Do you see the worn headstones around us? This is the Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery. Many call it Jewish Graceland Cemetery. It stands as a testament to Chicago’s early Jewish community.
Founded in 1851, Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery still standing in Chicago. Its story is one of community, loss, and remembrance. The Hebrew Benevolent Society founded it. The founders included David Witkowsky. He was an early president of Congregation B’nai Sholom.
The society wanted a Jewish burial ground. Another group already had one in Lincoln Park. This new society likely formed because its members came from Posen. Posen was then in Prussia. The other group’s members came from Bavaria.
Originally, the Hebrew Benevolent Society bought three acres. Congregation B’nai Sholom bought an acre from the society. Later, the Society of Benevolence and Relief of the Sick bought land for a burial ground. This society went bankrupt and sold its section. Congregation B’nai Zion also bought a section. Thus, four Jewish cemeteries occupied the original plot.
The first burial here was in 1854. One notable burial is Emanuel Frank. He was a brother-in-law of Michael Reese. Michael Reese founded Michael Reese Hospital. Frank drowned at the Lake Street bridge. It was nearly dusk, and he was nearsighted. He didn’t see the bridge was open.
Several prominent people rest here. Colonel Marcus Spiegel is among them. He was a Civil War veteran and organizer of the Hebrew Benevolent Society. His tombstone includes a likeness of his face. Spiegel was part of the family that founded the Spiegel mail-order store. Next to him lies his wife, Caroline F. Hamlin Spiegel. She was the first Chicagoan converted to Judaism.
Edna Ferber’s grandparents are buried here. Also here are the great-grandparents of Rabbi Frederick Schwartz. Their names were Bennett and Bertha Cowan. The cemetery has only one family mausoleum. Most tombstones have English inscriptions. Some have Hebrew or German. This shows how the community assimilated. Freemasonry became popular. Masonic inscriptions can be seen.
For decades, Arthur Bonheim, Dr. Sidney Klein, and Alan Whitney ran the Hebrew Benevolent Society. Whitney was the head until his death in 1984. He was a grandson of David Witkowsky. Erosion and vandalism have long been problems.
In recent years, efforts have been made to restore the cemetery. The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois has recorded and cataloged the graves. They have identified about 3000 people buried here.
Records dating back to 1854 were found. These records are especially important. All city death records before 1871 were destroyed in the Chicago Fire. The cleanup and cataloging continue.
A survey showed that many tombstones are illegible. Some are missing due to vandalism. The goal is to identify those in unmarked graves using cemetery records.
Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery is a valuable historical site. It is a record of Chicago’s early Jewish community. It is heartening to see its renewal after years of neglect. As we leave, remember the stories etched in these stones. They tell of lives lived, families built, and a community’s enduring spirit.