Perhaps you’ve passed by this seemingly quiet place before. This is Beth Olom Cemetery a historic Jewish cemetery. It sits right on the border between Brooklyn and Queens. Three Manhattan Jewish congregations founded it back in 1851. These were Congregation Shearith Israel B’nai Jeshurun and Temple Shaaray Tefila.
Beth Olom Cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It is a rural cemetery. It showcases unique architecture and funerary art. Calvert Vaux co-designer of Central Park designed a small red brick Metaher house here in 1882. This Metaher house served as a place for purification and pre-burial eulogies. It stands near the entrance to the Shearith Israel section. Vaux also designed the gates. Interestingly this is the only religious building Vaux is known to have designed.
Take a closer look at the mausoleums. Many feature Tiffany stained glass. Some even have LaFarge bronze doors. These details highlight the cemetery’s artistic value.
Beth Olam Cemetery covers 12.37 acres. It gained recognition on the National Register of Historic Places on May 16 2016. Many notable people rest here.
Among them is Benjamin Cardozo. He was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Emma Lazarus rests here too. She wrote “The New Colossus”. This famous sonnet is inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Uriah P. Levy is also buried here. He was the first Jewish Commodore of the United States Navy. Emanuel Lasker the second World Chess Champion is here.
Beth Olam Cemetery reflects New York’s history. It shows the stories of its Jewish community. The cemetery’s establishment came after the closure of Shearith Israel’s earlier cemeteries in Manhattan. As New York City expanded Shearith Israel sought a new burial ground. Beth Olam became that place. It is co-owned by Shearith Israel B’nai Jeshurun and Shaaray Tefila. Each congregation has its own section within Beth Olam.
The cemetery’s location has a special history. During the American Revolution the area around the cemetery was of strategic importance. British soldiers even took lead from headstones to make bullets.
Today Beth Olam Cemetery offers a glimpse into the past. It connects us to the lives and legacies of those who shaped our world. It’s a place of remembrance reflection and respect.