Rava-Ruska New Jewish Cemetery

Cemetery Information

Country
Ukraine
Region
Lviv
District
Zhovkva
Settlement
Rava-Rus'ka
Site address
The cemetery is located at the end of 22, Sichnya Street.
GPS coordinates
50.23124, 23.60701
Perimeter length
322 metres
Is the cemetery demolished
yes
Type and height of existing fence
No fence
Preservation condition
Demolished Jewish cemetery that has not been built over
General site condition
-
Number of existing gravestones
Around 40 gravestones were built into a lapidarium on the cemetery site.
Date of oldest tombstone
1920s
Date of newest tombstone
1930s
Urgency of erecting a fence
High
Land ownership
Property of local community
Preserved construction on site
Drone surveys
Yes

Historical overview

Presumably, the cemetery was operating in the early 20th century. It was marked on a map from the 1930s. Presumably, the cemetery was demolished after WWII. In 2010s, a memorial near the mass grave was erected using gravestone fragments.

Jewish residents are recorded as early as the city’s foundation in 1624. In the early period of the city’s existence, Jews were involved in trading and alcohol distillation. The community became independent in the late 18th century. In 1788 to 1806, a Jewish school run by Hertz Gomberg was operating. In 1880, the Jewish population of Rava-Rus’ka numbered 3,878 (60% of the total population), increasing to 6,112 (57% of the total population) by 1910. A Hasidic court, founded by Ihl-Ishiyagu Rapoport (1861–1899) was active here from 1892. A school for Jewish children with support from Baron Hirsch was established in 1896. In the early 1920s, a Hasidic court in the town was founded by Arie-Leybush Rokeh (1855–1932). In 1920s, Sholom Rokeah founded another Hasidic court. The Jewish population numbered 5,048 (56% of the total population) in 1921. The Nazis occupied Rava-Rus’ka from September 10 to 23, 1939 and again on June 27, 1941. Jewish residents of Nemirov, Maheriv, Potelych and other surrounding villages were imprisoned in a ghetto. In May 1942, 6,700 Jews were interned in the ghetto. Around 3,500 Jews were deported to the extermination camp Belzec in two actions in March and July 1942. During the liquidation of the ghetto on December 7, 1942, 3,000 Jews were executed, a few thousand were deported to Belzec, and the remaining population to labour camps.

3D model