Vandals have hit the Hebrew section of Greenlawn Cemetery hard, and members of a local Jewish congregation hope to find a way to help. Sandy Marshall from Portsmouth’s Beneh Abraham Synagogue said that in the past 15 years, vandals have destroyed around 30 monuments in the cemetery.
Marshall said members of the synagogue had hired a professional grant writer in an effort to obtain funding for security for the Hebrew section of the historic cemetery.
Marshall spoke to the Scioto County Commissioners on Thursday and said that after working with Portsmouth officials, they’d agreed that a camera system would probably be the best way to monitor the situation. However, she said they’d run into red tape while attempting to get certain documents certified. “There’s an issue with some of the documents not being the originals. We were established in 1885, we don’t have many original documents here. You’re my last hope. Both of these documents need to be stamped officially by someone. So we’re hoping you will officially stamp a couple of copies of these two documents so we can submit them.” She said Homeland Security had suggested fencing in addition to cameras.
Commissioner Bryan Davis said that he’d discussed the matter with Portsmouth City Manager Sam Sutherland, who had expressed concern that any fencing around the Hebrew section of the cemetery might also be vandalized. Davis also added that other areas of the cemetery had also been targeted by vandals. He also said he’d like more information about security cameras. “How are they powered? Where are they going? I would like to have that conversation with Sam because electrical, you know, that’s a cost unless that’s part of your grant.”
Marshall responded that the electricity and hardwiring of the system would be part of the grant. “We’d start in the Jewish section because we are the hardest hit.”
“Do you think that’s because of the location and not so much anti-Semitism?” Commissioner Davis asked.
“Not really,” Marshall replied. “We’re behind the Soldier Circle. You’ve got a lot of trees around it. I really think it’s anti-Semitism.”
“That’s sad to hear,” Commissioner Davis said.
Marshall said that since anti-Semitism is deemed terrorism by the federal government, her organization had a better chance of getting the grant and that the Jewish Federation of America would match the grant funding. She said the high-tech equipment they hope to buy has facial and license plate recognition. It will be monitoring and recording 24/7. She said a third-party company would monitor the cameras. “The police will only be only notified if something happens.” She said that eventually it’s hoped the security system would cover the whole cemetery. “It would benefit the whole community.”
Commissioner Davis said he would speak with Portsmouth City Manager Sam Sutherland and get back to her with a decision.
