The Boston Preservation Alliance announced on July 16th that it will honor JCAM's efforts to restore and preserve the Ohabei Shalom Cemetery Chapel in East Boston with a Stewardship Recognition. The JCAM Charitable Foundation has been restoring the chapel since 2006. It is on the grounds of the first Jewish cemetery in Massachusetts, founded in 1844. This beautiful fieldstone neo-gothic chapel was built in 1903 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also is a recognized historic landmark by Bostonian Historical Society. It is slated to become an immigration resource center for the Greater Boston community.
JCAM is pleased to announce that five Jewish cemeteries have merged into the JCAM family.
The Pride of Brockton Cemetery, located on South Street in Stoughton, Massachusetts was established by the Pride of Brockton Lodge in 1901. Ms. Harriet Robie supervised the cemetery with dedication and was involved with its management for over 50 years. We are honored to have the Pride of Brockton Cemetery be part of JCAM.
Both Mishkan Tefila Cemeteries along with the both Hand in Hand Cemeteries, are located on Centre Street, West Roxbury and have been under the direction of Congregation Mishkan Tefila for decades. We are honored to include these four historic Jewish cemeteries into the JCAM family.
These five additional cemetery acquisitions continue to make JCAM the largest communal cemetery organization in the U.S, owning 123 Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care to all our cemeteries and fulfilling our mission of "Chevrat K'vod Hamet" (the society that honors the deceased).
I am reminded of the Hebrew Charitable Burial Ground in Malden that opened its gates to indigent Jews in need of burial assistance beginning in 1851. Today, the cemetery is full but the longstanding Jewish tradition to provide one of the greatest mitzvahs remains.
There are many impoverished Jews throughout Massachusetts in nursing homes, hospitals, even prisons. Additionally, there is the Holocaust survivor population of which some have no funds and no family at all for a proper Jewish burial.
JCAM administers an indigent burial fund – through the generosity of an anonymous donor – that provides funeral/burial support for Jewish families in need.
The fund is limited and is only available for JCAM cemeteries. I want to make you aware that should there be a need, please contact me and I will ensure impoverished Jews in our area have the dignity they deserve of a final resting place on a designated JCAM cemetery.
Stan Kaplan
Executive Director
We appreciate our sponsors who help us with our mission to protect and enhance Jewish history through cemetery preservation. If you need help in any of these areas, click below to find information to reach them.
From advance need planning to cemetery and chapel services.
Bankers, and insurance specialists.
Monument design, installation and maintnenance.
Landscape design, maintenance and tree services.
Our wide network of community services.
Specialists in Historic Preservation.
