A Jewish cemetery (Hebrew בית עלמין "Beth Olamin") serves as any other cemetery for the burial of the dead, and holds other qualities which are not found in Christian cemeteries.

In Judaism, a cemetery is considered sacred ground. The ground where the dead are buried should never be disturbed, and graves should not be cleared.

[edit] History

The early Jewish cemeteries were located - like other cemeteries after the Middle Ages - outside of the city.

There is a tradition of burying the dead with the feet in the direction of Jerusalem; however, this is not a strict rule. The tombstones were also marked during the time of Haskala not only in Hebrew language, but also in the respective regional language. During this time, in adjustment to the Christian tradition, more extravagant tombstones and even mausoleums for families were erected.

During the Nazi Germany regime, many Jewish cemeteries were devastated.

The largest Jewish cemeteries of Europe can be found in Budapest, Łódź, Prague, Warsaw and Berlin. Other Jewish cemeteries in Europe include the Jewish Cemetery in Khotyn.

In the United States, the Coming Street Cemetery, in Charleston, South Carolina, Mikveh Israel Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hebrew Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, B' Nai Israel Cemetery in Ashland, Wisconsin, and the Old Jewish Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio are some of the country's oldest Jewish cemeteries.

[edit] References

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