Lost in time on the slopes of Mount Royal lies a place of solemn reflection. This is the Spanish and Portuguese Shearith Israel Cemetery. Montreal’s first synagogue established this sacred ground. It became their final resting place. Founded in 1768, the Shearith Israel Synagogue holds a unique place in Montreal’s history. It was for many years the city’s only Sephardic synagogue. Interestingly, many of its members were Ashkenazic.
The Spanish and Portuguese Shearith Israel Cemetery’s burials date back to the early 1800s. You’ll find it at 1250 chemin de la Foret. The cemetery serves the Shearith Israel Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. It stands as a testament to Montreal’s Jewish heritage.
Near the entrance, a monument commemorates the synagogue’s founding members. It is a place to remember those who shaped the community. The Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal updated data and photos in 2023. This information was submitted to JewishGen.org.
Records show that in 1827, Areli Blake Hart formalized the cemetery’s existence. He signed an agreement turning a plot of land into a Jewish cemetery. The land passed down in the Hart family. They were no longer Jewish. Then, in 1901, some bodies were moved without rabbinical presence. Later, in 1909, these remains were reburied. They found their final resting place here. Each body was accompanied by its original headstone.
Imagine the stories etched into each stone. Glimpse into the lives of those who built a community. They faced challenges and celebrated triumphs in a new land. The Spanish and Portuguese Shearith Israel Cemetery is more than a burial ground. It is a chronicle of faith. It is a story of resilience. It is a place of remembrance.