Old Jewish Cemetery in Lelów

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Lelów was founded in the 17th century at ul. Ogrodowa 7, opposite the former synagogue. For centuries it served the local Jewish community, and today it is a place of pilgrimage for Hasidim.

Destruction of the cemetery

During the Second World War the Germans completely devastated the necropolis and removed almost all the matzevot, which were probably used as building material. After the war the remaining gravestones were stolen, and some were used to make a pavement by the school in Ślęzany. The old graves are therefore not visible on the ground.

The grave of the tzaddik David Biderman

In 1988 the Nissenbaum Family Foundation found the remains of the tzaddik David Biderman under the building of a cooperative shop. After verification at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in October 1988, a small ohel was set up in a room of the shop. After the building was demolished in 2012-2013 a new ohel was built and the site was tidied. The place is visited by Hasidim from the United States and Israel. More about the tomb: Ohel of David Biderman in Lelów.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Ogrodowa 7, Lelów, opposite the former synagogue.
• This is a place of remembrance and prayer; restrained behaviour is expected.
• The new Jewish cemetery lies about 300 m further on.