Citing an inability to properly maintain Salem Cemetery for the longest of long-term commitments, San Francisco’s Congregation Beth Israel-Judea has sold its century-old graveyard to Congregations Emanu-El and Sherith Israel.
As of July 1, Salem became part of a cemetery consortium jointly run by Emanu-El and Sherith Israel, which merged their Hills of Eternity and Home of Peace cemeteries in 1993. All three cemeteries are located in Colma.
“Beth Israel-Judea is a small congregation. And not a wealthy one. And upkeep on the cemetery became more and more beyond the capabilities and resources of the synagogue. And, for the betterment of the community, after a-hundred-and-some years of managing it, we felt turning it over would be the best thing for the community,” said David Stein, Beth Israel-Judea’s executive director.
by joe eskenazi, staff writer
Copyright J. 2004.