2026-05-29 14:57 Team News

Maccabi BY Visits the "Memory Embrace" Memorial in Brest

The Maccabi BY team travelled to Brest to visit the "Memory Embrace" memorial complex – the first lapidarium in Belarus, opened a year ago on the site of a centuries-old Jewish cemetery.

Where Stones Tell Stories

A lapidarium (from the Latin lapis – "stone") is a type of open-air memorial museum that preserves surviving stone monuments. The Brest complex contains over 1,200 fragments of matzevot (Jewish gravestones) discovered throughout the city – on the former cemetery grounds, near the walls of the Brest Fortress, in residential courtyards, old workshops and even in building foundations. Each stone is a unique artefact inscribed with names, dates and epitaphs in Hebrew and Yiddish.

The Jewish cemetery in Brest was established in 1835. Over its 106-year history, between 35,000 and 50,000 people were buried here, making it one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in modern-day Belarus. During the Second World War, the cemetery was desecrated by the Nazis: matzevot were torn out and used as building materials – to pave roads, reinforce foundations and even construct private homes.

Two Decades of Struggle for Memory

The idea of creating a lapidarium was first proposed in 2004, but the project faced years of delays. Work only resumed in 2023. A key role in its realisation was played by the Jewish Religious Union of the Republic of Belarus and The Together Plan – a British charity with which Maccabi BY actively cooperates.

The project also received support from the Brest Regional Executive Committee and renowned American landscape architect Brad J. Goldberg, who developed the memorial's design concept.

The Opening Ceremony

The lapidarium was officially opened on 28 July 2025 – the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Brest from Nazi occupation. The date was chosen deliberately: the memory of the victims was restored on the very day the city was freed.

At the opening ceremony, Artur Livshyts, Chairman of the Jewish Religious Union, said:

"A lapidarium of this scale is the first of its kind in Belarus. This project embodies international cooperation. We have brought home over 1,200 gravestones – we have brought back the memory of those who rest beneath them."

Memory Embrace

The memorial's name, "Memory Embrace," reflects its design concept. The walls of the lapidarium symbolise an embrace – a mother's arms, now protecting the gravestones. On the hill, the stones face in different directions, as if silently speaking to one another, creating a space for visitors to quietly reflect and remember.

At the entrance, a memorial plaque bears inscriptions in four languages.

Maccabi BY: Honouring Memory and Connecting Generations

For the Maccabi BY team, this visit was more than just an excursion – it was a deeply personal experience. It reminded us that through collective effort, we can not only build the future but also restore the dignity of the past.

The memory of lost communities and the revival of Maccabi sporting traditions are part of the same story. We preserve the past in order to build a strong future. We are proud that our partners – the Jewish Religious Union and The Together Plan – played a central role in restoring this piece of history.

Maccabi BY extends its gratitude to everyone who contributed to the creation of this unique memorial. We will not forget.