Cemetery
B'nai Israel Cemetery
B' nai Israel (Beni Israel) Cemetery
The Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation owns and maintains the B’nai Israel Cemetery in
Eudora, KS. LJCC members in good standing have burial rights in the Cemetery. Contact the LJCC
office (785.841.7636, LawrenceJCC@gmail.com) for information about purchasing a burial plot or to arrange a burial.
The cemetery contains graves of Jews dating back to the settlement of the Kansas Territories in
the 1850s. The cemetery is listed as “Beni Israel Cemetery” on the National Register of Historic
Places.
The Beni Israel Cemetery was founded in 1858 by territorial settlers who relocated to the area
via the German Immigrant Settlement Company of Chicago. The Cemetery represents the
social history of the Jewish-Americans who made distinctive contributions to the early
development of both Eudora and Lawrence, Kansas.
The Settlement Company had approximately 600 members who paid weekly dues to purchase
land for farms and a new town. In 1857, the Company purchased 800 acres of Shawnee Indian
land from Paschal Fish and laid out a townsite, Eudora, named after Fish’s daughter. The
Company then resold lots and acreage to its members. Of the 29 heads of families who first
arrived in Eudora, 7 were known to be Jewish.
Among the Jewish settlers, Abraham Summerfield was elected to the first Eudora City Council
and also served as its second Postmaster. Adolphus Erb and Asher Cohen also served on the
City Council and Marcus Summerfield was City Clerk. Frederick Deichmann, whose wife and
children were Jewish, also served on the City Council.
This Cemetery is the major surviving property associated with the Jewish community which
flourished in Eudora from 1857-1867 before relocating to Lawrence. Together with the
Leavenworth Jewish cemetery, these two properties are the only Jewish cemeteries established
in Kansas during the territorial period. The name “Beni Israel” is thought to have either been a
misspelling or a colloquialism of the times. The Cemetery, which is used for current burials, is
now known as B’nai Israel, although the historic section retains the “Beni Israel” designation.
Lorraine Lindenbaum z”l, former cemetery committee member, discussed the Historic
Designation saying, “It protects the property from encroachment as the surrounding land is
developed...The designation also signifies to our LJCC membership what a gem we have
locally.”
Directions to the Cemetery
From Lawrence:
· Head east on K-10 for about 10 miles; look for the big cross at the Methodist church
· Take the Church St./E. 2200 Road exit
· Turn right onto Church St./E. 2200 Road
· Take the first right onto N 1300 Rd./E. 20th St., it will curve sharply north and then turn west
· In one mile, turn right onto E 2100 Rd./Winchester Rd.
· The cemetery will be on the lft, at the NW corner of the intersection of Winchester Rd. and W. 20th St.
Pictures of B'nai Israel Cemetery
Pedestrian Entrance to Beni Israel
Hebrew Lettering on Gravestone
View of west and north fence lines where we propose perimeter trees.
Dr. David Katzman’s Cemetery Tour, 2023
Headstone of Cemetery Founder and One of First Eudora Councilmen, Asher Cohn
Looking West to adjacent fields & United Methodist Church in far view
Genizah (traditional burial of worn out Hebrew language religious texts) placed by Lawrence Jewish Congregation, Inc.
Mon, October 7 2024
5 Tishrei 5785
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Friday ,
OctOctober 11 , 2024
Friday, Oct 11th 7:00p to 9:00p
Please register at https://ljcc.shulcloud.com/hh. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024
Shabbat, Oct 12th 9:30a to 7:00p
Please register at https://ljcc.shulcloud.com/hh. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024
Shabbat, Oct 12th 7:00p to 9:00p
Please register at https://ljcc.shulcloud.com/hh. -
Friday ,
OctOctober 18 , 2024
Friday, Oct 18th 5:15p to 7:30p
Join us under the sukkah for pizza, refreshments, and some lulav-shaking-good-times. We'll follow our nosh with a musical services led by Molly Handelman. -
Thursday ,
OctOctober 24 , 2024LINK
Thursday, Oct 24th 11:30a to 2:00p
The purpose of LINK is to share home-cooked, nutritious meals with kindness in a safe and welcoming environment with families, those who are unhoused or hungry, physically or mentally disabled, or simply desirous of company. Please consider supporting this crucial program. -
Friday ,
OctOctober 25 , 2024
Friday, Oct 25th 7:00p to 9:00p
With services leaders Azariah Betzalel, Sam Brody, & Carrie Caine. Oneg to follow -
Friday ,
DecDecember 6 , 2024
Friday, Dec 6th 5:00p to 7:00p
Mark your calendars for Mezuzahpallooza, a fun festival celebrating the commandment to hang the words of the Shema on our doorposts, taking place Friday, December 6 at 5 pm! We’ll hang mezuzot in all the doorways of the LJCC, we’ll feast together, and we’ll celebrate Shabbat with a short, kid-friendly, service starting at 6:30 pm. Register to attend [link]. Members and friends of the LJCC are invited to sponsor a mezuzah for $90, and sponsorship is not required to attend this event. We hope to see you all there! -
Thursday ,
DecDecember 26 , 2024LINK
Thursday, Dec 26th 11:30a to 2:00p
The purpose of LINK is to share home-cooked, nutritious meals with kindness in a safe and welcoming environment with families, those who are unhoused or hungry, physically or mentally disabled, or simply desirous of company. Please consider supporting this crucial program.
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