A Jewish cemetery in northern Romania where Rabbi Hillel Pollak, a disciple of the Chatam Sofer and author of the book Kodesh Hillulim, is buried was vandalized by unknown perpetrators, officials and Israeli lawmaker Benny Gantz said. Fourteen gravestones were toppled, and no suspects have been arrested.
Pollak was the great-great-grandfather of Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party.
Gantz wrote on X that the desecration of the Jewish cemetery in northern Romania, where his ancestor is buried, was a stark reminder that when it comes to Holocaust remembrance, antisemitism has no boundaries and has not faded with time.
“On Holocaust Remembrance Day, especially amid rising antisemitism in Europe, I call on the international community to be uncompromising in suppressing Holocaust denial and modern antisemitism,” he said.
Gantz later said he had spoken with Romania’s ambassador to Israel, Radu Ioanid, following the desecration of the cemetery in northern Romania, where some of his relatives are buried.
According to Gantz, the ambassador expressed sorrow over what he described as an antisemitic act and assured him that the matter was being handled at the highest levels of the Romanian government.
“On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, especially against the backdrop of rising antisemitism in Europe, I call on the international community to act without compromise against Holocaust denial and manifestations of antisemitism that are spreading rapidly these days,” Gantz said.
The incident took place at the cemetery in the city of Reghin, in the Transylvania region, on the night between Saturday and Sunday. Unknown individuals entered the Jewish cemetery and desecrated 14 gravestones. The gravestones were not smashed, but were knocked over.
Romanian police said the investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office attached to the Reghin court, with the aim of identifying those responsible. Authorities have not yet reported any progress in the investigation or any arrests.