Eagle Point Cemetery

History of Eagle Point Cemetery

by Gary L. Franks

Anshai Sfard Cemetery, located 515 Eagle Point Road in Rossford, Ohio, was formally known as Eagle Point Cemetery. Founded in 1865, it is composed of two distinctly separate sections known informally as “gardens”:

(1) An orthodox garden named Etz Chayim (EC) which is owned by Congregation Etz Chayim. All burials in it are governed by the strict rules of Orthodox Judaism. The Etz Chayim Garden is reserved solely for members of that congregation. All persons buried in this garden must be Jewish. The sign over the entrance to the Etz Chayim garden has the name Anshai Sfard on it. This is the original congregation that owned this garden. However, it merged with two other congregations long ago to form Congregation Etz Chayim. The Etz Chayim Garden is on the east side of Eagle Point Cemetery.

(2) A “non-orthodox” garden named Toledo Hebrew (TH), which is owned by the Toledo Hebrew Cemetery Association, a group of non-orthodox congregations. Burials here are governed by less stringent rules; e.g., a non-Jewish spouse can be buried next to his / her Jewish spouse. The Toledo Hebrew Garden is on the west side of Eagle Point Cemetery.

According to Jewish cemetery laws and traditions, the two gardens must be separated by a plot of land approximately 12 to 15 feet in width. In Eagle Point Cemetery this plot of land serves as an access road into the Etz Chayim Garden from Eagle Point Road. A separate access road further west serves the Toledo Hebrew Garden.

The cemetery property encompasses some 6.5 acres; however, about 2.25 acres are on the steep hillside extending down to Grassy Creek and the Maumee River. As such this portion of the property is not suitable for burials.

The Toledo Jewish Community Cemetery Association manages Eagle Point Cemetery, as well as Beth Shalom Cemetery in Oregon, OH.