Comments on: An open letter to the Jewish Community regarding the state of the Bayside Cemetery: http://kevarim.com Kevarim of Tzadikim in North America Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:49:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tattale http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-25884 Tattale Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:57:36 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-25884 I have recently visited the Bayside cemetary which have 3 cemetaries adjacent one to the other. I was very happy to see that a major cleanup is on the way, cutting the grass, trimming the shrubs, etc. I relized that finally some organization really cares and are considering כבוד המת I have recently visited the Bayside cemetary which have 3 cemetaries adjacent one to the other. I was very happy to see that a major cleanup is on the way, cutting the grass, trimming the shrubs, etc. I relized that finally some organization really cares and are considering כבוד המת

]]> By: Barbara A. Feiden http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-25722 Barbara A. Feiden Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:27:58 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-25722 Has there ever been a resolution to this situation, particularly cleaning the Bayside Cemetery? For a long time, my mother and then I, were billed and paid for minimal but acceptable care. I believe bills stopped coming two years ago and my letters of inquiry have not been answered. My grandmother and other family members are buried there. Thank you. Has there ever been a resolution to this situation, particularly cleaning the Bayside Cemetery?

For a long time, my mother and then I, were billed and paid for minimal but acceptable care. I believe bills stopped coming two years ago and my letters of inquiry have not been answered.

My grandmother and other family members are buried there.

Thank you.

]]> By: Randi http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-14173 Randi Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:40:48 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-14173 My mother isn't doing so well, and I'm trying to make funeral arrangements. My father was buried in the Bayside Cemetery In 1981, and they have no record of his burial plot. If anyone has any information of how to help me through this, that'd be much appreciated. I'd like for my mother and father to be buried together, I don't think it should be this difficult. Thank you! My mother isn’t doing so well, and I’m trying to make funeral arrangements. My father was buried in the Bayside Cemetery In 1981, and they have no record of his burial plot. If anyone has any information of how to help me through this, that’d be much appreciated. I’d like for my mother and father to be buried together, I don’t think it should be this difficult. Thank you!

]]> By: Sheila Spencer Stover http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-7066 Sheila Spencer Stover Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:51:01 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-7066 Researching my cousin's Tan(n)enhaus family, I read the above letter. This situation concernng the Cemetery (ies) is unconscionable, why the Jewish Community has not risen as one in protest is beyond me. The original contract has been broken, fraud is involved, one has to wonder--a Synagogue rising on stolen funds---isn't there religious text abt temples built on shifting sands? The larger shock is the lack of respect for the ancestors--the uncaring, apparently, ho hum, attitude. I am my families historian, biographer, genealogist---the blood lines, the marrying in lines. Of mixed racial/cultural background, I'm an enrolled American Indian, who walks the traditional path. My work often involves tribes/ communties striving to sort out, repair, find and re-establish, history, identity. OUr ancestors, goodm bad, indifferent, lived,survived, that we could stand here today. To disrespect them in anyway is against the teachings of the Elders, against the Laws of God. Destruction of our religion, culture, families is how we are lost-- how we are beaten--from outside, and from within. The enemy is too often the face in the mirror. I am copying/sending, your above letter/information, to friends/family of my own who may care, add a voice. Thank YOU for doing what is needed, what is right. Sheila/Firehair Researching my cousin’s Tan(n)enhaus family, I read the above letter. This situation concernng the Cemetery (ies) is unconscionable, why the Jewish Community has not risen as one in protest is beyond me. The original contract has been broken, fraud is involved, one has to wonder–a Synagogue rising on stolen funds—isn’t there religious text abt temples built on shifting sands? The larger shock is the lack of respect for the ancestors–the uncaring, apparently, ho hum, attitude. I am my families historian, biographer, genealogist—the blood lines, the marrying in lines. Of mixed racial/cultural background, I’m an enrolled American Indian, who walks the traditional path. My work often involves tribes/ communties striving to sort out, repair, find and re-establish, history, identity. OUr ancestors, goodm bad, indifferent, lived,survived, that we could stand here today. To disrespect them in anyway is against the teachings of the Elders, against the Laws of God. Destruction of our religion, culture, families is how we are lost– how we are beaten–from outside, and from within. The enemy is too often the face in the mirror. I am copying/sending, your above letter/information, to friends/family of my own who may care, add a voice. Thank YOU for doing what is needed, what is right.

