Hebrew Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia) Explained

Hebrew Cemetery
Nrhp Type:hd
Nocat:yes
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:March 8, 2006[1]
Designated Other1 Number:127-6166
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:400 Hospital St., Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates:37.5522°N -77.4294°W
Built:1816
Architect:Dimmock, James
Architecture:Romanesque
Added:May 5, 2006
Refnum:06000348

The Hebrew Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, also known as Hebrew Burying Ground, and previously the Jew's Burying Ground, dates from 1816. This Jewish cemetery, one of the oldest in the United States, was founded in 1816 as successor to the Franklin Street Burial Grounds of 1789. Among those interred here is Josephine Cohen Joel, who was well known in the early 20th century as the founder of Richmond Art Co. Within Hebrew Cemetery is a plot known as theSoldier's Section. It contains the graves of 30 Jewish Confederate soldiers who died in or near Richmond.It is one of only two Jewish military cemeteries outside of the State of Israel.[2]

Located at Fourth and Hospital Streets on historic Shockoe Hill, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. It was listed a second time on the National Register of Historic Places on June 16, 2022 as part of the Shockoe Hill Burying Ground Historic District.[3]

The Hebrew Cemetery is maintained by Congregation Beth Ahabah, a Reform congregation founded in Richmond in 1789.

Cemetery for Hebrew Confederate Soldiers

Within the Hebrew Cemetery is a section for Hebrew Confederate Soldiers. The cemetery for Jewish veterans of World War I located in Weissensee, Berlin, is the only Jewish military cemetery not located in Israel. The Confederate section is part of the Hebrew Cemetery on historic Shockoe Hill, and is also maintained by Congregation Beth Ahabah.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 19 March 2013.
  2. Web site: Cemetery for Hebrew Confederate Soldiers. www.jewish-history.com. Jun 19, 2020.
  3. Web site: 2021 . National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the Shockoe Hill Burying Ground Historic District . Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  4. Web site: Cemetery for Hebrew Confederate Soldiers . Jewish-American History Documentation Foundation . 18 December 2012.