Greenlawn Cemetery Hebrew Section
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The Hebrew Section of Greenlawn Cemetery in Portsmouth, Ohio, was established in the early 1850s by members of the Portsmouth Hebrew Benevolent Society and its grounds have served as the final resting place for members of Southern Ohio’s Jewish community for over 170 years.
In 1860, the Portsmouth Hebrew Benevolent Society transferred ownership of its plots to Beneh Abraham, a Jewish congregation that was incorporated in Portsmouth two years earlier in 1858. It is possible that the Society was composed of two distinct groups, one for men and one for women. An 1864 letter published by Judah Wechsler, who at the time was serving as rabbi of Beneh Abraham, in The Israelite, a Jewish newspaper out of Cincinnati, mentions that Esther Stern was the founder and first president of the local Ladies Benevolent Society.
In 1863, Isaac Weil was laid to rest in the Hebrew Section of Greenlawn, numbering among the first to be buried in the dedicated Jewish section. Approximately 39 other people are buried in the section, with the most recent burial occurring in 2018.
Members from influential Jewish families including the Seidenbach, Elsas, Seeberger, Lehman, Levi, Labold, Mayer and many more are all buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in the Hebrew section. Members from these families founded the Beneh Abraham congregation in Portsmouth and went on to become influential members of the Portsmouth community in their own right.
Note should also be made of those members of the local Jewish community who served during World War II alongside Americans of all backgrounds. At least four people are known. Their names are Morton Atlas, Gershon David, Edward Levi, and David Timmer. In addition, Dr. Sol Asch served with the United States Public Health Service, which, while providing critical services to the United States, is not a branch of the armed forces. Gershon David was a resident of Jackson, Ohio, 37 miles northeast of Portsmouth, and David Timmer lived in Vanceburg, Kentucky 45 miles southwest of Portsmouth. Morton Atlas and Dr. Sol Asch are buried in Portsmouth's Greenlawn Cemetery.
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Hebrew Sign in Greenlawn Cemetery
Small sign marking the Hebrew section of Greenlawn Cemetery.
Issac Weil Headstone
Headstone of Issac H. Weil. Issac Weil was laid to rest in 1863 and was the first person to be buried in Greenlawn Cemetery's dedicated Jewish Section.
Issac H. Weil Headstone
Headstone of Issac H. Weil. Issac Weil was laid to rest in 1863 and was the first person to be buried in Greenlawn Cemetery's dedicated Jewish Section.
L. Seidenbach Headstone
L. Siedenbach was a clothier according to the 1860 federal census. He belonged to the Siedenbach family which was one of the first three Jewish households to settle in Portsmouth.
Levi Family Marker
The Levi family were one of the prominent Jewish families that settled in Portsmouth in the late 1850s. Hannah and Louis Levi were the among the first in the family to settle in Portsmouth. The Levi family were influential in the foundation of the Beneh Abraham congregation. Louis Levi was one of the early congregation members who signed the articles of incorporation for Beneh Abraham. Louis and Hannah Levi like many of the early Jewish families immigrated to America from a German speaking region in Europe.
Mary Samuel Headstone
Mary Samuel was the daughter of Simon and Esther Levi. The Levi family were one of the notable early Jewish Families in Portsmouth.
Minnie Levi Headstone
Minnie Levi was married to A.H. Levi. The Levi family were one of the prominent Jewish families that settled in Portsmouth in the late 1850s.
Morton Atlas Headstone
Morton Atlas was one of the local Jewism members of the Portsmouth community who served in World War II. Atlas served in the Army Air Forces.