by Debra Rubin
NJJN Bureau Chief/Middlesex

February 19, 2008

The Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County has received $87,432 in contributions toward the repair of a New Brunswick cemetery ravaged by vandals last month.

Officials said the donations have come in from other federations and from individuals around the world.

Congregation Poile Zedek, which operates the Poile Zedek Cemetery along with Congregation Etz Ahaim of Highland Park, has collected about $15,000.

“The money is coming in steadily from in and outside the community from both Jews and non-Jews,” said Caryn Lipson, administrator of Congregation Poile Zedek. “Some come in with heartwarming notes. It’s very nice.”

However, Etz Ahaim’s rabbi said the money is falling far short of covering the damage.

“We really need the community’s support,” said Rabbi David Bassous. There is “no way to tell” how much had come to his synagogue’s fund, he said, but it was going slowly.

Four teens have been apprehended in the attack on the cemetery, during which about 600 headstones were knocked down or destroyed, causing an estimated $500,000 to $1 million in damage. The four teens have been held at the Middlesex County juvenile detention facility since their Jan. 9 arrest.

Bassous said that at least eight damaged stones in the Etz Ahaim section of the cemetery marked the graves of people with no known living relatives. The $1,600 to $6,000 needed to replace these stones would have to come from synagogue funds if not enough money is collected.

Donations may be made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, with “cemetery restoration fund” written in the memo line of the check, and sent to the federation at 230 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River, NJ 08882. Donations can also be made on-line.

For more information, visit the Web site, email the federation or call 732-432-7711.

Information on making donations is also available on the synagogues’ Web sites.

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