New Jewish Cemetery in Będzin

The New Jewish Cemetery in Będzin lies on the northern slope of Castle Hill on ulica Podzamcze, below the castle in Będzin. It is the only one of Będzin's three Jewish cemeteries to have survived. It is listed in the heritage register.

History

The cemetery was founded in 1831, when a cholera epidemic broke out in the town and the old burial ground at Zawale proved too small. The land was bought from residents of the town. Burials took place here until the end of the 1870s. During the Second World War the Germans devastated the necropolis.

What has survived

On an area of about half a hectare, about 250 whole matzevot and about 550 broken or badly damaged ones have survived. The oldest gravestone dates from 1831, and the inscriptions are in Hebrew and Yiddish. In the middle one can see the foundations of an ohel, probably of Rabbi Baruch Hercygier, and the remains of a stone wall. The site is wooded and neglected, and a rebuilt gate leads to the cemetery.

Practical information

• Location: ul. Podzamcze, Castle Hill.
• This is a place of remembrance; the rules of behaviour appropriate to a cemetery apply.
• The ground is uneven and overgrown, and requires attention underfoot.