Minsk Hillel is restoring Jewish cemeteries across Belarus

Students from the Minsk branch of Hillel, an international Jewish student organization, are spearheads of the MEGA project, dedicated to restoring Jewish cemeteries in Belarus. The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress is among the sponsors of this initiative, which has been active for over seven years. Hillel students and volunteers describe the project as a "global cultural and educational tradition". Its objective is to connect young Jewish people with their community's history, introduce them to its culture and heritage, and aid in the restoration of valuable historical sites—specifically, Jewish cemeteries. These restored sites subsequently become established heritage landmarks of national significance.

The project's name is an acronym, which translates literally to English as "Memory. Education. Generation. Action."

“During and after World War II, Jewish historical and cultural sites in Belarus were systematically destroyed. Ancient Jewish cemeteries were demolished, and most gravestones were repurposed for mundane utility, such as building materials for houses, roads, or even village pathways. Today, the majority of these cemeteries remain hidden beneath forests and fields,” says Elena Kulevnich, Executive Director of Hillel Minsk.

According to her, Jewish descendants living in Belarus often find themselves unable to locate any traces of their ancestors. “They have no place to lay a memorial stone. They cannot find any physical evidence of their family, despite knowing for certain that their roots lie in Belarus—a nation once rich with Jewish communities, where Yiddish was the second most spoken language.”

As part of the MEGA project, Hillel volunteers and students locate cemeteries entirely buried underground and assess the scope of the required reconstruction and restoration work. The preparatory phase involves necessary calculations, planning the itinerary and curriculum, and sourcing resources and lecturers. Following this, the organizers open applications for volunteers, targeting young Jewish leaders aged 18 to 30.

Among the project's milestones, the organizers highlight several restored cemeteries across the country, including those in Dyatlovo, Shatsk, Zembin, Mir, Motol, Kopyl, and Vishnevo. In Brest, according to Hillel Minsk, approximately 1,000 gravestones have been preserved and restored.

Further details on the Hillel Minsk MEGA project can be found in an article by the head of the organization, published on the Jewish Heritage Europe website.

Preservating and restoring the Jewish heritage of the Euro-Asian region remains one of the core priorities of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. Throughout its history, the EAJC has consistently supported numerous initiatives in this field.