At the corner of Manassas and Elysian Fields in Monroe, LA are two small cemeteries, one Christian and one Jewish. Both cemeteries have graves from the 1850's and earlier.
The cemeteries are separated by a street. I wonder if they were separated the same way in 1850. The Christian side is crumbling, a few graves well cared for but most of them are disintegrating. Only two graves had flowers on them. The Jewish side is well cared for and many graves have flowers and stones.
I noticed a small gravestone for an infant on the Christian side. Little Robert lived approximately one month from June to July in 1886. Across the street is the grave of a Jewish infant who also lived approximately one month from March to April in 1885.
It is tempting to record the names of the families in these cemeteries and learn about them. Did they stay in the Monroe area? What businesses did they start? Where did they live? If they left Monroe where did they move to and do the descendants ever come back to visit their graves?
Two graves caught my eye because they were covered with stones and flowers. These graves of Sol and Tola Rosenberg have been visited often. I have that Sol started Sol's Pipe and Steel in Monroe and that his family still runs the business.
I have learned that the Congregation B'nai Israel hosts a concert/fundraiser every year to raise money for maintenance of the Jewish cemetary and that a small groups of citizens is working on funding to repair and maintain the Christian cemetery across the street.
Hello Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI am wondering what is the significance of the small stones on the graves?
I'm enjoying your wonderful photos and stories. All best wishes on your projects.
Judith R. Shamp
Hi Judith,
DeleteThank you for asking this question.
Hi Judith,
DeleteThis is one explanation below. When my father in law died the family had a private ceremony at the grave, each placing a stone and telling a good memory of him. I found other explanations of this tradition on the internet but the explanation that placing stones both as remembrance and to help mark graves in the dessert makes sense.
Within the Jewish faith, it is customary to leave a small stone on the grave. The visitor positions the stone on the grave using his or her left hand. Placing a stone on the grave serves as a sign to others that someone has visited the grave. It also enables visitors to partake in the mitzvah tradition of commemorating the burial and the deceased. Stones are fitting symbols of the lasting presence of the deceased’s life and memory.
There are many different stories cited as the historical origin of this tradition. It may trace back to the Biblical times when graves were simply marked with small stone mounds. Since gravestones were not utilized during this period, the mounds helped mark the location of the grave. In essence, the act of placing small stones on graves served as a way to preserve the gravesite so that as time passed, it could be found again.
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