Description
The aim of the project is to restore the Jewish Cemetery in Dobrovský Street in Mělník, which is located in the garden of the former synagogue. The cemetery was founded in 1878 and was owned by the local Jewish Community. There are 122 graves and 21 tombs on the overall area of 2.752 sq.metres of the cemetery. Unfortunately, the cemetery is in a desolate state and has no entrance of its own. The current entrance is through the building of a neighboring bakery after admission by the shop assistant or the owner. The objective of the project is to open the cemetery to public by construction of a separate gate and a fence separating the area of the bakery. Additionally, the perimeter wall of the cemetery will be reconstructed, tomb-stones will be renovated and a path for visitors will be created. Thanks to the project Mělník Jewish Cemetery will become again a dignified place of reverence as it deserves.
Summary of project results
Before World War II, more than seven million Jews lived in Central and Eastern Europe and inhabited towns and villages for centuries there. Jewish burial sites provided direct physical evidence of this presence. Traces of many of these cemeteries have been lost as the result of the annihilation of the Jewish communities in the Holocaust, which left many European towns virtually bereft of a Jewish presence. After decades of this void, many cemeteries have tragically been either desecrated or compromised for agricultural, commercial, or private use. Those that did remain relatively intact are suffering from neglect and decay, a situation unacceptable by Jewish law as honoring the dignity of the deceased has always been among the primary duties of Jewish communities. The project was set up with the core objective of protecting and preserving Jewish cemetery site in Mělník through its restoration which is very important for the long history of the city and for the history of the Jewish Community. The rehabilitation and preservation of the Jewish cemetery represented a complex project that involved combined efforts of various experts from the municipality, suppliers and the Jewish community itself. Agreement had to be reached with a local bakery owner to allow the construction of an access path to the cemetery. Restoration works involved reconstruction of walls around the boundaries of cemetery sites, with a placement of a locking gate within the wall structure and a general cleaning of the site. Works also focused on restoring the interior of the cemetery by repairing and re-erecting the gravestones, thus restoring the honor to the deceased and simultaneously preserving the genealogical information contained in the cemetery. Ensuring the safety and upkeep of the restored cemetery thought long-term maintenance has been emphasized. A contract was signed between the city of Mělník and the Jewish Community entrusted with the protection and upkeep of the cemetery. The project has helped to raise public awareness of the Jewish cultural landmarks in the city of Mělník. The site has been integrated into the cultural touristic routes of the city and promoted in promotional leaflets, whereby the visibility of the site would be increased.
Summary of bilateral results