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April 14, 2006
North Shore gets own plots
Jewish section to be added to existing West Vancouver cemetery.
VERONIKA STEWART
After many years of burying their dead at other synagogues scattered
throughout the Lower Mainland, Jewish residents of the North Shore
will soon be able to keep their loved ones closer to home.
The first Jewish cemetery on the North Shore, set to be completed,
dedication and all, some time in July, will be added on to the current
West Vancouver cemetery, Capilano View.
North Shore-based Congregation Har El first approached the cemetery
requesting space to be allotted for their congregation members in
2000, when the District of West Vancouver had some public hearings
about the possibility of expanding the cemetery. After careful negotiation
with municipal staff, who found the bylaws allowed for non-secular
sections of the cemetery, Capilano View gave their approval for
the project.
Har El Rabbi Shmuel Birnham said the new Jewish cemetery is of great
significance to the community.
"When a Jewish community establishes its own cemetery, it's
a coming-of-age rite of passage," said Birnham. "The community
has been around for over 30 years and we've been burying our dead
in several synagogues around town, mostly at Schara Tzedeck. So
to be able to have a centre where our members are buried is a huge
step."
Schara Tzedeck's cemetery is in New Westminster. As Birnham pointed
out, having a local burial ground will allow mourners to forgo a
long trek.
"Just think that for someone to visit the grave of their loved
one at present, they have to drive all the way out to New Westminster,"
Birnham said. "And the funeral is out there. All of it is a
greater burden for the surviving family members. So this will be
a huge step forward to provide greater comfort."
For members of Har El not living in West Vancouver, however, comfort
may come at a cost. The price of a plot for non-West Vancouver residents
will be almost double: $4,526 for residents and $7,736 for non-residents,
according to West Vancouver municipal parks manager Glen Minaker.
Currently, there are 70 plots available in the Jewish section of
the cemetery. Har El congregants have been asked to put down a $250
deposit if they wish to buy a plot. If there is enough interest,
the municipality may consider further construction. On Monday, Har
El executive director Neil Loomer said the response so far has been
"very positive."
Ulrika Wallersteiner, a member of Har El's cemetery committee, said
the cemetery has historical significance as well.
"It's a landmark in the sense that back in the '50s, the British
Properties' [the area where the cemetery is located] bylaws didn't
allow for Jews, Blacks or Asian people to own any property there,"
Wallersteiner said. "From that aspect, it's really exciting,
and they've been really supportive of us."
Wallersteiner said the significance to the Jewish community as a
whole is reflected in the Jewish lifestyle.
"We're just so cognizant of birth and dying. There are many
people who would like to make the necessary preparations, but we
haven't been able to do that really," Wallersteiner said. "We've
been very fortunate to have Schara Tzedeck, but it's a real shlep
to drive out there. So having a cemetery really close by is really
wonderful."
Har El created a small section of Jewish plots in the cemetery as
an interim measure during the construction of the larger area, but
the 12 plots do not meet the demand, and have already been taken.
Wallersteiner said those in the community who have already been
buried at Capilano View will not be moved to the new area.
The new addition to Capilano View will be the sixth Jewish cemetery
in the Greater Vancouver area. In addition to Schara Tzedeck in
New Westminster, Beth Israel has a cemetery in Burnaby, Temple Sholom
in White Rock and Beth Tikvah in Richmond. There is also a Jewish
section at the Mountainview cemetery on Fraser Street.
Veronika Stewart is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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