Jewish Ledger
Teen leads effort to preserve Vermont’s oldest Jewish cemetery
By David Lachance
EAST POULTNEY, Vermont – (Bennington Banner via JTA) – The autumn leaves crunched underfoot as Netanel Crispe walked uphill toward the northwest corner of the small cemetery. He stopped and examined a toppled headstone.
“The last time I was here this was standing up,” he said, regarding the weathered, gray stone. “At least it hasn’t broken.”
Crispe brushed away the leaves to reveal a carving at the top of the stone: two raised hands, the gesture used in the delivery of the Birkat Kohanim, Judaism’s priestly blessing.
DAVID LACHANCE Bennington Banner, via AP
David LaChance/The Banner via AP
Netanel Crispe reads a gravestone in the East Poultney, Vt., Jewish cemetery on Sunday, Nov. 6. Crispe is leading an effort to restore and preserve the cemetery.
EAST POULTNEY, Vt. The autumn leaves crunched underfoot as Netanel Crispe walked uphill, toward the northwest corner of the small cemetery. He stopped and examined a toppled headstone.
“The last time I was here this was standing up,” he said, regarding the weathered, gray stone. “At least it hasn’t broken.”
Crispe brushed away the leaves to reveal a carving at the top of the stone: two raised hands, thew gesture used in the delivery of the Birkat Kohanim, Judaism’s priestly blessing.