Letter to the editor August 27
Taking care of our own
I read with interest “Cemetery blight is Jewish community’s mark of shame” (July 30). With that in mind, the Pittsburgh Jewish community is fortunate to have the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh (JCBA).
Since 1992, with its origins going back to the 19th century, the JCBA has maintained a dual mission: We take care of and maintain Jewish cemeteries in the area after their congregations have closed or if the remaining cemetery board is no longer able to do so; and we provide a proper Jewish burial to the needy and indigent in the community.
Presently, there are 13 cemeteries in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio that the JCBA maintains. Working together with the Jewish Community Legacy Project, we are helping congregations plan for the proper care of their cemeteries when they face the unfortunate reality of closing their doors. Our network of maintenance staff and dedicated volunteers ensures and guarantees the community that no Jewish cemetery in the area will ever face the possibility of falling into disrepair. The JCBA can be contacted at P.O. Box 81863, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
Jonathan Schachter
President of the JCBA
Pittsburgh
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