The Jewish community in Kaliningrad has marked the 150th anniversary of the city’s historic Jewish cemetery following an extensive restoration carried out under close rabbinical supervision. The cemetery is the burial site of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, the founder of the Musar movement.
Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea situated between Poland and Lithuania, was known for centuries as Königsberg under German rule. The city received its current name 80 years ago after being captured by Soviet forces at the end of World War II. Although not contiguous with the rest of Russia, it has remained under Moscow’s control and is accessible only by air or by rail through neighboring countries.
The Jewish community that once thrived in Königsberg was considered one of the most prominent in East Prussia. Its central synagogue, regarded as one of the most impressive in Germany, was destroyed during Kristallnacht in 1938. It was rebuilt in 2018, making it the only synagogue on Russian soil known to have been burned on Kristallnacht.
About 150 years ago, the community purchased new land outside the city to establish a cemetery after the previous burial ground was filled. Much of the site was damaged during and after World War II. Only recently—after years of effort and with support from local Jews and various organizations—was the cemetery preserved and restored. Local Chabad emissary Rabbi Avraham Baruch Deutsch, together with community members, led the project, which included renovating gravesites, creating illuminated pathways and constructing a new structure over Rabbi Salanter’s grave.
A dedication ceremony was held last week with the participation of the city’s rabbi, Rabbi David Shvedik; community leader Eliezer Yirmiyahu Flitman; and government representatives who assisted the project. A memorial stone was unveiled at the site. Since Rabbi Deutsch’s arrival, the community says, cemetery maintenance has significantly improved, especially the halachically supervised reconstruction of the gravesite of Rabbi Salanter. The Kaliningrad Jewish community today numbers around 7,000 residents, with thousands more visiting each year.
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the burial site of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter in Kaliningrad, Russia
(Photo: Andery Boitz)
Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar sent a letter of congratulations that was read at the ceremony. “You have gathered today for an event of great importance,” he wrote. “The historic Jewish cemetery of Königsberg marks 150 years since its founding, and to honor this day, the restoration of its main avenue has been completed, along with the refurbishment of the resting place of the righteous founder of the Musar movement, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter.”
Lazar added: “By placing a memorial stone here today, your community—led by Rabbi David Shvedik and Rabbi Avraham Baruch Deutsch—fulfills a sacred obligation to the generations before us. This is not only a memorial to the past, but an expression of life and continuity for the entire Jewish people. Our tradition teaches that burial is a sacred commandment, and we hold special respect for the deceased, whose resting places must be cared for in accordance with Jewish law.”