Jewish Cemetery in Chełm

Covering an area of 2.3 hectares and dating back to 1694, the Jewish Cemetery in the suburb of Chełm is one of the oldest in Poland. Surviving WWII intact, it was closed in 1956, at which point an unfortunate process of mindless vandalism and destruction began. Having been bulldozed, smashed and robbed, all that remains today are a few broken sandstone headstones (mazevot) out of the thousands that once all pointed towards Jerusalem, and a single, burned-out ohel - now a popular meeting place for the area's vodka-drinking youth. Restoration of the cemetery is planned under the care of the local Jewish community, including plans to return it to its original use.