As we step into the year 2024, we embark on a significant journey – the culmination of years of effort and dedication to bring the Brest Jewish Cemetery Memorial to completion. This endeavor represents not only the restoration of a sacred site but also the preservation of a poignant chapter in history that must not be allowed to fade into obscurity.
The road to this moment has been long and challenging, filled with determined strides and collaborative efforts. Over the past six months, our team has been tirelessly working to connect with individuals around the globe who have ancestral ties to Brest-Litovsk. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to JewishGen for their invaluable assistance in this mission, aiding us in our quest to locate descendants with family members buried in the Brest Jewish Cemetery.
Salvaged Jewish gravestones from Brest-Litovsk Jewish cemetery 2015 Photo credit – Debra Brunner
At present, the cemetery stands without gravestones, devoid of any public signage acknowledging its existence. It is our unwavering commitment to ensure that the rich tapestry of Jewish history woven into this sacred ground is not lost to the sands of time.
Beyond commemorating the lost cemetery, this memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the living community that once thrived in Brest-Litovsk. The erasure of the cemetery is inseparably tied to the devastating destruction of the pre-war Jewish community, which comprised nearly 30,000 souls. The story of Brest’s Jews unfolds against a backdrop of antisemitism, war, and political upheaval from 1918 to 1943 when their tragic fate was sealed at the Bronna Gora massacre site.
Broken Brest headstone
During the interwar years, Brest found itself within the borders of Poland, but the changing tides of history saw it become part of the Belarusian region within the Soviet Union in 1939. As the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Brest fell under their control, leading to the destruction of the Jewish cemetery. By the time the Soviets reclaimed Brest in 1944, the vibrant Jewish community had been obliterated.
Gravestones from the Brest-Litovsk Jewish cemetery 2016 Brest Fortress Photo credit – Natalie Baskin
The narrative of the Brest Jewish Cemetery is a microcosm of the broader Jewish experience in the Soviet Union during the Holocaust. The suppression of Jewish suffering by the post-war communist regime has left these stories largely untold. It is our duty to illuminate this hidden history, especially in the face of the rising global tide of antisemitism.
The Brest Jewish Cemetery Memorial stands as a testament to the atrocities inflicted upon Jewish communities, reaching far beyond Western Europe between 1939 and 1945. By discussing and commemorating this history, we shed light on the massacres that preceded the Final Solution, ultimately leading to the industrial-scale killing of Jews in the German gas chambers on Polish lands.
Brest-Litovsk Jewish Cemetery
In the midst of the current surge in global antisemitism, our campaign takes on a renewed sense of urgency. We invite you to join us in this endeavour, to contribute your support, and be a part of realising this long-awaited heritage site. Together, we can ensure that the story of Brest-Litovsk’s Jews is not forgotten, but rather preserved for future generations. This is our “Together Plan” in action, and we hope you will stand with us in bringing this vital memorial to completion.
To find out more about the memorial campaign click here.
Debra Brunner and Artur Livshyts gave a talk about the campaign on January 14th 2024 (click here for the recording) and will be repeating this talk for Qesher on February 8th (click here to book).
If you would like to speak to us about the campaign – please contact us click here
To watch the campaign film click here