Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Poland: Road Construction on Polish Cemetery Protested

Poland: Road Construction on Polish Cemetery Protested

(ISJM) Road construction in Ostroleka, Poland has disturbed the site of the Jewish cemetery, which was mostly destroyed during the Second World War. Though gravestones were rmeoved long ago, burials at the site have remained until now mostly undisturbed. Jewish groups in Poland, learning of the construction and the inappropriate excavation, have protested for procedural, legal and moral grounds to the commencement of the work.

The Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland reports on its wesite yesterday that:
On May 12, 2009, Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland issued a letter to the President of Ostroleka, demanding an immediate cessation of roadworks being carried out at the grounds of the Jewish cemetery in Ostroleka. On the same day a request was made to the Regional Inspector of Building Control to invalidate the decision of the President of Ostroleka allowing the commencement of the roadworks because of the lack of numerous formal requirements such as the absence of the consent of the Monument Conservator, National Sanitary Inspectorate, religious community and the lack of archeological supervision.
The Jewish cemetery in Ostroleka was destroyed during the war. Human remains, probably of the Jews buried there before the war, were found during a building of the Janusza Korczaka St. Protest letters were issued earlier by the Head Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, and the Foundation.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is a very noble cause but when Rabbi Schudrich was asked to do the same thing for KONSKIE, all he did was go there, take pictures with the mayor, had a conversation and left! KONSKIE is where the blueprint for most Polish wooden shuls came from. Among other things.