Deep within these walls lies more than just stones. It is the Coming Street Cemetery. This is Charleston’s oldest Jewish burial ground in the South. It stands as a testament to a community’s enduring legacy.
Coming Street Cemetery, founded in 1762, is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the United States. Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue owns this private burial ground. To tour it, a donation is requested.
Imagine stepping through the gates. You are entering a space where time seems to slow. The Coming Street Cemetery spans less than one acre. Yet it holds centuries of stories. Over 800 burials have taken place here. Several hundred tombstones remain as silent witnesses.
Notice the variety of grave markers. Here is a rich array of box tombs pedestals obelisks and simple headstones. Many markers are artistic. They were signed by local sculptors and stonecutters.
Look closely. You will see Hebrew writing on many stones. Some have inscriptions in the ancient language. Others mix Hebrew and English. Still others are entirely in English.
Consider the story of Moses Cohen. He was KKBE’s first spiritual leader. Cohen was the first person buried here in 1762. The slate top of his box tomb features writing from top to bottom. It includes a Hebrew poem.
Reflect on the tolerance that allowed this cemetery to flourish. Charleston society largely accepted Jews. This differed from the prejudice faced by Catholics at the time.
Think about Marx E. Cohen Jr. He was a Confederate soldier killed near the end of the Civil War. His obelisk marker features a cannon. It is placed below the State and Confederate flags. Cohen’s richly engraved obelisk is a cenotaph. His body was never recovered from the battlefield.
Remember Catherine Lopez. She was the wife of David Lopez who built the Beth Elohim Synagogue. Lopez is buried in a family plot adjacent to the main cemetery. At the time of her death she was not permitted burial in the main cemetery. She had not converted to Judaism.
Note the wall surrounding Coming Street Cemetery. Portions of it are original. It has been a major factor in preserving the cemetery. Remains of a wall once divided the cemetery. This reflected a doctrinal dispute within the Beth Elohim congregation.
Today, burials at Coming Street Cemetery are restricted. They are limited to the few vacancies in family plots. Yet the cemetery’s appearance has been little altered over time.
Take a moment to appreciate this special place. The Coming Street Cemetery connects us to the past. It reminds us of the enduring human spirit. It is a place of history art and reflection.