Jewish Cemeteries Clean-ups 2023 — Round-up #2; more than 70 actions from 16 countries

At the beginning of May, we published a first round-up for 2023  of some of the many Jewish cemetery clean-up initiatives taking place this spring and summer in various European countries.

Here’s a second Round-up listing more than 70 actions from 16 countries — actions that have taken place since our last round-up, that are scheduled to take place, that we missed in our previous round-up, and that are (or have been) ongoing. Most are volunteer initiatives, but some are initiatives by Jewish organizations or civic bodies — we also include a volunteer action at a synagogue site.

It is so important to emphasize these efforts, as they are largely overlooked (occasional vandalism, however, grabs headlines)!

Click on the links to see details for each action on Facebook, local media, or dedicated websites. The links in orange show upcoming or ongoing initiatives.

We know we have missed some — if you don’t see your project on this list, let us know – and also put it in the comments!

 

AUSTRIA

Vienna, Währing Jewish Cemetery, March 12, April 16, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 15 – Regular clean-ups organized by the Association “Save The Jewish Cemetery of Währing.” They occur once a month, from March to October, and include the removal of vegetation and fallen leaves. The organizers provide gloves, scissors, rakes, and other equipment, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. Registration is not required. Click here to see more on the association’s website

 

BELARUS

Janavičy, ongoing – The Vitebsk-based Jewish Cultural Center “Mishpokha” has been caring for the local Jewish cemetery’s restoration, documentation, and clean-up since 2020. In June, a group of volunteers cleaned up the cemetery, while workers are currently constructing a roadway in it. Click HERE and HERE to see more on Facebook

Kałyški, May – Since 2022, the Vitebsk-based Jewish Cultural Center “Mishpokha” and the Vitebsk Jewish community have been completing the restoration and clean-up of the Jewish cemetery in Kałyški, in the district of Vitebsk. Volunteers gathered at the cemetery at the end of May to document and clean up some matzevot. Click here to find more on Facebook 

Mogilev, ongoing – Volunteer work at the city’s Jewish cemetery occurs throughout the year and includes clean-up and restoration work. The Mogilev Jewish community is fundraising for the restoration of the cemetery via a GoFundMe campaign  See more details on the Facebook page Click to read our Have Your Say article about the cemetery and restoration work 

 

CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague, Žižkov, ongoing – Since March, the Prague Jewish Community has organized six volunteer clean-up actions at the New Jewish Cemetery in  Žižkov. So far, about 42 volunteers from private companies, as well as single volunteers, took part in the sessions. The biggest group, made of 29 people, participated at the latest clean-up on May 23. Click here to see more on Facebook 

Kosova Hora, June 4 – The Czech Foundation for the Victims of the Holocaust organized a volunteer clean-up action at the local Jewish cemetery. Click HERE and HERE to see more on Facebook   

Golčův Jeníkov, ongoing – Since 2010, the Jewish community of Prague, which owns the cemetery, has been restoring this place. This year they plan to cut trees, which are at risk of falling and are a threat not only to visitors but also to the surrounding tombs. Click here to see more on Facebook 

 

FRANCE

Schwenheim, May 26 – On the occasion of “Citizen Day,” volunteers gathered to clean-up several public spaces, including the local Jewish cemetery. Click here to find more on Facebook 

Rosenwiller, May 16 – On the occasion of “Citizen Day”, volunteers cleaned up the information panels at the local Jewish cemetery and the small square in front of it. Click here to find more on Facebook

 

GERMANY

Attendorn, June – Since 1984, students from local schools, in coordination with the cemetery administration and the municipal construction office, have maintained the city’s old Jewish cemetery every year. Around 20 students from the 9th grade of the Protestant religion course from St. Ursula High School cleaned up the site this year. Click here to see more on local media 

