|
Mikveh Israel Cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, possibly in the USA. The site, less than 0.2 acre in size, is a registered historic place in Philadelphia and a national historic site administered by Independence National Historical Park (even though the expense of maintaining the cemetery is borne by sponsoring Congregation Mikveh Israel). It is located in the center city section of Philadelphia, on Spruce Street, near 8th Street, about two blocks west and four blocks south of Independence Hall. Mikveh Israel Cemetery was originally a private burial ground for the family of Nathan Levy, whose ship, Myrtilla was long reputed to have transported the Liberty Bell from England to Philadelphia (though the snow Hibernia, captained by William Child, may actually have transported the bell in 1752). He acquired the land in 1738, expanded it, and donated the burial place in 1765 to the Sephardic synagogue Congregation Mikveh Israel (official name: קהל קדוש מקוה ישראל, Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel, or "Holy Congregation Hope of Israel"), founded in 1740 and still active in the 21st century.
Burials image:Philip Moses Russell marker.jpg|Philip Moses Russell image:Joseph Rodrigwez Pereyra marker.jpg|Joseph Rodrigwez Pereyra image:Moses Mordcai marker.jpg|Moses Mordecai image:Samuel Hays marker.jpg|Samuel Hays image:Michael Gratz marker.jpg|Michael Gratz image:Reuben Etting marker.jpg|Reuben Etting Many distinguished Americans are buried in Mikveh Israel Cemetery. They include: The cemetery ceased to be a regular place of burial in 1886 except for the interment of Josephine Etting in 1913, Fanny Polano Elmaleh, wife of Reverend Leon H. Elmaleh, in 1966, and Reverend Leon H. Elmaleh in 1972. See also | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||
 |
|
| |