Jewish cemetery clean-ups 2021 — Round-up #1: They rarely grab headlines, but Jewish cemetery clean-ups by volunteers and others go on in many countries — despite the pandemic

(JHE) — Every year on Jewish Heritage Europe we post round-ups of various initiatives and projects aimed at restoring and cleaning-up Jewish cemeteries all over Europe, which take place throughout the spring, summer and, in some cases, also during autumn. Most of these actions are carried out by volunteers, and some initiatives take place within the framework of longstanding international volunteer programs. Some are organized by Jewish communities or civic bodies.

While many clean-ups are going ahead as planned, others — as  happened last year – have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or have not yet been planned, as organizers wait to see whether restrictions currently in force will be lifted.  

Cancellations (at the moment), include:

• The 2021 projects of the Matzevah Foundation, which organizes yearly clean-up sessions in a number of cities in Poland; (https://www.facebook.com/matzevah/photos/a.257605974251018/4258876064123969/)
• The summer camp of the Netherlands-based Christian foundation “Penance & Reconciliation”, that usually organizes a large clean-up action in a Dutch Jewish cemetery. However, small groups of volunteers will work in a few Jewish cemeteries all around the country throughout the year. ()

At the same time, Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, a German-based NGO that organizes Jewish cemetery clean-up summer camps every year in Central and Eastern Europe, still hopes to hold summer camps, even during pandemic times, following the appropriate precautions and rules. Only in the coming weeks we’ll know if their camps will take place.

Below is a first round-up of other Jewish cemetery clean-up initiatives – initiatives that have taken place as well as those we know are planned. Planned actions are marked in Orange. We know we have missed some — if you don’t see your project on this list, let us know!

 

AUSTRIA

Vienna, May 9, June 13, and July 11 – The Association “Save The Jewish Cemetery of Währing” has organized three volunteer clean-ups open for volunteers, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The action includes gardening to remove vegetation and leaves from the gravestones. Gloves, scissors, rakes and some other equipment are provided by the organizers, and volunteers are also welcomed to bring their own. Registration is not required. Entering the area is at the own risk of the volunteers, and men are requested to wear a head covering. In case of bad weather, the clean-up might be either cancelled or postponed. Click here to see details

Baden – The city’s Jewish cemetery will open again to the public at the end of June, after several months of cleaning and repair works, carried out thanks to the support of the Federal Memorial Office and the Jewish Community. Click here to see details

 

BELARUS

Mogilev, ongoing – Volunteer work at the city’s Jewish cemetery continues throughout the spring and summer, and includes both clean-up and restoration works.

The Mogilev Jewish community is fundraising for the restoration of the cemetery via a GoFundMe campaign 

See more details on the Facebook page

Read our Have Your Say article about the cemetery and restoration work

 

CZECH REPUBLIC

Přistoupim, April 25 –A clean-up session at the local Jewish cemetery in this village in the Kolín District in Central Bohemia took place on April 25^th. The initiative was organized by the NGO oPŘISe, which since 2018 has organized two volunteer clean-ups per year at the cemetery, one in the fall and another one in the spring. Click to see more details

 

FRANCE

Cronenbourg, April – Volunteers worked at the Jewish cemetery with the help of Rabbi Gad Sebbag  See more on Facebook

Fegersheim, March 26 and April 17 – Four years after the most recent restoration work at this cemetery, a group of volunteers installed new signposting at each row of tombstones. See more on Facebook  Here and Here 

Neuwiller-lès-Saverne, April 16 – Restoration and clean-up works took place at the Jewish cemetery. See more on Facebook  

 

HUNGARY

Balatonederics, March 25 – The city’s mayor, Janos Papp, together with a small group of volunteers that he enlisted, organized a clean-up action at the local Jewish cemetery. See more on Facebook

Szedres, April 11 – To honor Hungarian Holocaust Memorial Day, several committed residents of Szedres, as well as members the local Sziget Association, cleaned-up the local Jewish cemetery. See more details here 