Hamburg, April 26, May 3rd, May 10th, and June 7  – Members of the police academy, as well as junior police officers and Hamburg’s state rabbi, gathered at the Ohlsdorf Jewish cemetery to carry out cleaning and restoring works. They also had discussions with Jewish representatives and carried out educational sessions. Click here to read about it and see a video, on the Police web site  Click here to see more on Facebook

Weilburg, July – Students from the city’s Philippinum High School cleaned-up the local Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on local media

 

HUNGARY

Budapest, July 17 – 27 – Around 25 volunteers will clean and do other work at the vast Kozma Street Jewish cemetery in a summer camp organized by the German-based NGO Action Reconciliation Service for Peace in cooperation with the Jewish cultural association “Mazsike.” Click here to see details 

MAZSIHISZ, the main umbrella organization of Hungarian Jewish communities, began work in several Jewish cemeteries in March. Work was carried out in:

• Pilisvörösvár, works were financed by Mazsihisz and carried out by István Csapi, who restored the fallen and broken tombstones. Click here to see details 
• Pécel in Pest county, where a total of 169 fallen, fallen tombstones were restored, 11 of which were large obelisks, and the local martyr’s monument was also renovated  Click here for details
• Apostag, Bükkábrány, Boldva, Csécse, Edelény, Kenderes, Nagykálló, Nagyoroszi, Sajószentpéter, where  grass was cut. Click here to see more on the Mazsihisz web site 

Mór, May 7 – The Hungarian Maccabi, in collaboration with Maccabi Europe and the Hebrew and Israeli Cultural Center in Budapest, organized a “Mitzvah Day” at the Mór Jewish cemetery, which was completely cleaned up by volunteers. Click here to see more on Facebook 

Siófok, Summer – Kibuci Bucik is a youth group from the Lauder Javne Jewish School in Budapest that organizes a clean-up session in a different Jewish cemetery in Hungary every year. This summer, the group will work at the Siófok Jewish cemetery, on the lake Balaton.

Tiszafüred, June – The “Az Élet Menete” Foundation cleaned up the local Jewish cemetery with the help of volunteers both from Budapest and Tiszafüred. Click here to read more from media Click here to see more on Facebook

Szigetvár, June – Volunteers from the Szigetvár Castle Circle cleaned up about a quarter of the cemetery, and they plan to continue to clean the whole area. Click here to read more from local media 

 

LATVIA

Riga, June 11 – Volunteers from the Riga Jewish Community gathered at the New Jewish Cemetery in the Šmerlī neighborhood for a day of cleaning. Click here to see more on Facebook Click here to see more on the Jewish community’s website

Višķi, July 31-August 13 – Around 12 international volunteers aged 18-30 are expected to clean and “make visible again” the foundations of the destroyed synagogue, continuing work begun in 2022. At present, only three steps of the synagogue can be seen. Participants will work to uncover the foundation, clean it, and carry out measurements under the guidance of surveyors in preparation for creating a monument. The initiative is organized by the German NGO Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, in association with the NGO “Drei Stufen” e.V.  from Osnabrück. Click here to see more  

 

LITHUANIA

Paberžė, May 21 – The chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish community, the Israeli and US ambassadors and their staff, and other volunteers cleaned the historical local Jewish cemetery. Click here to find out more 

Zarasai, July 17-26 – During a Summer Camp organized by the German NGO Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, eight international volunteers aged 18-35 are expected to carry out work preparing for the inventory process of the local Jewish cemetery. The process will cover cleaning the cemetery of debris and vegetation; digitization and identifying coordinates of graves; identifying and copying legible inscriptions. Click here to see details

 

THE NETHERLANDS

Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, every Wednesday – From 8:30 a.m. to sunset, the management of the Beth Haim Portuguese (Sephardic) Jewish cemetery welcomes volunteers to clean up and restore the cemetery. The management provides all the tools and other materials, and at 1 PM, a kosher lunch is served for the volunteers. If you are interested in participating, you can email [email protected]. The volunteer action occurs throughout the year and is suspended only due to rain or snow. Click here to read more on the cemetery website

