L to R:  Larry Caulfield Beth Yeshurun cemetery manager, Bradley Olitzki with his wife and children, Alan Lipman. Harry Brown, Ron Mart, Eric Bishop,  Rabbi Steven Morgen, Stewart Mueller, Mark Katzenellenbogen, Dave Lavine, Ivor Segall, Zak Katzenellenbogen, Issac Johary, Jonathan Barris, Mark Goldberg and Michael Sopher.

Not pictured: Beth Yeshurun volunteer Woody Fox.

Congregation Beth Yeshurun associate rabbi and member of Hebrew Order of David Lodge Galil, Rabbi Steven Morgen, unveiled 13 markers at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery on Sunday, Nov. 24. He was accompanied by 14 members of HOD and cemetery manager Larry Caulfield. Beth Yeshurun volunteer Woody Fox assisted with the unveilings.

Both HOD lodges – Galil and Tikvah – have continued their community-wide Gravestone Project that began on Oct. 6, 2019. Their goal is to place a permanent marker on all unmarked Jewish graves. All congregations with cemeteries in Houston also are involved.

There are still several hundred graves in Houston Jewish cemeteries without markers.

In some cases, it is not known who is buried in unmarked graves, and because of Houston floods, documents have been lost. Years ago, a small pole with a paper inside identified who was buried in these plots, but often the paper was lost to wind or water.

The Gravestone Project unveiled its first eight markers, two at four different cemeteries, in 2019. The project got underway at Beth Jacob Cemetery, 2300 Almeda Genoa Rd., continued at Beth Yeshurun Cemetery, 1037 N. Post Oak Rd., then at Beth Israel Memorial Garden, located in the Woodlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery at 1101 Antoine Dr., and finally at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet St.

According to rabbis, providing a grave marker is one of the highest mitzvahs one can do because the person you are doing it for cannot thank you.

While HOD funded the first eight markers, continuing the project has been made possible by the generosity of members of the community. Gaitz Memorials lends its assistance with purchasing and engraving, and Jose Ramirez and his crew at Ramirez Cemetery Services place the markers.

To learn more about the Gravestone Project or to donate directly, go to hodgalil.org/Donate .