The Mikveh Israel Cemetery Beth-El-Emeth at 55th and Market Streets is a Jewish cemetery in

West Philadelphia West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of the city of Philadelphia. Alhough there are no officially defined boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Avenue to the nort ...

founded in 1850 and dedicated in 1857 by

Isaac Leeser Isaac Leeser (December 12, 1806 – February 1, 1868) was an American Orthodox Jewish religious leader, teacher, scholar and publisher. He helped found the Jewish press of America, produced the first Jewish translation of the Bible into English, ...

’s Congregation Beth-El-Emeth as Beth-El-Emeth Cemetery ( he, בית אל אמת). Kahal Kadosh Beth-El-Emeth “Holy Congregation of the True God” (or “God of Truth”) was founded in 1857 by Joseph Newhouse as a pulpit for Rev.

after Leeser left Congregation Mikveh Israel. The congregation followed the "Spanish & Portuguese"

rite Rite may refer to: * Ritual, an established ceremonious act * Rite of passage, a ceremonious act associated with social transition Religion * Rite (Christianity), a sacred ritual or liturgical tradition in various Christian denominations * Cath ...

despite most members hailing from Germany. They met in a former church on the east side of Franklin Street above Green Street in the

Northern Liberties Northern Liberties is a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prior to its incorporation into Philadelphia in 1854, it was among the top 10 largest cities in the U.S. in every census from 1790 to 1850. Boundaries Northern Liberties is loc ...

neighborhood. Many of its members had formerly belonged to Mikveh Israel and rejoined it when Beth-El-Emeth dissolved itself in 1897. Congregation Mikveh Israel took possession of the Beth El Emeth Cemetery in 1895. The cemetery is also referred to as Congregation Mikveh Israel's third cemetery. In May 1954, vandals who had been drinking in the cemetery, overturned 33 headstones, leaving behind beer and wine bottles. The City of Philadelphia erected a historic marker near the cemetery's location in 1998 to recognize Reverend Leeser and his contributions as a teacher and scholar.

Burials

Veterans of the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

are interred here along with other prominent members of the Philadelphia Jewish community. *Reverend

(1806-1868) Philadelphia Jewish Leader, Educator, and Publisher. Rabbi of Congregation Beth-El-Emeth. *Rabbi Eliezer Kleinberg, Rabbi, Cong B’nai Abraham Anshe Russia, Philadelphia. Co-founder of the Orthodox Union. * Rabbi Dov Aryeh Leventhal (1864-1952) Chief Rabbi Philadelphia. Son-in-law of Rabbi Eliezer Kleinberg. *Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Saks, First Rabbi, Cong B’nai Abraham Anshe Russia, Philadelphia.

References

{{reflist 1850 establishments in Pennsylvania Cemeteries established in the 1850s Cemeteries in Philadelphia Jewish cemeteries in Pennsylvania Jews and Judaism in Philadelphia Sephardi Jewish culture in Pennsylvania

Burials

See also

References