International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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Current town population: 6000. Town's current Jewish population: 200 families in the county, 100 families are members of Beth Israel.

 

Beth Israel Cemetery: Postal address of cemetery: North Main St Honesdale, PA 18431. Synagogue Congregation Beth Israel (570) 253-2222. http://www.congregationbethisraelhonesdale.org/.

Contact about grave locations: Rabbi Allan Smith. Bryant Funeral Home (570) 253-0260 and Ziman Funeral Home (570) 344-1716. Cemetery burials are indexed and computerized. Flowers Permitted. No burial cards have biographical data.The earliest known Jewish community in town dates from 1840s. Cemetery was established in 1849. Synagogue was built in 1855 and still is active in its original building on Court Street. Caretaker: Dave Goodenough. The active Reform cemetery on flat land is separate, but near other cemeteries. The sign reads as follows: Glen Dyberry Cemetery (Beth Israel is in the back Northeast corner). The cemetery is reached by turning directly off a public road. Access to the cemetery is open to all via_a broken masonry wall and no gate.ยท The cemetery is divided into special sections:_men, women, unmarried men, unmarried women, rabbis, Cohanim, children, and women who died childbirth. The 19th, 20th and 21st century gravestones are marble and granite flat, shaped stones, sculpted monuments, multi-stone monuments, flat, low in-ground plaques, and obelisks. Inscriptions are in English and Hebrew. Properties adjacent to the cemetery are residential. Private visitors visit occasionally. The cemetery is known to have been vandalized between 50 and 10 years ago. Past maintenance includes_ re-erecting stones and clearing vegetation by the local Jewish congregation. Current Care: occasional clearing or cleaning by individuals and regular caretaker. No structures. Vandalism and security are slight threats. Water drainage at the cemetery is good all year. Liza Roos Lucy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.completed this survey in December 2006 using Historical Society Data sheet, Synagogue Data sheet. [January 2007]