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Mikveh Israel Cemetery (Beth El Emeth)

Coordinates: 39°57′40″N 75°13′49″W / 39.9612°N 75.2303°W / 39.9612; -75.2303
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Mikveh Israel Cemetery (Beth El Emeth)
Map
Details
Established1850
Location
55th and Market Streets
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
CountryUnited States
Coordinates39°57′40″N 75°13′49″W / 39.9612°N 75.2303°W / 39.9612; -75.2303
TypeJewish
Owned byBeth El Emeth (1857-1897)
Congregation Mikveh Israel (1897-present)

The Mikveh Israel Cemetery Beth-El-Emeth at 55th and Market Streets is a Jewish cemetery in West Philadelphia founded in 1850 and dedicated in 1857 by Isaac Leeser’s Congregation Beth-El-Emeth as Beth-El-Emeth Cemetery (Hebrew: בית אל אמת).

Kahal Kadosh Beth-El-Emeth “Holy Congregation of the True God” (or “God of Truth”) was founded in 1857 by Joseph Newhouse as a pulpit for Rev. Isaac Leeser after Leeser left Congregation Mikveh Israel. The congregation followed the "Spanish & Portuguese" rite despite most members hailing from Germany. They met in a former church on the east side of Franklin Street above Green Street in the Northern Liberties neighborhood. Many of its members had formerly belonged to Mikveh Israel and rejoined it when Beth-El-Emeth dissolved itself in 1897. Congregation Mikveh Israel took possession of the Beth El Emeth Cemetery in 1895.[1]

The cemetery is also referred to as Congregation Mikveh Israel's third cemetery.

In May 1954, vandals who had been drinking in the cemetery, overturned 33 headstones, leaving behind beer and wine bottles.[2]

The City of Philadelphia erected a historic marker near the cemetery's location in 1998 to recognize Reverend Leeser and his contributions as a teacher and scholar.[3]

Burials

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Veterans of the Civil War are interred here along with other prominent members of the Philadelphia Jewish community.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "What Do You Want to Know? Beth El Emeth". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. July 12, 1964. p. 19.
  2. ^ "Vandals Hunted After Overturning of 33 Headstones". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. May 19, 1954. p. 33.
  3. ^ "Mikveh Israel Cemetery". ExplorePAhistory.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-04.