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.
Fri, April 4 2025
6 Nisan 5785
-
Friday ,
AprApril 4 , 2025
Friday, Apr 4th 6:00p to 8:00p
Cheryl Lester is in town and leading services! Potluck oneg to follow. Please note the early start time of 6pm. -
Sunday ,
AprApril 6 , 2025Services 101: A workshop for new service leaders & perplexed participants. Session 2 Topic - Prayer
Sunday, Apr 6th 3:00p to 4:30p
Understanding keva (doing it right) and kavannah (feeling it) through close readings, deep engagement, and thinking through how to make the text your own. -
Sunday ,
AprApril 13 , 2025
Sunday, Apr 13th 4:30p to 8:00p
Join us for a community-led second-night Seder. -
Saturday ,
AprApril 19 , 2025
Shabbat, Apr 19th 10:30a to 1:00p
Alyssa Appelman leads with a D'var Torah on our ecological responsibilities. Vegan Kiddish lunch to follow. -
Monday ,
AprApril 21 , 2025Muralist Dave Loewenstein
Monday, Apr 21st 6:00p to 7:00p
The LJCC is exploring a possible partnership with local muralist Dave Loewenstein to adorn our humble building with a community-created mural! Come meet Dave and learn about his work. -
Wednesday ,
AprApril 23 , 2025
Wednesday, Apr 23rd 7:00p to 8:30p
Though Lawrence Jews incorporated a congregation and acquired Bene Israel cemetery in 1869, it took nearly 80 years to acquire a building and more than a century to use Bene Israel as a communal burial grounds. Professor Emeritus David Katzman's talk will illuminate the history of earlier Lawrence Jewish communities, organizations and individuals, and explain why Lawrence Jews did not form a permanent organization until after World War II. -
Friday ,
AprApril 25 , 2025
Friday, Apr 25th 5:30p to 7:00p
Join us for an early family-friendly nosh and Shabbat. We'll Nosh and then Shabbat with services starting at 6:30pm. The LJCC will provide a main. Potluck contributions are encouraged. If possible, let us know in the notes section what you will bring. -
Saturday ,
AprApril 26 , 2025"Transplanting Heritage:" Reception & Havdalah at the Watkins
Shabbat, Apr 26th 6:00p to 7:30p
The LJCC is partnering with the Watkins for a reception & Havdalah during the "Transplanting Heritage: Judaica from the Klein Collection" Exhibit. See the exhibit at 6pm before a Havdalah observance at 7pm with the LJCC Ritual Committee. -
Sunday ,
MayMay 4 , 2025
Sunday, May 4th 3:00p to 4:30p
A look at the daily prayer cycle, the weekly liturgical cycle, and the annual cycles of Torah readings and holidays.
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