In my 42 years as a photographer, I’ve covered a lot of death and destruction, and some incidents just stick with me.
The extent of vandalism at the Jewish cemeteries in our communities in late June 2024 was shocking. And senseless.
I felt guilty photographing the monuments, trying to talk to grieving, angry people. But it’s our job. And the fact that were 176 toppled monuments was something we couldn’t ignore. These stones are hundreds of pounds. How did this happen? It wasn’t a quick crime. But no arrests were ever made.
Stories about the destruction slowed, as news stories do, and people moved on. But not the people at the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati. They started cataloging the damage and raising money for repairs.
So nearly a year later, when I saw there would be a rededication, I urged Enquirer staff to cover it. I teamed with Enquirer reporter Dan Horn and he talked with Howard Schrager. I then met with Howard and Diana Schrager at the cemetery prior to the dedication.
Howard’s parents’ stones were damaged. As he stood there, saying a prayer, tears in his eyes, I was happy to see this story come full circle.
As Rabbi Yosef Alt, of Golf Manor Synagogue said during the rededication, “Those that are fallen, are now standing back up.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A year after Jewish cemetery targeted by vandals, photographer goes back. Here’s why.
Reporting by Liz Dufour, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