Sheila/Firehair

]]> By: John Lucker http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-7039 John Lucker Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:37:23 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-7039 An Open Letter to the Worldwide Jewish Community About the Desecration of Bayside Cemetery, Ozone Park, NY Perpetrated By Congregation Shaare Zedek Bayside Cemetery Litigation http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com The definition of “desecration” – to treat with sacrilege or profanity, to defile, to dishonor, blasphemy Jewish tradition is very clear… Kavod Hamet… Respect for the dead is a sacrosanct tenet of the Jewish faith. In this open letter to all Jewish people worldwide, I am providing information about an issue that needs to be more widely discussed and remedied - because a great shame has fallen on the New York City Jewish community at a time when other disgraceful events have occurred and been widely publicized. Yet this shanda is one that the community can fix. My grandparents, Harry & Ruth Lucker (and many more unrelated decedents), paid for and signed perpetual care and annual care contracts with Congregation Shaare Zedek in Manhattan for their graves at Bayside Cemetery – contracts which Congregation Shaare Zedek has admitted to the New York State Attorney General it breached by invading cemetery trust monies and improperly using the monies for their own synagogue. As a direct and proximate result, Congregation Shaare Zedek has not been maintaining the cemetery claiming that they have no funds. Bayside Cemetery is 13+ acres with 34,000 graves. The cemetery looks like a rainforest yet it is right in the center of Queens, in New York City, the home of the second largest Jewish population in the world. In September 2007 I filed a class action lawsuit in US federal court naming Congregation Shaare Zedek at 212 West 93rd Street in Manhattan and their Bayside Cemetery in Ozone Park, Queens as defendants. After 2 years, the case was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds as the federal court believes this matter properly belongs in state court. In October 2009, I re-filed my lawsuit in the Supreme Court of New York State and named the Community Association for Jewish At-Risk Cemeteries (CAJAC) as an additional defendant. I am suing the synagogue for the horrendous and disrespectful desecration of Bayside Cemetery, their non-performance of their contractual obligations, and for the statements they have publicly made admitting to co-mingling the cemetery’s funds with those of the synagogue and subsequently using the cemetery’s funds for the benefit of the congregation in violation of trust and fiduciary law. I seek no personal gain from this lawsuit; rather I have been left with no alternative because of the lack of any viable response, action and long-term plan from the synagogue. I simply want the synagogue to honor its commitments, both contractual and moral, to those who are interred in the cemetery, to their families and to the greater Jewish community. As a result of the synagogue’s unlawful conduct, Bayside Cemetery has fallen into complete and total disrepair with wild vegetation, grave desecration, recurring vandalism of graves and mausoleums, exposed human remains, and endless excuses from the congregation for why they have allowed the cemetery to disintegrate. There has been little or no effort by the synagogue to repair or return these gravesites to their original or even a broadly acceptable state. Rather, there has been a long, meandering effort by the synagogue to alternatively deny responsibility and delay any efforts to correct this horrendous wrong. The details of my lawsuit, along with significant information about the situation at Bayside Cemetery, a library of genealogical records for many thousands of people buried at the cemetery and hundreds of pictures of the horrific and disrespectful condition of Bayside Cemetery can be found at http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com. But the purpose of this letter is not to detail or rehash the 2+ years of legal proceedings pertaining to my case as I have faith that the legal system will provide justice in due course. Rather I feel compelled to ask some of the following questions: Why is the NYC Jewish Community turning a blind-eye to Congregation Shaare Zedek’s theft of perpetual care monies which has resulted in the desecration of 34,000 graves? Why are we unwilling to fully enforce one of our primary commandments “thou shall not steal” within our own community and what message will it send that we refuse to self-police within our own community? How can the UJA Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and other Jewish Organizations condone Congregation Shaare Zedek’s conduct, prevent full disclosure concerning the stolen monies and seek to protect Congregation Shaare Zedek from full scrutiny for its actions? How can the rabbi and members of Congregation Shaare Zedek daven under a roof that has been maintained using stolen monies? How can they recite the mourners Kaddish at Sabbath services and pay homage to the deceased when their synagogue so severely disrespects those at their cemetery (including deceased members of Congregation Shaare Zedek)? Have recent scandals and events in the Jewish community made us so numb that we are no longer surprised by anything including the theft of monies by a synagogue from its own cemetery? These are only a few of the questions that need to be asked and answered. But the only way that the wrongs at Bayside Cemetery can be righted, and this shame on the Jewish Community lifted, is if everyone who learns about this situation gets involved and speaks out. So please go to http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com to learn more. And then email, write and/or call every New York City Jewish organization, synagogue, newspaper, magazine, TV/radio station, national TV news show, rabbi, UJA official, politician, government official, the NY State Attorney General, Social Justice Director or anyone or any group you can think of to let them know that you think that Bayside Cemetery is a complete disgrace and that Congregation Shaare Zedek needs to fully disclose its wrong doing, conduct a formal forensic accounting for the cemetery’s former and current monies, clean-up the cemetery and fund the cemetery for permanent perpetual care which is what the thousands of people buried there paid for. Please get involved. You can make Congregation Shaare Zedek accountable for their moral, ethical and legal violations and compel them to restore and maintain their cemetery now and in the future. The Jewish Community must hold its own people accountable when wrongs are committed. This is a wrong that must be righted – because Kavod Hamet is what we all must do. If we do not respect our ancestors, our most sacred duty, what is our legacy as a people and a community? Won’t you please join me in this worthy endeavor? With Deep Respect, John Lucker, Plaintiff, Simsbury, CT – www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com Lucker et al vs. Congregation Shaare Zedek, Bayside Cemetery, and Community Association for Jewish At-Risk Cemeteries An Open Letter to the Worldwide Jewish Community
About the Desecration of Bayside Cemetery, Ozone Park, NY
Perpetrated By Congregation Shaare Zedek

