History of Joseph Street Cemetery
History of Joseph Street Cemetery
Main entrance and Plotkin Pavilion of the Joseph Street Cemetery.
In early 1850, organizers of the newly formed Congregation Sha’aray Tefilev began their search for a suitable property to bury their dead properly before even choosing a regular meeting place. On January 12, 1850, “The Hebrew Congregation” (as it was referred to in the Sheriff’s record of the property transfer) purchased a square of land with intentions to use it as a cemetery. The land was located in the Hurstville neighborhood of Lafayette City, an upriver neighbor of New Orleans in what was then part of Jefferson Parish. The record indicates that the property, which John Calhoun previously owned, was being sold “by virtue of a writ of seizure” by Sheriff Valmont Soniat Dufossat for $695. The property consisted of what today we recognize as a complete city block — 20 lots surrounded by Arabella Street, Joseph Street, Pitt Street, and Garfield Street. And so began what was then the 3rd Jewish cemetery in New Orleans. Today, the Joseph Street Cemetery has served Congregation Gates of Prayer for over 170 years. It is the second oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the city.
Joseph Street, Section “B”.
Joseph Street, Section “D”.
Please click here to read a complete history of the Joseph Street Cemetery, which includes information about the 1853 Yellow Fever epidemic, the re-dedication of the area now known as the Memorial Area, the Medauer House, the Plotkin Pavillion, and the Touro Infirmary Cemetery.
Sun, January 29 2023
7 Sh'vat 5783
Update this content.
Today's Calendar
J-FLEx : 9:30am |
Gates of Mussar : 10:00am |
Friday Night
Family Shabbat Worship : 6:15pm |
Oneg Shabbat : 7:15pm |
Shabbat Day
Shabbat Shirah - Weekend with Tory May |
Torah Study : 9:15am |
Tribe: Tu B'Shvat Tree Planting w/ SOULNola : 9:30am |
B'nei Mitzvah Club : 9:30am |
Shabbat Morning Worship : 10:30am |
Kiddush Luncheon with Tory May : 12:00pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Jan 29 J-FLEx Sunday, Jan 29 9:30am |
Jan 29 Gates of Mussar Sunday, Jan 29 10:00am |
Feb 1 News and Schmooze Wednesday, Feb 1 11:30am |
Feb 1 Adult Hebrew with Phil Wednesday, Feb 1 6:00pm |
Feb 2 Beyond the “Old Man in the Sky”: Radical Jewish Views of God Thursday, Feb 2 12:00pm |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat B'shalach
Shabbat, Feb 4 |
Tu BiSh'vat
Monday, Feb 6 |