At the beginning of May and at the beginning of August we published our first and second round-ups for 2024, showcasing some of the many Jewish cemetery clean-up initiatives taking place this spring and summer in various European countries.
Here’s a third 2024 round-up, “Autumn” edition, listing dozens of actions from more than a dozen countries—actions that have taken place since our last round-up, that are scheduled to take place, that were missed in our previous round-up, that are planned, or are (or have been) ongoing. We also list the clean-up of the sidewalk of a synagogue (in the Czech Republic), and of the ruins of a synagogue (in Ukraine).
Most are volunteer initiatives, but some are organized by Jewish organizations, civic bodies, or NGOs, such as the German Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ASF) or the ESJF – European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative.
So far, in 2024, we have listed actions from around 150 cities, towns, and villages from a score of countries. And in one case, dates for clean-up actions in 2025 are already available!
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 – On October 13, the Association “Save The Jewish Cemetery of Währing” held its final clean-up of the season. They have already announced the dates for the 2025 clean-ups, which will take place once a month from March to October — March 9, April 6, May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, and October 19. The organizers will provide gloves, shears, rakes, and other equipment, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. No registration is required. Click here to see more on the association’s website
BELARUS
Horodok, ongoing – Local volunteers have been cleaning and restoring the abandoned Jewish cemetery since 2023. They document their work on a YouTube channel, showcasing the various tasks they undertake. This spring and summer, they held several clean-up sessions. Click HERE to see more on Facebook. Click HERE to see more on YouTube
Mogilev, September 11 – Chabad Mogilev organized volunteers to clean up the Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
Vitebsk, September 29 – Volunteers from three local Jewish organizations did clean up work in the Jewish cemetery before Rosh haShanah. Click here to see more on Facebook
CZECH REPUBLIC
Krnov, August – This is a volunteer clean-up initiative – but not at the cemetery. Local scouts cleaned vegetation from the cobbled pavement around the Krnov synagogue. Unfortunately, just a few days after the action, the synagogue was a victim of the devastating floods in central Europe. Click HERE to see pictures of the action on Facebook. Click HERE to read about the synagogue in Krnov hit by the floods on JHE
Litomyšl Lány, August – A local volunteer, Vojtech Toms, mows the greenery near and inside the Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on the cemetery’s Facebook page
ESTONIA
Viljandi, August – A local NGO named “Hea Isa” usually cleans up the local Jewish cemetery three times a month. This time, they were helped by a couple from Tallinn, who drove 2.5 hours to help clean the cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
FINLAND
Helsinki, October 21 – The USKOT Forum, with the help of the youth from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Helsinki Jewish congregation, organized an interfaith autumn clean-up of the Jewish cemetery open to volunteers from different beliefs. In the end, about twenty volunteers from the church took part in the event. Click here to see more on Facebook
FRANCE
Cronenbourg, August 12 – On the eve of Tisha B’Av, more than a dozen volunteers from the Consistoire israélite de la Alsace, in partnership with La Chaîne, participated in a clean-up of the local Jewish cemetery.Click here to see more on Facebook
Vantoux, August – The local municipality, at the request of the Consistoire israélite de la Moselle, cleanedup the Jewish cemetery ahead of Rosh Hashana. Click here to read more on local media
GERMANY
Arnstadt, twice a year, every year – For more than 30 years, students in Arnstadt have maintained the local Jewish cemetery, honoring the deceased and preserving their memory through hands-on history lessons. This tradition, led by Robert Bosch Secondary School, combines learning with respectful care, fostering a culture of remembrance. Click here to see more on local media
Soest, October – Municipal staff cleaned gravestones in the city’s Jewish cemetery, preserving them with only brushes and water. Managed by the Jewish community of Dortmund, the cemetery remains a significant site for annual remembrance ceremonies honoring local Jewish history and the victims of the 1938 pogrom. Click here to read more on the municipality’s website
HUNGARY
Budapest, ongoing – The Friends of Budapest Jewish Cemetery NGO works to clean and restore the vast Kozma Street Jewish cemetery in Budapest throughout the year, except for a brief pause during the winter. Click HERE to access the NGO’s Facebook page. Click HERE to read more on the NGO website
Gyömöre, August – The Jewish cemetery was cleaned and restored by MAZSIHISZ thanks to funding from the Heritage Foundation for Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries (Avoyseinu) and a private family. Click here to read more on the MAZSIHISZ website
Kapolcs, October 26 – The Municipality of Kapolcs organized a community clean-up to mow both the municipal and the Jewish cemetery; participants were encouraged to join at 8 a.m., with fuel and refreshments provided. Click here to see more on Facebook
