Who Owns this Jewish Cemetery?

Published by

Laura Aanenson

November 12, 2014

I shared the story of what I hope to be my first of many trips to Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery here.

Way in the back of Oak Woods we saw this:

Jewish Cemetery in Oak Woods — Jewish Cemetery at the back of Oak Woods Cemetery

If you look closely, you’ll see headstones hidden among what appears to be just a vacant field in the front of the cemetery:

Jewish Cemetery near the Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago Illinois

Even the fence separating the Jewish cemetery from Oak Woods was in terrible disrepair:

Where's the rest of the fence? — What fence? Notice the headstone/tree combo?

I asked our Chicago Architecture Foundation tour guide why this section of Oak Woods wasn’t being cared for:

This isn’t part of Oak Woods. It’s a different cemetery.

She said as a courtesy, the wall surrounding Oak Woods had been extended to include the Jewish Cemetery:

See the wall separating the cemetery from the houses in the distance? — See the cement wall between the cemetery and the houses in the distance?

From other sources, I learned Oak Woods made multiple unsuccessful attempts to locate the owners of the Jewish Cemetery:

What must the families of the deceased be feeling?

A coworker suggested looking for the synagogue to which those buried here would have belonged:

Any ideas about how we might find those responsible?

16 responses to “Who Owns this Jewish Cemetery?”

Anonymous

September 3, 2022

l would think volunteers could be organized to clean it up, or the best way is to have a contract with oakwoods for regular maintenance ,there has to be a way to solve this problem
can not be that expensive

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Warren S. Erwin and Bari Block

September 1, 2022

l visited oakwwod with my special friend Bari Block we cannot understand why this little Jewish cemetary could not be included in Oakwoods maintenance schedule

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alexpartin103@gmail.com

May 5, 2022

My family has the only family tomb at Jewish oakwoods cemetery.we recently had the tomb sandblaster doors and window repair and replaced.

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Lora Perlman

November 15, 2020

I recently found out that my great great great grandfather is buried in the jewish section of Oak Woods. I have located his grave and it really breaks my heart at the condition that it’s in. I went to the office and I did get a few names and phone numbers of people to call. I made several calls awhile back but didn’t get a response. If anyone wants to contact me and make a collaborative effort I’d be up for it.

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1. Laura Aanenson
  
  November 18, 2020
  
  I agree – heartbreaking is the best description of the neglect at this once beautiful cemetery. My understanding is that the synagogue responsible changed hands several times and somehow the cemetery was lost in the shuffle. I hope you hear from someone willing to help clean things up there. If I lived in Illinois, I would be happy to join your collaborative effort!
  
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2. Jay Heiferman
  
  August 30, 2021
  
  Please contact me re: Oak Woods jay@heiferman.com
  
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  1. Laura Aanenson
    
    September 3, 2021
    
    Hi Jay, I’m happy to answer questions here on my blog. Thanks for writing!
    
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Sam Cook

February 25, 2018

Are there records of the burials? I would like to see it. I have relatives in there. Kramers & others. Thanks

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1. Laura Aanenson
  
  February 26, 2018
  
  Sam, records must have been created when the burials took place. Where one might find them is the $64,000 question. If you review other comments on this post, you’ll find some clues to help begin the search for your relatives. Good luck to you – please let us know if/when you locate the cemetery owners/managers.
  
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  1. Sam Cook
    
    February 27, 2018
    
    Thanks for your reply. Too bad I live down near Kansas City, or I would go there to search. (and am about 72 years old). I wish someone in Chicago could go look around. If they could find the NEWEST grave, perhaps via obituary etc, the family could be found, and work out from there.
    My late wife’s grandparents are allegedly buried there: SAMUEL D. KRAMER (1976) & LIBBY SCHLIMAN KRAMER (1975). Few if any surviving relatives.
    Thanks again.
    Sam
    
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Steven J. Wright

June 24, 2015

I have known about the Jewish Oakwoods for sometime; however, I have never seen the overgrown state of it until yesterday. While researching for a client I passed this portion of the cemetery. I noticed the signs that said “Private Property, Not Managed by Dignity Corp”. That led me today to do a little bit of research today. I stumbled across your post while doing so. Also, while doing so I found an entry in a book digitized on google. It is titled “The American Jewish Yearbook 5680”. It is volume 21 and covers the years 1919-1920. On page 367 I found the following entry: Oakwood Cemetery, South Chicago. Owned by Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagadol U’B’nei Jacob. This lead me to a now defunct temple on the south side. The congregation is now merged with several others, and is now located in Skokie. Here is a link to the current website that mentions Oakwoods Cemetery: http://www.kessermaariv.org/about.html

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1. Laura Aanenson
  
  June 24, 2015
  
  Steven,
  
  I’m glad you had the opportunity to see Jewish Oakwoods in person. It troubles me that any cemetery is allowed to fall into such a state. What I found most disconcerting during my visit were the stones on the graves; signs that family or friends had recently visited. Imagine their horror at seeing a loved one’s final resting place in such a state!
  
  Thank you for sharing the interesting book and web site – I enjoyed exploring both. Helps to understand the story behind the cemetery, but still troubling.
  
  Did you find what you were looking for at Oakwoods?
  
  Laura
  
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  1. Steven J. Wright
    
    June 24, 2015
    
    Laura,
    
    It troubled me that the congregation that established it does not care for it. Especially since most of the burials are older, and I am sure the people who visit are elderly themselves. I understand that they are no longer nearby, but they are not defunct either. I also find it bothersome that Oakwoods does not step up either. They pride themselves on being both a historic and beautiful cemetery. I realize it is not their responsibility to take one. However, they do not have to keep it up regularly; however, they could mow the grass several times a year.
    
    I am glad you enjoyed the information I found today. I am still in a bit of shock that congregation that chartered it is not taking care of it.
    
    I found both individuals I was looking for. Well, at least the area they were buried in. Both are in opposite corners of the cemetery in a Potter’s Field.
    
    Best regards,
    Steven
    
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  2. Laura Aanenson
    
    June 25, 2015
    
    It’s a frustrating situation all around. I understand Oakwoods’ reluctance to take on the liability issues of caring for this section of the cemetery – an area they don’t own. However, it’s hard to see how neglected the area is and not think as you do, just cut the grass once in awhile. My understanding is that when Oakwoods had the wall constructed around the cemetery, they included the Jewish cemetery as a courtesy. I’m sure the families appreciated the gesture; it would be nice if the congregation would repay the act by contributing to the care of the area.
    
    In my humble opinion, the congregation is ultimately responsible. They should be ashamed of the deplorable condition of their members’ final resting place.
    
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Sheryl

November 12, 2014

It’s so sad that the Jewish cemetery is in such bad shape. Some of the stones don’t look real old–and it seems like the children of some of the people buried there might still be living.

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1. Laura Aanenson
  
  November 13, 2014
  
  I had the same impression. If my family was buried here, I’d be making a heckuva ruckus about the condition of the cemetery. It’s reprehensible.
  
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I’m Laura

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