Cemeteries are oftentimes the only material remains of the once vibrant Jewish life of Polish towns and villages. Though many of those buried there no longer have family members to take care of their graves, their memory is preserved by people who consider Jewish history important. Among them, the members of the Leaders of Dialogue network who take care of Jewish cemeteries all over Poland.

In the past months, activists from the Podkarpacie Regional Support Group aided by their local allies teamed up to do maintenance and gardening works on the cemeteries located in their towns.

On April 30^th, Jerzy Dębiec, Joanna Potaczek, Artur Górecki, Jacek Koszczan, Adam Lorenc and Magda Zykiert, aided by their kinds and other allies, worked together in Nowy Żmigród’s cemetery. Guided by Jerzy Dębiec, the activist from the town and a member of the Leaders of Dialogue network, they also lit candles at a site of mass execution on the Hałbów pass.

On June 4^th, the Jewish cemetery in Rymanów underwent maintenance works. Among those involved where members of the Leaders of Dialogue network: Joanna Potaczek, Adam Lorenc, Magda Zykiert, Jerzy Dębiec and Artur Górecki. This dedicated group was helped by others, including Jerzy Puchta, the Director the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, members of the Rejwach Foundation, representatives of local authorities, scouts and local history enthusiasts.

This is just the beginning, as similar projects will be undertaken by activists in the Forum Leaders of Dialogue network in Dukla, Ulanów, and Wola Miechowa.

The Leaders of Dialogue program is co-financed by Friends of the Forum, Ledor Wador Foundation and Forum for Dialogue’s private and institutional supporters in Poland.