Working in the Jewish Cemetery has been a wonderful experience. Every person that’s stopped by to say ‘hi’ has been so kind and welcoming. Rabbi Brechner invited us to the synagogue for a casual lecture about Judaism and the Victoria community that put a lot of the work we are doing in perspective. Each monument we record belongs to a person that lived a full life, and whose loved ones may still be around to see our records. This fact doesn’t escape me every time I step foot into the cemetery. From the rocks lovingly placed on headstones (that increase in number every time we stop by!) to the plant life surrounding each and every person within the cemetery, the love, community, and humanity of this place is entirely evident.
This human element keeps the empirical data we collect from seeing the people we work with in the cemetery as numbers or statistics. From meeting them, to recording, to digitizing our work we see these people as people, and do our best to do their representation justice where we can. I’ve even caught myself talking to them or apologizing when I write down a detail in their inscription incorrectly. It could be so easy to conduct the work in a stoic, highly scientific way, but the very real and human element to this cemetery prevents us from distancing ourselves: it entirely consumes whoever steps foot through that gate.
Every person has a story, and perhaps our work in documenting, data-basing, and digitizing each of their final resting places will help more people find these stories and understand the connection each of these people retain to the community here in Victoria today.
This is the oldest continually used Jewish Cemetery in Canada, and that continuity and dedication is felt in every corner, nook, and cranny of this place.
R.A.
Marble monument to Sarah Oppenheimer, died 1880. Photo by F.H.