Considering the weight of history, we find ourselves at the Cemiterio Israelita de Vila Rosali. This is not just any burial ground. It is a place of profound significance for Rio de Janeiro’s Jewish community.
Founded in October 1920, the Cemiterio Israelita de Vila Rosali emerged from the Chevra Kadisha’s vision. This organization cares for Jewish funerals. They acquired land near the railway line in São João de Meriti. This location was chosen to serve the needs of a community largely residing in Baixada Fluminense. Many lived in Nilópolis.
The Cemiterio Israelita de Vila Rosali soon expanded. In the 1960s, an annex was added. The original section became known as “Velho” or Old. The new section was called “Novo” or New. Both sections are now largely full. Burials are rare these days.
The “Cemiterio Velho” holds a special treasure. It houses the oldest Holocaust Memorial in the Americas. Inside an urn, there are bars of soap. These were recovered from extermination camps. They were supposedly made from the body fat of prisoners. This memorial stands as a somber reminder. It is a testament to the horrors of the Holocaust.
Several famous individuals rest here at the Cemiterio Israelita de Vila Rosali. Adolpho Bloch a businessman is among them. Aleksander Henryk Laks a writer also rests here. Henrique Morelenbaum a Maestro lies here too. Jaime Barcelos an actor is also buried here. Moisés Weltman a writer is another notable person.
The Cemiterio Israelita de Vila Rosali Velho was the first Jewish cemetery. It was founded in Rio de Janeiro early last century. Later two other cemeteries were opened. They were opened by Chevra Kadisha of Rio de Janeiro. They helped meet the demand. They provided new spaces for burials.
The Cemiterio Israelita de Vila Rosali stands opposite the new section. Both serve as a vital reference point. They unite the Jewish community in the Greater Rio area. The Cemiterio Israelita de Vila Rosali remains a place of remembrance. It is a place of reflection. It is a place of community.