Bayside Cemetery Litigation
http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com

The definition of “desecration” – to treat with sacrilege or profanity, to defile, to dishonor, blasphemy

Jewish tradition is very clear… Kavod Hamet… Respect for the dead is a sacrosanct tenet of the Jewish faith.

In this open letter to all Jewish people worldwide, I am providing information about an issue that needs to be more widely discussed and remedied – because a great shame has fallen on the New York City Jewish community at a time when other disgraceful events have occurred and been widely publicized. Yet this shanda is one that the community can fix.

My grandparents, Harry & Ruth Lucker (and many more unrelated decedents), paid for and signed perpetual care and annual care contracts with Congregation Shaare Zedek in Manhattan for their graves at Bayside Cemetery – contracts which Congregation Shaare Zedek has admitted to the New York State Attorney General it breached by invading cemetery trust monies and improperly using the monies for their own synagogue. As a direct and proximate result, Congregation Shaare Zedek has not been maintaining the cemetery claiming that they have no funds. Bayside Cemetery is 13+ acres with 34,000 graves. The cemetery looks like a rainforest yet it is right in the center of Queens, in New York City, the home of the second largest Jewish population in the world.

In September 2007 I filed a class action lawsuit in US federal court naming Congregation Shaare Zedek at 212 West 93rd Street in Manhattan and their Bayside Cemetery in Ozone Park, Queens as defendants. After 2 years, the case was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds as the federal court believes this matter properly belongs in state court. In October 2009, I re-filed my lawsuit in the Supreme Court of New York State and named the Community Association for Jewish At-Risk Cemeteries (CAJAC) as an additional defendant.

I am suing the synagogue for the horrendous and disrespectful desecration of Bayside Cemetery, their non-performance of their contractual obligations, and for the statements they have publicly made admitting to co-mingling the cemetery’s funds with those of the synagogue and subsequently using the cemetery’s funds for the benefit of the congregation in violation of trust and fiduciary law. I seek no personal gain from this lawsuit; rather I have been left with no alternative because of the lack of any viable response, action and long-term plan from the synagogue. I simply want the synagogue to honor its commitments, both contractual and moral, to those who are interred in the cemetery, to their families and to the greater Jewish community.

