Information About Jewish Cemeteries in Lyubar

Editor's note: I visited 2 cemeteries in Lyubar in 1997. One was a mass gravesite as described below "I. LYUBAR" by Leonid KOGAN in 1994 and 1996 as posted on the IAJGS International Jewish Cemetery Project webpage. The second cemetery (as described below in "III. LYUBAR" by the Jewish Preservation Committee in 1995) existed as reported with about 150 stones in 1997 including recent burials. Most inscriptions prior to 1945 were illegible due to weather erosion and/or shrapnel from war activity in the area. I was told by local residents that some stones (but not bones) had also been moved to this location from an adjacent property where a gas refinery was built during Soviet rule. The surviving cemetery property I did see was overgrown with vegetation and used for grazing cattle. Only partial perimeter fencing remained intact.

It is unclear from the survey "II. NOVAYA CHARTORIYA" conducted by Leonid KOGAN in 1994, whether this is yet a third cemetery that I did not visit or if it is in fact, the same as the "III. LYUBAR" location that I did see. Perhaps this 3rd cemetery was an older cemetery (pre-dating the 20th century) since the survey describes it as having no visible stones. Let me know if anyone finds out.

I have edited all of the following descriptions for clarity as of 4/23/2003 and any error is my own. ESK

I. LYUBAR (as surveyed 6/3/1996 and 7/19/1994): Located in Zhitomirskaya. The mass grave is located at Peschanoye, 1.5km to North from town center, left from road to Novaya Chartoriay. Lyubar is 88km from Zhitomir and 67km from Berdichev. The present town population is 5,001-25,000 with under 10 Jews.

Town official: Village Counsil of Fomin Vasility Stepanovich, ph: (04147) 21467. Local official: Regional department of culture of Lyubar, Lenina str., 39, ph: (04147) 21241. Jewish official: Klara Rakhimovna ROKHMELYUK of Lyubar, Chernyakhovskopgo str. 6.

The earliest known Jewish community in this town was 1784. The Jewish population as of the last census in 1926 was 4,146. Some noteworthy individuals who lived in this Jewish community were writer Aron VERGELIS (born 1918) and writer Ikhil FALKMAN (1911-1977). The Jewish mass grave was established in 1941. The last known Jewish burial was 1941. The type of Jewish community which used this mass grave was Orthodox. No other towns or villages used this mass grave. The mass grave is not listed and/or protected as a landmark or monument.

The mass grave location is rural (woods/forest), located on flat land, isolated, marked by signs or plaque in local language. It is reached by turning left off a public road and crossing other public property (forest). The access is open to all. The mass grave is surrounded by a continuous fence.

There is 1 stone in it's original location. There are no toppled or broken stones. No stones were removed.

The mass grave has no special sections. The stone was erected in 1980 or 1990 to commemorate the mass gravesite. The mass grave has a metal fence surrounding it. The mass grave contains marked mass graves.

There is a second memorial erected nearby which is surrounded by a fence and commemorates partisans who fought the Fascists. This is not a Jewish mass grave.

The present owner of the mass grave property is the municipality. Properties adjacent are forest. The mass grave boundaries are larger now than 1939. The mass grave is rarely visited by local residents.

This mass grave has not been vandalized. At the mass grave, there has been a re-erecion of stones and clearing of vegetation. The work was done by Jewish individuals residing within the country and local/municipal authorities. The restoration work was done in 1980 or 1990. Now there is occassional clearing or cleaning by individuals or authorities.

Within the limits of the mass grave there are no structures.

Vegetation overgrowth is a problem. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access and vandalism. Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution, vegetation and proposed nearby development.

This site was visited for this survey by Leonid KOGAN of Novograd-Volynskiy, Lenina str., 107, apt. 42, ph: (04141) 54259 on 6/3/96 and 7/19/1994. Jewish person interviewed for this survey was Klara Rakhmilyevna ROKHMELYUK on 7/21/94.

II. NOVAYA CHARTORIYA (as surveyed 7/19/94): Located in Zhitomirskaya and is 103 km from Zhitomir and 15km from Lyubar. The present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.

Town official: Village Counsil ph: (071) 96237. Local official: Village Counsil ph: (071) 96216.

The earliest known Jewish community in this town was 1789 or 1847. The Jewish population as of the last census in 1926 was 456. The last known Jewish burial was until 1941. The type of Jewish community which used this cemetery was Hasidic. No other towns or villages used this cemetery. The cemetery is not listed and/or protected as a landmark or monument.

The cemetery location is rural (agricultural), located on a hillside and by wa, marked by no sign or marker. It is reached by other. The access is open to all. The cemetery is surrounded by no wall or fence. There is no gate.

No stones visible. Location of any stones that have been removed is not known,

The cemetery has only common tombstones. The cemetery contains no mass graves.

The present owner of the cemetery property is unknown. The cemetery property is now used for agricultural use (crops or animal grazing). Properties adjacent are agricultural. The cemetery boundaries are smaller than 1939 because of agriculture. The cemetery is visted rarely by local residents.

The cemetery has been vandalized not in the last 10 years. There is no maintenance now.

Within the limits of the cemetery there are no structures. Vegetation overgrowth is not a problem. Serious threat: uncontrolled access. Moderate threat: vegetation. Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution, existing nearby development and proposed nearby development.

The site was visited for this survey by Leonid KOGAN of Novograd-Volynskiy, Lenina str., 107, apt. 42, ph: 54239 on 7/19/94. Persons interviewed for this survey were local residents on 8/19/94.

III. LYUBAR: The cemetery was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and used by the communities of Lyubar and Novaya Chartoria. It is still in active use.

The cemetery is isolated and surrounded by a fence. The area is roughly 5000 meters square and has about 100 tombstones. In the 1960's the local government did some restoration work on the site. Certain graves have been damaged by overgrowth.