VANDALS DESECRATED MOUNT CARMEL CEMETERY IN PHILADELPHIA
URGENT! SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2017
FOUR GENERATIONS OF OUR FAMILY, BEGINNING WITH MY GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS WHO IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM LITHUANIA IN 1880, ARE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY. 26 MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY SHARE THE WERNER / SATINSKY PLOT. WHAT KIND OF EVIL MONSTERS WOULD DO THIS TO THE DEAD?
INITIAL REPORTS INDICATE THAT DOZENS, PERHAPS HUNDREDS, OF TOMBSTONES WERE DESECRATED, TOPPLED AND BROKEN, IN ONE OF PHILADELPHIA'S OLDEST JEWISH CEMETERIES. THE CLEAN UP AND RESTORATION EFFORT WILL BE ENORMOUS.
IF YOU LIVE IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA, PLEASE CONTACT US BY CLICKING ON THE CONTACT BUTTON ABOVE AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU REGARDING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE SANCTITY OF THIS HOLY BURIAL GROUND, PLEASE CLICK ON THE DONATE BUTTON ABOVE. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOT ALLOW EVIL TO TRIUMPH!
FOUR GENERATIONS OF OUR FAMILY, BEGINNING WITH MY GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS WHO IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM LITHUANIA IN 1880, ARE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY. 26 MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY SHARE THE WERNER / SATINSKY PLOT. WHAT KIND OF EVIL MONSTERS WOULD DO THIS TO THE DEAD?
INITIAL REPORTS INDICATE THAT DOZENS, PERHAPS HUNDREDS, OF TOMBSTONES WERE DESECRATED, TOPPLED AND BROKEN, IN ONE OF PHILADELPHIA'S OLDEST JEWISH CEMETERIES. THE CLEAN UP AND RESTORATION EFFORT WILL BE ENORMOUS.
IF YOU LIVE IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA, PLEASE CONTACT US BY CLICKING ON THE CONTACT BUTTON ABOVE AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU REGARDING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE SANCTITY OF THIS HOLY BURIAL GROUND, PLEASE CLICK ON THE DONATE BUTTON ABOVE. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOT ALLOW EVIL TO TRIUMPH!
Great great grandfather Shraga Feivel Werner. He was a pillar of the immigrant Jewish community in Philadelphia and is buried at Mount Carmel.
Werner / Satinsky cousins at a Kever Avot (gathering to honor our ancestors) in 2006. Mount Carmel, the ancestral burial ground of the Werner / Satinsky family.
Latest News from the Philadelphia Inquierer
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Rabbi-has-26-relatives-in-vandalized-Jewish-cemetery.html
www.philly.com/philly/news/Cops-Report-of-vandalism-at-Jewish-cemetery.html?mobi=true
www.philly.com/philly/news/Cops-Report-of-vandalism-at-Jewish-cemetery.html?mobi=true
Letter from Rabbi Sussman of Congregation Kenesseth Israel
Dear KI Member,
Although I am in Florida visiting KI members and family, I am monitoring the situation in Philadelphia and elsewhere with respect to attacks and threats directed against the Jewish community. Such behavior is abominable, unacceptable and contrary to our American way of life. Fortunately, our neighbors have spoken out forcefully and in many cases offered to help; however, self-reliance has always been the philosophy of Jewish life and here are some actions agreed upon by the larger Jewish community including Federation, the Board of Rabbis and innumerable agencies and synagogues:
1. There will be a community gathering of support on Thursday, March 2 at noon called “Stand Against Hate.” Location to be determined. We expect it to be quite large and to draw from multiple faith communities and from government officials. It will not be at the cemetery. We are working with the city on the location, and it will be confirmed soon. School-age children are welcome to attend.
2. Federation is coordinating meaningful, hands-on service experiences available to as many people as possible in our community. There will be opportunities for up to 50 people an hour to do volunteer work at the cemetery at the following times:
4. Federation’s website crashed after receiving over 1300 donations in a matter of hours. They are working to fix it as soon as possible. In the meantime, people are welcome to email [email protected] with donations, questions, and offers of support. If donations exceed the cost of the restoration and repairs at Mt. Carmel, funds will be used for the growing security needs of our Jewish community.
