The first photo - 2013
By Debra Brunner
In 2013, a seemingly innocuous photograph of a displaced gravestone from the Brest-Litovsk Cemetery arrived in my inbox, setting in motion a profound journey – one that spanned both the physical and spiritual realms. Over the years, numerous trips to Brest deepened my connection to the unfolding narrative of a place steeped in history, tragedy, and resilience.
This particular gravestone, now lying on its side, was originally part of the Brest-Litovsk Jewish Cemetery, a historic burial ground dating back to 1835. The cemetery, nestled with the memories of thousands of Jewish individuals, many of whom were Poles from the interwar years when Brest was a part of Poland, stood as a testament to the enduring strength of a community facing adversity.
The first photo – 2013
Brest-Litovsk, a town with a rich tapestry of events, holds significance as the birthplace of Menachem Begin and the site where the Brest-Litovsk Treaty was signed at the end of World War I. Yet, it also bears the weight of a sombre history – the brutal murder of almost 30,000 Jews during World War II. Known as Brisk, Brest was once the epicentre of Jewish religious learning under the Soloveitchik Rabbinic Dynasty.
Life for Jews in Poland during the interwar period was marked by severe antisemitism, prompting many to seek refuge elsewhere. One such individual was Sam Webb, whose story of leaving Brest-Litovsk in 1938 reflects the challenges and hardships faced by the Jewish population – click here for Sam’s story.
The tide of history took a dark turn in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland, dividing the territory with Stalin. The eastern part, including Brest-Litovsk, came under Soviet control. However, in 1941, with the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the fate of the Jews in Brest-Litovsk took a tragic turn.
The Einsatzgruppen, Nazi killing squads with the sinister mission of exterminating Jews, descended upon the territory. In the Soviet Union Jews faced mass executions by bullets and machine guns turning open fields into death pits. Brest-Litovsk’s once-sacred cemetery was not spared.
As the Jewish community faced annihilation, so too did their cherished burial ground. The Germans, in their ruthless pursuit, cleared the cemetery to make way for listening devices used to track incoming enemy planes. To add to the desecration, Cossacks collaborated with the Germans and looted the Jewish graves.
The Brest-Litovsk (Brisk) cemetery 1915
When the Red Army eventually reclaimed the territory, they ordered German prisoners of war to repurpose the remaining gravestones. These sacred markers, once standing as symbols of remembrance, were used to construct paths around a prisoner of war camp, where hygiene conditions had reached a deplorable state. After the war – the land that had been the Jewish cemetery was unrecognisable.
The gravity of this history, the echoes of lives lost, and the prominence of Brest-Litovsk in Jewish heritage underscores the need for a lasting memorial. How could we, now knowing what we knew, in good conscience, let the memories fade into oblivion? The answer was clear – we couldn’t. And so, with determination and unwavering commitment, we embarked on a mission to enshrine this poignant story into something permanent.
The road was not without its challenges – numerous trips, obstacles, and roadblocks tested our resolve. Yet, we refused to give up. In 2021, after navigating an exclusive agreement with the Brest authorities, we began the meticulous work of salvaging and cataloguing the headstones. Every piece was photographed, inscriptions carefully deciphered, and a comprehensive catalogue was created (currently hosted on the Foundation for Documentation of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland website).
The Together Plan’s catalogue of salvaged gravestones from the Brest-Litovsk Jewish Cemetery which helped David in Seattle, USA make a connection to his great-great grandmother
Over the last six weeks, we have been giving talks to raise awareness about the campaign to build the memorial at the site of the cemetery as we gather pace towards the launch of a very exciting crowdfunding campaign in April. To create a crowdfunding campaign you need a crowd – and that is the mission now – to connect to people all over the world whose family came from Brest-Litovsk, from Belarus or who simply want to help us reach our goal!
