Jewish Cemetery in Goniądz

On the southern edge of Goniądz, by the road to Downary, stone matzevot (Jewish gravestones) lie in the grass among young trees. This is the kirkut – the only place in town where you can still see a trace of the community that in the 19th century made up the majority of Goniądz's population.

History

In 1878 Goniądz had 2,943 inhabitants, 1,880 of them Jews. The town had a synagogue on the hill at the heart of the former Jewish quarter, a yeshiva and a cheder. This history ended in 1941. In July 1941 the synagogue burned, and thirty men accused of collaborating with the Red Army were murdered at the Jewish cemetery. In 1941–1942 the Germans set up a ghetto and deported about 1,300 people to Prostki near Grajewo.

The cemetery was devastated during the occupation. It covers 1.6 hectares and lies about 500 metres south of the Catholic cemetery. Around 20 matzevot survive.

What to see

• The matzevot – some standing, some lying in the grass; Hebrew inscriptions are visible on several.
• The site itself at the edge of the woods, which hints at how large the cemetery once was.

Tripto tip

The cemetery has no visitor facilities – no boards or paths. Wear sturdy shoes and come in spring or autumn when the grass is lower. Out of respect, do not move stones or step on the gravestones; men may cover their heads. A visit takes 15–30 minutes. In the centre of Goniądz, see St Agnes' Church and St Florian's Chapel on the escarpment above the Biebrza.