Tállya, May 23-24 – Again this year, Budapest-based researcher and activist Bence Illyés and his “Magyarországi Haszid Zarándoklatokért” Foundation are organizing a two-day clean-up action at the Jewish cemetery in Tállya, eastern Hungary. The action will be carried-out under the religious supervision of Mazsihisz, the umbrella organization of the Hungarian Neolog Jewish communities. All those interested in participating can write to: [email protected]

 

LITHUANIA

Sudervės road Jewish cemetery, Vilnius, early May – The Team 10 of the King Mindaugas Riflemen of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union cleaned up the Sudervės road Jewish cemetery in Vilnius, after a call was launched by the Lithuanian Jewish Community. See more details here

Žagarė (Zhager), Summer – The Maceva NGO, which this year celebrates its 10^th anniversary, is planning its 6^th international cemetery clean-up camp at the Jewish cemetery of Žagarė. The camp was originally planned for last year but had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. See more on Facebook

 

MOLDOVA

Valea Lui Vlad, April – In preparation for the installation of new protective fences, ESJF began to clean-up the Jewish cemetery. The work was funded by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. ESJF first visited the cemetery in 2019, when it was severely overgrown, with many of the 100-200 tombstones on the site obscured by thick bushes. See more on Facebook

 

NETHERLANDS

Utrecht, Summer – A board member of the city’s Jewish community invites volunteers to help cleaning-up the local Jewish cemetery. For more information and registration, click here 

 

POLAND

Brzesko, April 8 – On the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day, local residents led by Anna Brzyska of the Association “Memory and Dialogue. Common history”, cleaned-up the local Jewish cemetery. Click to see more

Cieszyn, April 25 and May 9 – Cleaning work started at the city’s new Jewish cemetery, organized by Irena French, an employee of the local museum. Further clean-up and restoration actions will follow in the upcoming weeks. See more on Facebook Here and Here 

Czechowice-Dziedzice, May – Under the supervision and coordination of local historian and activist Sławek Pastuszka, a new front fence was built at the city’s Jewish cemetery. Pastuszka also managed to raise enough funds to complete the clearing of the cemetery, and volunteer activities are planned for the upcoming weeks. See more on Facebook

Dukla, April – The Jewish cemeteries in Dukla were tidied up by the Friends of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, together with volunteers from the the Dukla Shtetl Association. Click to see more

Głogówek, May 11 – The local municipality cleaned-up the city’s Jewish cemetery together with the help of the local Girl Scout group, and also with the participation of the mayor, a councilman, city officials and technical staff. The clean-up was held in the context of an agreement between the city and the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODŻ), following the guidelines from the Rabbinical Commission for Cemeteries. See more Here and Here  

Iwaniska, March 29 – Thanks to the personal commitment of descendants of Iwaniska Jews, spring cleaning work was carried out at the local Jewish cemetery, supported by the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODŻ). Further clean-up works on the site are planned for autumn 2021. See more here

Janowiec, May 19-20 – A two-days action cleaning-up the long neglected city’s Jewish cemetery, was organized by the Society of Friends of Janowiec, following the Rabbinical Commission guidelines on Jewish Cemeteries in Poland. See more here

Janów Lubelski, April/May – Volunteers from the Janow Lubelski Dialogue Association have been working at the city’s Jewish cemetery since April. Volunteers cleaned-up the area, reinforced the walls, and will keep working there until a memorial plaque is placed by the National Heritage Institute. See more here

Jasło, May – In early May, 15 volunteers from the NGO AntySchematy2, cleaned-up the city’s Jewish cemetery. Moreover, they started creating a map of the tombstones and continued detailed photographic documentation of the tombstones. These activities were possible thanks to the financial support descendants of Jews from Jasło. See more here

Jędrzejów, May 12 and 13 – Sudents from the city’s Training and Education Center and Primary School, together with students from the Liceum Ogólnokształcące Mikołaj Rej, cleaned-up the local Jewish cemetery in Spacerowa street. The action was organized by Klaudia Kwiecińska, a scholar in Jewish studies from Jędrzejów, who works in Krakow. See more here