5. Security Update: In light of the threats made against dozens of JCCs around the country and a growing number of Day Schools, we at KI continue to review our security procedures developed in consultation with the Cheltenham Police, ADL, JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) and US Security. Thankfully, we have not encountered any direct threat at KI to date.
This is a moment for vigilance, Jewish unity and good citizenship. We thank our neighbors for speaking up, our police for their work and our civic leadership for being alert and courageous. Hopefully, the worst is behind us as we stand together to meet all of our challenges as a proud and faithful community.
B’Shalom,
Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D.
Senior Rabbi
Although I am in Florida visiting KI members and family, I am monitoring the situation in Philadelphia and elsewhere with respect to attacks and threats directed against the Jewish community. Such behavior is abominable, unacceptable and contrary to our American way of life. Fortunately, our neighbors have spoken out forcefully and in many cases offered to help; however, self-reliance has always been the philosophy of Jewish life and here are some actions agreed upon by the larger Jewish community including Federation, the Board of Rabbis and innumerable agencies and synagogues:
1. There will be a community gathering of support on Thursday, March 2 at noon called “Stand Against Hate.” Location to be determined. We expect it to be quite large and to draw from multiple faith communities and from government officials. It will not be at the cemetery. We are working with the city on the location, and it will be confirmed soon. School-age children are welcome to attend.
2. Federation is coordinating meaningful, hands-on service experiences available to as many people as possible in our community. There will be opportunities for up to 50 people an hour to do volunteer work at the cemetery at the following times:
- Tuesday, February 28, noon to 4pm
- Wednesday, March 1, noon to 4pm
- Friday, March 3, 10am to noon
- People will be able to sign up for one of the volunteer shifts through the Jewishphilly.org website. People will need to sign a waiver in order to volunteer. To be clear, no one will be erecting stones, but there is other work to be done at the cemetery, including helping to document the stones. Stay tuned for the link to sign up.
4. Federation’s website crashed after receiving over 1300 donations in a matter of hours. They are working to fix it as soon as possible. In the meantime, people are welcome to email [email protected] with donations, questions, and offers of support. If donations exceed the cost of the restoration and repairs at Mt. Carmel, funds will be used for the growing security needs of our Jewish community.
5. Security Update: In light of the threats made against dozens of JCCs around the country and a growing number of Day Schools, we at KI continue to review our security procedures developed in consultation with the Cheltenham Police, ADL, JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) and US Security. Thankfully, we have not encountered any direct threat at KI to date.
This is a moment for vigilance, Jewish unity and good citizenship. We thank our neighbors for speaking up, our police for their work and our civic leadership for being alert and courageous. Hopefully, the worst is behind us as we stand together to meet all of our challenges as a proud and faithful community.
B’Shalom,
Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D.
Senior Rabbi
Members of the Werner / Satinsky family buried at Mount Carmel
Response from the White House
http://jspacenews.com/white-house-condemns-jewish-cemetery-vandalism-and-jcc-bomb-threats
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-trump-opens-address-to-congress-by-condemning-anti-semitism/
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-trump-opens-address-to-congress-by-condemning-anti-semitism/
Congregation Kesher Israel, 421 Lombard Street, Philadelphia. The ancestral shul of the Werner family and of many buried at Mount Carmel.
From the Israeli press
http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-1.774059
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/real-time/Vandalism-at-Jewish-cemetery-in-Philadelphia-makes-news-worldwide.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/real-time/Vandalism-at-Jewish-cemetery-in-Philadelphia-makes-news-worldwide.html
Volunteer Opportunities
2/27/17 UPDATE - Mt. Carmel Cemetery - Volunteer Opportunities: We have been working closely with the cemetery to coordinate volunteer opportunities without overwhelming them. Stay tuned for Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia registration link.
*Please note, volunteer slots will be capped at 50 people per hour.*
Tuesday, February 28 and Wednesday, March 1
• 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
• 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday, March 3
• 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
*Please note, volunteer slots will be capped at 50 people per hour.*
Tuesday, February 28 and Wednesday, March 1
• 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
• 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday, March 3
• 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Werner / Satinsky Family at Mount Carmel
