Nova Vyzhva Jewish Cemetery

Cemetery Information

Country
Ukraine
Region
Volyn
District
Stara Vyzhivka
Settlement
Nova Vyzhva
Site address
Starting on Haidashuka Street, at the exit to Bridky village, cross the bridge over the Vyzhivka River and continue for 840 metres. Then turn right and follow the dirt road for 360 metres. The cemetery is located in a wooded area in the middle of the field.
GPS coordinates
51.416947, 24.422082
Perimeter length
295 metres
Is the cemetery demolished
no
Type and height of existing fence
No fence
Preservation condition
Unfenced Jewish cemetery
General site condition
There are a number of signs that this used to be the site of a cemetery, such as old trees and ditches. There are also a few stones partially submerged in the ground. Locals are actively working to remove refuse from the site but there is still some garbage scattered about.
Number of existing gravestones
5 concrete tombstones without inscriptions were found in the initial search, and thorough clearance may reveal more. An earlier ESJF expedition came across a tombstone still bearing an inscription, but the team was unable to find it in 2019.
Date of oldest tombstone
Date of newest tombstone
Urgency of erecting a fence
High
Land ownership
Property of local community
Preserved construction on site
Drone surveys
No

Historical overview

The date of the cemetery’s foundation is unknown. However, it does appear on Russian maps from the mid 19th century. The Jews of Vyzhva received the right to found the cemetery in 1663.

The first mention of Jews in Nova Vyzhva dates to the 16th century. King Vladislav IV affirmed that Jews had equal rights to Christians. The community was subordinated to the Jewish community of Kovel’ until 1764. In 1784, 30 Jews resided in Nova Vyzhva, and five years later, the community consisted of 11 Jewish houses and 3 taverns. In the first half of the 19th century, one synagogue had been built in the town. Local Jews owned three mills. By 1870, around half the village’s population, 720 individuals, were Jews. In 1897, the population had been reduced to 500 individuals, and after WWI and a pogrom, only 358 Jews remained (18.1% of the total population). During the interwar years, several Jewish organisations and political parties functioned in the village. On June 27, 1941, Nazi troops occupied Nova Vyzhva. On August 5, 1941, 260 Jews were murdered. A ghetto was created in summer 1942 and liquidated shortly afterwards.

3D model