(Click on image to ENLARGE it) Congregations Poile Zedek and Etz Ahaim would like to thank the many individuals, companies, and organizations who have come to our aid during this most distressing time following the vandalism of the Poile Zedek Cemetery – those who have expressed their concern and solidarity with us, those who have offered their time and services, and those who have contributed to the Cemetery Restoration Fund.

We have just finished inventorying the toppled and broken stones and will shortly begin notifying family members of the status of their families’ stones. At the same time we are investigating the most appropriate manner in which to re-erect, repair and replace the stones. Families who have not contacted us yet and would like to inquire about family stones are asked to complete the Cemetery Information Form at the Poile Zedek website: www.poilezedek.org.

Our current efforts are focused on restoring the Cemetery and returning dignity to the departed as quickly as possible.

Congregations Poile Zedek & Etz Ahaim are also interested in bringing the perpetrators to appropriate justice using the most successful means possible. Although desecration of a cemetery is naturally envisioned as a bias incident and the Prosecutor’s office did label it as a bias incident, from the conclusion of their investigation they cannot successfully prosecute the delinquents with a “bias crime.” However, all the perpetrators have been found and they will be charged with desecration of venerated objects in addition to criminal mischief. At this point, we are more concerned that the delinquents be properly punished to the full limit of the law, rather than with assigning a particular label to the incident, which may or may not have the desired outcome. The Prosecutor’s office, in their press release of January 29, 2008 comments that it “…understands the great anguish and suffering that this vandalism has caused to the families and communities who have suffered but perhaps we can take consolation in the fact that charges under the criminal statutes will be vigorously prosecuted…” We hope so.

The damages have been estimated by professionals at upwards of $500,000. We currently have received donations of under $100,000. Your continued generous support, therefore, is urgently needed and greatly appreciated. Donations may be made through the following websites: www.poilezedek.org, www.etzahaim.org, or www.jewishmiddlesex.org. Checks can be sent to Cong. Poile Zedek, P.O. Box 166, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, Cong. Etz Ahaim, 230 Dennison St., Highland Park, NJ 08904, or The Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, 230 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River, NJ 08882. Important: You must indicate on your check or online contribution that this is for the “Cemetery Restoration Fund”.