/>Russian writer Judith Pearly interviews Moti Sverdlov, the man responsible for cataloging the thousands of “lost” Jewish graves in the former Soviet Union:
What does the phrase “Jewish heritage” say to you? Is it the traditions we keep? The religion to which we affiliate? Or the memory of our ancestors?
[…]
One day, when my grandmother came back home she was very upset about not finding the grave of her aunt. I couldn’t believe it so I went back to the cemetery. However I didn’t find it either, and the cemetery staff couldn’t help. All they had were the old stores ledgers with the recordings in the alphabetical order.
[…]
In our plans we have doubling this quantity [on our mind] and closing the main catalog of the biggest Russian cities with a Jewish population over 12,000 – 30,000 people. The primary objective of the project – the restoration and protection of Jewish cemeteries and mass graves throughout the former Soviet Union – is gradually being implemented.
[…]
Our database currently contains information on more than 110,000 graves in 37 cemeteries all over the FSU; about 89% of the information about the graves in Russia is covered. If you do not find the grave of a relative, do not lose your hope – we are dealing with the remaining sections.
Check out the rest over at the Global Jewish Voice.
