For some reason the fact that I had never visited my Grandparents graves began to weigh on me. Since I now live nearby, I figured it would be nice to finally pay them a visit. What an awful experience it was to visit Old Montefiore, a drab flat cheap plot of land without any visible landscaping. The place reeks of neglect and disorganization. Sure, there are a few well kept graves up front on the main thoroughfare but if you are unfortunate enough to be visiting the perimeters, you are in for a shock. The thoroughfares are covered with dirt, the paths desperately in need of repaving. There is zero organization, the signage either missing or turned around by vandals. The society gates have graffiti style scribbles on them made with Sharpies designating the gate numbers rather than anything even approaching aesthetic acceptability. They actually have vandalized these gates themselves in order to save a few bucks on proper markers. Worse yet is the care your loved ones graves receive. If you have been paying for Seasonal or Perpetual care and have not visited in a few years, you are in for an unpleasant surprise. Total neglect. Overgrowth with weeds, vines, poison ivy. Tombstones overturned. Plantings withered and dead. Apparently the business model here is to collect your care payments and pocket the money. Then, they attend to the squeaky wheels and invoice you for ever increasing amounts only to renew another cycle of neglect. Your best bet is to NOT PAY THEM A CENT. You are far better off doing the care yourself.

addendum to previous review: after contacting manager via email and sharing my experience, within hours the plot was weeded and trimmed. Most importantly was the video that they sent for me to actually see that work was done. Thank you so very much! I was also told that next time we plan to visit, contact the office and the plot will be weeded and trimmed prior to our visit. I will definitely do this. Thank you Obviously no one at the cemetery cares about reviews since I have read the previous and they all seem similar to mine, however...... I visited my family's plot yesterday and was DISGUSTED at the sight. (Unfortunately we live 3 hours away and can't visit as frequently as we would like) The weeds were almost knee high, trash everywhere, but the most horrifying was seeing the large hole in the middle of the dead plantings on my Father's grave. SHAME ON YOU. I went to the office and was told by a "not so nice" receptionist that a work order for "inspection" would have to be done prior to any work. THEN a work order would have to be placed. Once work is complete I will be notified in 6 weeks. REALLY?? Again, no one clearly cares, but to any family members that will be visiting their family at Montifiore, come prepared, as we did. Bring your own weed wacker, gloves, broom and other tools to do the work yourself.

Do not pay for Perpetual Care. They take the money and do not maintain the graves at all. We paid Perpetual for multiple graves. These picture are from 9/10/23, the week before Rosh Hashana when they should be smart enough to know that many people are coming before the Holidays & at least clean it up before the Holidays. We complain every year, but it doesn't accomplish anything. They respond with the same response every time...'there was a lot of rain this season'. As you can see from these pictures, this is not a month growth... They probably didn't touch it the whole season. When we are in the office, we hear many, many people coming in & complaining of the same. They maintain the graves near the front of the cemetery and along the main roads, since that is what most people see. It's all a joke to them. Others have left similar reviews about the lack of maintenance, even when paying for Perpetual Care. We try to do the right thing with our parents & relatives, and think the graves will be maintained. They are absolutely NOT. No reason at all to pay for perpetual. Better to give the money to Charity in honor of your family member that passed!!! Shame on them!!! They take your money and do not do what you pay for.

If you are grousng about how your plot looks, clean it up and stop looking for someone else to do YOUR duty. This old graveyard isn't perfectly maintained but the folks who work here are a very nice, helpful, polite and caring sort. They are happy to provide equipment for cleanup, though you should bring your own to clean up your own family's plot. This can save you a few bucks, but this is a poor long-term solution as the cemetery is getting less and less income from families each year. Alternatively, you can participate in the management of the cemetery-- as a volunteer, of course-- or set up a volunteer cleanup, organize a Boy or Girl Scout Troop for such a service, donate funds for cleanup, do something other than whine plaintively online. I visit at least yearly and try to come by each season. Fewer and fewer visitors, more and more weeds, more-wrinkled faces, larger cars, 50's music wafting from the car stereos...

Old Montifiore Cemetery was intentionally misled by my father, to bury my mother, who's maiden named was Joyce McNeil, a Christian, within the section of my family merely 30 yards from the Lubovitcher Rebbe. My father who was born a Jew, purposefully lied to the cemetery, false;y claiming that my mother was known to be Jewish. She never converted. She knew no Hebrew, and she never observed any Jewish Law. It is an insult to the Rebbe, to have Christians buried in the cemetery, based merely on the word of a plot holder, without any documentation whatsoever. I was brought up Jewish, attended Sunday School at Shul, had a Bar Mitzvah, attended Jewish Camp, and was a member of a Jewish Fraternity at University. However, once I learned of the definition of a Jew under Jewish Law, I converted immediately with Chabad.

The Chabad Lubavitch must take a care of all part of cemetery not only Rebbe’s Ohel due to most people who choosing this cemetery have some kind of Lubuvachis affiliation or even members of Chabad community. However, the cemetery looks almost an orphan. I see very very limited Jewish presence around of the Jewish cemetery. Also, the cleaning around graves very very limited or sometimes none ! In winter time no cleaning of snow and almost no paths to get to graves, so some management improvement and Chabad Lubavitch involvements are needed for Main Chabad Lubavitch cemetery !

For anyone looking for a place to pray at the resting place of Very Great Tsadikim this is the place. One can also send emails and faxs and the rabbi in attendance will print and place your request at the Holy resting places od the Great Tsadikim Rebbi Yosef Yitschok Schneerson and Rebbi MENACHEM Mendel Schneerson. Besides this there are large places for writing your wishes with paper and pens. Also hot and cold drinks. Restrooms. Places to recharge phones. Prayer rooms. And many other important facilities.

The cemetery doesn’t seem to care that many graves have been pushed over or have simply fallen over, over the years. I tried reaching out to the cemetery regarding having them fixed but no response. How truly sad that it is us Jews who are desecrating our dead the most. There is a lot of neglect at Montefiore as many previous reviews have pointed out, but this is the most infuriating.

I AM 37 I LOST MY MOTHER IN FEB 2011 I AM THERE EVERY SUNDAY!!! THIS CEMETERY IS UNMAITAINED DEAD SCHRUBS AND BUSHES ALL OVER STREETS ON NOT CLEANED OLD GRAVES AND JUST OVER LOOKED LEFT SINKING HEAD OR FOOT STONES DEAD TREE LIMBS HANGING GRASS IS CUT WHEN EVER WE NEED TO SPEAK UP WE ARE THE VOICE !!!! THESE PROBLEMS MUST BE DELT WITH

We’ve been to several funerals over the past few years. Every time we come, our family plot has weeds and the bushes are out of control. You’d think they make it nice and brush off the dirt off the headstones. Unacceptable.

They don't maintain anything. Weeds are always growing in my family's plot. Waste of thousands of dollars. I bet the good reviews are fake.

Was a contractor here once, what a place to do any business literally in the mist of a cemetery, excellent upkeep to the bones!

Jason & Teddy's Comments Are Exactly The Same, Just Worded Different... …

מקום מנוחתם קודש של אדמורי ליובאווייטש חבד. תפילות תפילות תפילות!

The grounds could be kept up a little better.

It's a cemetery not much else to say

I work there for the summer seasonal

We visited the Rebbe. 'nuf said.

What can you say its a cemetery!

כאן נמצא אוהל הרבי מליובאוויטש

Not very comforting a mess

Oy vey