(JHE) — Renovation work and fencing will go forward at around 50 abandoned or neglected Jewish cemeteries in Hungarian small towns and villages in a second phase of a state-funded program to maintain and restore Jewish burial grounds.
The Hungarian government announced in 2015 that it would pledge 1 billion forints to restoring such sites. The funds have been granted in two stages to the Hungarian Jewish Heritage Public Foundation (MAZSÖK), which launched a reconstruction program through public calls, in which municipalities could present project proposals to restore their local Jewish cemeteries.
The first public call was launched by the MAZSÖK at the beginning of 2018. By April of that year, a total of 43 abandoned Jewish cemeteries had been chosen for a total grant of 468 million forints (about €1.3 million).
Around 532 million forints (€1.4 million) have been allotted for the second stage of work. MAZSÖK issued a public call during the summer and selected around half of 106 potential cemetery projects for funding.
A maximum of 20 million forints (around €55.000) could be requested for restoration work for each cemetery, and the local government must commit to maintaining the cemetery for the following 10 years. Much of the funding is destined for fencing the cemeteries.
The Jewish cemetery in Abaújszántó (a small village in northeastern Hungary), was one of the Jewish cemeteries that won the MAZSÖK call in the first round (and receives further funding in the second). Thanks to the grant, the town was able to build a fence around the cemetery and install a new entrance with a wrought iron gate.
In addition, at the Abaújszántó cemetery — and at others — a “Lapidaris plaque” (similar to QR technology) was attached next to the entrance, so that visitors can scan it with their smartphones and get information about the cemetery.
According to MAZSÖK, such plaques will be placed at all renovated cemeteries (starting with those from the first round of funding).
See pictures of the Lapidaris plaques placed in several cemeteries
1 comment on “Hungary: Second stage of state funded program sees restoration work and/or fencing of c. 50 abandoned or neglected Jewish cemeteries”
This is wonderful news. I hope in the third phase you would consider Kovacsvagas, Bozsva, Gonc, Goncruszka, Fuzerradvony, palhaza and Satoraljaujhely. I have family buried in Kovacsvagas an there are only 20 tombstones left. My hope is that you can protect what is left there. Thank you.