Cincinnati Ohio – A statement released this afternoon by the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati:
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati (JCGC) is deeply saddened and outraged to report that 176 gravestones were vandalized at the Tifereth Israel Cemetery and the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Cemetery, both at the Covedale Cemetery complex. This act of antisemitic vandalism was uncovered early this morning and has left our community heartbroken.
The damage spans two sections of the Covedale Cemetery complex, located near the intersection of Anderson Ferry Road and Sidney Road. The destruction includes tombstones dating back to the late 1800s, many of which have been knocked over, with some cracked in half. Most of the gravestones have been pushed face down, making it challenging to identify the affected families at this time.
The incident is believed to have occurred between Tuesday, June 25th, and today, as the groundskeeper, who mowed the lawn on June 25th, reported no signs of vandalism then. As soon as Sue Susskind, Executive Director of JCGC, became aware of the incident, she reached out to SAFE Cincinnati. SAFE Cincinnati, the security arm of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, is working with law enforcement authorities including the Cincinnati Police Department, FBI, and Green Township in an active investigation. Currently, we know of no suspects. We are cooperating fully with local law enforcement to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. We urge anyone with information about this incident to come forward and assist in the investigation.
The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati is assisting JCGC in managing this difficult situation. We unequivocally condemn this act of hatred and desecration. Our hearts go out to the families affected by this senseless vandalism. The Jewish community in Cincinnati is resilient, and we are committed to repairing the damage and restoring the sanctity of these sacred spaces.
Due to the extensive damage and the historical nature of many of the gravestones, we have not yet been able to identify all the families affected by this act. Law enforcement has advised us not to touch the gravestones to preserve the integrity of their investigation. Once we receive clearance, we will carefully turn over the gravestones to identify the names and contact any living relatives. We will inform the families as soon as we have more information.
In these challenging times, it is crucial for us to stand united against hate. We call on the entire community to remain vigilant and to continue to support one another. Together, we will overcome this act of hatred and reaffirm our commitment to fostering a community of tolerance and respect.
The best way to help is to give direct donations to JCGC’s monument repair fund. Please visit https://jcemcin.org/donate/ to contribute.
For further updates and information, please contact Brant Schulz, Assistant Marketing Director, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (in care of Sue Susskind, Executive Director, JCGC).
About Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati (JCGC) serves the burial needs of the Greater Cincinnati Jewish community with care and dignity and honors the resting places of our people. JCGC aims to serve and engage our entire Jewish community and preserve the history and memory of our people, while maintaining financial stability. JCGC’s everyday operations include pre-arrangements, purchasing cemetery lots, purchasing memorials, visitation services, cleaning services, and genealogy searches. Future plans involve continuing to make repairs, increasing community involvement, and establishing JCGC as a historical resource.
About the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati envisions an exceptional Cincinnati Jewish community and, through the community-wide strategic plan Cincinnati 2030, brings diverse groups together to build it. We raise money and use a volunteer-driven, transparent process to distribute it to the local, national, and global programs that need it most. We connect our community agencies with the leaders and expertise they need to thrive. And we work to protect Jewish security by educating the community and advocating for Israel. We do all of this to help people in need, create an engaged community, assure our Jewish future, and support the Jewish people in Cincinnati, in Israel, and throughout the world. For more information, please visit jewishcincinnati.org
About the Jewish Community Relations Council
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is the non-partisan public affairs arm of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Its mission is to protect Jewish security, recognizing that Jewish security depends on a just society for all. To achieve this mission, it advocates for the local Jewish community through Israel education; fighting antisemitism, discrimination, and racism; and building understanding with other ethnic, religious, and civic organizations. For more information, please visit jewishcincinnati.org/jcrc
