The Old Jewish Cemetery

The "Old Jewish Cemetery" in Chambersburg is a wonderful repository of historical knowledge. It was the central focus of a nineteenth century society of Orthodox Jews who immigrated from Germany beginning sometime before 1840. The cemetery, which contains over 75 gravesites, has been recently restored.

The cemetery was dedicated on May 6, 2001, along with Greystone Neighborhood Park, which was created from a gift of part of the cemetery property to the people of Chambersburg. In addition, the Sons of Israel Cemetery Association has been granted a Pennsylvania Historical Marker.

The "Old Jewish Cemetery" is the first cemetery outside of Philadelphia and the first rural cemetery to receive a PHMC (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission) historical marker. It is believed to be only the fourth Jewish cemetery in America to receive a state historical marker. The other three are in Philadelphia and Columbia and Georgetown, South Carolina.

The "Old Jewish Cemetery" and the burial society that administered it represent an important example of the history of ethnic groups in Pennsylvania. In particular, its story exemplifies an important element of the pattern of growth and development of the 19th century German wave of immigrants who developed Orthodox Jewish societies in the smaller towns of Pennsylvania. The burial society was formed in 1840 as a first step in establishing a Jewish community. A building was erected for the sole purpose of ritual purification of bodies to be interred. All other traditional Orthodox Jewish rites of burial were followed.

The cemetery is unique in several respects. Founded during the German Orthodox Jewish immigration wave of 1825-1850, the Chambersburg Jewish community was one of a small number of destinations for the immigrants of this wave.

It is believed that Isaac Burgauer is the only Jewish Confederate soldier to be buried in a Northern Jewish cemetery. Research continues to confirm this. He was transported there by horse and carriage and buried after his death July 19, 1863, according to Wolfson." [January 2001]