Seminar on Jewish Cemeteries in Lublin

events Programme

A seminar devoted to the New Jewish Cemetery in Lublin took place on June 12, 2025, and consisted of two parts: a field lecture at the necropolis and an expert meeting organized at the Institute of Central Europe. The event aimed to raise awareness of the current situation of this important but largely forgotten site – an area of significant historical value that has for years remained outside the mainstream of conservation and educational efforts.

The event was organized in cooperation with the Jewish Community of Warsaw (owner of the site), the "Grodzka Gate – NN Theatre" Center, and the Institute of Central Europe. Participation was given to the unsecured section of the cemetery, which currently serves as a public green space – a dog walker and a transportation shortcut – despite the presence of war graves.

The educational walk was attended by representatives of local authorities, Lublin universities and research institutions, activists, and individuals involved in the preservation of Jewish heritage. The visit to the cemetery provided an opportunity to explore the history of the site and present the methods developed by the organizers over recent years to commemorate Jewish cemeteries.

The second part of the event – an expert seminar – took place at the Institute of Central Europe. It presented various approaches to working with extensive cemetery grounds from the perspectives of history, archaeology, greenery management, and community engagement. Speakers included Monika Tarajko and Prof. Andrzej Trzciński (history of the cemetery), Lena Rubenfeld (FestivAlt – working with communities at sites of difficult memory), Dr. Szymon Lenarczyk ("Wykop na Poziomie" – archaeological context), and Maciej Walczak (Proscape – greenery management at Jewish cemeteries).

The event brought together 29 participants – representatives of municipal and provincial conservation offices, City Hall employees, researchers, educators, and community activists. Sylwia Kędzierska-Jasik, president of the Jewish Community of Warsaw, also participated in the seminar online. The Chief Rabbi of Poland, who also spoke remotely, emphasized the importance of the meeting. The event was primarily attended by Polish citizens, including a Jewish activist from Belgium with a personal connection to the history of the site.

The seminar was the first in a planned series of activities aimed at engaging the local community in the process of restoring the memory of the cemetery and its protection. The next event will focus on dialogue between local residents and those connected to the Jewish tradition and history of the site. The long-term goal is to create a model for responsible, interdisciplinary cemetery care, combining historical research, education, conservation efforts, and community reflection.

📸 Alicja Mroczkowska