Hasidic pilgrims visiting the graves of Vizhnitz dynasty leaders in the town of Vyzhnytsia in western Ukraine on Thursday were shocked to discover that vandals had broken into the historic cemetery overnight and desecrated several graves.
According to witnesses, the intruders broke through the cemetery fence, trampled and destroyed several tombstones, and caused extensive damage. The incident occurred just one day after the memorial for the “Tzemach Tzadik” of Vizhnitz, one of the dynasty’s founding rabbis, who died in 1884. Hundreds of Hasidim from around the world had traveled to the site to pray.
Despite the significant damage to the cemetery, the vandals did not harm the prayer tent built over the graves of the Vizhnitz rebbes or the guesthouse nearby, likely because the area is covered by security cameras.
Representatives of the “HaGan HaNa’eh” and “Hachnasat Orchim” organizations, who arrived at the site Thursday morning, were dismayed by the destruction and filed a police report. Local authorities have since opened an investigation to identify those responsible.
Rabbi Moshe Hersh Stern, head of the Hachnasat Orchim organization, said: “Despite the gravity of this incident, we will not relent. Desecrating a cemetery is a grave act, but we will do everything in our power to restore this sacred site and preserve the dignity of the departed.”
He added that repairs to the fence and restoration work at the cemetery are expected to begin in the coming days and expressed confidence that Ukrainian police will bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, community leaders are already discussing ways to significantly strengthen security at the site to prevent such incidents in the future.