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jewish cemeteries, synagogues, and mass grave sites in ukraine

jewish cemeteries, synagogues, and mass grave sites in ukraine

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neither has been v<strong>and</strong>alized. At each <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>, authorities have cleared vegetation <strong>and</strong> reerected<br />

stones. Now, local <strong>in</strong>dividuals carry out work.<br />

‣ In 1990, local authorities <strong>in</strong> Berezna (Chernihivska oblast) erected a memorial stone<br />

mark<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong> next to the Red Cemetery. The <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong> is at the crown of a hill <strong>and</strong><br />

is surrounded by a fence, but no sign marks the <strong>grave</strong>. Authorities ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> the site, which is<br />

visited occasionally.<br />

‣ Some <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>s are better marked <strong>and</strong> protected than others. A sign that mentions the<br />

Holocaust marks the <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong> to the north of Medzhybizh (Khmelnytska oblast) – home of the<br />

Ba’al Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. After cross<strong>in</strong>g a public field, visitors encounter a fence<br />

with a locked gate that surrounds the site. The monument on the <strong>grave</strong>site was erected <strong>in</strong> 1957.<br />

Jewish group tours, pilgrimage groups, <strong>and</strong> private visitors occasionally visit. There is sporadic<br />

clear<strong>in</strong>g of growth by authorities <strong>and</strong> the site has not been v<strong>and</strong>alized.<br />

‣ In the southeastern part of the town of Pohrebyshche (V<strong>in</strong>nytska oblast), at<br />

Kotsiubynskoho Street, occasional visitors encounter a <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong> surrounded by a broken fence<br />

<strong>and</strong> a gate that does not lock. The hillside <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong> is marked by a sign that mentions the<br />

Holocaust <strong>in</strong> Hebrew <strong>and</strong> Russian. The memorial stones were erected beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1965.<br />

Municipal authorities <strong>and</strong> Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian Jews carried out the work. An unpaid caretaker cares for<br />

the site.<br />

‣ There are other <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Pohrebyshche. One is <strong>in</strong> the center of town at 109<br />

Khmelnytskoho Street. A fence <strong>and</strong> gate that locks surround the <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>. Access is granted<br />

only with permission from the municipality, which owns the site. Organized tours, private<br />

visitors, <strong>and</strong> local residents visit the site, which has not been v<strong>and</strong>alized. The three other <strong>mass</strong><br />

<strong>grave</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Pohrebyshche (one <strong>in</strong> the north-western part of the town, Hahar<strong>in</strong>a Street, at the bottom<br />

of the rav<strong>in</strong>e; one <strong>in</strong> the eastern outskirts at Molodizhna Street; <strong>and</strong> one <strong>in</strong> the eastern part of the<br />

Jewish cemetery) are <strong>in</strong> similar condition, thanks to local authorities who also restored these<br />

<strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>s <strong>in</strong> 1965.<br />

‣ In Odesa (Odeska oblast), there are five <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>s. One, at Horkoho Park, has no wall<br />

or fence, only a marker that mentions the Holocaust. It was restored <strong>in</strong> 1965. The municipality<br />

owns the site but does not ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> it. As a result, overgrown vegetation is a serious problem.<br />

Despite this, the <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong> is visited frequently by organized Jewish tours, pilgrimage groups,<br />

<strong>and</strong> private visitors (non-Jewish as well as Jewish).<br />

‣ Another Odesa <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>, located at Akademika Vorobjova Street lacks a wall or fence.<br />

This site, which is not ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed, is not frequently visited.<br />

‣ A third Odesa <strong>grave</strong> is located at Malynovskoho Street Nr. 71/1. Organized tours <strong>and</strong><br />

local residents visit this <strong>mass</strong> <strong>grave</strong>, <strong>and</strong> it is occasionally cleared by authorities. But, without a<br />

fence, noth<strong>in</strong>g can protect the site from potential v<strong>and</strong>als.<br />

‣ A fourth Odesa <strong>grave</strong>, located at Park im. Len<strong>in</strong>a, also lacks a fence. It is not ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed,<br />

<strong>and</strong> is overgrown.<br />

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