The oldest Jewish cemetery in America is found in Curacao in the Caribbean Islands. According to HaMevaser, the kevarim are in danger of total collapse primarily due to the operation of a nearby refinery.
In 1659, with the arrival of the second wave of Jews to that area, 70 Sephardim of Portuguese descent, the beis hachaim was consecrated. The oldest tombstones date back to 1668. The last burials were held in the 1950s.
Officials state that as a result of the fumes of the nearby oil refinery, the tombstones and the integrity of the kevarim are sorely compromised, and therefore in danger of collapse.
The following is from the website of Curacao Jews;
The cemetery contains 2500 graves; the tombstones of many of these have been adorned with beautiful sculpture representing biblical passages, often relating to the name of the deceased. The most common designs are depictions of biblical scenes related to the name of the deceased. On the tombs of males named Abraham, the Patriarch is seen contemplating the stars. On the tombs of males named Elijah, the prophet is seen a fiery chariot carrying him to heaven. Sometimes, the engraving will hint at the cause of death, such as a tree being truncated at its root, symbolizing an untimely death, or a ship on stormy water, indicating the victim perished at sea. Mortality among women in childbirth was frequent. On the tomb of Rachel, wife of Yitzhak Pereira, the father is shown handing over the newborn child to another woman before the dead mother. Approximately one hundred, of the 2,500, 17th and 18th centuries, are still somewhat visible and readable today. Replicas of some of the elaborate tombstones can be seen at the entrance to the Curacao Jewish Museum located adjacent to Mikve Israel-Emanuel Sunangoue in Punda.
The community is viewed as the oldest Jewish community in America. Efforts are underway to raise funds to carry out necessary repairs for the kevarim in the ancient beis hachaim.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
this is truly a great tragedy , however what about washington cemetery here in boro park or the old jewish cemetery in newark,n.j. i know in the past that yeshiva world ran a articale about a cemetery in queens that a non jew tries to maintain.