Hebron's Stories
If a story is important, then it must be told. We can portray dreams of what the future may hold, or allow introspection on what has occurred in the past. A story is a narrative that can relay lessons and warnings. A story can teach us about hope and remind us how important and meaningful our lives are. We are unearthing stories about those buried at Mount Hebron Cemetery.
The Lomzer Young Men's Benevolent Association was founded in New York in 1898 by immigrants from Lomza, Poland. The society was created as a means to aid landslayts. In 1937, the society joined with four other Lomzer organizations, and together, formed the United Lomzer Relief Committee to aid the inhabitants of Lomza. The society also sponsored loan funds that went towards aiding the poor. Jewish presence in Lomza dates to the 14th century, however due to a "non de tolerandis Judaeis", the Jews of Lomza were only able to begin establishing themselves as a community by the 19th century. They flourished in the trade and artisan professions and created a number of industrial societies. The Jewish community of Lomza equally took part in politics, supporting the Zionist Movement, and creating political organizations to endorse Jewish activism. The community also maintained a number of cultural organizations and institutions such as libraries and theater groups.
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The Makower Young Men's Aid Society was founded by immigrants from Makow, Poland in 1907. The society is affiliated with United Relief, which was established after WWI to help aid "landslayts" (neighboring Jews). It was re-established after 1945 to help aid WWII survivors. The Jews of Makow made a comfortable living by engaging in the trade and artisan professions. Communally, they established two cemeteries, synagogues, schools for the youths, libraries, and a cultural/education theater program. Despite the economic and political environment of the 1930s, the Jews of Makow maintained their own, engaging in the growing Zionist efforts and creating societies. The ~4000 Jews of Makow perished in the Holocaust, but their memories live on.
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The first Radomer Congregation was founded in New York in 1903 by immigrants from Radom, Poland. In 1917, the society founded the United Radomer Relief for U.S. and Canada. Although they began residing in the town in the 1560s, permission to do so was repeatedly revoked. It was not until 1814 that the Jews of Radom were able to live and move freely within the town. The community was then able to establish itself more concretely, beginning the works for a cemetery, a synagogue, a hospital, and other communal institutions. The Jewish community made their living in the trade, artisan, and banking professions. They also facilitated and contributed to the industrialization of the town through an influx of factories. Many left Radom and Poland in the 1930s due to pogroms and a worsening economy. Following the German invasion in 1939, almost 32,000 Jews (Radom and neighboring towns) perished in the Holocaust. In 1965, only 7 of Radom's Jews remained in the town.
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he Independent Kutner Young Men's Benevolent Association was established in 1903 in New York by immigrants from Kutno, Poland. The society provided death benefits and welfare aid to its members. The society uses Mount Hebron cemetery, Cedar Grove cemetery, and the Wellwood cemeteries of Queens and Babylon. While the town's history dates to the 14th century, documentation marks Jewish presence to the 15th century. Professions in crafts and trade were prominent among the Jews of Kutno. Despite their communal-restricted lifestyle, the Jewish community flourished, holding weekly fairs, establishing schools, promoting communal infrastructure, and forming unions. During the twentieth century, the Jews of Kutno involved themselves politically by taking part in government elections and Zionists organizations. From September of 1939 to March of 1942, the Germans implemented the harsh treatment and mass executions of Kutno's Jews. By the end of the war, only 213 Jews from Kutno had survived.
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The First Ostrowzer Young Men's Benevolent Society, founded by immigrants from Ostrovtse (Ostrowiec), Poland, was created in New York around 1910. The society was dissolved in 2001. Dating their initial presence in the 17th century, the Jewish community of Ostrowiec was economically and communally comfortable. With their own synagogue, a cemetery, and the effects of industrialization, the community grew. Their participation in the 19th century uprisings and Zionists movements allowed the Ostroweic Jews to establish themselves politically. The weakened economy of Poland during World War I resulted in many fleeing abroad. The town of Ostroweic was captured by the Germans following their invasion of Poland in 1939. When the town was liberated by the Red Army in 1945, only 193 Jews remained, with over 10,000 having perished in the labor and concentration camps.
