Bobruisk: Restoration Efforts of Historic Jewish Cemetery Nears Completion of First Stage
A major restoration project at the historic Jewish cemetery of Bobruisk, Belarus, is nearing the completion of its first stage, following nearly two years of gradual work led by the local Jewish community together with descendants of Bobruisk families around the world.
The cemetery, located near Minskaya Street in the Mogilev region, was established in 1921 and remains the city’s only surviving Jewish burial ground. Thousands of Jews from Bobruisk and the surrounding region are buried there, including Rabbi Shmariyahu Noach Schneerson of Bobruisk, the city’s Chief Rabbi and founder of the cemetery, whose resting place has survived to this day.
The current stage of restoration has focused on making the cemetery accessible and safe: paths and passageways are being cleared, overgrown vegetation and debris removed, protective treatment applied to prevent renewed wild growth, and unstable trees identified and removed where necessary. Future stages are expected to include new paths, shaded areas and drinking fountains for visitors.
“The condition of the cemetery was very painful,” said Rabbi Shaul Chababo, Chief Rabbi of Bobruisk and Chabad emissary to the city. “It was almost impossible to walk between the graves, and the feeling was very difficult. This initiative is being carried forward by Jewish families around the world — people born in Bobruisk and descendants of families who lived here throughout its history — who have taken responsibility for preserving this sacred place.”
Among the leaders of the initiative is Felix Gurevich of Florida, a native of Bobruisk, who formed a 15-member board of trustees and, together with the local Jewish community, began raising the resources needed for the cemetery’s rehabilitation.
Bobruisk was once one of the largest and most important Jewish centers in Belarus; in 1897, more than 20,700 Jews lived in the city, making up about 60 percent of its population. The cemetery also holds deep Holocaust memory, with several memorials standing there in remembrance of victims from Bobruisk and nearby communities.
In recent decades, after years of neglect, emigration, and incidents of damage and theft, the restoration has become an urgent act of dignity, remembrance, and connection — ensuring that one of Bobruisk’s most significant Jewish heritage sites can once again be visited, protected, and honored.