As a result of the synagogue’s unlawful conduct, Bayside Cemetery has fallen into complete and total disrepair with wild vegetation, grave desecration, recurring vandalism of graves and mausoleums, exposed human remains, and endless excuses from the congregation for why they have allowed the cemetery to disintegrate. There has been little or no effort by the synagogue to repair or return these gravesites to their original or even a broadly acceptable state. Rather, there has been a long, meandering effort by the synagogue to alternatively deny responsibility and delay any efforts to correct this horrendous wrong.

The details of my lawsuit, along with significant information about the situation at Bayside Cemetery, a library of genealogical records for many thousands of people buried at the cemetery and hundreds of pictures of the horrific and disrespectful condition of Bayside Cemetery can be found at http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com.

But the purpose of this letter is not to detail or rehash the 2+ years of legal proceedings pertaining to my case as I have faith that the legal system will provide justice in due course. Rather I feel compelled to ask some of the following questions:

Why is the NYC Jewish Community turning a blind-eye to Congregation Shaare Zedek’s theft of perpetual care monies which has resulted in the desecration of 34,000 graves?

Why are we unwilling to fully enforce one of our primary commandments “thou shall not steal” within our own community and what message will it send that we refuse to self-police within our own community?

How can the UJA Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and other Jewish Organizations condone Congregation Shaare Zedek’s conduct, prevent full disclosure concerning the stolen monies and seek to protect Congregation Shaare Zedek from full scrutiny for its actions?

How can the rabbi and members of Congregation Shaare Zedek daven under a roof that has been maintained using stolen monies? How can they recite the mourners Kaddish at Sabbath services and pay homage to the deceased when their synagogue so severely disrespects those at their cemetery (including deceased members of Congregation Shaare Zedek)?

Have recent scandals and events in the Jewish community made us so numb that we are no longer surprised by anything including the theft of monies by a synagogue from its own cemetery?

These are only a few of the questions that need to be asked and answered. But the only way that the wrongs at Bayside Cemetery can be righted, and this shame on the Jewish Community lifted, is if everyone who learns about this situation gets involved and speaks out.

So please go to http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com to learn more. And then email, write and/or call every New York City Jewish organization, synagogue, newspaper, magazine, TV/radio station, national TV news show, rabbi, UJA official, politician, government official, the NY State Attorney General, Social Justice Director or anyone or any group you can think of to let them know that you think that Bayside Cemetery is a complete disgrace and that Congregation Shaare Zedek needs to fully disclose its wrong doing, conduct a formal forensic accounting for the cemetery’s former and current monies, clean-up the cemetery and fund the cemetery for permanent perpetual care which is what the thousands of people buried there paid for.

Please get involved. You can make Congregation Shaare Zedek accountable for their moral, ethical and legal violations and compel them to restore and maintain their cemetery now and in the future.

The Jewish Community must hold its own people accountable when wrongs are committed. This is a wrong that must be righted – because Kavod Hamet is what we all must do. If we do not respect our ancestors, our most sacred duty, what is our legacy as a people and a community? Won’t you please join me in this worthy endeavor?

With Deep Respect,
John Lucker, Plaintiff, Simsbury, CT – http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com
Lucker et al vs. Congregation Shaare Zedek, Bayside Cemetery, and Community Association for Jewish At-Risk Cemeteries

]]> By: Anonymous http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-6456 Anonymous Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:02:09 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-6456 The good news is that the lawsuit against Congregation Shaare Zedek and Bayside Cemetery has been moved to NY State Supreme Court. I read through the lawsuit and it's even tougher than the last one that was in federal court. I hope justice prevails! The congregation needs to be punished for their misdeeds. http://site.baysidecemeterylitigation.com/About_the_Litigation.html The good news is that the lawsuit against Congregation Shaare Zedek and Bayside Cemetery has been moved to NY State Supreme Court. I read through the lawsuit and it’s even tougher than the last one that was in federal court. I hope justice prevails! The congregation needs to be punished for their misdeeds.