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The First Zabna Congregation (Erste Zabner Congregation Bnei Shulem David) was founded in New York by immigrants from Żabno, Poland. The society was founded in 1922, and dissolved in 1999. When Jews first settled in the town of Żabno, they were given a number of privileges, such as permission to open/run their businesses, engage in local trade, and have their own place of worship. This allowed them to develop themselves as a community and flourish. Throughout the 18th and 19th century, the Jewish population of Żabno was contingent upon Poland's economy. The 20th century marks the steady decline of Żabno's Jewish population as a result of extreme poverty and devastation from both World Wars. As a result, many Jews left the town, either traveling overseas or settling in nearby areas like Denmark and Saxony.
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The Kossuth Ferencz Hungarian Literary, Sick, and Benevolent Association was founded in 1904 to help Jewish immigrants from Hungary who settled in New York City. Through membership dues and fundraising events, the group was able to help newcomers make a smoother transition to life in America with affordable medical attention, social activities, literacy assistance, and burial arrangements. This non-profit society, later incorporated as the Kossuth Association of New York, was named for a former Minister of Commerce in Hungary who, like his father Lajos Kossuth, was a dedicated advocate for Hungarian independence. Since Mount Hebron was established, nearly 600 members and their relatives have been buried in the Kossuth Association section, which features stately pillars and gates honoring the group's male and female leaders, all immigrants themselves. - Written by Marian Burk Wood, a descendant of Kossuth founders.
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The Mirer Young Men's Benevolent and Educational Society was organized July 5, 1903. "Mirer" refers to the town of Mir in Eastern Europe. Mir was founded in the mid 1300's, sometime before 1345. Jews first started settling in the town in the 1600's. The Jewish population in Mir grew rapidly and by the later half of the seventeenth century, the city was noted as having a large Jewish population. Starting around this time, many of the townspeople were traders and merchants, including many in the town's Jewish population. Later in 1815 marked the opening of the Mir Yeshiva. After its opening many of Mir's Jews made money lodging its students. By the end of the 1800's, the town's population was more than half Jews.
~Blog Writtten by Emily Hazy
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The Zwanitzer Podolier Sick and Benevolent Society was founded by immigrants from what is now Zhavanets, Ukraine to subsidize burials and run charitable events. Members were likely either immigrants from the province of Podolier in the Russian Empire themselves or had parents from Podolier. The region experienced significant emigration in the late 1800's and early 1900's, which greatly decreased the Jewish population of Ukraine. Before this large-scale emigration and the devastation of the holocaust in the 1930's and 40's, more than a quarter of the world's Jewish population lived in Ukraine, with most of these people speaking Yiddish.
~Blog Written by Emily Hazy
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Founded in 1892 and nationalized in 1900, the Workmen's Circle (now known as the Worker's Circle) is a nonprofit originally set up as a mutual aid organization which also provided health and death benefits. The society, initially known by its Yiddish name Der Arbeter Ring, was founded in an apartment at 151 Essex Street in New York City. The organization was created in the late 1800's in response to the hardships faced by newly arrived Jewish immigrants. These problems included ones previously faced in their home countries such as exploitative business practices and poor living conditions. These were compounded with new challenges such as integrating into a new country while maintaining traditions. Consequently, the Worker's Circle is historically associated with Jewish Unions and Socialist ideals. Early members and applicants were required to be union members and were expected to vote along pro-labor lines.
~Blog Written by Emily Hazy
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Located on Block 25, Reference 17 is the Freedom Benevolent Society. Initially founded as the Erster Kaiser Franz Josef Kranken Unterstutzungs Verein (First Franz Joseph Sick and Benevolent Society) the Freedom Benevolent Society was founded in 1882 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan by Jewish immigrants from Austria-Hungary. The initial name paid homage to the emperor of Austria-Hungary at the time of the society's founding, before it was renamed in 1940. It is likely that the original members of the organization were from German-speaking communities, given that some early records of the club were written in German. The society was all male. However, it was apparently associated with the Franz Joseph Ladies Sick and Benevolent Society. Less information is known about this society, but it operated at least in the 1930s and 40s. It is likely that the society operated before this, as the earliest death date for a society member buried at Mount Hebron is 1900. The last society member buried in Mount Hebron died in 1991.
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