Hebrew Orthodox Memorial Cemetery

The burial ritual is an essential part of Judaism, as is charity.  The Hebrew word for charity, Tzedakah, and for a holy person, Tzadek, springs from the same root word.  It is only logical that Jews would create a burial society to bury deceased indigent Jews without cost to their families.  Such a society was created in the late 19th century in Baltimore.  Members were solicited, and dues were set at five cents per week.  A collector was hired.  The collector went to Jewish homes and collected five cents weekly, keeping one cent as commission and turning in the remaining four cents to the burial society.  By the turn of the century, a piece of ground was purchased on Baltimore City’s boundary, and a cemetery was established.  The first burial took place in 1901.  At that time, it was thought that dead bodies were the cause of disease, and cemeteries were established as far away from the city as possible.  Since the deceased were buried without cost, grave sites were not sold, and a perpetual care fund was not established.  Income to operate the Society was obtained from the members’ dues.