Cemeteries to visit Little Poland

Located on a hilltop and completely abandoned since the last survivors of the Holocaust left the area, you will see beautiful graves, some dating back to the 17th century. The Jewish cemetery in Szczebrzeszyn was established in the late 15th century. About 400 visible matzevot have survived to date, the oldest dating from 1545. In early 2021, the Coalition of Custodians of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland was formed and took on the responsibility of restoring and maintaining the one in Szczebrzeszyn. It is a quick visit.

Considering the city's history, which is closely linked to the expansion of Judaism in Europe, it is not so surprising to discover that it is one of the largest in Poland. As was often the case during the Holocaust, which also included the destruction of Jewish heritage, the cemetery was vandalized and largely destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. Today, there are approximately 3,000 surviving graves, mostly dating from the 19th century.