Reflections Of Culture & Community: A Tour Of Jewish Cemeteries

WATERBURY — The Mattatuck Museum will present “Reflections of Religion Culture and Community: A Tour of Jewish Cemeteries in Waterbury” on Sunday, April 29, from 2 to 3:30 pm.

Local history buff and attorney Gary Broder will lead participants through three Jewish cemeteries in Waterbury and show how they reflect different religious and political aspects of Jewish culture and religion from Yiddishist labor organizations to religious traditions and burial customs.

Mr Broder will describe how the cemeteries developed and relate stories of notable individuals who are buried there. He will also explain the symbolism in the design of the gravestones and how it relates to the religious and social beliefs of those who are buried there.

The cemeteries included in the tour are Hebrew Benefit, Workmen’s Circle, and Star Lodge. The tour will begin at the Hebrew Benefit Cemetery on Stillson Road (Route 69). Participants are asked to park in the lot of Naugatuck Valley Mall and walk to the cemetery by at 1:45; directions are posted on the museum website (www.MattatuckMuseum.org).

All participants are required to wear a head covering.

Rain date is Sunday, May 6.

The program is free and all are invited to attend. Registration is requested and can be done by calling the museum at 203-753-0381, extension 10.

This event is co-sponsored by Beth El Synagogue, Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut, and supported by The Jeanette Weiss Matzkin Fund at the Mattatuck Museum.