“The historic Temple Beth El is located off Cervantes St. in Pensacola’s Brownsville neighborhood. The cemetery dates from the 1870s, coinciding with one of Pensacola’s many yellow fever epidemics, which occurred in 1874 and claimed the lives of 354 residents. Samuel Goldbach established the cemetery and buried his son, Moses, there in 1874, the first known gravesite in the cemetery. Tragically, by 1898, four other Goldbach children had been laid to rest in the northeast corner of the cemetery, the first portion of the plot to be utilized. Near the Cervantes Street gate (no longer in use), stands a monument, dedicated by Sidney P. Levy, reading, “A memorial to Sam Goldbach who in his generosity, presented to congregation Beth El this beautiful spot, dedicated to the memory of those whose life’s journey has ended and whose blessed names we revere.” At some point, control of the cemetery passed to B’Nai Brith, and then to Temple Beth El.
The cemetery contains numerous 19th century graves, some with beautiful and quite ornate stones and monuments. These graves record the birthplace of many of Pensacola’s Jewish population at that time, Westphalia and Bavaria, now parts of Germany.
For additional cemetery information, please contact Temple Beth El.”
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