Dead deserve better

I am both awed and upset by the article in the July 19 issue regarding the ignored Rippel Road cemetery (“Neglected Jewish cemetery in White Oak restored by non-Jewish volunteers,” July 19). A non-Jew came upon this abandoned cemetery and brought it back to life, using in large part his own personal resources, time and respect for a Jewish cemetery. Neither congregation in the vicinity is accepting ownership of the small and now beautifully restored cemetery. The article states that “members of Gemilas Chesed were ‘overwhelmed’ when they saw what Mr. Pudlowski and two friends had accomplished, but the congregation’s president is quoted as saying “we will try to maintain it, but I don’t know what that means.”

Why not seek out youth in the area (Jewish or otherwise) who could make this a mitzvah/social action project and/or receive school credits for performing community service? It was embarrassing to read this well-written article only for it to end on such a dispirited note.

These eight forgotten deceased deserve better from our Pittsburgh Jewish community.

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Joan Granowitz Charlson
McMurray, PA