Quietly nestled in Colma, Home of Peace Cemetery stands as a testament to San Francisco’s Jewish history. Established in 1889, Home of Peace Cemetery, also known as Navai Shalome, provides a final resting place for many prominent figures. Let’s explore its story.
Home of Peace Cemetery sits on twenty-five acres. These beautifully maintained gardens lie at the foot of San Bruno Mountain. The cemetery offers traditional ground burial. You can also choose entombment in the Emanu-El Mausoleum or Garden of Peace outdoor garden crypts. Inurnment options are available in Emanu-El niches or Garden of Peace Urn Garden burial spaces.
Before Home of Peace, Congregation Emanu-El had two earlier cemeteries. The first was founded in 1847 on Gough Street. The second opened in 1850 in the Mission District, now Dolores Park. As San Francisco grew, the city moved cemeteries to Colma. Home of Peace and Hills of Eternity Memorial Park were established. Each served a different congregation.
Home of Peace Cemetery is the final resting place for many notable individuals. Levi Strauss, founder of Levi Strauss & Co. rests here. Adolph Sutro, former mayor of San Francisco, is also interred at Home of Peace. Florence Prag Kahn, the first Jewish woman in the U.S. Congress, also lies here with her husband Julius Kahn.
The Emanu-El Mausoleum is a prominent feature of Home of Peace. Opened in 1935, it offered an alternative to private family mausoleums. Its design evokes Congregation Emanu-El’s building on Lake Street. The red-tiled dome and marble interior are reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Later, the Garden of Peace outdoor mausoleum was added. Both mausoleums provide crypt entombment and inurnment niches.
Several other congregations have sections at Home of Peace Cemetery. Congregation Beth Sholom and Peninsula Temple Sholom have designated burial sections. The San Francisco Association of World War II Veterans from the former Soviet Union also has a section.
Visiting Home of Peace Cemetery offers a chance for reflection. The cemetery’s office is open Sunday through Friday. The beautifully landscaped gardens provide a peaceful setting. Home of Peace stands as a reminder of San Francisco’s rich Jewish heritage. Its history reflects the city’s growth and the community’s enduring traditions.