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Euroasian Jewish News
The Statement of the Union of Byelorussian Jewish Associations and Communities about the situation around the Jewish cemetery in
09.07.2003
Belarus, Minsk, July 7
The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Public Relations and Media department informs you of the statement, received from the Union of the Belarus Jewish Public Associations and Communities (which is a part of EAJC), concerning the situation surrounding the Jewish cemetery in Grodno.
EAJC Public Relations and Media department
We have received numerous letters requesting that we explain the situation with the Jewish cemetery in Grodno. We are grateful to everyone who has expressed their anxiety in connection with the infringement on the rights of the Jewish minority in Belarus. However, in our opinion, there are no strong reasons for it.
This cemetery was founded in 1684 and was the oldest Jewish cemetery in Grodno. The last burial there took place in 1949.
In 1963, when construction of the stadium was finished, the largest part of the cemetery’s territory was destroyed. During the construction, soil from the cemetery was delivered to the stadium and gravestones and tombs were completely destroyed.
In winter of 2003, the reconstruction of the stadium began. By the way, the soil was taken away from the stadium and stacked in heaps. In the spring, as the soil settled and the snow melted, human remains began appearing on the surface.
The Jewish community of Grodno immediately appealed to the city authorities to take adequate measures. Today, there is an agreement between the Jewish community and the city authorities that all remains will be gathered and buried, with strict adherence to all Jewish traditions, in one of two places - on the territory of the cemetery that wasn’t destroyed, or at another Jewish cemetery in the city. A memorial will also be constructed. Nowadays, two religious communities in the city are consulting one another in order to make a decision, which should adhere to all Jewish laws.
To clear up the information, representatives of UBJOC visited the specified cemetery in Grodno. On the given question, the Union of Byelorussian Jewish Public Associations and Communities carried out sessions of the Coordination Council and the President’s Council. We also consulted with representatives of NCSJ (Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, Baltic States and Eurasia) in Minsk, met the chairman of committee on affairs of religions and nationalities at the Council of Ministers of Byelorussia and with Mayor of Grodno.
The Union of Byelorussian Jewish Public Associations and Communities is confident that the question will be solved quickly by city authorities in Grodno, who will work together with the Jewish community in view of all wishes.
Leonid Levin,
President of the Union of Byelorussian Jewish
Public Associations and Communities (UBJOC),
Member of General Council
of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC)
Minsk, July 7, 2003
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