The Hague, 30 April, 21 May, 25 June, 30 July, 27 August, 17 September, 29 October – Throughout the year, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Jewish Cemetery in The Hague carries out clean-up work in the Jewish cemetery every last Sunday of the month. To participate, volunteers need to sign up beforehand by emailing [email protected]. Click here to find details on the Foundation’s website 

 

POLAND

The Matzevah Foundation, in cooperation with several partners, carries out Jewish cemetery work in several towns. Each project focuses on cleaning and clearing a cemetery that has become overgrown and possibly neglected. Volunteers from the Foundation and its partners are joined by volunteers from local communities and worldwide. Click here to see details 

• Przysucha, April 30-May 5–  This action was carried out in partnership with the University of Szczecin in Poland, Staffordshire University in England, the Foundation of the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, and ESJF – The European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative.
• Częstochowa, June 12-14 – Work was carried out with Alon Goldman of the World Society of Częstochowa Jews and Their Descendants as well as volunteers from Fundacja Adulam and Hillel students from Dartmouth University in the U.S.  
• Lublin/Wieniawa, June 26-30 – This project was carried out in partnership with JewishGen Future Scholars, Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland, Studnia Pamięci, and the Warsaw Jewish Community. The team worked in the Lublin and Wieniawa Jewish cemeteries.
• Lublin/Wieniawa, July 17-19 –The foundation will return to the Lublin area in July with another partnership with JewishGen and their “Neshama” Post-Student Cemetery Project. This will be conducted again with JewishGen, Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland, Studnia Pamięci, and the Warsaw Jewish Community. The work will be undertaken in the Lublin and Wieniawa cemeteries, with the actual work days scheduled for July 17-19.
• Oświęcim, August 4-13– This year will mark the Foundation’s 10th year of work in Oświęcim.

Białystok, August 6-15 – The Białystok Cemetery Restoration Fund will again return to work at Bagnówka Jewish Cemetery this year. Click here to see more on Facebook Click HERE to donate for the initiative 

Czarny Dunajec, July – Israeli volunteers from WeKibbutz and the Shalom Corps Organization, in the Netaim Program traveled to Serbia and Poland to clean up neglected Jewish cemeteries. In Poland, they worked at the Czarny Dunajec Jewish cemetery alongside volunteers from Dariusz Popiela’s organization “People not Numbers”. Click here to see more from Facebook Click here to read more from Ynetnews 

Częstochowa, May 22 and 26 – Students from the General Anders High School cleaned the cemetery on May 22, while on May 26, work was carried out by students from the Kochanowski and the Electrical and Mechanical School schools. Click here to read more from local media 

Gliwice, June 2 and 20, July 16 – Like every year, volunteers gather to clean up the Old Jewish cemetery. Click here to donate  Click here to keep updated through Facebook 

Goraj, May 6 – Firemen from the Goraj area cleaned up the local Jewish cemetery in remembrance of the 80^thanniversary of the Reinhardt operation. Click here to find more on local media 

Łask, June 12 – Volunteers gathered to clean-up the local Jewish cemetery on the initiative of the Association Guardian of Remembrance and the Łask House of Culture. Also, students from local schools took part in the action. Click here to see more on Facebook Click here to see the event on Facebook 

Łódź, ongoing – The Guardians of Remembrance Foundation organizes clean up actions in the city’s immense Jewish cemetery from Spring to early Autumn. The latest actions took place on June 4, 12, and 18; the next will be on July 30. Click here to access the foundation’s Facebook page 

Mysłowice, May 28 – The clean-up action at the local cemetery is organized periodically, in autumn and spring. The “Jacob Lustig” Mysłowice Historical Society organized the action in cooperation with the municipality. Click here to read more on local media 

Olesno, May – The municipality is taking care of the local Jewish cemetery by cutting the trees that threaten the matzevot. Click here to read more from local media 

