Manhattan, NY - Tombstones In One Of The City's Oldest Cemeteries, Damaged By Construction

Manhattan, NY - Mortar from a construction site has damaged nearby tombstones in one of the city's oldest Jewish cemeteries.

The material got spattered over a few dozen tombstones in the cemetery, which sits next to a department store in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood that is being redeveloped into luxury condominiums.

The cemetery, owned by Congregation Shearith Israel, was used from 1829 to 1851 and also holds the remains of three Jewish soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. "It's a big deal because the cemetery is very important to us," said Rabbi Marc Angel, the congregation's senior rabbi. "We are highly sensitive to anything that happens in that cemetery."
Diane Jackier, a spokeswoman for the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission, said mortar from the construction site had fallen on the cemetery and gotten stuck on the tombstones, and the commission has notified the site's developer, Elad Properties, that it is responsible for any necessary cleaning and repair of the tombstones.
Elad also owns The Plaza hotel on Fifth Avenue as reported on VOS IZ NEIAS, which is undergoing renovation for partial conversion to condominiums.