Historical Information about South Carolina Jewry
c/o Marty Perlmutter
Jewish Studies
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC 29424
(843) 953-5682
Email: perlmutterm@cofc.edu
Children of Israel: Jewish population in 1919 was 76. Source:
"Directory of Jewish Local Organizations in the United States" pp. 330-583.
American Jewish Year Book 5680 September 25, 1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; Volume
21. Edited by Harry Schneiderman for the American Jewish Committee. Submitted by
Alan Hirschfeld
Sons of Israel: corner of Hampton Ave. and Laurens Street; Behind
Bethany Cemetery; Used approximately 1916 to present. Synagogue: Congregation of
Adas Yeshurun (Aiken) Size: 135 graves occupied, room for 3 times that many.
Contact: Peter K. Baumgarten, 618 Medinah Drive, Aiken, SC 29803 for burial
listings. See Cemeteries of the US. Deborah M. Burek, ed. Gale Research
Int., Detroit MI (1994) ISBN 0-8103-9245-3; submitted by: Al Rosenfield,
arosen@ee.net
BEAUFORT::(Beaufort County)
Jewish Cemetery: Contact Beth Israel Synagogue, PO Box 328, Beaufort, SC
29901. (843) 524-4076. Book: Beaufort County Epitaphs: Jewish Cemetery, Old
Sheldon, St. Peter’s Church Graveyard, Unnamed. . . . (Typescript), ca. 1960.
[March 2008]
Barnett A. Elzas compiled transcriptions of the names and dates on
tombstones in Jewish cemeteries in Camden, Charlestown, Columbia, Georgetown and
Orangeburg in 1910. See American Jewish Archives in Vital Statistics File, and
Miscellaneous file in AJA. American Jewish
Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel);
513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail:
AJA@cn.huc.edu. Source: Index of
the Jewish Cemeteries of South Carolina as of 1910 compiled by Barnett A.
Elzas, 1911: Charleston, SC. Contact: Mr. Michael Mischner, 1719 Mill St.
Camden, SC 29020, 803- 432-9687. See also: The Jewish Cemetery at Camden,
S.C. compiled by Barnett A.Elzas. Published: Charleston, S.C., 1910. Elzas,
Barnett Abraham, 1867- F279.C2 E5
CHARLESTON:
Brith Sholom Magnolia Cemetery: Founded 1856; See Miscellaneous file in AJA. American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail: AJA@cn.huc.edu: The Old Jewish Cemeteries at Charleston, S. C. A transcript of the inscriptions on their tombstones. 1762-1903. With an introduction and full index by Dr. Barnett Abraham Elzas; Charleston, The Daggett Printing Company, 1903. F279.C4 E5 / SC-1760 and Microfilm No. 3002 The Jewish Cemeteries of Congregation Berith Shalome at Charleston, S.C. compiled by Barnett A. Elzas. 1910; F279.C4 E4 Index of the Jewish Cemeteries of South Carolina as of 1910 compiled by Barnett A. Elzas. Charleston, SC, 1911. See Miscellaneous file.
Coming Street Jewish Cemetery: Located within the city of Charleston at 189 Coming Street, the cemetery probably has one hundred plus graves, making it America's largest colonial Jewish cemetery. Beth Elohim (Reformed) Congregation at 86 Hasell St., Charleston, SC 29401 has the keys to the cemetery and schedules visits by appointment. Source: Warren Kohn; aa102289@midnet.cds.scarolina.edu. The cemetery dates from 1749 or 1762. See Postal & Koppman. Jewish Tourist's Guide to U.S. Phila., PA: Jewish Publ. Soc., 1954, p.575, 577. See The Jewish Travel Guide. London: Jewish Chronicle, , 1992. Tombstones at Coming Street include biographies, vignettes and long messages that reveal much about the deceased as related in Washington Jewish Week, November 21, 1996. Revolutionary soldiers' graves are tended here as well as those of many distinguished Charleston Families. Current synagogue burials are in the Huguenin Avenue Cemetery according to a handout entitled "The Story of K.K. Beth Elohim.: See The New Jewish Cemetery of Kahal Kodesh Beth Elohim at Charleston, S.C. compiled by Barnett A. Elzas. 1867-1936; F279.C4 E46 [at AJA?]
