6 February 2009
In recent months, a number of initiatives to preserve Jewish cemeteries in Poland have been undertaken by the Rabbinical Commission on Cemeteries in Poland with the assistance of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage in Poland, municipalities and the local population.
Rabbi Michael Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland, outlines here a few of these projects and pay tribute to this increasing desire on the part of Polish non-Jews to preserve Polish Jewish heritage.
Szczekociny
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There are two Jewish cemeteries in Szczekociny. The old one, located in the centre of the town, is neglected (left). Recently, the local authorities offered to return the cemetery, and a monument will be made of matzevot that are gradually being recovered from local people by the landmanschaft of Szczekociny. |
One side of the cemetery was recently disturbed by a pavement built by a company owning a store adjacent to the cemetery. After an intervention by the Rabbinic Commission on Cemeteries, the pavement was removed. The company expressed deep grief for the incident and declared their commitment to financially support the restoration and commemoration of Szczekociny Jewish cemetery.
Kamień Krajeński
The idea of commemorating the Jewish history of the town came from the local high school and its teachers. In 2003 the school, together with the Centre for Citizenship Education, a non-governmental organization, launched an education programme for its students called ‘Traces of the Past’ that aimed to present the multi-cultural history of Kamień Krajeński that ended in September 1939. As a result of the programme two teachers of the school discovered the tragic history of the Jewish cemetery. In the 1970s it was closed and the remains of the Jews buried there were moved to a Catholic necropolis.
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In June 2008 a commemorating ceremony organised by two teachers took place during which an informational plaque was erected(left). Among the guests were the representatives of local authorities, Catholic and Protestant priests and members of the Jewish community. |
Bodzentyn
The Jewish cemetery in Bodzentyn, located on a hill, is one of the most beautiful and exceptional in Poland. It is surrounded by private property so there was no access to it. In the cemetery there are 70 beautiful, colourfully-decorated matzevot which were saved from devastation. However, the cemetery is neglected and overgrown.
In October 2008, a local man, Mr Bogdan Bialek, contacted the Rabbinical Commission declaring his wish to clean, fence and renovate the cemetery. He informed the Commission that the local people were also interested in commemorating it. The mayor of Bodzentyn made a commitment to buy back the territory of the cemetery from private owners, marking out a road and fencing the plot. The local parish priest is also engaged in this project and wants to encourage his parishioners to clean the cemetery. Bodzentyn is a wonderful example of people taking care of their heritage and engaged in preserving it for future generations.
Olesno
A project to clean and renovate the Olesno Jewish cemetery (below left)was prepared by the mayor of the town. The project will include cleaning matzevot, cleaning the Bet Tahara and removing the rubbish.
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Private individuals have also done a lot of work to preserve the traces of their Jewish fellow citizens in the town. In November 2007, for instance, a group of local volunteers worked to clean up and tidy vegetation at Olesno cemetery – testimony to their good-will and sensitivity. |
Ciechanowiec
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The mayor approached the Jewish community asking how he could properly commemorate the Jewish community of his town. At the cost of the local authorities, a gate was built at the entrance of the Jewish cemetery (left), the borders were set in local stone (under the supervision of the Rabbinical Commission) and a plaque was placed on the wall of the synagogue. |
Sierpc
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The city planner had proposed to extend a local road that would enter the local Jewish cemetery (left). A representative of the Rabbinic Commission on Cemeteries visited the mayor, who immediately decided to re-route the road to avoid the cemetery. |
Ostrow Mazowiecki
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A weekly fair takes place in this city and about 1/3 of the Jewish cemetery is used for the fairgrounds. A representative of the Rabbinic Commission on Cemeteries met with the mayor, who promised to remove the fair from the area of the cemetery (left). Once that is accomplished, there are funds from abroad to properly demarcate and secure the cemetery. |
