friends that maybe will come in the spring.  Miki.”

When daylight waned, we gathered for a  memorial service, taking care to remember those long forgotton souls. The work is far from complete, and we are aware the there are many other cemeteries needing loving care.    

We thank CAJAC led by Andrew Schultz  for the opportunity.

Undoubtedly, just about every Jewish organization and cause is essential to the short and long-term well-being of Jewish civilization.  Yeshivot/Jewish Day Schools proliferate and ensure the mesorah (transmitted tradition), of Torah is maintained from one generation to the next.  Jewish social service agencies provide life-saving care and support for our Jewish brethren.  Finally, the numerous organizations supporting Jewish life outside North America (including Israel) help ensure that Judaism is sustained and enhanced in the arba kanfot (four corners) of the world. 

Yet the Jewish cemetery, often referred to as beit olam or “house of the eternal”, encapsulates every aspect of Jewish life and civilization.  In fact, I frequently reiterate that outside of a museum, a cemetery represents the greatest collection of evidence of Jewish life.  Walking through a Jewish cemetery, one can appreciate the richness and diversity of Jewish people.  Almost every Jewish cemetery is the final resting place for veterans from just about every American war (though I have yet to find the grave of a Jewish War Vet from the Revolutionary War).  Additionally, many Jewish cemeteries are represented by burial societies, a tradition brought over from Eastern Europe.  In times of economic and political uncertainty, burial societies were created to assume the sanctified duties of traditional Jewish burial.  Finally, some Jewish cemeteries have areas demarcated as ”children’s sections”, with smaller gravestones marking the individual graves.  From this, we come to recognize and appreciate the advances in medicine and technology, which has resulted in the significant reduction of infant and child mortality rates. 

Every gravestone tells a story.  Each individual interred in a Jewish cemetery, no matter their occupation, social status, or observance level played some role in underscoring the vitality of Jewish life in America.  We owe it to our ancestors to ensure their eternal resting places are maintained with dignity and accessible to the Jewish community. Moreover, we must ensure our dearly departed are properly memorialized without compromise.     

Maintaining Jewish cemeteries fulfills the commandement of kavod ha-met, providing dignity to the deceased, and ensures the memories of our dearly departed are never obliterated.  Please be a part of CAJAC’s efforts, whether as a volunteer, donor, or advocate (or all of the above!).  The Jewish community is the lifeblood of CAJAC and we ask for your continued support and encouragement. 

In my short tenure as Director, I have dervied continuous inspiration from the tremendous dedication of our volunteers.  I thank each and every individual who has been a part of CAJAC’s efforts to proliferate kavod ha-met. 

Andrew E. Schultz, Executive Director

“On November 15th, a beautiful Sunday, J-Hi-TEQ invited students, their families, and the community to be part of our first Hesed project at Bayside Cemetery in Ozone Park, Queens. A wonderful inter-generational group of people gathered to be part of a much larger project created to restore neglected Jewish cemeteries. It was truly sad to see the neglect, but uplifting to be part of this mitzvah project. Evidence of more glorious days was everywhere. Like a trip through history, we passed stones dating back to the mid 1800’s on our way to our worksite. It was hard not to draw images of what life had been for those resting here. We read dates and places of birth from all over the world. Many of the headstones were very beautiful, evidencing the loving families who are no longer around to care for these Jewish graves.

“After walking through parts that have already been cleaned up by other volunteers, we met Dr. Ronny Herskovits, who gave us a short history of the cemetery. He also gave us gloves, tools, and a poison-ivy warning. We jumped right in. It was only a few hours of work, but by the time we were done we realized that we had uncovered and rediscovered over 30 headstones. The kids and adults were truly terrific. We all worked very hard. It felt good. Teamwork was necessary to overcome many of the tree-like weeds which had developed. The quiet chatter of people working together to accomplish this holy task was uplifting. In contrast to many cemetery visits, this one was filled with smiles, not tears.

“When we finished the physical work, Rabbi Jeff Glickman led a short, inspirational session. His lesson personalized our cemetery visit. ‘Who can name all 8 of our great-grandparents?’ he asked. He then linked the answer to the week’s Torah portion. Rabbi Glickman distributed small riverstones, and while he recited the ‘Kel Malei Rahamim,’ each of us symbolically placed these rocks on no longer forgotten gravestones. As we laid our stones, we called the departed’s name out loud. The names echoed through the silence and above the sound of the passing trains.”

“On the morning of October 14, 2009, Elaine Steinberg, Irving Goldberg, Robert Rumack, Mike Silver, and I went over to Bayside Cemetery in Ozone Park to meet Dr. Ron Herskovits, our neighbor in Jamaica Estates. Dr. Ronny works as a virtual one-man crew to clean up this troubled Jewish cemetery.

“Efforts have been made sporadically over the years, not all of them by Jews, to clean up the cemetery. These charitable efforts have not brought more than very temporary results. Fallen trees, unpruned trees, Jurassic-Park-like weeds, and garbage prevent access to many graves. Toppled headstones and vandalized graves are numerous.

“The mission now under way is to do a comprehensive clean-up effort of the cemetery followed by the installation of control measures that will elegantly prevent the speedy return of unwanted vegetation, resulting in a ‘low maintenance’ cemetery.

“A comprehensive effort was begun by Jewish volunteers throughout the metropolitan area to return Bayside Cemetery to its proper place of respect for our departed Jewish brothers and sisters. It is anticipated that work will continue every Wednesday and Sunday until the winter with rotating groups of volunteers participating.

“Dr. Herskovits is coordinating with the Community Association for Jewish at Risk Cemeteries (CAJAC). The association received a grant from UJA to hire professionals for the really heavy work. Of course, there is much work to be done by volunteers.

“To my fellow volunteers, thanks for joining me in being part of this wonderful mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem—assisting in the cleaning up the long neglected Bayside Cemetery. May we continue to go from strength to strength.”

Councilman Erich Ulrich with powerwasher

Several dozen volunteers gathered yesterday to continue the rehabilitation work at Bayside Cemetery. Outside the grounds of Bayside and the adjacent Acacia Cemetery, local City Council Member Erich Ulrich in concert with the special services division of the Mayor’s office arranged for the removal of graffiti from exterior walls. The Local civic association carted away trash that had gathered outside the cemeteries’ perimeter. Inside the cemetery, Stephen Dann and over 20 volunteers from Sutton Place Synagogue cleaned a large center section, working halfway up the eastern traverse between Pitkin and Liberty Avenues. Many more photos here.

Stay tuned.

Special thanks to Marcia Eisenberg and David Pollock of the Jewish Community Relations Council of NY, Alan Cohen and friends at the UJA-Federation of NY, Amy Koplow and the board of the Hebrew Free Burial Association, rabbinic adviser Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, and the many volunteers who have devoted hard work and support. We look forward to many years of community service. Shabbat shalom.