Deeply etched in the heart of East Los Angeles lies Mount Zion Cemetery. It is a poignant reminder of a community’s history and resilience. Founded in 1916, Mount Zion Cemetery served the growing Jewish population in Boyle Heights. Boyle Heights was once the largest Jewish community outside of New York City.
Mount Zion Cemetery stands adjacent to the Home of Peace Cemetery. Home of Peace opened in 1902. Before that, the city’s original Jewish cemetery near Dodger Stadium reached capacity.
Chevra Chesed Shel Emeth established Mount Zion. The Jewish Free Burial Society aimed to provide proper burials for orthodox Jews. While intended for indigent Jews, Mount Zion became the final resting place for a wider clientele. The cemetery holds an estimated 7000 graves. Many feature large ornate markers. These markers would cost tens of thousands of dollars to duplicate today.
Among those interred at Mount Zion Cemetery is 1st Lt. Julius Butow. He was an Air Force pilot. He was tragically shot down during World War II. Also resting here is Yiddish-American writer Lamed Shapiro. Two young victims of the Hope Development School fire in 1924 also lie here.
As the Jewish population shifted from Boyle Heights, Mount Zion’s support dwindled. By 1969, Chevra Chesed Shel Emeth could no longer maintain the cemetery. The Jewish Federation stepped in. They provided basic maintenance. However, ownership of the property remained unclear.
Mount Zion Cemetery faced further hardship. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 caused significant damage. Vandals toppled grave markers. They scrawled graffiti. They smashed enamel portraits.
In 2013, an article in the L.A. Times highlighted the cemetery’s condition. This caught the attention of the Jewish community. Rabbi Moshe Greenwald spearheaded restoration efforts. Community leaders and philanthropists offered support. Shlomo Rechnitz donated $250,000 on the spot. He insisted that the work begin immediately. Rechnitz emphasized the Jewish law. It states honoring the dead precedes other commandments.
Today, efforts continue to repair and restore Mount Zion Cemetery. The goal is to preserve this sacred ground. It ensures that the memories of those interred are honored for generations to come. It serves as a house of life. Mount Zion Cemetery stands as a testament to community and remembrance.