http://site.baysidecemeterylitigation.com/About_the_Litigation.html

]]> By: Farshlufen http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-6373 Farshlufen Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:58:27 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-6373 http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2009/10/22/2009-10-22_judge_throws_out_lawsuit_against_fallingdown_cemetery.html http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2009/10/22/2009-10-22_judge_throws_out_lawsuit_against_fallingdown_cemetery.html

]]> By: MBD http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-5371 MBD Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:04:32 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-5371 Baruch: Any updates? Baruch:
Any updates?

]]> By: Howard S. Feinberg http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-4060 Howard S. Feinberg Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:33:42 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-4060 Baruch: Thanks so much for meeting me at the cemetery yesterday and for your terrific suggestions in followup. For those who are interested in the cleanup and CAJAC in general, please check out the CAJAC Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAJAC-The-Community-Association-for-Jewish-At-Risk-Cemeteries/76314438341?sid=89048bfe40bdbd6dff3ad593cf29a0aa&ref=search Howard Baruch:

Thanks so much for meeting me at the cemetery yesterday and for your terrific suggestions in followup. For those who are interested in the cleanup and CAJAC in general, please check out the CAJAC Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAJAC-The-Community-Association-for-Jewish-At-Risk-Cemeteries/76314438341?sid=89048bfe40bdbd6dff3ad593cf29a0aa&ref=search

Howard

]]> By: Miller http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3832 Miller Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:22:07 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3832 Great, Baruch, get some photos of the cleanup. Great,
Baruch, get some photos of the cleanup.

]]> By: Avi S. http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3831 Avi S. Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:42:06 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3831 Baruch. Glad to see you've made it to Bayside. Good luck on Monday. <em>Tizke Lmitzvos</em>. For those of you needing more photos of the disgrace at Bayside visit http://citynoise.org/article/8696 & http://citynoise.org/article/7034 & http://citynoise.org/article/8997 Baruch. Glad to see you’ve made it to Bayside. Good luck on Monday. Tizke Lmitzvos.
For those of you needing more photos of the disgrace at Bayside visit http://citynoise.org/article/8696 &
http://citynoise.org/article/7034 &
http://citynoise.org/article/8997

]]> By: Baruch A http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3811 Baruch A Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:35:57 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3811 Just a quick update: Howard Fienberg of CAJAC finally called me back (apparently my emails were going to his junk box ....... go figure) anyhow to make a long story short I will be meeting with him at Bayside on Monday morning at around 9:30. Just a quick update:
Howard Fienberg of CAJAC finally called me back (apparently my emails were going to his junk box ……. go figure) anyhow to make a long story short I will be meeting with him at Bayside on Monday morning at around 9:30.

]]> By: Miller http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3733 Miller Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:19:06 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3733 NKap is right, and the NY post report (see link) confirms that. http://www.nypost.com/seven/11302007/news/regionalnews/back_to_shul_891989.htm NKap is right, and the NY post report (see link) confirms that.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11302007/news/regionalnews/back_to_shul_891989.htm

]]> By: Nkap http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3728 Nkap Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:29:02 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3728 Rebbe: I believe so, I know he was honored by the rededication of the Eldridge Street Synagogue where Rav Avroham Aaron was moreh dasrah fro many years. . Rebbe:
I believe so, I know he was honored by the rededication of the Eldridge Street Synagogue where Rav Avroham Aaron was moreh dasrah fro many years. .

]]> By: Frank Lages http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3726 Frank Lages Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:23:22 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3726 Baruch: I was there this morning, it look like they ARE finally starting to clean the place up. When (“if ever”) you speak to the people at CAJAC please ask for more details regarding the clean up and long term plans. Baruch:
I was there this morning, it look like they ARE finally starting to clean the place up. When (“if ever”) you speak to the people at CAJAC please ask for more details regarding the clean up and long term plans.

