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Germany: Jewish cemetery desecrated; memorial stone unveiled – The Netherlands: New book about Jewish cemeteries; memorial stone unveiled – – Poland: Jewish cemetery returned to Jewish community – Slovakia: Jewish cemetery desecrated – Spain: Ceuta authorities help restore Jewish cemetery |
New Book About Jewish Cemeteries in the Dutch Groningen Province
A local Jewish history foundation has released a book about the 23 Jewish cemeteries in the Dutch Groningen province. The richly-illustrated book covers both the burial grounds as well as past and present Jewish life in the area. An exhibition on the same topic will be inaugurated in the Groningen Folkingestraat synagogue in May. Click here for more information (in Dutch).
Przemysl Jewish Cemetery Returned to Jewish Community
February 24, 2010 – Ownership of the Old Jewish Cemetery in the Polish city of Przemysl has been returned to the Jewish community. Following years of negotiations, the decision was taken by a Polish government commission and will be carried out by the Przemysl municipality, which has been the owner of the site since the end of World War II. Efforts for restitution of the site were led by the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODZ), which will clean and restore the 16th-century burial ground. Read the original article.
Memorial Marker Unveiled at Jewish Cemetery in Bellingwolde
March 21, 2010 – A memorial marker has been unveiled at the Jewish cemetery in the Dutch town of Bellingwolde. The stone and glass marker bears the names of all 37 local Jewish inhabitants who were deported during the Holocaust, as well as their dates of birth and the names of the places where they were killed. Based on an initiative by former Bellingwolde mayor Engbert Drenth, the marker was unveiled by Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, rabbi of the provincial communities of the Netherlands. Read the original article (in Dutch).
Delitzsch Jewish Cemetery Desecrated
April 6, 2010 – The Delitzsch Jewish Cemetery near the German city of Leipzig has been completely vandalised. Unknown perpetrators broke through the cemetery’s gate at night, destroyed the memorial plaque and toppled all 30 gravestones at the site. The local mayor and police president visited the site to attract attention to the incident and encourage the public to help find the perpetrators. This was the third time that the burial site has been desecrated – previous acts of vandalism took place here in 1938 and 1976. Read the original article (in German).
Zvolen Jewish Cemetery Desecrated
April 6, 2010 – A Jewish cemetery in the Slovak town of Zvolen was desecrated when unknown perpetrators broke through the cemetery’s gates and sprayed anti-Semitic graffiti on gravestones and the cemetery wall. A complaint has been filed with the local police.
The cemetery originally contained about 500 gravestones, but following decades of vandalism, only 50 remain at the site. The burial ground is listed as a national heritage site. Read the original article.
Ceuta Authorities Agree to Help Restore Local Jewish Cemetery
April 8, 2010 – Following an agreement with the local Jewish community, the authorities of the Spanish city of Ceuta have agreed to provide 450,000 Euros for the restoration of the local Jewish cemetery. The project will include rehabilitation of the area, improved access to the site as well as construction of a burial hall. Read the original article (in Spanish).
Memorial Stone Unveiled at Kröpeling Jewish Cemetery
April 16, 2010 – A memorial stone has been unveiled at the Jewish cemetery in the German town of Kröpeling. Both regional rabbi William Wolff and Kröpeling mayor Hubertus Wunschik attended the ceremony.
In addition to the memorial stone, the city municipality has applied for funding for further development and restoration of the cemetery, including a plaque featuring information about the former local community, restoration of the wall and pathways and cleaning of excess vegetation.Read the original article (in German).
