JEWISH CEMETERIES IN LOS ANGELES
(in alphabetical order)
Compiled by Sonia Hoffman
AGUDATH ACHIM CEMETERY
1022 S. Downey Road
Los Angeles, CA 90023
(323) 653-8886
Owned and Operated by Chevra Kadisha Mortuary – (323) 653-8886.
Opened in 1919, based on first burial.
Congregation formed around 1903 (Vorspan & Gartner, History of the Jews of Los Angeles), incorporated 1908.
Approximately 2,500 burials. Database of burials donated by JGSLA to JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Register.
BETH DAVID CEMETERY
Became part of Home of Peace in the 1950s.
Founded about 1937, based on earliest burials.
BETH ISRAEL CEMETERY
1068 S. Downey Road
Los Angeles, CA 90023
(323) 653-8886
Owned and operated by Chevra Kadisha Mortuary.
Opened in January, 1907 (according to Thomas Cohen article on “First Jewish Community Site;” purchased in 1906).
Congregation originally formed in 1892, and in 1899 three congregations joined together; synagogue on Olive St. in 1901.
Opening date confirmed by stones, although at least one seems to be from Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery, 1902 or earlier.
Approximately 4,500 burials.
BETH OLAM CEMETERY OF HOLLYWOOD
900 N. Gower Street
Hollywood, CA 90038
(323) 469-2322
Formerly owned by Groman.
First burials appear to be in 1927; most date from mid-1930s.
Hollywood Memorial Park organized in 1899; Beth Olam started about 1920.
Beth Olam is located inside of Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, now called Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and is organized as a Jewish section of the larger cemetery. The records are combined with that of Hollywood Memorial Park. It is also one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Los Angeles.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery has a feature called “Lifestories,” which are basically online multimedia presentations about those who are buried there. Click on the “About Lifestories” tab to see the Lifestories.
You can search the index of existing Lifestories online to see if someone has created one about someone you know. Also, the cemetery will help you create a “basic” one for free. Naturally, more complex Lifestories involve a fee. The web site is
http://www.forevernetwork.com/
EDEN MEMORIAL PARK
11500 Sepulveda Boulevard
Mission Hills, CA 91340
(818) 361-7161
Opened in 1954; privately owned.
HILLSIDE MEMORIAL PARK
6001 Centinela Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(800) 576-1994; www.hillsidememorial.com
Opened in 1941.
Owned by Temple Israel of Hollywood.
HOME OF PEACE
4334 Whittier Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90023
(323) 261-6135
Owned and operated by Rose Hills; formerly owned by the Wilshire Boulevard Temple (Congregation B’nai B’rith).
Opened in current location in 1902; original Jewish cemetery founded 1855.
Approximately 50,000 burials. (Database of burials through 1955 in hard copy prepared by the Southern California Genealogical Society; available in the library collection of JGSLA at LDS Family History Center in Westwood.)
Home of Peace is the successor to the first Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles. Originally founded as the cemetery of the Hebrew Benevolent Society in 1855 in Chavez Ravine at Lookout Dr. and Lilac Terrace, it was moved to its current location in 1902. The remains of the 360 Jews buried in the old cemetery were moved between 1902 and 1910.
A monument at the site of the original cemetery contains a plaque reading:
FIRST JEWISH SITE IN LOS ANGELES
The Hebrew Benevolent Society of Los Angeles
(1854), first charitable organization in the
city, acquired this site by deed on April 9,
1855 from the City Council for a sacred burial
ground. This property represented the first
organized community effort by the pioneer
Jewish settlers.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 822
Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Jewish Federation-Council of Greater Los Angeles
September 29, 1968
MOUNT CARMEL CEMETERY
6506 E. Gage Avenue
City of Commerce, CA 90040
(323) 653-8886
Opened in 1931
Owned by Chevra Kadisha Mortuary.
Formerly owned by Glassband. Started by Chevra Chesed Shel Emeth (Jewish Free Burial Society) & Groman & Glassband, according to Mort Silverman.
MOUNT OLIVE CEMETERY
7231 E. Slauson Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90040
(323) 721-4729
Opened in 1948, based on stones.
According to Mort Silverman (of Malinow & Silverman), started by Groman & Chevra Chesed Shel Emeth.
MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARK
5950 Forest Lawn Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(800) 600-0076
Opened in 1953
Owned by Sinai Temple.
This is one of Los Angeles’ newer and largest Jewish cemeteries. It is located adjacent to Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hollywood Hills, formerly Jewish section of Forest Lawn, originally run by Ben Dwoskin.
MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARK – SIMI VALLEY
6150 Mount Sinai Dr.
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(800) 220-6776
Opened March 16, 1997.
Owned by Sinai Temple
MOUNT ZION CEMETERY
1030 S. Downey Road
Los Angeles, CA 90068
Opened in August, 1916, based on burial dates in books and stones.
Operated by Jewish Federation Council, maintenance by Home of Peace.
Approximately 6,700 burials; Database prepared by JGSLA donated to JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry.
First appears in city directories in 1918.
Founded by Chevra Chesed Shel Emeth, organized February 7, 1909 for the purpose of providing “proper burial for orthodox Jews.” (Thomas Cohen article and American Jewish Yearbook).
Officers in 1920 were Charles Groman, president, and Louis Glassband, secretary. (American Jewish Yearbook, 1920).
SHOLOM MEMORIAL PARK
13017 N. Lopez Canyon Road
San Fernando, CA 91342
(818) 899-5216
Opened in 1951
YOUNG ISRAEL CEMETERY
13622 Curtis & King Road
Norwalk, CA 90650
(213) 653-8886
Owned by Chevra Kadisha Mortuary.
· Opened in 1938.
· Approximately 500 burials.
Congregation formerly known as “Houston Street Shul” (Mort Silverman).