1701 Cass St., Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 352-7620
My journey to The Temple Cemetery in Nashville began with a search for the grave of Maurice Karr and his wife Joyce. Mr. Karr was generous and compassionate to me during a very difficult period in my life, and though I only knew him a couple of years I wanted to honor him at his grave. I had passed by the Jewish cemetery in North Nashville quite a few times, but never actually been inside. This, I thought, is my chance to pay my respects and at the same time go on a field trip! I have been to graveyards exclusively for one faith, such as Zion Presbyterian Church and Cemetery in Columbia, and Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Nashville, but never a Jewish one. Let's do some exploring together of what makes this cemetery different, the notable graves to be seen there, and the importance of this particular site.
The Temple Cemetery - Ohabai Sholom Congregation was established in 1851. It is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Tennessee and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Spanning over nine acres, the Victorian design is like other garden cemeteries found in the state which resemble parks and incorporate trees, elaborate graves, and paths. The difference here lies in the grave markers and the traditions of the burials. Thanks to the brochure "The Temple Cemetery: Self Guided Walking Tour" created by the congregation, I have some insight to share on this.
In Hebrew a cemetery is called a Beit Hayyim, or “House of the Living,” a way to celebrate and remember the lives of the people who rest here. According to Chabad.org, honoring those who have passed on the annual anniversary or yahrzeit of a loved one’s death is very significant in Judaism. The Kabbalah teaches that during this time the soul is at its greatest strength. Every year on this day, all the spiritual achievements of one’s life are revealed in the world and in Heaven, including every positive thought, word, or deed. I highlight this in bold because I think that many of us already acknowledge the date of a loved one's passing but may want to consider another reason to contemplate the date - the beauty that was brought to our lives by those we love. Jews use this death anniversary to pray to improve one’s own spiritual life and in this way bring value to the lives of those who have passed. Yahrzeit is honored with a long-burning candle* in the home, and if you burn candles like I do for prayer and on birthdays of loved ones, this might be a lovely tradition to adopt. (These candles burn for around a week!) I also love the practice of placing a stone on the grave rather than flowers. (When I pass, please do that for me. You know I love rocks and crystals!)
Another fascinating fact is that Torahs, books and other holy articles are not destroyed when no longer usable; rather, they are buried in the cemetery!
There are some beautiful headstones and crypts in The Temple Cemetery, especially for founding and important members of the congregation.
I find the many simple graves to be the most moving, as I usually do. The oldest graves are for the immigrants who made the long journey to a new world and started the Jewish community in Middle Tennessee. Many of the graves at The Temple Cemetery have Hebrew inscriptions, so perhaps its the fact that they look like the historic monuments they really are that moves me. I don't speak Hebrew, but I learned that the family lineage of the person is often written on these headstones, which is a great tradition for those seeking ancestral roots.
As in other cemeteries, there are images carved into the gravestones, such as Masonic icons, roses, willow trees, clasped hands. You will also see the tradition here of tree stumps for those cut down early in life, and lambs to represent children. There are Greek mausoleums and Egyptian obelisks and symbols, which might surprise some people but are actually common across faiths (it was the style, after all)! Some of these are quite beautiful and artistically different from those I’ve seen in other graveyards. There are also hand symbols or cohanim to mark the graves of priestly families, although I did not personally find any.
At the main entrance are memorials to those who served and died in World War I and II. Those who fought in the Civil War are here, of course, including the graves of General Randall M. Falk and General Marcus Frankle. There are also some interesting and notable people who had important roles in Nashville and Franklin history, such as Leopold Jonas, an immigrant from Germany who prospered as a downtown retailer; Corinne Leiberman Cohn, who was a pioneer in education and had Nashville Cohn School named after her; S. A Bierfield, who owned a dry-goods store and was killed by a mob in Franklin for defending African Americans; and Judah Bloomstein, who at one time was the wealthiest Jew in Nashville and was imprisoned in a Federal prison in 1863 for smuggling to Confederate forces.
The best entrance to the cemetery is on the corner of 15th Ave. North and Clay St., (although the website lists 1701 Cass St., Nashville 37208) and is open from sunup to sundown every day. Also across the road from The Temple Cemetery are the cemeteries of West End Synagogue and Sherith Israel, if you are interested.
I hope that, like me, you’ve come away from this exploration of Judaism with a bit more respect and appreciation than before you started. There’s so much to learn here about Judaism and the role of Jews in Tennessee, so many artistic graves to value. I highly recommend a visit!
Please look for my post on The Temple - Ohabai Sholom Synagogue, a truly beautiful house of worship which holds a gallery of artworks and is itself a gorgeously designed building!
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