Etting Cemetery

Baltimore's Oldest Jewish Cemetery

By The Explore Baltimore Heritage team
Behind an unassuming brick wall on North Avenue near Pennsylvania Avenue is an historic cemetery that many people drive by, but few know anything about.

The Etting Family Cemetery is the oldest existing Jewish cemetery in Baltimore. Solomon Etting (1764-1847) came to Baltimore from York, Pennsylvania in 1790. Solomon was active in defending the city in the War of 1812. He made his fortune in hardware, shipping, and banking, and was one of the founders of the B&O Railroad.

The first burial in what became the family cemetery was in 1799 when Solomon’s infant daughter Rebecca died. After this, the cemetery steadily filled to 25 graves. Among them is that of Zalman Rehine (c. 1756-1842). Rehine was reputed to be the first rabbi to come to America. The last internment was that of Solomon’s daughter Richea Gratz Etting (1792-1881).

Over time, the cemetery has seen changes, including the replacement of marble tombstones (sometimes twice) as their inscriptions have been worn away. Today, the Hebrew Burial and Social Services Society remain the caretakers of the cemetery.

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1510 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217

Cite this Page

“Etting Cemetery,” Explore Baltimore Heritage, accessed November 7, 2024, https://exploresandbox.baltimoreheritage.org/items/show/507.
Published on Apr 28, 2015. Last updated on Nov 27, 2018.