First Shearith Israel Graveyard, Jewish burial ground in Lower Manhattan, United States
First Shearith Israel Graveyard is a cemetery in Lower Manhattan holding approximately 107 graves with headstones inscribed in multiple languages. The compact burial ground preserves dozens of original stones standing closely together, retaining the appearance of earlier centuries.
The cemetery was established in 1682 and represents the oldest Jewish burial ground in New York and the second oldest overall in Manhattan. Its founding marked the beginning of organized Jewish life in the city.
The headstones display inscriptions in Hebrew, Spanish, and Portuguese, revealing the Sephardic Jewish community that settled in the early city. Walking among the markers shows how multiple languages coexisted in this tight-knit neighborhood.
Visitors must schedule an appointment in advance to enter the burial ground. It is advisable to arrange access early, as spaces are limited and visits are only possible during certain hours.
The burial ground is the sole remaining structure from the 17th century still standing in Manhattan and preserves graves of 22 Revolutionary War soldiers. These two aspects make it a rare survival that bridges vastly different historical periods of the city.
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