| Cemetery Description: |
This small cemetery is situated at the edge of the town next to the large Christian cemetery. On 15 May 1878, after a diphtheria epidemic in the town, Mark Moss applied to the Dordrecht Town Council for a "plot of ground for a Jewish public Cemetery". The request was granted shortly thereafter and his two infant children where re-interred there. There are 52 graves, all of which have stones erected over them. Members of the same family were buried
near to one another and there is no separate section for children. The last burial took place in 1952. Although no Jews have lived in Dordrecht for at least 25 years the stones are in good condition as is the general appearance of the place. It is surrounded by a stone wall with two gates, one of which is missing. The entries are through the Christian and Muslim burial grounds. I visited this
cemetery in September 1996 and have photographs of all the graves. I am also in the process of writing up the history of the community there. For further information please contact me (Paul Cheifitz) at P O Box 541, Sea Point, 8060, South Africa. Phone: 21-4344825. Fax: 21-4344711. Email: pcheiftz@global.co.za |
