Hebrew Cemetery
The Hebrew Cemetery of Charlottesville, Virginia is owned and managed by Congregation Beth Israel (CBI). The cemetery was established in 1870, with the first burial in 1869.[1]
In 1870, before there was a Congregation Beth Israel, the Charlottesville Hebrew Benevolent Society was founded to provide for proper religious burial of the community. Local merchants Isaac Leterman and Bernard Oberdorfer, in their capacity as trustees of the Charlottesville Hebrew Benevolent Society, purchased property adjacent to the city owned Oakwood Cemetery, at 1st Street and Elliott Avenue, to serve as a Jewish cemetery.
According to the Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) website, "It is the role of the Chevra Kadisa (burial society) to show honor to the dead by preparing the body for burial according to Jewish custom." Jewish tradition holds that one should be buried and not cremated. However, as customs and tradition have changed, many Jews are now being cremated. Members of the Jewish faith who are either born Jewish (by either matrilineal or patrilineal descent, or converted to Judaism during their lifetimes, and the spouses and children of such persons), parent, in-law, child, brother, sister, life partner may be buried in Hebrew Cemetery.[2]
References
- ↑ Web. Policy on Whole Body Burials and Cremains, Hebrew Cemetery Congregation Beth Israel Charlottesville, Virginia, retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ↑ Web. Hebrew Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia, Congregation Beth Israel, Revised March 31, 2021, retrieved January 21, 2023.