History of the JCBA

The original mission of the Hebrew Burial Association continues with the JCBA in providing Jewish burials to the truly needy.
The JCBA was created in 1992 with the merger of the United Jewish Federation Cemetery Association and the Hebrew Burial Association of Pittsburgh (originally called Chesed Shel Emeth of Pittsburg and incorporated on June 4, 1910).
Cemeteries of congregations and benevolent organizations (the Landsmenshaften) no longer in operation created the increasing need for upkeep of cemeteries. The promise we make to those who came before us require adequate resources to maintain their final resting places. Some congregations with declining membership are especially in need of a plan for preservation and maintenance of their cemeteries.
Cemeteries We Own
Beginning with only two cemeteries, the original (old) Chesed Shel Emeth on Seavey Road in Shaler Township, established and consecrated in 1853 and the new Chesed Shel Emeth on Oakwood Street in Shaler Township, in use since January 1, 1918 the JCBA then acquired the abandoned Workmen’s Circle Branch #975 cemetery on Hoffman Road in Reserve Township.
- In 1997 through the efforts of board members Louis Zeiden and William Stark the JCBA acquired the Steinfeld Cemetery in New Brighton PA which was being administered by a local bank. The congregation and families to which the cemetery was attached were long gone. Zeiden and Stark successfully made the case to the bank that a Jewish cemetery should be taken care of by a Jewish organization solely dedicated to that purpose.
- In 2009, two cemeteries – the Workmen’s Circle Branch #45 cemetery on Wible Run Road in Shaler Township and the Agudath Achim cemetery on Wickline Road in Hampton Township were turned over to the JCBA by the two groups who had been administering each of them but were no longer able to do so.
- 2010 saw significant growth for the JCBA when four cemeteries—the Beth Abraham cemetery, the Shaare Zedeck cemetery and the Marks cemetery all on Stewart Avenue in the Carrick section of Pittsburgh and the Machsikei HaDas cemetery on Geyer Road in Reserve Township were turned over to the JCBA.
- In 2015 the B’nai Israel cemetery on Sunset Boulevard in Steubenville, Ohio was turned over to the JCBA.
- In 2020 the Anshe Lubovitz cemetery on Oakwood Street in Shaler Township Township and Ahavas Achim in McKeesport were was turned over to the JCBA. Additionally, the JCBA began to manage Kesher Israel in Port Vue and Sharith Israel in Oil City and the Titusville Jewish cemetery. The JCBA began an association with Mt. Zion Jewish cemetery in Franklin, PA.
- In 2021 the six Jewish cemeteries and sections in Johnstown, PA—Ahavath Achim, Rodef Sholom, Beth Zion I and II, the Jewish Burial Association and Israel Isaiah—were turned over to the JCBA. Additionally, the JCBA began to manage Mt. Zion cemetery in Sugarcreek Borough. In addition, the Meadville Hebrew cemetery and Ohave Israel cemetery in Brownsville, PA became associated with the JCBA.
- In 2022 Kether Torah cemetery in Reserve Township and Tiphereth Israel cemetery on Oakwood Street in Shaler Township werewas was turned over to the JCBA. In addition, the JCBA began to manage Holy Society cemetery in Hopwood, PA and began an association with Sons of Israel in DuBois, PA, Torath Chaim in Hampton township, and Temple Beth Shalom cemetery in Clearfield, PA.
- In 2023, the JCBA acquired six cemeteries including Agudath Achim in Beaver Falls, Berliner cemetery in Corry, Tifereth Israel in New Castle, Temple Israel Memorial Park in New Castle, Shaare Torah/Gates of Wisdom in Carrick, and Podolier Cemetery in Reserve Township. In addition, the JCBA took on a cemetery management role for Poale Zedeck Cemetery in Sheridan and Poale Zedeck Memorial Park in Gibsonia. The Berliner Cemetery in Corry, PA, Bes Almon in Troy Hill, PA and Westview Cemetery in Ross Township began an association with the JCBA.
- In 2024, the JCBA acquired Beth Jacob cemetery in Duquesne, PA and began managing Tree of Life Memorial Park and Tree of Life Sharpsburg.