Harby Burial Ground: see Kahal Kodesh Beth Elohim Cemetery
Huguenin Avenue Cemetery: see Coming Street Jewish Cemetery
Magnolia Cemetery: Source: Betsy B. Teplis, 447 Broadland Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30342-3606.
See first entry under Camden. "Kahal Kodesh Beth Elohim; Report of committee approving charter petition, Jan., 1791"; program for dedication of Archives Room, Apr. 18, 1969; Hymnal of Edgar M. Lazarus, 1842; report in "The Charleston Evening News" of a confirmation service at Beth Elohim, May 24, 1855; and a list of additions to the Kahal Kodesh Beth Elohim Archives from Jan. to June 1977 are in Small Collections and/or Miscellaneous file in AJA. American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail: AJA@cn.huc.edu. Another source: Index of the Jewish Cemeteries of South Carolina as of 1910 compiled by Barnett A. Elzas. Charleston, SC, 1911. Founded in 1856 according to source: Julian H. Preisler, jhp1963@yahoo.com.
Kahal Kodesh Beth Elohim Cemetery: Various materials pertaining to the Harby Burial Ground and the stones removed to Kahal Kodesh Beth Elohim Cemetery in 1950. Source: Index of the Jewish Cemeteries of South Carolina as of 1910 compiled by Barnett A. Elzas, Charleston, SC, 1911 in Miscellaneous correspondence, 1868-1952 in AJA. American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail: AJA@cn.huc.edu.
New Burying Ground: Transcript of the minutes of the trustees of a new Jewish cemetery, Oct. 14, 1798 and Sep. 23, 1799. Source: Index of the Jewish Cemeteries of South Carolina as of 1910 compiled by Barnett A. Elzas. Charleston, SC, 1911 in Miscellaneous file at AJA. American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail: AJA@cn.huc.edu.
COLUMBIA:
Barnett A. Elzas compiled transcriptions of the
names and dates on tombstones in Jewish cemeteries in Camden, Charlestown,
Columbia, Georgetown and Orangeburg in 1910. See American Jewish Archives in
Vital Statistics File, and Miscellaneous file in
AJA. American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton
Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax).
E-mail: AJA@cn.huc.edu. Index of the Jewish Cemeteries of South
Carolina as of 1910 compiled by Barnett A. Elzas, 1911: Charleston, SC.
Contact: Mr. Michael Mischner, 1719 Mill St. Camden, SC 29020, 803- 432-9687. The Jewish Cemetery at Camden, S.C.
compiled by Barnett A.Elzas. Published: Charleston, S.C., 1910. Elzas, Barnett
Abraham, 1867- F279.C2 E5
1919 Jewish population was 281. Source:
"Directory of Jewish Local Organizations in the United States" pp. 330-583.
American Jewish Year Book 5680 September 25, 1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; Volume
21. Edited by Harry Schneiderman for the American Jewish Committee. Submitted by
Alan Hirschfeld The Jewish Cemeteries at Columbia, S.C.
Compiled by Barnett Elzas, published: Charleston, S.C. in 1910. (Revised edition
1935 by I. Cassel). 11 pages. 64B44. Notes: 295 inscriptions, 1822 - 1934,
alphabetical listing. Source: Tagger, Mathilde. Printed Books on Jewish
Cemeteries in the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem:
an annotated bibliography, Jerusalem: The Israel Genealogical Society, 1997.
Also found at Smathers Judaica; F279.C7 E4 De Leon:
Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery: Gadsden & Richland Sts.,
1826, in Postal & Koppman Jewish Tourist's Guide to U.S.. Phila., PA:
Jewish Publ. Soc., 1954, p. 579. Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery at corner of
Taylor and Gadsden Streets has been in continuous use since 1822. Contact:
Bernard Fleischman, Sr., 1626 Graeme Drive, Columbia, SC 29206, 803-787- 1138.