 Jedwabne, May 7 – Organized by Kamil Mrozowicz, coordinator of the “Forum of Dialogue” leaders’ group in Podlaskie province, and with the support of the local municipality, volunteers took part at a clean-up action at the local Jewish cemetery. See more here

Kielce, May 19 – The Jan Karski Society organized a clean-up of the city’s Jewish cemetery in Kielce. Organizers asked volunteers to bring their own rakes, hard brushes and protective gloves. Covid 19 sanitary regulations were mandated, including social distancing and the use of masks. See more here

Koźmin Wielkopolski, April 11 – The Krotochwile Association, in partnership with the scouts from Hufiec ZHP Koźmin Wielkopolski, performed the first clean-up of the season at the local Jewish cemetery. Further actions are planned for the spring and summer seasons. See more here

Lublin, April – Volunteers cleaned-up the Jewish cemetery on Laszczynski street. See more here

Łódź, June 13 – After a first clean-up on May 9, the Guardians of Remembrance (Straznicy Pamieci, in Polish), organizes another volunteer action at the city’s vast Jewish cemetery to be held on June 13, starting at 11 AM. See more on Facebook

Malogoszcz, May 10-16 – Organized by the Local Patriots Association and the Cultural Heritage Foundation, this clean-up was organized in the context of the Coalition of the Guardians of Jewish Cemeteries, and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sports. High school students, local volunteers and residents, took part to clean-up the city’s Jewish cemetery. See more here

Mysłowice, April 18 – Organized by Bogusław Polak from the Mysłowice Historical Society, and the NGO Śląskie Klimaty, a clean-up took place at the city’s Jewish cemetery. See more here

Mrągowo, April – Magdalena Lewkowicz, a local teacher, cleaned up the surroundings of the memorial monument in the abandoned Jewish cemetery of the village. See more here

Nowy Targ, May 14 – This year the Centrum Foundation, created by former Olympic athlete Dariusz Popiela, is working at the Jewish cemetery in Nowy Targ. The works include the construction of a memorial monument for the city’s Holocaust victims, and the research of mass graves around the city, where other memorial monuments will be erected. The works will last throughout the summer. In March, the Foundation received an award of 8,000 złoty (about €1,750) for the project from the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw. 

Pszczyna, Spring and Summer – Restoration and clean-up work at the local Jewish cemetery will be carried-out throughout the spring and summer seasons, under the supervision of local historian and activist Sławek Pastuszka, who has been caring for the cemetery for the last 16 years. Over the years, Pastuszka managed to restore more than 300 tombstones (70% of the total), and this year, renovation works are planned on others, including that of the prominent Hebrew literature historian Chilus Mendelssohn. See more Here or Here 

Sieniawa, March – In cooperation with local volunteer Rabbi Pinhas Pomp, the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODŻ) is working to clean-up the local Jewish cemetery. The first stage of works also involved the construction of a walkway leading from the entrance to the cemetery to an ohel. See more here

Sokołów Małopolski, May – Organized by Mirosław Kędzior, volunteers focused on cleaning-up the area close to the entrance, the most neglected area of the cemetery. The initiative had the support of the local municipality, which sent waste containers and a tractor to take out the bushes. The action took place within the framework of the Coalition of Guardians of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland activities. See more here

Staszów, April – Local firefighters and volunteers collected several bags of rubbish from the cemetery area, which were then cleaned-up by city services. FODŻ is currently looking for financial help for the repair of the cemetery’s walls. Those interested can contact them at the following email address: [email protected]. See more here

Suchowola, May 8 – Thanks to the cooperation with the local authorities, firefighters, and the Foundation for the Cultural Heritage, the area that was cleaned-up during this action was much bigger than on previous occasions. The clean-up initiative was carried out by firefighters, the Mayor of Suchowola Michal Matyskiel, citizens, employees of the municipality, and the Center of Three Cultures. The action was coordinated by the Coalition of Guardians of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland. See more here

Swidwin, April 17 – Volunteers gathered to clean-up the city’s Jewish cemetery.See more here  Another clean-up is planned for May 29 — Click HERE for info.  