During our online talk earlier this month – one of the participants wrote in the chat that through our efforts – he had found the gravestone of his great-great grandmother. He then emailed us with the following message:
Hi Debra,
I attended your informational talk earlier today hosted by Qesher, reviewing the Brest headstone project.
As I shared in the chat, last year I was THRILLED to find my great-great grandmother Esther Gotbeter’s headstone listed, catalogued and photographed in the online database your efforts have led to. I have no other photographs from her life, so the headstone is a precious treasure to have access to. To the best of my knowledge, only two of her children came to the US (including my great-grandfather), only two of her dozens of grandchildren emigrated to South America, and possibly one or two others may have gone to Israel; but otherwise all of her remaining offspring and their extended families were murdered during WWII. As devastating as it has been to realize the virtually complete loss of her family, it has also been heartening to see that traces of her and of her community in Brest have survived, stubbornly, due to the persistent and heroic efforts of people like you and your team.
David, Seattle, Washington
We then received a second email:
Dear Debra
Thank you and Artur for the wonderful, organized and detailed
presentation yesterday. I have an entirely new understanding and
appreciation of what Brest was like a century ago, and the project to
restore the matzevot and the cemetery is certainly a worthwhile endeavor
that descendants of Brest residents, such as myself, greatly appreciate.
I will be supporting the effort.
Just as an FYI my interest stems from the fact that my paternal
grandparents (Noach Jaszczold and Cylka Anzek) were both from Brest. My
grandfather was born in 1895, my grandmother in 1903, and they both
immigrated to NYC (by way of Paris) in 1928. I still have their marriage
certificate (Paris 1928) and my grandfather’s passport. I have reason to
believe that all of their parents remained in Brest and likely died
there, though I could not find any of their names in the catalog of the
salvaged matzevot. I am surprised and very pleased to hear that it would
be relatively safe to travel to Brest, however. I actually had planned a
trip to Brest in June 2020 to research my family, but the Covid-19
pandemic put an end to that. Then the war started, and I assumed I’d
never get the chance to go. Now I have renewed hope. I realize I will
likely never find any headstone or gravesite of my great-grandparents or
their forebears, but just visiting the restored cemetery someday will
help me feel connected to these ancestors. I look forward to the day
when the restoration is complete, and I have the opportunity to see it
for myself.
Richard. Atlanta GA
Receiving these messages is incredibly meaningful for us and for everyone involved and helps us to move forward with the campaign with resolve and fortitude, knowing that what we are doing really matters at the deepest level.
It is with immense gratitude to Stephen Grynberg and the Illuminate Foundation in the USA, that we were able to propel our vision forward in 2021. Stephen Grynberg commissioned the stunning memorial design which has received approval from the Brest municipality. The building application has been officially submitted, marking a significant step toward the realisation of the memorial that will stand as a testament to the resilience of the community of the past and a reminder of the importance of preserving history.
As we progress, we invite all those who share in the commitment to honour and remember, to join us on this journey. Together, let us ensure that the memories of Brest-Litovsk’s Jewish community endure, not just in our hearts but in the very fabric of the town that once held their stories.
The journey to restore the memory of Brest-Litovsk Jewish Cemetery is an ongoing effort to reclaim the dignity and heritage of a community decimated by hatred. By acknowledging the past, we honour the lives lost and work towards preserving the memory of those who once found solace in the sanctuary of this historic burial ground. As we embark on this journey, let us ensure that the broken gravestones bear witness not only to tragedy but also to the resilience of the human spirit and the commitment to preserving the stories of those who came before us.
Click here to watch the campaign film.
And if you missed the talk where we tell the story of the lost Brest-Litovsk (Brisk) Jewish cemetery you can access the recording here.
The wheels are now in motion. We have started to put together what is going to be an immensely exciting crowdfunding campaign and it’s all going to happen in May! This will be the penultimate phase in the project to raise the rest of the funds needed. The last phase will be the big build!!
We hope you will join us and be part of this incredible journey – watch this space!