A significant piece of Jewish-American history is being preserved and honored in Woodland Park, New Jersey. On Sunday, June 8, at noon, the Ruben Kaufman Post 36 Veterans Memorial will be rededicated and reinstalled at a newly established Veterans Memorial section of the Independent United Jersey Verein Cemetery. The ceremony marks the next chapter in the monument’s journey through north Jersey.

Originally located at Temple Emanuel in Paterson, the monument was dedicated to the Jewish servicemen of Ruben Kaufman Post 36, most of whom served in World War I, according to Mickey Levine, the executive vice president of the Cemetery Association of the Jewish Federation. Years ago, the memorial was moved to the YM/YWHA in Wayne, which served as a hub for Jewish community programs.

More recently, the town of Wayne purchased the old YM/YWHA building, now called the Wayne Township Community Center, prompting questions about the future of these monuments. To ensure their preservation and continued visibility, the cemetery association stepped in with an offer to relocate them to a more permanent and respectful site.

Working in collaboration with the trustees of the Wayne Township Community Center, the cemetery association designated a section of the United Jersey Verein Cemetery for a new Veterans Memorial area. The upcoming event will include not only the rededication of the historic Ruben Kaufman monument, but also the installation of two new monuments that incorporate the additional plaques once affixed to the YM/YWHA’s exterior wall.

This new placement will be a meaningful tribute to Jewish veterans whose service and sacrifice deserve lasting recognition. Community members, veterans and descendants of those memorialized are invited to attend to witness and participate in preserving this piece of local and national history.

For more information, contact Mickey Levine at [email protected].