Volunteer- Jewish Cemetery Officer
When immigrants came to the United States in the late 1800's and early 1900's one of first things a family had to do was to secure a place to be buried. There was no Social Security or Welfare. A Jew had to provide for himself and his loved ones, either through their temple group or Jewish social groups, societies were formed to perform this important life cycle event.
There weren't the advanced medical practices we have today, and life was generally not as long.
My grandfather, Morris Clemens, belonged to a Mutual Benefit Society named Corporation Tifereth Israel, and the cemetery is located at the end of Jeshurun St. off of Grove Street in West Roxbury, MA. His name is engraved into tablets that hung inside what used to be the Chapel, a brick building on the grounds that served as a place to hold a funeral service prior to burial. The chapel has since been torn down, and the Corporation has since merged with the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts. Fortunately we were able to save the tablets and had them mounted on a base and placed at the entrance of the cemetery.
My Father, Merrill Clemens, also became a member, and after his death in 1980, I was inducted. By 1993 I became the president, and remained so until we merged with the JCAM in 2001. We erected a stone as the final Board of Directors, and it sits beside the chapel tablets. Here are the photos of each:
There weren't the advanced medical practices we have today, and life was generally not as long.
My grandfather, Morris Clemens, belonged to a Mutual Benefit Society named Corporation Tifereth Israel, and the cemetery is located at the end of Jeshurun St. off of Grove Street in West Roxbury, MA. His name is engraved into tablets that hung inside what used to be the Chapel, a brick building on the grounds that served as a place to hold a funeral service prior to burial. The chapel has since been torn down, and the Corporation has since merged with the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts. Fortunately we were able to save the tablets and had them mounted on a base and placed at the entrance of the cemetery.
My Father, Merrill Clemens, also became a member, and after his death in 1980, I was inducted. By 1993 I became the president, and remained so until we merged with the JCAM in 2001. We erected a stone as the final Board of Directors, and it sits beside the chapel tablets. Here are the photos of each:
My Father
Merrill 'Mickey' Clemens
Taking care of a cemetery is a labor of love and tradition. When one is able, one is expected. I had the great fortune to meet some outstanding men whom I learned much from and who I shall name here: Morris Greyser, Professor Stephen Greyser, Irving Krutter, Forrest Krutter, Arnold Green, William Greenburg, David Alberts, Edward Blacker, Nat Morse, Jack Shafran, Michael Magovsky, Albert Glasser, Al Lewis, and many others. If I forgot you, please write and I will add your name.
One of the most difficult tasks was lead by Ed Blacker just before we merged with the JCAM, and that was to take an inventory of every single name and headstone on the cemetery. This was done and handed over to the JCAM to add to their database for our descendants to appreciate. Ed and his team did an outstanding job.
The reason we had to merge was that we could not get any new members who were interested in carrying on the old tradition, and we felt that by merging with the JCAM, that Tifereth Israel would have the best chance for long-term care. I think the JCAM has done a fine job in this effort.
One of the most difficult tasks was lead by Ed Blacker just before we merged with the JCAM, and that was to take an inventory of every single name and headstone on the cemetery. This was done and handed over to the JCAM to add to their database for our descendants to appreciate. Ed and his team did an outstanding job.
The reason we had to merge was that we could not get any new members who were interested in carrying on the old tradition, and we felt that by merging with the JCAM, that Tifereth Israel would have the best chance for long-term care. I think the JCAM has done a fine job in this effort.