Jewish Cemeteries in the New York Metro Area

Our directory contains addresses, phone numbers, and notes on record availability for the regions' major Jewish cemeteries. In addition, there are numerous Jewish cemeteries in the Newark and Elizabeth, NJ area, as well as other Jewish cemeteries in Long Island, Staten Island, New Jersey, Westchester and southern Connecticut. Cong. Shearith Israel's first three cemeteries (pre-1850) are located in Manhattan.

Cemetery Directions

Compiled by Ada Green

We have prepared directions on how to get to the most popular New York cemeteries by public transportation from midtown Manhattan (Times Square). In the summer, because of weather conditions, it is highly advisable to bring some or all of the following: a sun hat, sunscreen, a large plastic bottle of drinking water, insect and tick repellant, gardening gloves and of course, a camera. If you are planning to visit a cemetery in Staten Island, a poison ivy block lotion is mandatory. (This may be a good precaution in other cemeteries as well). Make sure you wear a good pair of walking shoes.

Almost all of these cemeteries will require that you transfer from a subway to a bus (or in the case of Staten Island, from the ferry terminal to a bus). Make sure that you have purchased enough fare on your MetroCard for a round trip. After you get off the subway you will need to ask someone to direct you to the bus stop. Once you are on the bus you will need to tell the driver at what cemetery to let you off. Before you exit the bus ask the driver to point out where the return bus stop is located. The subways that you take will all begin at either the Times Square Station (intersection of 42nd St., Broadway and 7th Avenues) or one block further east at 42nd St. and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas).

Cemetery Committee of the Jewish Genealogical Society

The JGS Cemetery Committee's primary mission is to facilitate genealogical research through the utilization of Jewish burial data in the New York metropolitan area. Our aim is to serve genealogists by enabling them to conduct cemetery-based research and to share its results with others.

We hope to:

• Assist and organize researchers who are interested in recording burial societies' cemetery data.
• Facilitate the submission of burial data to publicly accessible databases such as JOWBR.
• Formulate data acquisition and recording standards and procedures for our work.
• Educate and inform the JGS membership and the community about cemetery based research.
• Maintain and enhance the JGS cemetery resources on the JGS website
• Encourage other entities such as cemeteries, burial societies, funeral homes, and other community organizations to improve the availability of burial-based data.
• Cooperate with cemetery preservation programs.