Waldheim Jewish Cemeteries

The west-central section of Waldheim contains many of the oldest graves. Monuments here tend to be close together, so that all available land could be used for burials, with no wasted space between.

Narrow footpaths lead deep into the cemetery from Desplaines Avenue. Monuments are carved in English, Hebrew, German, and several other languages, often with more than one language appearing on the same stone.

In early 2004, this particular photograph (somewhat altered) appeared as the inside front cover of the mystery novel Day of Atonement by Faye Kellerman; parts of it were also used on the outside front and back covers.