The Jewish cemetery in Bodzentyn is situated on the northern hillside of Góra Miejska, near the road to St. Catherine. Before the independent Jewish community of Bodzentyn was constituted, Jews from the town had buried their dead in Szydłowiec. In 1866 a plot for a cemetery was bought and one year later boundaries of the cemetery were officially confirmed. The cemetery area was enlarged in 1933.

Until today over 70 tombstones, made of sandstone, in the form of matzevot or stelae with semicircular or straight finials, have remained. Visit the website www.tdr.org.pl to view their photos. The ornaments typical for Jewish funerary art, such as cabinets with books, lions, the Torah crowns, candles, birds, jugs, have been carved on matzevot. According to the research by Adam Penkalla (deceased) the remaining tombstones date back to 1870-1834.

In 2006 the local priest Leszek Sikorski, helped by his parishioners, began cleaning works in the cemetery, including cutting plants. Maks Manes Szafir, coming form Bodzentyn, came to his aid. On his initiative the Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism set about raising funds for restoration of the necropolis. The works finished in 2008. The cemetery has been cleaned and surrounded by a stone wall with a gate designed by Marek Cecuła. At the entrance a matzevah funded by priest Leszek Sikorski and dedicated to M. Szafir's family members who had been killed during the 2nd World War was placed. On the 26th August 2009 the ceremony of opening the restored cemetery took place.

text: K. Bielawski
translation: Joanna Kołdras
For more info go to: www.bodzentyn.net