Nesvizh Memorials Project
Preserving the past – Building the future
a legacy of life and resilience
For centuries, the town of Nesvizh was a beacon of Jewish culture and prosperity. From the late 1500s, the Jewish community flourished, growing to become the majority of the town’s population. They were shopkeepers, artisans, and thinkers; their synagogues and yeshivot were centres of learning, and their youth dreamed of the future in Zionist groups like Hashomer Hatzair. This was a community deeply woven into the fabric of Nesvizh, contributing to the very lifeblood of the town for over 350 years.
the unthinkable upheaval
This vibrant world was shattered by the Nazi occupation in 1941. The community was forced into a ghetto, yet even in the face of terror, their spirit was not broken. In an incredible act of defiance, an underground resistance group fought back during the ghetto’s liquidation in July 1942. Their brave uprising, using smuggled weapons, stands as a powerful testament to the human will for freedom.
But the tragedy was immense. Mass executions, including the murder of 1,500 Jews at Alba Park near the Radziwill Castle in October 1941, decimated the community. The Nesvizh that had been a centre of Jewish life was erased.
two new memorials
The Together Plan, in partnership with the Jewish Religious Union of Belarus, has launched a campaign to erect two new memorials in Nesvizh.
a memorial in the centre of Nesvizh
A unique memorial will stand in the heart of Nesvizh, on the former ghetto’s border, to honour the Jewish community that once thrived there. Centered on a sculptural Chai, the Hebrew symbol for life, rising from the Book of Life, it will celebrate centuries of Jewish heritage, courage, and resilience. The first memorial of its kind in Belarus, it will stand as a lasting tribute to life and remembrance.
the Jewish cemetery
To prevent the forgotten Jewish cemetery in Nesvizh from being lost to history, a memorial will be installed where a public park now stands, honouring the sacred ground.
sign-up for the Nesvizh online talks
the Jewish history of Nesvizh
Uncover the 400-year history of Jewish Nesvizh, a community that flourished under the Radziwill nobles, becoming a centre of culture, commerce, and scholarship in Belarus. This rich legacy, featuring vibrant synagogues and Zionist activity, was tragically destroyed by the Holocaust. Read the full story and learn about our ongoing effort to install two memorials in Nesvizh, at the former Jewish cemetery and in the town centre to honour the town’s once-thriving Jewish community.
The Together Plan is a proud member of the AEPJ (European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Heritage) – a network of historians, museums, city authorities, and NGOs working to build the European Route of Jewish Heritage, one of the official Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
Through this collaboration, The Together Plan is developing the National Jewish Route through Belarus, shining a light on the country’s rich and often hidden Jewish past.
Alongside this heritage work, the charity provides vital humanitarian aid, nurtures Jewish community life, protects heritage for future generations, connects communities across the globe, collects and shares personal stories, and is developing a pioneering Holocaust education programme that brings untold stories to life.
support our campaign today
Wherever you are in the world, please make a donation, by using the form below, and keep informed of all the project updates as they happen.
If you are in the USA, please click here to make a tax-deductible donation via our USA partner 501(C)3 Jewish Tapestry Project.
Please click here to read about our partnership.
We need all the help we can get to reach our fundraising goal. If you are celebrating a bar mitzvah, wedding or milestone birthday – please consider it as an opportunity to help us create awareness and fundraise. Ask us for more details on how to create a personal fundraising link.