Cemetery includes historic graves. Used by Beth Shalom (Conservative) and Tree
of Life (Reform). Tree of Life Congregation, 6719 N. Trenholm Road, P.O. Box
6187, Columbia 29260- 6187
Beth Shalom Congregation Cemetery: Located on Whaley Street; Contact:
Mr. David Lovit, 3611 Rockbridge Road, Columbia SC 29206; 803-878-3757.
DARLINGTON: {10217}
The 1919 Jewish population was 83. Source: "Directory of Jewish Local
Organizations in the United States" pp. 330-583. American Jewish Year Book
5680 September 25, 1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; Volume 21. Edited by Harry
Schneiderman for the American Jewish Committee. Submitted by Alan Hirschfeld.
See also: Florence, SC.
Grove Hill Cemetery: Darlington Hebrew Congregation section.
405 S Warley St, Darlington 29532-2928 (803-393-8778). Our genealogical chapter
has surveyed this cemetery and published it in Volume II of our Darlington
District Cemetery Survey. For additional information on the Darlington Hebrew
community, contact Doris Gandy, Darlington County Historical Commission, 204
Hewitt Street, Darlington, SC 29532, 843-398-4710. Source: John L. Andrews, Jr.,
Old Darlington District Chapter, SCGS, Post Office Box 175
Hartsville, South Carolina 29551-0175. Email:
JAndr45985@aol.com or
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/7212/cemetery-vol-2.html
has book for purchase about cemetery. [September 2005]
DILLON:
A Jewish section in a general cemetery. {10212} Contact: Mr. Mortimer
Bernanke, 306 Johnson Drive, Dillon, SC 29536. Source: Harold J. Kornblut, CPA,
111 West Main St., Latta, SC 29565; 803-752-5901
FLORENCE:
1919 Jewish population was 46. Source: "Directory of Jewish Local Organizations
in the United States" pp. 330-583. American Jewish Year Book 5680
September 25, 1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; Volume 21. Edited by Harry Schneiderman
for the American Jewish Committee. Submitted by Alan Hirschfeld
Hebrew Benevolent Society: {10146} 900 Church Street, Florence,
SC 29501. (Church Street is northbound only.) Jews lived there before the Civil
War but the Hebrew Benevolent Assoc. was created 1885 with burials continuous
since 1887. Contact: Mr. Herman Insel, 815 Park Ave. Florence, SC 29501,
803-699-7265. Beth Israel Congregation, 316 Park Ave., PO Box 3008, SC 29502
has records. Used by Beth Israel Congregation and people from outlying
communities. 480 graves; occasionally non-Jewish spouses are buried. The
Florence, SC Jewish Cemetery will be published in the upcoming Vol. IV of the
Darlington District Cemetery Surveys series. (See Darlington for details)
GEORGETOWN:
1919 Jewish population was 46. Source: "Directory of Jewish Local Organizations
in the United States" pp. 330-583. American Jewish Year Book 5680
September 25, 1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; Volume 21. Edited by Harry Schneiderman
for the American Jewish Committee. Submitted by Alan Hirschfeld.
http://nmajh.org/exhibitions/postcards/cards/55.htm: "Congregation Beth
Elohim and cemetery of Georgetown, fifty miles north of Charleston, is used on
an irregular basis. The earliest cemetery plot dates to 1772." [October 2000]
Temple Beth Elohim and Cemetery. The Jewish cemetery at
Georgetown, S.C. compiled by Barnett A. Elzas. Charleston, S.C.: Elzas,1910.
F279.G3 E4. See first entry under Camden. The cemetery is at the corner of Duke
St. and Broadstreet and shown on the Georgetown National Register Historic
District Map available at the town visitor center. Cemetery contains about 200
headstones dating from 1772 to current. Most are legible. Source: Arline Sachs
sachs@nova.org.
