A Message from JCAM’s President
Shalom! As the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts begins its second quarter century of life, I am proud and excited to be serving as its newest president.
Since joining the JCAM Board of Directors in 1996, I have been privileged to be part of a truly wonderful and special organization. Not only have we maintained our mission to preserve and restore Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts, but also we have grown into a unique and important cultural and historical resource for the Jewish community.
JCAM’s central focus has always been to provide superior care, management and maintenance for its cemeteries. And, I am proud to report that over the years we have been successful in transforming poorly managed, run down cemeteries into gardens teeming with new vitality and luster. Through our commitment to our sacred responsibility of “chevrat k’vod hamet” (guardians of the dead), we continually move forward, finding innovative solutions with a renewed determination.
Today, JCAM owns and manages 105 of the 209 Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts, including the oldest – Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery in East Boston (1844) and the newest Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland (2010).
While we remain diligent in our efforts to provide only the highest quality of care on all our cemeteries, it is through the JCAM Charitable Foundation that we bring unique educational experiences and historic preservation projects. These initiatives promote the social, cultural and historic elements of our Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts. Some of these include:
- “Cemeteries Are For The Living” educational tours.
- Computerized burial records for historical research and genealogical searches.
- The transformation of the Ohabei Shalom Chapel in East Boston into the Mystic River Jewish Communities Project; an interactive exhibit hall dedicated to the early immigrant Jewish communities along the Mystic River.
These are but a few of the many ways that the JCAM Charitable Foundation informs and educates the Jewish community regarding the important role our cemeteries contribute to Jewish continuity.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the professional staff members of JCAM (Miriam Drukman, Jay Trilling, Judith Caplan, Lisa Berenson, Barry Ostrow and Ellen Schreiber) for their hard work and dedication. Their diligent efforts have contributed to JCAM’s many significant achievements and successes over the last several years.
I also want to acknowledge the truly amazing efforts and contributions of my predecessor, Sander Rikleen, who as JCAM’s President from 2006-2010 had the foresight to provide for the growing needs of the Metrowest Jewish Community by expanding the Beit Olam Cemetery in Wayland. Because of his tireless efforts, the new 10-acre Beit Olam East Cemetery is now a reality. Sander has left me with very big shoes to fill.
Finally, on behalf of the entire JCAM Board of Directors, I want to pay special tribute to our Executive Director, Stanley Kaplan, whose dedication, tenacity, and vision have made JCAM into the important communal organization it is today. In the months ahead, I look forward to working with Stanley, his staff and the Board, continuing to build JCAM as the principal caretaker and guardian of Massachusetts’ Jewish cemeteries, Bridging Past, Present and Future. I hope I can count on your continued support!
Sincerely,
Les Gordon, President