The Jewish Religious Union of the Republic of Belarus continues its work to preserve Jewish heritage in Minsk. Maccabi BY has joined this important initiative.
On 23 June 2026, having received official permission from the authorities, the Union began the careful relocation of approximately 250 surviving matzevot (Jewish gravestones) and their fragments from the memorial park on Sukhaya Street. The stones were moved to the Main Synagogue on Daumana Street, where they will be cleaned, documented and catalogued.
A Site with a Complex History
The Jewish cemetery on Sukhaya Street is one of the most significant sites in the history of Minsk's Jewish community. Established in 1868, it served for over a century as the city's main Jewish burial ground. Thousands of people were laid to rest here: rabbis, scholars, public figures, and ordinary families whose lives were closely intertwined with the history of the city.
During the war, the cemetery found itself within the territory of the Minsk Ghetto. It became not only a place of memory but also a site of profound tragedy. Victims of Nazi persecution were brought here, including Jews deported from across Europe.
In the early 1970s, the cemetery was closed. By the 1990s, most of the area had been levelled, and a small memorial park was created on the site. Several monuments were erected to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. But the gravestones themselves – around 250 in total – lay scattered on the ground for years, deteriorating in the elements.
For the first time in decades, these stones have received the care and respect they deserve. The Jewish Religious Union, together with its partners, obtained permission to remove them from the park and place them in a secure location for preservation.
How Maccabi BY Supports This Project
For us, the mission of the Maccabi movement is about more than just sport. It is also about respect for our history, our traditions and our memory. We see our role not only in preparing athletes for international competitions, but also in being part of a larger story.
Preserving Jewish heritage in Belarus is directly connected to what we do. After all, we are reviving not just a sports club, but traditions that were part of Jewish life in Belarus for decades.
That is why we are supporting the Jewish Religious Union in the Sukhaya Street project. For us, this is not just charity – it is a continuation of our mission. We are proud to contribute to restoring the memory of those who lived on this land before us. We believe that the revival of sporting traditions and the preservation of historical memory go hand in hand.
What Happens Next
In the coming months, every stone and fragment will be cleaned and documented. Specialists will read and record all inscriptions, preserving names, dates and other details. This painstaking work is essential to ensure that this information is not lost to future generations. Each stone will be photographed, the inscriptions will be translated, and all data will be entered into a catalogue.
Once this work is complete, plans will be developed for a lapidarium on the cemetery site – a memorial where all the preserved gravestones will be integrated into a unified architectural space. Instead of stones scattered across the ground, there will be a place of remembrance.
Why It Matters
This project goes far beyond the preservation of old stones. It is about reconnecting the past with the present. It ensures that those living in Minsk today can see physical traces of the Jewish life that existed here for centuries. The lapidarium on the site of the former cemetery will become more than just a memorial – it will be a place where visitors can connect with the history of the city and the people who built it.
The work is being carried out by the Jewish Religious Union with the support of Maccabi BY, The Together Plan and other partners. For years, these stones lay forgotten. Now, at last, they have been remembered.
Maccabi BY is proud to contribute to this important cause. Together with our partners, we continue working to ensure that the past is not forgotten and that the future is built on a strong foundation of tradition and respect.