The B’Nai Israel Cemetery is a separate section of the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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B’Nai Israel Cemetery tells the story of many immigrants. Some held great prominence in Utah.
The B’Nai Israel congregation was established formally in 1873 and had about 40 families in the Salt Lake City area. The first synagogue was completed in 1883 and soon after the B’Nai Israel congregation began to transition to a reform style. The orthodox members separated and created Congregation Montefiore. The B’Nai Israel congregation soon outgrew that first temple and began construction on the historic synagogue located at 249 S 400 E.
The Auerbach brothers were instrumental in building the 2nd B’Nai Israel Temple. Frederick Auerbach brought his nephew, Philip Meyer over from Germany who fashioned its design after the great synagogue in Berlin. Meyer stayed in Utah to oversee its construction and eventually returned to Germany. Philip Meyer died in the holocaust.
Frederick Auerbach and his brother Samuel built a hugely successful chain of stores in many small towns in Utah. They opened their Salt Lake City store in 1879 and lasted for 100 years closing its doors in 1979.
Simon Bamberger was elected the 4th Governor of Utah in 1917 and to date is the only person of Jewish heritage to serve as Governor. Bamberger had many economic endeavors in Utah from mining to railroads. Bamberger owned the interurban railroad that served the Great Salt Lake and northern hot springs up to Farmington. In 1895, Bamberger purchased a swampy area north of Farmington to provide a destination for the end of the rail line. He drained it and built the Lagoon resort. The railroad was reorganized to the Salt Lake & Ogden railway and construction resumed to reach Ogden.
Maurice Abravanel was a classical music composer and conductor of the Utah Symphony for 32 years. Turning down a lucrative deal with Radio City Music Hall in New York he made his way to Utah in 1946. Many years Abravanel worked without pay to fulfill his dream of building is own orchestra.
Their impact lives on in Utah and they all have their final resting place in the B’Nai Israel Cemetery. (quoted from Utah State History)
