Headlines New memorial to honor children at Beth Abraham cemetery — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer
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arry Rudel, the executive director of the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh, believes in the dignity of those buried in Jewish cemeteries — and that dignity extends beyond those who are visited regularly and memorialized with headstones. On Sunday, Dec. 12, the JCBA will dedicate a new monument to 71 children interred at Beth Abraham Cemetery, many in unmarked graves. Rudel said that Beth Abraham is the area’s third-oldest cemetery. While most Jewish cemeteries have children’s sections, he noted it’s not unusual for some graves to be unmarked. “Often, there are no arrangements when a child passes away, especially in older cemeteries,” he said. “In Beth Abraham, almost half of the graves are unmarked.” The identities of the children are maintained in JCBA records, Rudel said, and can also be found in the Western Pennsylvania Jewish Cemetery database at the Heinz History Center’s Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives. Each of the names will be read aloud as part of the dedication. The monument, which is the size of a
p Children’s memorial at Beth Abraham Cemetery
double headstone, features an image of a lamb. Rudel said the animal is often a symbol of purity and innocence in the Torah and is something that is commonly seen on children’s headstones. JCBA purchased the memorial, which was
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designed by Urbach Memorials in consultation with JCBA’s executive committee. It was supported by New Castle’s Temple Hadar Israel Endowment Fund. Sam Bernstine, who served as the last president of the New Castle congregation,
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said that when the synagogue closed its doors in 2017, it created several different funds overseen by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Two funds were created
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Photo courtesy of the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association
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