Tarnowskie Góry, April 8 – As every year, the local NGO Gliwicka 66 worked to clean-up the local Jewish cemetery. Other clean-up initiatives for the spring and summer periods will be announced in the coming weeks. See more here. This NGO recently won a grant of 4,200 złoty (about €920), from the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute in Poland for the project ′′Inventory of gravestones in the Jewish cemetery in Tarnowski Góry – stage 1′′ 

Warsaw, May 9, 16 – After a successful clean-up on May 9, with the involvement of more than 60 people, another clean-up was organized at the vast city’s Jewish cemetery on Okopowa street for the following week, at which participated around 20 people. Further regular clean-up sessions are planned through the spring and summer.

Wieliczka, April/May –After bad weather toppled several trees in the local Jewish cemetery, residents called the municipality to intervene in the area. Every year  the municipality cleans the cemetery, and they also co-finance a project of conservation of the cemetery, which didn’t start last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. See more here

 

ROMANIA

Zalau, early May – The Jewish community of Zalau, a city in the historical region of Transylvania, in partnership with volunteers from the “Green Project – Restoration Transylvania”, conducted several days of clean-up at the local Jewish cemetery. See more here

 

SLOVAKIA

Dolný Kubín, May 8^th – The local NGO Aktív-relax organized a volunteer action, following the COVID-19 sanitary measures. Taking part were Aktív-Relax members, high school students, and other volunteers, who cleaned-up the cemetery, replaced some tombstones, cleaned the stairs and adjusted the entrance and the information panels. See more Here and Here 

 

UKRAINE

Many places, spring and summer — The ESJF – The European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative, has planned the clean-up of around 70 Jewish cemeteries all around Ukraine. The clean-ups will take place in cemeteries that were already fenced by the organization, and those where further work is planned. ESJF’s clean-up projects are planned in cooperation with local administrations and the heads of Jewish communities (in locations with active Jewish communities). Volunteers are welcome — to volunteer contact the ESJF clean-up coordinator by email at: [email protected]. In some cases, ESJF will donate trimmers to village councils, given that large Jewish cemeteries are often located near small villages whose administrations do not always have the budget to maintain the sites.

The Jewish cemeteries where a clean-up is scheduled take place are located in: Buchach, Zbarazh, Dubno, Nadvirna, Makhnivka, Katerynivka, Busk, Vinogradiv, Fastiv, Piryatin, Ruzhyn, Radomyshyl, Snyatyn, Okopy, Tovste, Melnitsa-Podilska Old, Nyzhniye Stanivtsi, Kremenets, Kozova, Danylovo, Drahovo, Nankovo, Nyzhine Selysche, Hecha, Popovo, Velyki Lazy, Rus`ki Komarivtsi, Haloch, Benedykivtsi, Bystrytsya, Kuz`mino, Rus`ke, Kal`nyk, Astey, Badalovo, Mochola, Zapson, Batrad, Horinchovo, Monastyrets, Nyzhnii Bystryi, Vyshkovo, Lypcha, Serednje Vodyane, Bedevlia, Bila Tserkva, Dubove, Krychovo, Tereblia, Dulovo, Radvanka Uzhgorod, Dubrynychi, Zarichovo, Irlyava, Lyakhivtsi, Mala Dobron, Mynay Uzhgorod, Storozhnytsya Uzhgorod, Kholmets, Chabanivka, Khmilnyk, Chepa, Chornotysiv, Tekovo, Fanchikovo, Perechin, Shyroke, Matiyovo, Bohdan, Dyakovo, Nove Selo, Fertesholmash. 

Rohatyn, throughout the Spring and Summer – Starting in May, Vasyl Yuzyshyn, a Rohatyn Jewish Heritage volunteer, will be regularly visiting Rohatyn to cut and clear the bushes at the village’s Jewish cemeteries. See more here