Rodef Sholem Cemetery
A small Jewish cemetery named Rodef Sholem lies on the slope that forms the north side of Buffalo Run (Rte 550) as it passes through Coleville, a community in Spring Township just to the west of Bellefonte. This graveyard is not only sacred space but a key historical record of the Jewish community that contributed to the growth of central Pennsylvania in the late 19th and early 20th century.
A partnership has now been struck between the Jewish Studies Program, our local synagogue - Congregation Brit Shalom, and the local Bellefonte family that has long taken the lead in preserving and maintaining Rodef Sholem. Our goals include:
- Producing a history of the Jewish community in the Bellefonte/State College area in the period 1850-1950, particularly the experiences of those buried in the cemetery
- Insuring the continuing preservation of Rodef Sholem Cemetery and planning for its possible use for future interments
- Creating a fellowship of individuals committed to the future support and development of Rodef Sholem
The Jewish Studies Program has taken the lead in tacking the first of these goals. In collaboration with the Graduate Officer of the Penn State Department of History and Program in Religious Studies we have begun supporting the research of an advanced graduate student whose key task is collecting the evidentiary base for the future history.
To provide a preliminary glimpse of our findings, we post here nuggets of discoveries that we hope you find interesting. If you are interested in more details, do not hesitate to contact the Director.
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