San Francisco Cemeteries: [2000]
GENERAL INFORMATION: SF Bay includes those areas using area codes 341, 415, 408, 510, 650, 669, 707, and 925. Some information on the Pioneer Cemeteries outside the area may be included. Unless otherwise noted, the following information was submitted by Bob Weiss for San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society SFBAJGS, 3916 Louis Road, Palo Alto CA 94303-4541. Somewhere around the late 1800s, the city of San Francisco decided that no further burials would take place in the city. They assigned all burials to a town called Colma, about ten miles south of the city. Those buried in the city could remain there, but all new burials had to take place in Colma. A few years later, the city fathers decided that everyone had to go; i.e., remains had to be relocated to Colma. So the Jewish cemeteries, like all others, began relocations. How many bodies actually were moved (as opposed to stones, all of which were moved) is a matter of conjecture. In heavy rains, old cemetery locations in San Francisco proper wash up human remains, particularly those areas where the Chinese immigrants were buried. Records of the moving were inadequate. It is, occasionally, hard to find a grave. Anyone planning on doing so is advised to allow several days for research at the four large Jewish cemeteries in Colma. Among cemetery listings is California Jewish History Trip Log by Dr. Norton, B. Stern. (June 18, Aug 17, Nov. 23, and Dec. 26, 1966 and July 19, 1967) Box No. 2802.
Funeral Homes:
- Sinai Memorial Chapel: 1501 Divisadero Street, San Francisco 94115 415-921-3636 Gene B. Kaufman, Executive Director; Sinai is a not-for-profit organization owned by the Jewish community. Since 1937 it has handled the majority of Jewish burials. Sinai owns and operates a Jewish cemetery. Prior to 1937, there was a Chevra Kadisha established in 1905, whose records exist.
- Willow Glen Funeral Chapel: 1039 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose 95125; 408-295-6446; Successor to W. B. Ward Co., Established in 1888.
- See "Directory of Jewish Local Organizations in the United States" pp. 330-583. American Jewish Year Book 5680 September 25,1919 to Sept. 12, 1920 ; Volume 21 Edited by Harry Schneiderman for the American Jewish Comm. Source: Alan Hirschfeld: