Gravemarker recovered from adjacent cemetery after 40-year absence
Discovered Jewish Gravestone Returned to Its Original Place
In the city of Grodno, a significant historical event has taken place. A Jewish gravestone, known as a matzeva, has been returned to its original location in the Jewish cemetery after almost nine decades.
The journey of this matzeva began when local historian Alexei Zakhovets discovered it while searching for relatives' graves on Orthodox cemeteries. To his surprise, the gravestone, which was covered in plaster, turned out to be a Jewish epitaph.
After cleaning the matzeva, the epitaph "Here lies our dear and humble mother, honest in her deeds, Lady Chaya, daughter of Rabbi Mattityahu. Her soul has ascended to the heavens. May her soul be bound in the bond of life" was revealed.
The matzeva was originally owned by Yelizaveta Morozova, who was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Grodno in 1931. After her death, her grandson, a businessman and blogger named Alexander Anyukov, brought the gravestone from the cemetery and kept it in his garage.
Upon learning about the discovery, Anyukov immediately realised the gravestone needed to be returned to its original location. He wrote a blog post proposing to collect money for a new memorial for the discovered matzeva. Within two days, people donated the entire required amount.
The exact location of the grave could not be determined, so the matzeva stands in a row with gravestones bearing similar time periods. The matzeva was transported on an electric all-terrain vehicle due to its heavy weight.
The return of the matzeva to its original place marks a significant step in preserving the history of the Jewish community in Grodno. This accomplishment is a testament to the efforts of local historians like Alexei Zakhovets, who have been restoring old Jewish cemeteries in the city for an extended period.
A poignant reminder of the past, the matzeva stands as a symbol of the rich history and culture of the Jewish community in Grodno, and serves as a testament to the dedication of those who strive to preserve it.