]]> By: Yaakov Bergman http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3693 Yaakov Bergman Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:48:31 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3693 Rebbe: I believe so, on a side note a word of caution when visiting Bayside, watch out for poison ivy it's all over the place. Rebbe:
I believe so, on a side note a word of caution when visiting Bayside, watch out for poison ivy it’s all over the place.

]]> By: Grand Rebbe http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3681 Grand Rebbe Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:12:35 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3681 Baruch: Is Barry Yood, the Treasurer of CAJAC a descendant of Rav Avroham Aaron Yudelovitch? Baruch:
Is Barry Yood, the Treasurer of CAJAC a descendant of Rav Avroham Aaron Yudelovitch?

]]> By: Menachem Friedman http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3680 Menachem Friedman Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:09:26 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3680 I don’t know if anyone noticed but the board member listing on the Shaare Zedek website has been changing. I don’t know if anyone noticed but the board member listing on the Shaare Zedek website has been changing.

]]> By: Shmuel http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3592 Shmuel Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:14:21 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3592 Not just a site for kevarim but for accounting tips to0 Not just a site for kevarim but for accounting tips to0

]]> By: Baruch A http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3584 Baruch A Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:21:24 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3584 Harry & MBD? For more information about John Lucker visit his website: www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com. Mr. Lucker has spent a great deal of money and energy bringing the Bayside Cemetery issue to light. In addition, he has an active lawsuit against Congregation Shaare Zedek. Among his accomplishments is a genealogical listing of many of the Bayside Cemetery interments. I use the listing as a tool to try and locate the many rabbanim buried at Bayside. As for Howard Fienberg and COJAC, I have tried contacting them on numerous occasions unsuccessfully. When (if ever) I get to speak with Mr. Feinberg or anyone else at CAJAC, I will gladly share the information with this forum. For now I can only suggest that people use caution when donating money. One suggestion (from my days at Loeb and Troper) is to stipulate that the money only to be used for actual cleanup at Bayside, thus categorizing the money as “donor restricted funds”. (For an explanation of how or why this may help, contact you local not-for-profit professional) Thank you, Harry & MBD?
For more information about John Lucker visit his website: http://www.baysidecemeterylitigation.com.

Mr. Lucker has spent a great deal of money and energy bringing the Bayside Cemetery issue to light. In addition, he has an active lawsuit against Congregation Shaare Zedek. Among his accomplishments is a genealogical listing of many of the Bayside Cemetery interments. I use the listing as a tool to try and locate the many rabbanim buried at Bayside.

As for Howard Fienberg and COJAC, I have tried contacting them on numerous occasions unsuccessfully. When (if ever) I get to speak with Mr. Feinberg or anyone else at CAJAC, I will gladly share the information with this forum. For now I can only suggest that people use caution when donating money. One suggestion (from my days at Loeb and Troper) is to stipulate that the money only to be used for actual cleanup at Bayside, thus categorizing the money as “donor restricted funds”. (For an explanation of how or why this may help, contact you local not-for-profit professional)
Thank you,

]]> By: MBD http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3583 MBD Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:51:28 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3583 Who is John Lucker and what is his connection with Bayside? Who is John Lucker and what is his connection with Bayside?

]]> By: Harry Adelman http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3582 Harry Adelman Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:46:35 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3582 Baruch: While I fully agree that Rabbi Zohn’s only interest at Bayside is <em>kavod hames</em>, I am not so sure the same applies to CAJAC. Some of the people involved with CAJAC are also involved with Shaare Zedek for example, Ethan Klingsberg a founding member of CAJAC in a trustee at Shaare Zedek. I am not sure that they are 100% an “outside organization” as Howard Fienberg claims. Did you ever speak to him or other members of CAJAC, what were your feelings? Baruch:
While I fully agree that Rabbi Zohn’s only interest at Bayside is kavod hames, I am not so sure the same applies to CAJAC. Some of the people involved with CAJAC are also involved with Shaare Zedek for example, Ethan Klingsberg a founding member of CAJAC in a trustee at Shaare Zedek. I am not sure that they are 100% an “outside organization” as Howard Fienberg claims. Did you ever speak to him or other members of CAJAC, what were your feelings?

