a historic moment for Jewish ritual in Belarus

a historic moment for Jewish ritual in Belarus and hidden history

This week marks a significant milestone for Jewish heritage in Belarus. The Together Plan, in collaboration with its official partner, the Jewish Religious Union of Belarus (JRU), has been at the heart of a momentous development that holds great promise for the Jewish community. Under the leadership of Artur Livshyts, the co-founder of The Together Plan and Chairman of the JRU since October 2023, an important step has been taken to address the challenges surrounding Jewish burial practices in Belarus.

a complex case with a meaningful outcome

Earlier this week, the JRU organised a Jewish burial for an elderly Jewish lady in Minsk. This was no small feat, as the situation was complex, involving family members living in the United States who reached out to The Together Plan for assistance. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the JRU and The Together Plan, the burial was arranged at the historic Jewish cemetery in Borisov.

This was an extraordinary situation. On recommendation from someone in Seattle who took part in our Brest-Litovsk Jewish cemetery memorial crowdfunding campaign in May of this year, the son of the lady who died in Minsk reached out to us. He was desperate as he wanted her to have a Jewish burial. Artur Livshyts, co-founder of The Together Plan and Chairman of the Jewish Religious Union of Belarus acted immediately. He discovered that a cremation had been booked for the following day, but when he discovered this it was already late in the evening in Minsk. However, he managed to stop the proceedings and ensured that this lady got a Jewish burial of the highest standards. This was a truly miraculous feat!! It took up four days of Artur’s time and he and our team in Minsk travelled to Borisov for the funeral as the son in the USA could not  be there. This is a real testament to our work. Following the funeral – we received this very moving message:

Dear Debra

Baruch Hashem, instead of being cremated ר”ל, my mother merited a kosher Jewish burial in a Jewish cemetery next to a big Tzaddik.

That’s all due to Artur’s tireless efforts. Starting from Tuesday noon when we first spoke, till early Friday morning, when the burial in remote Jewish cemetery in Borisov took place, Artur proved to be the right agent in every step of the way. Extremely efficient and capable, he somehow cancelled cremation way after the working hours of the morgue; organized and delegated the taharah, תכריכים and minyan at the funeral – 50 miles away from Minsk; dealt with the authorities to obtain proper permits etc, and even made sure to procure a double burial plot keeping my father in mind.

 Artur was great to deal with on a personal level as well, being very courteous, sympathetic, and, at times, a bit humorous to diffuse the situation. Bottom line – he was basically an Angel sent from Heaven!

Thanks so much for connecting us!

Keep up the good work!

Jewish cemeteries in Belarus

The Borisov cemetery, with matzevot dating back to the 18th century, stands as a poignant reminder of the once-thriving Jewish communities that inhabited Belarus. Thousands of Jewish individuals are buried there, yet the cemetery, like many others in the region, has suffered from decades of neglect.

the decline of Jewish burial practices in Belarus

The practice of Jewish burials in Belarus faces significant challenges. Most Jewish cemeteries no longer operate, leaving families with limited options to honour their loved ones in accordance with Jewish traditions. Before the Second World War, nearly a million Jews lived in the region that was Soviet Belarus, within borders that differ from today. According to the 1897 Russian census, 4,899,300 Jews resided in the Pale of Settlement, which accounted for 94% of the Jewish population in the Russian Empire. Over the centuries, these communities left behind a legacy of Jewish cemeteries scattered across the region—sites rich in untapped history and educational potential.

a historic agreement

This week, in a ground breaking development, the JRU negotiated with local authorities responsible for cemeteries and funerals in Borisov and the surrounding area. Both parties have committed to drafting an agreement that will enable Jewish people from across Belarus to be buried in the Borisov cemetery. This agreement not only ensures access to a dignified resting place for Jewish individuals but also represents a significant step toward preserving Jewish cultural heritage in Belarus.

looking ahead

The discussions also included plans for potential collaboration to clean and maintain the Borisov cemetery. Such efforts could pave the way for similar initiatives across other historic Jewish burial sites in Belarus, fostering renewed respect for the legacy of the Jewish community. Significant fundraising efforts will be required for this initiative but it is something we will be looking at pursuing in the future.

celebrating progress

This week’s achievements highlight the power of collaboration and the impact of dedicated efforts to preserve and celebrate Jewish heritage. The Together Plan and the Jewish Religious Union of Belarus remain steadfast in their mission to support Jewish communities and ensure that the rich history of Belarus’s Jewish population is not forgotten.

As we reflect on this historic moment, we look forward to the possibilities it brings—not only for the present generation but also for the preservation of a legacy that connects us to the past and inspires the future.

Buried in the Borisov Jewish cemetery is the Minske Godol, R’ Yeruchom Yehuda Leib Perelman “the Great One” and his son-in-law R’Eliezer Rabinowitz ztz”l  – the Minsk Gaon 1859 – 1924  who succeeded him in the Minsk rabbinate.

Here you can read an excerpt from the Minsk Memorial Anthology  (JewishGen):

R’ Yeruchom Yehuda Leib Perelman

After the death of Rabbi David Tevil, in 1861, the position of chief rabbi of Minsk remained unoccupied over 20 years, and only in 1883 the leaders of the community decided to elect R’Yerucham Yehuda Leib, the rabbi of Pruzhany, as the rabbi of the Holy Community of Minsk.

