Rabbi Mordechai Raichenstein blows the Shofar Photo credit: The Together Plan
Novogrudok is becoming the focus of exciting and long-awaited developments, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. In September, the newly registered Novogrudok Jewish Religious Community celebrated its very first Rosh Hashanah, a milestone event marking the revival of Jewish communal life in this historic city.
Before 1941, Novogrudok (also known as Navahrudak) was home to a vibrant and deeply rooted Jewish community. In 1931, approximately 6,309 Jews lived in the town, making up nearly 48% of the total population. By 1939, this number had grown to an estimated 6,500, maintaining a central place in the life of the city.
The Jewish presence in Novogrudok dates back to at least 1529. The town was home to the renowned Novardok Yeshiva, founded by Rabbi Yosef Yozel Horwitz in 1896, and served as a centre of Jewish learning, religious life, and cultural activity. The community actively participated in Zionist and Bundist movements and established numerous educational institutions.
Tragically, during the Holocaust, the Jewish population of Novogrudok suffered devastating losses. In December 1941, the German occupiers began mass executions, killing approximately 5,000 to 7,000 Jews. Many others were deported to forced labour camps or fled to the forests, where some joined partisan groups, including the Bielski partisans. Today, the memory of Novogrudok’s former Jewish community is preserved through memorials and historical sites and now, a new community is taking root to help ensure that Jewish history in the town continues to be remembered and celebrated.
The first Rosh Hashanah celebration for the new community was attended by representatives of the Jewish Religious Union and its Chief Rabbi, Mordechai Raichinshtein, as well as officials from the Novogrudok District Executive Committee, whose support was crucial in registering the community. Their presence highlighted the significance of this development not only for the Jewish population but for the wider society.
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- Two buildings that were formerly owned by Jews, the Market Square in Novogrudok Copyright The Together Plan
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- Rabbi Mordechai Raichenstein blows the Shofar Photo credit: The Together Plan
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- Rosh Hashanah buffet and gathering Novogrudok 2025 Photo credit: The Together Plan
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- Artur Livshyts (left), Rabbi Mordechai Raichenstein (centre), Chair of the Novogrudok Community (right) at the first Rosh Hashanah celebration 2025 Photo credit: The Together Plan
During the event, Rabbi Raichenshtein gave an engaging introduction to the Jewish calendar and the origins and traditions of Rosh Hashanah. Guests were shown a shofar, the ancient ritual ram’s horn, whose sound heralds the Jewish New Year, a powerful moment connecting past and present. Traditional kosher festive foods, provided by the Jewish Religious Union of Belarus, helped create a warm and celebratory atmosphere. The gathering took place in a private space generously offered by a community member, whose hospitality was warmly acknowledged.
The significance of a registered Jewish community in Novogrudok cannot be overstated. This town holds immense historical weight: it was the site of one of the most remarkable acts of resistance during the Holocaust, where Jewish prisoners dug a tunnel to escape the ghetto. In the coming years, Novogrudok is set to become home to the Belarusian Holocaust and Resistance Museum. The presence of an active community ensures that remembrance will be paired with continuity, that Jewish life will not only be preserved in history books but lived, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.
To watch a recording of a live broadcast from Novogrudok where we get to see and go inside the building that will become the Belarusian Holocaust and Resistance Museum click here.
This first celebration was more than a holiday gathering; it was a symbol of renewal, signalling the start of a new chapter for Jewish life in Novogrudok, one rooted in resilience, memory, and hope.
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