B’Nai Israel Cemetery

Beneath the wide Utah sky, nestled within the slopes of Salt Lake City, lies B’Nai Israel Cemetery. It’s a place of quiet reflection, a testament to the lives and legacies of Utah’s Jewish community. B’Nai Israel Cemetery isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of history, faith, and the enduring spirit of a people. The cemetery was established in the late 19th century, serving the growing Reform Jewish community. B’Nai Israel Cemetery stands apart from the other Jewish cemeteries in Salt Lake City. It welcomes not only members of the Jewish faith, but also their non-Jewish spouses and minor children, reflecting the inclusive nature of Reform Judaism. The Kol Ami Cemetery Association, comprised of volunteers from Salt Lake City’s Congregation Kol Ami, maintains B’Nai Israel Cemetery. Their guiding principles are simple yet profound: Kavod Ha Meit (honor and respect for the dead), Nichum Aveilim (comforting those who mourn), and the fundamental equality of all in death. Among those resting at B’Nai Israel Cemetery are figures who shaped Utah’s history. Simon Bamberger, Utah’s first and only Jewish governor, rests here. His legacy extends beyond his political career, touching industries from mining to railroads, and even the creation of Lagoon, a beloved amusement park. The Auerbach brothers, Samuel and Frederick, also found their final resting place at B’Nai Israel Cemetery. Their entrepreneurial spirit lives on in the memory of the People’s Store, a Salt Lake City landmark for a century. B’Nai Israel Cemetery is more than a collection of headstones. It’s a living chronicle of the Jewish experience in Utah, a place where history whispers through the leaves and the stories of lives lived echo in the quiet stillness.