This 16th century cemetery, covering 9 hectares, is one of the oldest in Alsace and was listed as a historic monument in 1995. It has served as a necropolis for many communities. This peaceful cemetery reflects the evolution of Jewish funerary art continuously since the 16th century: from the curved headstones of the 16th century to the late Gothic, the St Jacques shells, the German Renaissance of the 17th century to the Lutheran baroque of the 18th century, from the the gendarme helmets, the romanticism of the 19th century to the lying headstones of the 20th century, all the styles are represented, and for the oldest ones beautiful epitaphs in Hebrew characters are engraved (less frequently embossed).
Site Tag: Cemetery
Centro Macabeo United Hebrew Congregation Cemetery
The United Hebrew Congregation Cemetery (Centro Macabeo Cemetery) was established 1906 by the United Hebrew Congregation of Cuba anc contains about 1,000 graves.
Old Jewish cemetery of Sarajevo
The OId Jewish Cemetery in Sarajevon is located on the slopes of Trebević mountain, in the south-western part of the city. It’s the largest Jewish cemetery in Southeast Europe and was in use for approximately four hundred years from the beginning of the 16th or 17th century until 1966.
Though it was established by Sephardic Jews during the Ottoman period, it also became the burial ground for Ashkenazi Jews after they arrived in Sarajevo with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the late 19th century. It contains more than 3850 tombstones and covers an area of 31,160 square meters. It has four monuments dedicated to the victims of fascism: a Sephardi one designed by Jahiel Finci and erected in 1952, two Ashkenazi ones, and one dedicated to the victims of Ustasha militants.
The Jewish Cemetery was on the front line during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was used as an artillery position by Bosnian Serbs. It was thus severely damaged by bullets and fire caused by explosions. It was also heavily mined but was completely cleared in 1996.
Notable people buried in the cemetery include Rabbi Samuel Baruh (first rabbi of Sarajevo from 1630 to 1650; his grave is believed to be the oldest in the cemetery), Rabbi Isak Pardo (rabbi from 1781 to 1810), Rabbi Avraham Abinun (Grand Rabbi from 1856 to 1858), Moshe ben Rafael Attias (1845 – 1916), Laura Levi Papo LaBohoreta (writer of the early 20th century), and Isak Samokovlija.
Separate vault or “grave” for damaged books known as a Genizah, is located in the southeastern part of the cemetery, with the first burial taking place on 3 July 1916. It is assumed that some 14 chests of holy books were buried in the second burial ceremony, so currently exhumation of Geniza is under way to determine its content.
Image attribution: Julian Nyča, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Jewish Graveyard in Kareli
The Jewish Graveyard in Kareli dates back to the 19th century. The Graveyard was active until the second half of the 20th century, before the beginning of Aliyah, the Jewish immigration to Israel. Today, the cemetery is abandoned because it does not have a caretaker.
Jewish Graveyard in Gori
The Jewish Cemetery in Gori is located on the Kvernaki Range, this is a common cemetery where some Jewish graves are located. In the end of the 20th century, after the immigration of Jews to Israel the cemetery stopped being active, but it is well maintained. Hebrew inscriptions on the tombs are readable. Jews often come from Israel to visit the graves of their ancestors.
Jewish Graveyard in Surami
The Jewish Graveyard in Surami, which is very old, is located on the opposite side of Surami Fortress on Grigol Surameli Street. The graveyard is currently active, fenced and some of the inscriptions on the tombstones are readable. The cemetery is being taken care of by local Georgians and local Jews. In addition, Georgian Jews from Israel are financing the maintenance of their ancestors’ graves.
Bandza Jewish Cemetery
The Jewish Graveyard in Bandza was opened in the 18th century. Even though it is currently inactive, it is well-groomed and fenced. Local residents are supervising the maintenance of the cemetery. People come from Israel to visit the graves of their ancestors from time to time.
Jewish Graveyard in Sujuna
There are two Jewish cemeteries in Sujuna, located side by side. Sure Subelashvili was a last Jew from Sujuna which was buried in one of the cemeteries. Both cemeteries have local caregivers. Relatives from Israel often visit the cemetery and the graves of their ancestors.
Jewish Graveyard in Senaki
The Jewish Graveyard in Senaki is located in the village of Menji. It is in a good condition, well maintained and fenced. The cemetery is old, therefore it is difficult to read the Hebrew inscriptions on some of the tombstones. Joseph Mikhelashvili’s family is supervising the graveyard’s maintenance. Only one fence separates the Jewish and the Christian cemeteries. Jews often come from Israel to visit the graves of their ancestors.
Jewish Graveyard of Atskuri
The Jewish Graveyard in Atskuri is preserved and located on the banks of the Mtkvari. The cemetery was fenced in 1957 by Jews from Akhaltsikhe. The cemetery is no longer active, but it is maintained by local Georgian Jew. Jews rarely come from Israel to visit the graves of their ancestors.