Keszthely, August – Jewish teenagers from 15 countries, who were participating to the Chabad CTeen Camp, spent two hours cleaning up the Jewish cemetery. Click here to read more
Kiskunfélegyháza, October – István Csapi recently restored tombstones in the local Jewish cemetery with funds from the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MAZSIHISZ). Click here to read more on the MAZSIHISZ website
Tahitótfalu, October 6 – The Bet Orim reform Jewish community in Budapest, the Moishe House, and the Támár Progressive Jewish Youth Organization organized a clean-up in this Jewish cemetery located in Pest county, 28 km north of Budapest. Click HERE to see more on Facebook. Click HERE to see the event on JHE’s Calendar section. Click HERE to read more from the MAZSIHISZ website
THE NETHERLANDS
Eindhoven, June – A group of volunteers from the local Jewish community helped clean up the local Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
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 to [email protected]. The volunteer action takes place throughout the year and is suspended only due to rain or snow. Click here to read more on the cemetery website
POLAND
Błażowa, August – Volunteers from the local NGO “Save from Oblivion” gathered to clean up the local Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
Białystok, July 29-August 17 – The 2024 Białystok Cemetery Restoration Organization held its annual summer session at the Bagnówka Jewish cemetery. A highlight of this session was the August 11 formal dedication of the restored memorial pillar commemorating the victims of the 1906 pogrom. Click HERE to read about the Pillar Click HERE to see more on their website
Czechowice-Dziedzice, August 2 and October 26 – Two volunteer clean-up actions organized by Bernarda Gola, the first of which saw the participation of local historian and activist Sławek Pastuszka. Clean-up efforts in the cemetery were initiated in April 2018 and are taking place regularly since then. Click HERE and HERE to see more on Facebook
Czarny Dunajec, October 10 – Eight-grade students from a local school participated in a clean-up organized by the NGO “Ludzie, Nie Liczby – People, Not Numbers.” Click here to see more on Facebook
Czyżew, August 19 – Rabbi Akiva Leiman and his students from Maryland (US), on a tour around Poland, cleaned the local Jewish cemetery while the municipality provided waste removal. FODŻ keeps cleaning the cemetery thanks to the support of descendants, the local municipality and community, and the Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland. Click HERE and HERE to see more on Facebook
Gliwice, Old Jewish Cemetery, ongoing – Volunteers gather to clean up the Old Jewish cemetery from spring through the summer. The latest action took place on October 16, while the event on September 15 was canceled due to bad weather. Click here to read more on Facebook
Karczewo, late October – Students from a local school gathered to clean-up the Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
Koźmin Wielkopolski, August 11 – Volunteers cleaned up the Jewish cemetery. The municipality provided some equipment. Click here to see more on Facebook
Krośniewice, October – The FODŻ, the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, removed bushes from the Jewish cemetery thanks to a donation from Joel Rosenkranz and in cooperation with Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland. Click here to see more on Facebook
Limanowa, October – Volunteers from the NGO Sądecki Sztetl mowed the grass, removed self-seeded plants and branches, and ensured the cemetery was well-maintained. Click here to see more on Facebook
Łódź, ongoing – The association Guardians of Remembrance takes care of the Jewish cemetery year-round. So far this spring, summer, and autumn, they organized clean-up actions on May 26, June 30, and September 29. Click here to see more on Facebook
Mikołów, August – A group of volunteers led by Polish historian and activist Sławek Pastuszka spent eight hours cleaning the Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
Nowy Targ, October 23 – Students from a local military school participated in a Jewish cemetery clean-up spearheaded by the NGO “Ludzie, Nie Liczby-People, Not Numbers.” Click HERE to read more on local media. Click HERE to see more on Facebook
Oświęcim, August 10-20 – Organized by the ASF, volunteers at an international educational summer camp at the International Youth Meeting Centre in Oświęcim also carried out hands-on maintenance and upkeep work at the Oświęcim Jewish cemetery, including clearing weeds and undergrowth and cleaning gravestones. Click here to see more on Facebook
Podwilk, September – Local volunteer Lucyna Borczuch and staff members from the NGO “Ludzie, Nie Liczby – People, Not Numbers” cleaned up the local Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
Pszczyna, October 8 – Second graders from the Kampus School cleaned up the local Jewish cemetery under Sławek Pastuszka’s supervision. Click here to see more on Facebook
Strzegom, late October – Students from a local technical school, guided by their teachers, participated in a clean-up action at the Jewish cemetery, removing leaves, grass, and. This effort is part of their ongoing commitment to maintaining the cemetery. Click here to read more on local media
Szczuczyn, August – Rabbi Akiva Leiman and his students from Maryland (US), on a tour around Poland, cleaned the local Jewish cemetery. Click here to see more on Facebook
