Tomb of Lazarus Magnus, Chatham Jewish Burial Ground

Memorial to Lazarus Magnus (d 1865), erected in 1866, by Edward James Physick, in Chatham Jewish Burial Ground.

MATERIALS: Portland Stone, on granite steps, with raised lead lettering.

DESCRIPTION: the monument stands over 4m high, and consists of a heavily draped urn on a pedestal with a tall stepped cap. On the north side of the pedestal is an arched marble panel depicting lightning striking a tree, signifying that the life of the deceased was abruptly curtailed; portions of the relief have been lost through vandalism. On the pediment above is carved a badge with a central lion, thought to be connected with Lazarus's role as captain of the volunteer artillery corps. The pedestal stands on three graduated blocks, bearing the very detailed inscription to the north; the upper two blocks have projecting tablets. The leaded inscription is in sans serif capitals. The upper tablet, in Hebrew and English, provides Magnus’s details: ‘SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF LAZARUS SIMON MAGNUS, ESQ. / THE BELOVED AND ONLY SON OF / SIMON MAGNUS OF CHATHAM. / WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE JANUARY 7.TH 1865 (A.N. 5625.) / IN THE FORTIETH YEAR OF HIS AGE.’ The middle tablet describes his personal qualities, his commitment to Judaism, and his energetic benevolence. It is noted that he was an example of ‘HOW AN INTENSE LOVE OF JUDAISM MAY BE BROUGHT TO HARMONIZE WITH THE EXERCISE OF EVERY DUTY AND OBLIGATION PROPER TO AN ENLIGHTENED AND PATRIOTIC CITIZEN.’ The bottom panel describes his career in detail, his involvement in the Kent Volunteer Artillery being particularly emphasised through the use of larger lettering. The inscription ends with a quotation from Ecclesiastes XII_7 in both English and Hebrew: ‘THE DUST HAS GONE BACK TO THE EARTH AS IT WAS: / THE SPIRIT HAS RETURNED TO GOD WHO GAVE IT.’ Beneath that is the traditional abbreviation based on Samuel, 25:29, ‘May his/her soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life’ in Hebrew lettering. The monument is raised yet higher by three granite steps, and is enclosed by a chain-link fence strung between tapering stone piers on a granite kerb. Within the memorial’s enclosure are three ledger stones: on one is inscribed ‘BENEATH THIS STONE LIES / INTERRED THE BODY / OF CAPATIN / LAZARUS SIMON MAGNUS’. The others lie on the graves of Lazarus’s sister Jane (d. 1872), and her husband Henry Jacob Nathan of London (d 1879).