Gravestones to be returned to Sukhaya Street. Authorities reacted to the removal of stones from the Jewish Cemetery in Minsk
In response to criticism over the removal of 250 historical matzevot from the former Jewish Cemetery, authorities and representatives of the Jewish community stated that the stones were moved only temporarily, and after restoration, they will be returned in the form of a new memorial.
Removal of historical gravestones from the territory of the Jewish Memorial Park. Photo: Telegram channel of the Moscow District Administration of Minsk.
Earlier, monument defenders expressed concern that the gravestones moved to Daumana Street would remain near the local synagogue forever. This would deprive the territory on Sukhaya Street of the last reminders that Jewish cemeteries existed here, destroyed during Soviet times.
However, on the afternoon of July 3, despite the festive Independence Day, the situation was officially commented on by the administration of the Moscow District of Minsk.
According to the authorities' statement, the removal of the stones is only a technical stage. The matzevot were moved so that specialists could conduct their full cataloging, clean them of years of dirt, and record names and dates. For decades, these slabs have been deteriorating under the influence of precipitation and temperature fluctuations.
Removal of historical gravestones from the territory of the Jewish Memorial Park. Photo: Telegram channel of the Moscow District Administration of Minsk.
Removal of historical gravestones from the territory of the Jewish Memorial Park. Photo: Telegram channel of the Moscow District Administration of Minsk
After the completion of the work, the stones are promised to be returned to Sukhaya Street. An architectural ensemble — a lapidarium — will be created based on them, which will perpetuate the memory of the necropolis founded here back in 1868.
The actions of the volunteers were also supported by the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Religious Association in Belarus, Mordechai Reichinstein.
«At the cemetery, the slabs were scattered chaotically. There is no connection between the location of a slab and the slab itself, and there is no guarantee that they would be preserved in such a case. The creation of a memorial is the only way to decently preserve the historical evidence,» the rabbi noted.
Head of the Moscow District Administration Sergei Rubanov confirmed that the concept of the future memorial had been discussed with the religious community back in April. The official separately emphasized that the future lapidarium would appear specifically on Sukhaya Street and would become a significant object for the entire district.