
Former Bristol Hotel, Polotsk Owned by a Jewish businessman in the early 20th century Photo credit-The Together Plan
building a Jewish Heritage Route in Belarus: The Together Plan’s mission to preserve a lost legacy
For many, Belarus is a country with an unspoken past, a place where layers of history remain buried under the aftermath of wars, revolutions, and decades of Soviet repression. One of the most profound chapters in this concealed history is the story of the Jewish people who once thrived there. Today, The Together Plan is on a mission to uncover this lost heritage, bringing it to life through the creation of a Jewish Heritage Route in Belarus—a project that aims to reconnect the present with the past and help both local communities and the global Jewish and non-Jewish diaspora rediscover the rich Jewish life that once flourished in the region.
the legacy of Belarusian Jewry
Before World War II, Belarus was home to one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe. Jewish communities were central to many towns and villages, especially in the shtetls (small towns with large Jewish populations) scattered across the country. Jewish culture, tradition, and religious life played a vibrant role in Belarusian society, contributing to its cultural fabric. However, the atrocities of the Holocaust and years of Soviet suppression nearly obliterated the memory of this once-thriving Jewish presence. Synagogues were destroyed, cemeteries abandoned, and stories lost to time. Today, traces of Jewish life are faint, and much of this history remains largely unknown to both locals and visitors alike.
- Kamenets Synagogue pre Photo credit – JewishGen Kehilalinks Kamenetz-Litovsk
- Interior of Slonim Synagogue 2019 – Photo credit: The Together Plan
- Prisoner bunks – Museum of Jewish Resistance, Novogrudok
- Memorial at massacre site, Novogrudok
the vision
Founded with the aim of empowering Jewish communities in Belarus and preserving Jewish cultural heritage, The Together Plan is spearheading an ambitious project to create a Jewish Heritage Route across Belarus. This initiative seeks to map out and restore significant Jewish sites—synagogues, cemeteries, Holocaust memorials, and former shtetl locations—while telling the stories of the people who lived there. The goal is not only to preserve the physical remnants of Jewish history but also to create a pathway for education, reflection, and cultural exchange.
reconnecting with the past
One of the key drivers behind the Jewish Heritage Route is the idea of reconnecting people—both Jews and non-Jews—with the forgotten or overlooked history of Jewish Belarus. For the descendants of Belarusian Jews, this project offers an opportunity to trace their roots, walk the streets where their ancestors lived, and connect with a part of their identity that may have been lost over generations. For local communities, it provides a chance to reclaim an important part of their town’s history, fostering a sense of pride in their cultural diversity, and for non-Jewish people, travellers and visitors, it is an opportunity to learn more about the Jewish communities of the past; their stories, their suffering and how they contributed to society.
restoring Jewish sites and memory
Many significant Jewish sites (synagogues and cemeteries) have fallen into disrepair or have been neglected for decades. The Together Plan is working closely with local communities, historians, and volunteers to clean and restore these spaces where possible, ensuring that the stories they hold are not forgotten. By doing so, they are creating a tangible link to the past, offering visitors and locals alike a place to learn, reflect, and honour the lives of those who once called Belarus home.
But this heritage route is about more than physical restoration. It’s about preserving memory. Through the development of educational programmes and digital resources and by building connections to local museums, The Together Plan seeks to tell the stories behind these sites, ensuring that future generations understand the significance of Jewish life in Belarus and its tragic destruction during the Holocaust.
- Remains of the Ruzhany synagogue Photo Credit-The Together Plan
- Memorial The Pit (Yama), Minsk, to the victims of the Holocaust, Minsk Photo credit- Adam Jones
- Jewish cemetery in Rubezhevichy Photo credit-The Together Plan
- Former Bristol Hotel, Polotsk Owned by a Jewish businessman in the early 20th century Photo credit-The Together Plan
a path for the future
The Jewish Heritage Route is not just a tribute to the past; it’s a path for the future. By highlighting the rich history of Belarusian Jews, The Together Plan aims to foster dialogue and understanding between different communities. The route is envisioned as a space for cultural exchange, bringing together people from Belarus and around the world. It is a living testament to the resilience of Jewish culture and a reminder of the importance of preserving heritage in the face of adversity.
Moreover, the route presents an opportunity to boost local economies through cultural tourism, drawing visitors who wish to learn more about Jewish history, heritage, and the broader history of Eastern Europe. The Together Plan hopes this will inspire community pride and investment in preserving these important sites.
why it matters
In an era where so much of Jewish life in Belarus has been erased, The Together Plan’s Jewish Heritage Route offers hope. It is a powerful reminder that while buildings can be destroyed and communities dispersed, history and memory can still be reclaimed. The heritage route serves as a beacon for those seeking to understand where they come from, and as a symbol of the endurance of Jewish culture, even in the most unlikely places.
The creation of the Jewish Heritage Route is not only about restoring sites and telling stories; it is about healing, reconnecting, and building bridges between the past and the present. Through this initiative, The Together Plan is ensuring that the rich legacy of Belarusian Jews will not fade into oblivion but will be remembered, honoured, and cherished for generations to come.
You can explore our audio tours which were created with input from the communities in Belarus along with our historian and heritage specialists:
Jewish Streets of Minsk (English, Spanish, French, Italian and Russian)
Jewish Streets of Polotsk (English, Spanish, French, Italian and Russian)
Jewish Novogroduk (English and Russian)
Places of Remembrance in Novogrudok (English and Russian)
Jewish Resistance Museum (English and Russian)
New audio tours are currently in development – watch this space!
Explore our video tours:
The Minsk Ghetto – Frida’s Story
Step inside Marc Chagall’s childhood home – click here
Porechye – a righteous village – click here
Slonim: click here to see our film of the Slonim Synagogue
we invite you to help us make it a reality!
For anyone with a connection to Belarus, Jewish or otherwise, this is an invitation to embark on a journey through time—one that honours the past while looking toward the future. Together, we can make history come alive once again. We can’t do this alone and so we invite you to support this vision by becoming a regular donor. You can set up a monthly, quarterly or annual donation which will enable us to make this vision a reality.
Please support our mission – click here to set up your donation subscription.
If you are in the USA you can set up your gift subscription via our US non-profit ‘Jewish Tapestry Project’ – click here.
The Together Plan is a member of the AEPJ (European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Heritage) which leads the network across Europe working on the European Route of Jewish Heritage, one of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.