R’Yerucham Yehuda Leib was born in 1835 in the town Brisk (Lithuania) to poor and very pious parents. When he was in Cheder his excellent talents attracted the attention of his teachers and after his Bar–Mitzva he went to Kovno to study. He was outstanding in his sharp mind, quick understanding, deep thought, exemplary memory and great diligence, and soon became known as “The Genius from Brisk.”

After three years in Kovno, he returned to Brisk and married R’Nachman Neumark’s daughter, and a short time afterward he was appointed rabbi in the small town Soltz, and from there he relocated to Pruzhany, where he received the position of chief rabbi of the town.

He gained fame in the Torah study circles and in 1883, at the age of 48 he accepted the position of the Rabbi of Minsk. There he reached the peak of his activity and publicity. Minsk was visited by many rabbis and the new rabbi of Minsk was awarded the title “the Great One” of Minsk.

But there were rabbis who claimed a more distinct ancestral lineage than the “Great One” and envied him for his fast rise. It was told that once, at a meeting of rabbis, while they talked about secular matters, one of the participants intended to offend the “genius.” What did he do? He suggested to his listeners to speak, in turn, about some Torah subject [Divrei Torah] that he had heard from his father or father’s father [the “Great One” came from a poor and simple family]. So they did. When it was the turn of the “Great One” to speak, a deadly silence fell upon the room and everybody waited nervously to hear what he would say. He said: “And my father often told me, that it was not permitted to work on a piece of old and used clothing that belonged to someone else; you should use only new material, which belonged exclusively to you!” – and he continued with his own Divrei Torah and new commentaries.

He was always immersed in his world of studying the Law [Halacha], day and night, and was not much involved in earthly matters. His modesty and pleasant ways made him beloved by the members of the community. He died in 1896.

He wrote many commentaries on the Torah, but because he was so busy he did not have a chance to prepare his writings for print. After his death, his remarks and commentaries on the Mishna were published in 1905–1909 by the Romm publishing house in Vilna,

R’Eliezer Rabinowitz ztz”l 

R’Eliezer Rabinowitz, the son–in–law of the “Great One” inherited the position of chief Rabbi in town. He was born in 1859 in Mohilev. A year later the family moved to Kiev. In the Cheder he already was outstanding in his talents and amazing memory. He was sent to the Yeshiva in Slutsk, where one of the teachers was Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik, and he was nicknamed “the genius of Kiev.” From Slutsk he went to study in the magnificent Yeshiva of Volozhin (read our article from last month’s newsletter about the new Volozhin Yeshiva museum) and there he was also immediately recognized among the most excellent students.

At the age of 21, “The Great One” of Minsk took him as husband for his eldest daughter. For some time he lived with his in–laws, as was the custom, then he was appointed Rabbi in the nearby town Smolevitch, where he manifested his talents as a spiritual leader.

After the death of his father–in–law, the “Great One” of Minsk, in 1896 R’Eliezer was called to take his place. He justified all the hopes that the members of his community had for him.

Jewish Minsk was at that time at the peak of its economic prosperity. The number of its Jews neared 59 thousand. The only economic assets of the Minsk region, which was relatively poor, were the forests, but communication means by water were lacking; the only relatively big river, the Berezina, was not connected to the outside world. The only railroad that passed through the region led to places that were not lacking in wood. Only when they built the Romani–Libava railroad, which passed through Minsk, was the city connected with Western Europe: through the excellent port of Libava on the Baltic Sea and through Vilna and the Prussian border could Minsk send its treasures abroad.

Minsk began developing at a fast rate: the population increased, the economic situation was much better, many elegant buildings were built and businesses prospered. However, there were still conflicts between business partners as well as between competitors, and the Jews refrained from settling their conflicts before non–Jewish jurisdiction. The need was felt for a Rabbi and judge of a logical juridical understanding and power of issuing a verdict. Rabbi Eliezer fitted perfectly this need: his greatness in the knowledge of Halacha [Jewish Law], his quick perception, his general wisdom, his gentle manners and his power of persuasion – all this made him perfectly suitable to serve as arbitrator between the parties, in their complicated business.

Rabbi Eliezer devoted himself to his community, lived its life and took care of all its needs. This was a heavy burden on Rabbi Eliezer’s shoulders, since it was a big city and the needs were many and varied.

During WWI an additional burden was laid on his shoulders: Minsk was full of war refugees, among them famous rabbis and heads of Yeshivas as well as ordinary Jews who needed help in finding a place to live and means of existence. Yet he found time for matters outside of his town as well and was an active member of the Rabbis Council that had been established by the Ministry of the Interior in Petersburg.

After working hard all day, he devoted the night hours to study and writing, but none of his writings was published during his lifetime.

When the Bolshevik revolution arrived in Minsk, a fierce and stubborn war began, for the preservation of the values of the past. However, his strength failed him in this battle, and he returned his soul to his Maker on 3 Adar 5684 (1924).

a memorial to mark the Brest-Litovsk Jewish cemetery

In addition to these efforts, The Together Plan is currently building a significant memorial on the site that was the Brest-Litovsk Jewish cemetery. This memorial will bring over 1,200 salvaged remnant gravestones back to the territory of the cemetery. Currently, there is nothing at this site to mark that a Jewish cemetery ever existed there, even though the bodies are still buried there. This project is a powerful initiative to honour the memory of those buried at the site and to restore a sense of dignity and history to the location. Click here for more information about this ongoing project.