About Us

The Jewish Cemetery Association of Greater Waterbury (JCAW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of the Jewish cemeteries located in the Waterbury, Connecticut area. We serve as the stewards of nine historic burial grounds that together represent over a century of Jewish life in the greater Waterbury region.

Our History

The association was formed in 2004 through the vision of Leo Goldberg, a long-time Waterbury resident who recognized that the community's burial heritage was at risk. The cemeteries themselves were founded in the first half of the twentieth century by a variety of Jewish fraternal, landsmanshaft, and congregational organizations — each reflecting a distinct thread of immigrant Jewish life in Connecticut. By the 1980s, demographic shifts had left many of these organizations unable to sustain independent cemetery operations. Leo consolidated them under one umbrella organization, ensuring the continuation of the cultural heritage they represent. Today the association manages nine cemeteries.

The Waterbury Jewish Community

Waterbury's Jewish community dates to the late nineteenth century, when Eastern European immigrants settled in the city and established synagogues, mutual aid societies, and fraternal lodges. Organizations such as the Workmen's Circle, the Farband, and various landsmanshaftn (לאַנדסמאַנשאַפֿטן — hometown associations) created their own burial societies as an expression of communal solidarity — ensuring that members would be interred with dignity among their own. The cemeteries managed by JCAW are the enduring physical record of that community.

Why Preservation Matters

Jewish law (halacha — הֲלָכָה) regards the proper care of burial grounds as a sacred obligation — kavod ha-met (כָּבוֹד הַמֵּת), honor for the deceased. Headstones, pathways, and grounds must be maintained so that families can visit and so that the memory of those interred is not lost. JCAW takes this responsibility seriously, coordinating regular grounds maintenance, repairing damaged monuments where possible, and working to document and archive burial records for future generations.