]]> By: A Concerned Jew http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3569 A Concerned Jew Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:48:12 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3569 I can’t believe that it is in Queens, its a jungle not a cemetery, who knows perhaps this is where Osama bin Laden is hiding. I can’t believe that it is in Queens, its a jungle not a cemetery, who knows perhaps this is where Osama bin Laden is hiding.

]]> By: Shmuel http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3558 Shmuel Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:42:44 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3558 Lets not let this issue fall off the table and start sending this letter to every one you know Lets not let this issue fall off the table and start sending this letter to every one you know

]]> By: Miller http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3557 Miller Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:21:48 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3557 Baruch Hashem we are blessed with some great Askonim. Thanks for the update Baruch Hashem we are blessed with some great Askonim.

Thanks for the update

]]> By: Baruch A http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3553 Baruch A Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:15:09 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3553 I can personally attest that Rabbi Zohn, director of the National Association of Chevra Kashias is involved with the clean up at Bayside due to the many conversations we had on the subject. The gardeners who are cleaning up are under contract to stop working and notify Rabbi Zohn whenever an exposed body or bone is found. I can personally attest that Rabbi Zohn, director of the National Association of Chevra Kashias is involved with the clean up at Bayside due to the many conversations we had on the subject. The gardeners who are cleaning up are under contract to stop working and notify Rabbi Zohn whenever an exposed body or bone is found.

]]> By: Nat http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3552 Nat Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:48:40 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3552 Regardless if they are connected, the bottom line is that the place is starting to get cleaned up. Regardless if they are connected, the bottom line is that the place is starting to get cleaned up.

]]> By: Howard S. Feinberg http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3550 Howard S. Feinberg Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:43:39 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3550 On behalf of CAJAC and personally (my Great grandparents and many other relatives are interred there), I thank you for posting this piece on Bayside Cemetery and especially the ongoing cleanup efforts of CAJAC and dedicated grass-roots volunteers. Given the responses to your post which underscore the emotional nature of this issue and the lack of historic perspective on how CAJAC came into being, I will take this opportunity to update your readership. In 2006, a group of mostly young committed Jewish volunteers approached Shaare Zedek to see what could be done to help it fix the problems with Bayside Cemetery. This was a totally independent effort motivated by the desire to do Chesed Shel Emes. This small group, after consultation with Shaare Zedek’s leadership, the Hebrew Free Burial Association, The Jewish Community Relations Council and the UJA-Federation of NY, determined that Bayside Cemetery might be the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, they decided to incorporate a non-profit organization (501c3 pending) which, once funding allowed, would become the address for rescuing and maintaining Jewish cemeteries. Its goal was simple – identify and address the problem cemeteries and get them cleaned and maintained properly while building Jewish community recognition of its responsibilities to honor our dead in a bekovodic fashion. In 2006, the congregation allowed CAJAC to use its mailing address when the organization was formed, as CAJAC had no funds or office and clearly, Bayside Cemetery was to be the first and most obvious cemetery crying for CAJAC’s attention. Currently, CAJAC’s offices are located at One Barker Ave., Suite 260, White Plains, NY 10601. We thank your responder for reminding us that the address needs to be changed on the NY State website. CAJAC and its Bayside Cemetery cleanup are funded with seed grants from the UJA-Federation of New York. We invite you to visit the CAJAC page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAJAC-The-Community-Association-for-Jewish-At-Risk-Cemeteries/76314438341?sid=89048bfe40bdbd6dff3ad593cf29a0aa&ref=search) where you will find lots of material on CAJAC, the Bayside Cemetery cleanup in general, our video of the beginning of the project and all sorts of information about the board and CAJAC’s mission. We hope to have our website functional soon. FYI - We are seeking additional funds to establish the long-term permanent maintenance endowment needed to continue the maintenance of Bayside Cemetery after the cleanup is finished (projected by the end of calendar year 2009) and the other cemeteries that CAJAC will undoubtedly address over the years. If you’d like to donate, please remember that our 501c3 is pending, so until it is approved, all donations can be sent for CAJAC through the Hebrew Free Burial Association (which has several hundred graves located at Bayside Cemetery and is cooperating with CAJAC in its clean up effort). Please do remember, CAJAC is a totally independent organization and the Bayside Cemetery clean up effort is being supervised under the strict rabbinical supervision of CAJAC’s Rabbinic supervisor, Rav Elchanon Zohn of the Vaad Harobonim of Queens. For additional information, please feel free to contact me directly at howard.s.feinberg@gmail.com or 201-647-7560. Howard S. Feinberg Consulting Executive Director CAJAC On behalf of CAJAC and personally (my Great grandparents and many other relatives are interred there), I thank you for posting this piece on Bayside Cemetery and especially the ongoing cleanup efforts of CAJAC and dedicated grass-roots volunteers. Given the responses to your post which underscore the emotional nature of this issue and the lack of historic perspective on how CAJAC came into being, I will take this opportunity to update your readership.

