A disturbing case of grave desecration has shaken the Zerkow region in western Poland after unknown individuals dug up and damaged graves at the old Jewish cemetery located deep in a forest managed by the Jarocin Forest District. The damage was discovered by local forestry workers and shared on social media, prompting widespread outrage.
Officials fear human remains may have been disturbed, further escalating the severity of the incident. “With deep sorrow, we report a serious act of desecration at a historic Jewish burial site,” the forestry unit wrote. “This is not only illegal vandalism but also a degrading, humiliating attack on human dignity — of both the living and the dead.”
The cemetery, which served the local Jewish community from the 18th century until it was destroyed during the Holocaust, stands as a silent witness to a once-thriving Jewish life. Though it isn’t regularly maintained, the site attracts visits from researchers, tourists and descendants of the former community.
News of the desecration drew strong condemnation from Jewish organizations in Poland and abroad. The World Jewish Congress urged Polish authorities to “bring the perpetrators of this vile crime to justice.” Israel's embassy in Poland said it was closely monitoring the situation.
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“Jewish grave desecration in Poland is a recurring problem at several sites each year,” said Rachel Goldman, a representative of the European Jewish Heritage Preservation Center. “This is not just a hate crime — it’s an attempt to erase the memory of those who can no longer defend themselves.”
Local police have launched an official investigation and forensic teams have collected evidence from the scene. The forestry district is cooperating with authorities and expressed deep shock. “An attack on historical memory — whether it’s a Jewish, Christian or any other grave — is a crime against all of us,” the unit said. “The past belongs to us all. We must preserve it, not destroy it.”
“The fact that someone targeted such a site shows, at best, ignorance, and at worst, deep-seated hatred,” said Dr. Michael Szczesny, a scholar of Jewish communities in Poland.