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.
Sat, July 27 2024
21 Tammuz 5784
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Saturday ,
AugAugust 10 , 2024
Shabbat, Aug 10th 10:30a to 1:30p
Join us for Saturday Morning services led by Sam or Carrie Caine. This event will be followed by a Kiddush lunch. -
Sunday ,
AugAugust 11 , 2024
Sunday, Aug 11th 1:30p to 4:15p
Join the Lawrence Opera Theater, the LJCC, and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education for this matinee performance of "The Path to Heaven." Premiered in 2018, "The Path to Heaven" is a powerful and moving one act opera with music by Adam Gorb and words by Ben Kaye. A tale of extremism, expedience and deceit, the work exposes the disintegration of the loves, lives and hopes of a family struggling to survive during the Holocaust. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 15 , 2024Summer Trivia at the LJCC
Thursday, Aug 15th 7:00p to 9:00p
It's trivia summer at the LJCC with not one but two trivia nights! Join host Will Averill on Thursday, June 27th and host Morgan Hill on Thursday, August 15th for an evening of nachos (included with price of admission), drinks, and nerdy good times. -
Friday ,
AugAugust 16 , 2024
Friday, Aug 16th 7:00p to 8:30p
Join us for Friday Night services led by Judy & Caryn. This event will be followed by an oneg. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 22 , 2024LINK
Thursday, Aug 22nd 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 ,
AugAugust 23 , 2024
Friday, Aug 23rd 7:00p to 8:30p
Join us for Friday Night services. This event will be followed by an oneg. -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 24 , 2024
Shabbat, Aug 24th 8:00p to 10:00p
A Cocktail party to kick off the 2024-2025 academic year, reunite with old friends, and welcome new members of the Jewish community. We'll have small bites, dancing, and special guest DJ Megatouch, aka KU German Professor, Ari Linden. All members of the Lawrence Jewish community are invited to attend! -
Sunday ,
AugAugust 25 , 2024Monthly Board Meeting (Hybrid)
Sunday, Aug 25th 9:30a to 12:00p
If you wish to attend this board meeting and raise an issue with the board, please email Robin Rosenberg at robin.rosenberg@mac.com. Please Join the Zoom Room for this board meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84566367488?pwd=czZpU3Y1Uk1MempMejR2WloyWTRudz09 Meeting ID: 845 6636 7488 Passcode: BoardZoom -
Sunday ,
SepSeptember 22 , 2024Monthly Board Meeting (Hybrid)
Sunday, Sep 22nd 9:30a to 12:00p
If you wish to attend this board meeting and raise an issue with the board, please email Robin Rosenberg at robin.rosenberg@mac.com. Please Join the Zoom Room for this board meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84566367488?pwd=czZpU3Y1Uk1MempMejR2WloyWTRudz09 Meeting ID: 845 6636 7488 Passcode: BoardZoom -
Sunday ,
SepSeptember 22 , 2024On-site Historical Tour of Beni Israel Cemetery with Dr. David Katzman
Sunday, Sep 22nd 4:00p to 5:30p
We are delighted to again have the expertise of Dr. David Katzman, KU Professor Emeritus of American and Jewish Studies, to share with us the fascinating story of the founding, near abandonment, rededication and expansion of the Beni Israel Cemetery in Eudora Kansas. Beni Israel is listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. Recent improvements at the Cemetery have been made possible by a grant from the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council.
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Upcoming Events:
Friday Night
Candle Lighting : 8:12pm |