JCAM News & Events
2011
Electronic Newsletter Launched – December 6 – JCAM goes online with its first electronic newsletter Kol HaKavod (With All Respect). The first issue features a story about honoring forgotten immigrant children.
Remembering the Forgotten Children – December – Once known as the Malden Free Burying Ground, the Maplewood Cemetery in Malden, MA is the resting place for Boston's poorest immigrant Jews who were unable to afford cemetery plots in congregational cemeteries. Many were buried in unmarked graves. And, many were children of newly arrived Jewish immigrants.
Jewish War Vets Remembered and Honored – November – The seventh grade class of Temple Beth Torah in Holliston had the experience of participating in a JCAM Cemeteries Are for the Living educational program at the Framingham/Natick Hebrew Cemetery in time for Veterans Day.
JCAM’s Annual Book Burial – Sept. 25 was held at King Solomon Memorial Park Cemetery in West Roxbury – Each year JCAM invites the community to be part of the meaningful and educational experience of a Jewish book burial.
Restorations Completed at Two JCAM Cemeteries – Sept. 20
As part of our commitment to the restoration, preservation and maintenance on our more than 100 Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts, work was completed recently at the Puritan-Mt. Sinai Cemetery on Baker Street in West Roxbury and at the Agudas Achim Cemetery in Fitchburg.
Gann Academy's Mitzvah Project
at JCAM’s Genizah – May 3
A group of 9th grade students from Gann Academy worked tirelessly and enthusiastically by sorting through the array of materials deposited by individuals, synagogues, and schools at JCAM’s community Genizah located on the Baker Street Cemetery in West Roxbury.
2010
Jewish Advocate Reports on Beit Olam East – October 29
See the full report on the pending consecration of Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland.
Book Burial Event Set – October 10
JCAM announces its annual book burial event for October 10 in West Roxbury – all are invited with RSVP.
Beit Olam East Cemetery Plans Reveiled -- June 11, 2010
Wayland Town Crier newspaper reports on JCAM's progress report of construction at the new cemetery in Wayland.
JCAM's First Mitzvah Day -- May 16, 2010
JCAM held its first 'Mitzvah Day' at the Baker Street Cemeteries in West Roxbury.
Cemeteries Closed on Baker Streeet, West Roxbury -- April 16, 2010
JCAM reports many cemeteries along Baker Street are flooded and likely cannot accept burials for weeks.
2009
Veterans Day Flag Project Launched -- Nov. 11, 2009
JCAM’s Jewish War Veterans Flag Project (in time for Veterans Day) started as an idea and after a huge success will now become a yearly mitzvah project.
Book Burial Succeeds Despite Nor'easter -- Oct. 19, 2009
Twenty-five adults and children braved a wind-swept, torrential rain to witness and participate in JCAM's Annual Book Burial at the Chevra Thillim Cemetery in West Roxbury.
Annual Meeting Celebrates 25 Years of Service -- May 17, 2009
JCAM celebrated its quarter-century achievements at its annual meeting; CJP President Barry Shrage delivered the keynote.
JCAM's 25th Anniversary Cemetery Guidebook -- April, 2009
As part of it's 25th anniversary commemoration, the JCAM Charitable Foundation's newest edition of History & Guide: Massachusetts Jewish Cemeteries is available online. The Guide, complete with maps and directions to all 209 Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts, also features the historical origins of the State’s Jewish cemeteries, dating as far back as 1844.
2008
Annual Book Burial Fulfills Communal Responsibility -- October 12, 2008 The JCAM Charitable Foundation's annual book burial was held Sunday, Oct. 12th in West Roxbury, fulfilling its communal responsibility with the mitzvah of shammot.
Quincy Hebrew Cemetery Beautification -- July 2008 -- Quincy Hebrew Cemetery at the Baker Street complex in West Roxbury has been restored with a $250,000 effort involving a donation and fundraising. This once abandoned cemetery and chapel now shines.
Ohabei Shalom Cemetery Placed on National Historic Places Registry -- June 2008 -- Boston's first Jewish cemetery (1844) is now official historic, being voted to the National Register of Historic Places!
Ohabei Shalom Chapel Restoration Proceeds -- Jan. 14,2008 -- As part of the Mystic River Jewish Community Project, plans for the restoration of the oldest surviving Jewish chapel in Massachusetts proceed.
2007
Jewish Advocate Feature Story-- Sept. 21,2007 -- "Cemetery tapestry captures histories; JCAM and local artist team up to celebrate Baker Street Cemetery"
August 6, 2007 Jewish Advocate, "Death As A Part Of Life."
Jewish Advocate News Story-- June 22,2007 -- (PDF file)
"State Helps Preserve Jewish History" news story about $50K grant
JCAM Press Release -- June. 20, 2007 -–
"Massachusetts Historical Commission
Endorses Mystic River Jewish Communities Project
with $50K Matching Grant"
Jewish Advocate News Story-- June 15,2007 -- (PDF file)
"Cemetery expansion gets go-ahead" news story
JCAM Press Release -- June. 1, 2007 -–
"Huge Demand for Beit Olam Expansion Cemetery in MetroWest"
Jewish Advocate Editorial -- May 2007 --
"Restoring the Past" -- from the Jewish Advocate regarding the Ohabei Shalom Chapel restoration project.
2006
October 29, 2006 – Temple Israel of Natick Participates in Book Burial.
JCAM Press Release -- Oct. 1, 2006 -–
"Crawford Street Memorial Park Cemetery Merges with JCAM"
Yahoo News Sept. 12, 2006 --
"East Boston Celebrates Mystic River Jewish Communities Project"
September: East Boston Celebrates
Mystic River Jewish Communities Project
More than 200 people turned out in East Boston to hear the JCAM Charitable Foundation's plans to restore the historic Ohabei Shalom Cemetery chapel into the future home of the Mystic River Jewish Exhibit Hall. The chapel stands at the grand entrance of the first Jewish cemetery in Massachusetts, Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery, founded in 1844. Click here for photos!
Boston Herald Op/Ed piece, June 12, 2006 --
"Mystic River Jews Finally Getting Their Due"
Boston Globe article, May 13, 2006 --
JCAM Charitable Foundation's plans to restore Ohabei Shalom Chapel in East Boston
Watch for JCAM
in the news!
"I recently was at the Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery for my grandmother's
unveiling - who
passed away at 107.
"It had been 30 years since I had been there and I was so
impressed at the way the cemetery looked - and honored to
support your great work."