Przysucha, May – Students from the John Paul II School in Przysucha cleaned the local Jewish cemetery as part of a wider project carried out in cooperation with researchers from the University of Szczecin and volunteers from Great Britain, Ireland, Ukraine, Belarus and the USA. Click here to read more on local media

Oświęcim, June 26 – Two volunteers from the Daimler Truck AG organization and a volunteer from Café Bergson worked at the Jewish Cemetery, cleaning up the paths and mowing the grass. Click here to see more on Facebook 

Tarnów, ongoing — Members of the Committee for Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Tarnów are searching, uncovering, and cleaning hundreds of gravestones in the historic Jewish cemetery. Their inscriptions will be included in the online database of the Foundation for Documentation of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland. Click here to see more on Facebook (scroll for posts, videos, pictures) 

Wysokie Mazowieckie, June 15 – Volunteers from a local school cleaned up the Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook 

Wroclaw, August 27-September 7 – Organized by the German-based NGO Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, this summer camp will clean and maintain the sprawling Jewish cemetery on ul. Lotnicza (still in use) aims at people aged 40 and over, but it’s open to others. Click here to see details on the NGO’s website 

Zabrze, July 4 – The “Zachor” association, which takes care of the cemetery, organized a clean up action in response to the vandalization that the cemetery suffered at the end of June. Click here to see more on local media or the Zachor Facebook page. Click here to watch a video on Facebook 

 

ROMANIA

Alba Iulia, June 26 to July 7 and July 31 to August 11 — Conservation work on matzevot in the historic Jewish cemetery in Alba Iulia will continue this year thanks to a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest. Click here to read our post on JHE   Click HERE to see the project’s page on Facebook 

Moinești, ongoing – The Leolam Foundation is currently doing extensive cleaning at the local Jewish cemetery. Click here to find more on Facebook   and HERE to watch a video

Volunteers from the Jewish community of Zalău have been cleaning up and restoring various Jewish cemeteries in the province, including:

• Crasna, May – Click here to see more on Facebook 
• Glod, May – Click here to see more on Facebook 
• Jibou, June – Click here to see more on Facebook 
• Meseșenii de sus, June– Click here to see more on Facebook
• Zalău, June – Click here to see more on Facebook
• Zimbor, May – Click here to see more on Facebook  

 

RUSSIA

Rostov, May 28 – Volunteers from the Rostov Jewish community cleaned up the Old Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook 

 

SERBIA

Pančevo, July – Israeli volunteers from WeKibbutz and the Shalom Corps Organization, in the Netaim Program, traveled to Serbia and Poland to clean up neglected Jewish cemeteries. In Serbia, they worked at the Pančevo Jewish cemetery alongside local volunteers. Click here to read more on Ynetnews 

 

SLOVAKIA

Malacky, June – The ESJF – European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative cleaned-up and fenced the local Jewish cemetery and is looking forward to returning back for a second clean-up later this summer. Click here to see more on Facebook

Spišská Nová Ves, June – Volunteers from private companies, from the municipality, and others, participated in a large clean up action at the local Jewish cemetery, on the initiative of the local NGO OZ Pro Memory. Click here to find more on Facebook 

 

SPAIN

Lucena, April – Staff from the local municipality and other volunteers cleaned up the 49 graves of the medieval Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook 

 

UKRAINE

Rohatyn, ongoing – Volunteers from Rohatyn Jewish Heritage keep both the Old and New Jewish cemeteries maintained. The first round of clearing for 2023 was completed at the end of May and beginning of June. Click here to see more on Facebook

Verba, June – The ESJF – European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative, returned to Verba for annual cleaning, removing all the overgrowth from the spring months. Click here to see more on Facebook

In May and June, The ESJF – European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative cleaned up the Jewish cemeteries in the following towns: Zarichevo, Chabanivka, Radvanka, Sasovo, Dovhe, Tekovo, Dubrynychi, Slavuta, Mynai, Storozhnytsia, Bohdan, Synevyr, Kolochava, Loza. Click here to see more on Facebook