GREENVILLE:
There are two temples in Greenville, one Reformed
and one Conservative (Beth Israel). Until 1937, all Jewish burials were
performed in Columbia, SC or Augusta, GA. Source: Allen Lurey work:
alurey@sdge.com home:
alurey@sprynet.com
http://uscj.org/seabd/greenvbs Congregation Bayt Shalom, P.O. Box 2713,
Greenville, NC 27836 (252) 830-1138
Beth Israel Jewish Cemetery: (1937-1980 listing) {10554} at
Highway 250 & Highway 124, adjoins Graceland Cemetery.
KINGSTREE:
Kingstree is a town of about 5000 between Charleston and Florence, about 20
miles east of I-95 (65 miles from the coast). Temple Beth Or was closed in
February of 2005 after being in this community since the mid 1940's. We were
featured in the first printing of The Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina.
We have plots available in our cemetery. Contacts for our cemetery information
follow: Dr. Louis A. Drucker,
DMDRanch@ftc-i.net and Sam Drucker,
sdrucker@ftc-i.net. [May 2005]
Beth Or Cemetery: (Old Lake City Highway) Eastland
Ave.; Kingstree SC 29556, half-block from Pepsi Warehouse. Formerly used by Beth
Or Congregation, the Jewish cemetery has about thirty graves and is adjacent to a
general cemetery. Contact: Dr. Louis Drucker, 111 Buck Strong Rd.,Kingstree,
SC 29556. Phone: 843-382-5559. Email:
DMDRanch@ftc-i.net for a burial list.
MARION:
Very small Jewish section in a general cemetery: Contact: Mr. Kevin
Barth, 419 S. Franklin, Florence, SC 29501
MYRTLE BEACH:
Temple Emanu-El Memorial Gardens: {10789} within Ocean Woods
Memorial Park, 2408 South Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
(803)626-9628 is used by Temple Emanu-El, 406 65th Avenue, North Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina 29575. Temple Emanu-El traces its beginnings to the 1940's. On
December 31, 1963, the State of South Carolina chartered the congregation. The
present building was dedicated in 1969, then enlarged and renovated in 1990.
The cemetery is a marked section of the city-owned Ocean Woods Memorial Park
located just south of Highway 501 in Myrtle Beach. The oldest tombstone dates
from 1992. Burials recorded by Julian H. Preisler - February 1998.
jhp1963@yahoo.com.
ORANGEBURG:
The Jewish cemetery at Orangeburg, S.C. compiled by Barnett A. Elzas;
published: Charleston, S.C.: Elzas, 1910. 2 p.; F279.O6 E4. In 1919, the Jewish
population was 59 according to "Directory of Jewish Local Organizations in the
United States" pp. 330-583. American Jewish Year Book 5680 September 25,
1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; Volume 21. Edited by Harry Schneiderman for the American
Jewish Committee. Submitted by Alan Hirschfeld. See also Camden
SUMTER:
Contact: Rabbi Richard Leviton, Temple Sinai, 11 Church Street, P.O. Box 1673,
Sumter SC 29151, 803-773-2122.
See The Jewish Cemetery at Sumter, S.C.; A Transcription of the Names and
Dates on the Tombstones 1874-1942 by Harold Moise, Sumter, South Carolina
1942 in Vital Statistics file at AJA.
American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488.
513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail:
AJA@cn.huc.edu.
Jewish population in 1919 was 300. Source: "Directory of Jewish Local
Organizations in the United States" pp. 330-583. American Jewish Year Book
5680 September 25, 1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; Volume 21. Edited by Harry
Schneiderman for the American Jewish Committee. Submitted by Alan Hirschfeld.
All individuals involved in the creation of this project are volunteers.
The right to make one copy for personal use with full citation is hereby granted;
however, no profit is to be made from the use of this website's information.
No reply will be made to inquiries about specific burials. All information that we possess is on the website. We have no other information so please do not write requesting any on either burial sites or individual burials.