Szydłów, September – On the occasion of the 22nd edition of the Jewish Culture Meetings, the Jewish cemetery was rededicated after funds were collected to clean it up and fence it. This was an initiative of Paweł Mazanka, a professor at a local University, the Nissenbaum Family Foundation, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the National Institute for the Conservation of Monuments, the Forum for Dialogue Foundation, and numerous donors. Click here to read more from local media
Warsaw, ongoing – Major clean-up and restoration work is constantly under way at the vast Jewish cemetery on Okopowa st. On September 22, Students from local school Saska Szkoła Realna, led by Michał Laszczkowski and Magdalena Rigamonti, took part in a clean up session. Click here to see more on Facebook
Żabno, October 29 – Students from the Jagiellonian University’s Institute of Jewish Studies, along with volunteers from the Galicia Jewish Museum and Tarnów’s Economic-Horticultural School, conducted a preliminary inventory and cleaned gravestones at the Jewish cemetery. The project, part of student internships, is supervised by Dr. Leszek Hońdo and Dr. Katarzyna Suszkiewicz, with Tomasz Kocur overseeing the students. Click here to see more on Facebook
Żory, September – In an action supervised by Sławomir Pastuszka, the local municipality cleaned-up, restored and created a lapidarium with the destroyed tombstones at the site of the Jewish cemetery. It also installed information panels outside the cemetery. Click here to read more on local media Click HERE to read about the project on Pastuszka’s Facebook page
ROMANIA
Făgăraș, September 23-30. Stone Research, Conservation, and Restoration Camp. Together with stone preservation expert Dr. Sidonia Olea volunteers worked on stone conservation and restoration at the Jewish Cemetery in Făgăraș and in several Christian Orthodox cemeteries in the region. See more (and pictures) on Facebook
Volunteers from the Jewish community of Zalău have been cleaning up and restoring various Jewish cemeteries in the province, including:
Zalău, ongoing – Click HERE to follow activities and see photos and videos on their Facebook page
Hida, August, September, and October — see more on Facebook
SLOVAKIA
Hronský Beňadik, October – The ESJF – European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative cleaned-up the local Jewish cemetery, after it fenced it in June. Click here to see more information on Facebook
Lučenec, September 7 and October 8 – Volunteers from the local NGO Kultur-A organized two clean-ups in the Old Jewish cemetery. Click HERE and HERE to see more on Facebook
UNITED KINGDOM
London, August 18 – In the Willesden Jewish cemetery, there was a running series of volunteer workshops aimed at restoring the memorials of 200 babies and small children, many of whom died during the First World War and the Spanish Flu pandemic. Work entailed placing new nameplates, re-erecting loose headstones, and cleaning the memorial. Click HERE to read more on the cemetery website. Click HERE to read more on local Jewish media. Click HERE and HERE to see more on Facebook
King’s Lynn, August – Thanks to donations from the town’s guides and others, workers repaired headstones and walls of the tiny Jewish cemetery, which has gravestones dating back to the 18th century. Click here to read more on local media
UKRAINE
Cherkasy, September 29 – Organized by the Cherkasy Regional Jewish Fund “Hesed Dorot,” volunteers worked to clean up the Jewish cemetery just before Rosh haShanah. Click here to see more on Facebook
Lviv, mid-September – Heritage activists worked to clean and photograph more than 125 Jewish headstones removed from a road in Lviv, as part of a heritage recovery project led by Sasha Nazar. The photos will be included in a new online database, “Jewish Stones UA,” which documents Jewish headstone recovery and conservation efforts across various Ukrainian sites. Click HERE to see more on Facebook. Click HERE to read more on the Jewish Stones UA on JHE
Lviv, November – Another clean-up action that regards a synagogue site, not a Jewish cemetery….Volunteers from the Lviv Volunteer Center cleaned up the ruins of the Golden Rose Synagogue, which is essentially part of the Space of Synagogues memorial area but suffers serious neglect. Click here to see more on Facebook, including pictures
Poltava, September – About 25 members of the local JDC volunteer center — part of the city’s JDC-supported Hesed Nefesh social welfare center — cleaned up a Jewish cemetery near Poltava. The initiative was also supported by the Poltava synagogue and the local organization “Building Ukraine Together.” Click here to see more on Facebook
Rohatyn, from Spring to Autumn – Rohatyn Jewish Heritage (RJH) organized its annual maintenance of the town’s two Jewish cemeteries (and mass grave memorials) from the end of May until the end of October. It also installed new signage at the sites of mass graves in July. Click here to see more on Facebook
Since the beginning of the Summer, the ESJF – The European Jewish Cemetery Initiative, has been clearing vegetation in the Jewish cemeteries in the following cities, towns and villages: Zarichovo, Sasovo, Chabanivka, Mochola, Synevyr, Tekovo, Dovhe, Mala Dobron, Mynai, Storozhnytsia, Kholmets, Dubrynychi, Nyzhnii Bystryi, Radvanka, Verknii Bystryi, Perechyn, Nadvirna, and Irliava. Click HERE and HERE to see more on Facebook