Save the Logishin, Belarus Jewish Cemetery
Channel: Mimi Klausner
Date: 2017-06-28

My great grandfather Mayer Klausner came from Logishin which is now in Belarus. When I visited there in 2016 the Jewish cemetery was in shambles -- it was totally overgrown with trees, bushes and underbrush. Most of the grave stones were overturned and covered with a thick layer of leaves.

There are no Jews left in Logishin to maintain the cemetery. Svetlana, a school teacher there, is very interested in preserving Jewish history and had brought her students there several times to clean it up.  But nature prevailed. Svetlana convinced the mayor to help. He organized volunteers to cut trees and remove organic material. 

It will cost $5600 to finish the landscaping and install a fence. Belarus is a very poor country but the mayor offered to pay for half the cost of clearing the site. And the school will maintain the cemetery in the future.  You can donate to this project on www.youcaring.com/savethecemetery.

Rehabilitating this cemetery will honor our ancestors, be a symbol of resistance to intolerance and the persistence of Jewish culture and will be used by Logishin teachers to discuss these issues with their students. Please join us in this effort.