In 2006, a group of mostly young committed Jewish volunteers approached Shaare Zedek to see what could be done to help it fix the problems with Bayside Cemetery. This was a totally independent effort motivated by the desire to do Chesed Shel Emes. This small group, after consultation with Shaare Zedek’s leadership, the Hebrew Free Burial Association, The Jewish Community Relations Council and the UJA-Federation of NY, determined that Bayside Cemetery might be the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, they decided to incorporate a non-profit organization (501c3 pending) which, once funding allowed, would become the address for rescuing and maintaining Jewish cemeteries. Its goal was simple – identify and address the problem cemeteries and get them cleaned and maintained properly while building Jewish community recognition of its responsibilities to honor our dead in a bekovodic fashion.

In 2006, the congregation allowed CAJAC to use its mailing address when the organization was formed, as CAJAC had no funds or office and clearly, Bayside Cemetery was to be the first and most obvious cemetery crying for CAJAC’s attention.

Currently, CAJAC’s offices are located at One Barker Ave., Suite 260, White Plains, NY 10601. We thank your responder for reminding us that the address needs to be changed on the NY State website.

CAJAC and its Bayside Cemetery cleanup are funded with seed grants from the UJA-Federation of New York. We invite you to visit the CAJAC page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAJAC-The-Community-Association-for-Jewish-At-Risk-Cemeteries/76314438341?sid=89048bfe40bdbd6dff3ad593cf29a0aa&ref=search) where you will find lots of material on CAJAC, the Bayside Cemetery cleanup in general, our video of the beginning of the project and all sorts of information about the board and CAJAC’s mission. We hope to have our website functional soon.

FYI – We are seeking additional funds to establish the long-term permanent maintenance endowment needed to continue the maintenance of Bayside Cemetery after the cleanup is finished (projected by the end of calendar year 2009) and the other cemeteries that CAJAC will undoubtedly address over the years.

If you’d like to donate, please remember that our 501c3 is pending, so until it is approved, all donations can be sent for CAJAC through the Hebrew Free Burial Association (which has several hundred graves located at Bayside Cemetery and is cooperating with CAJAC in its clean up effort).

Please do remember, CAJAC is a totally independent organization and the Bayside Cemetery clean up effort is being supervised under the strict rabbinical supervision of CAJAC’s Rabbinic supervisor, Rav Elchanon Zohn of the Vaad Harobonim of Queens.

For additional information, please feel free to contact me directly at howard.s.feinberg@gmail.com or 201-647-7560.

Howard S. Feinberg
Consulting Executive Director
CAJAC

]]> By: Chief Hocker http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3545 Chief Hocker Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:35:24 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3545 Does Satmar or the Asrah Kadisha know about this, perhaps they can arrange for a massive clean up. Does Satmar or the Asrah Kadisha know about this, perhaps they can arrange for a massive clean up.

]]> By: Shmuel http://kevarim.com/in-the-news/an-open-letter-to-the-jewish-community-regarding-the-state-of-the-bayside-cemetery/comment-page-1/#comment-3544 Shmuel Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:08:39 +0000 http://kevarim.com/?page_id=2763#comment-3544 CAJAC and the temple are at the same address CAJAC and the temple are at the same address

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