In the fall of 2004 Hurricane Gaston stalled over the city of Richmond and dumped an unprecedented amount of rain on the city. Many businesses were destroyed, flooding was rampant in the Shockoe area, and the oldest section of Hebrew Cemetery suffered major damage.

The huge amount of rain on already saturated soil caused extreme ground failure at the northern edge of the oldest section of the cemetery. This section drops off steeply down to CSX rail tracks. The slope is also heavily wooded and overgrown.

As a result, an approximately 50 foot ridge along the edge collapsed, sending 14 graves down hill and necessitated immediate rip rap temporary repairs and emergency tree removal to keep additional ground from being pulled downhill during the flurry of following storms.

The recovered vaults and graves have been re-interred in the newest section of the cemetery and the appropriate stones relocated—although in a group format as the individual coffins were not identified at the time of original burial.

The most effective way you can help repair the damage left by Gaston is through your donations. Plans are underway to relocate those graves lost during the storm—we just need the funds necessary to help make those plans a reality. You can use your credit card to contribute to the Hebrew Cemetery Repair Fund right here online via PayPal, or mail or drop off in person your contribution in the form of a check to the Temple office at 1111 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220-3700.

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