Jewish cemetery (Hřivčice)
Coordinates: 50 ° 19 ′ 29 ″ N , 13 ° 55 ′ 15 ″ E
The Jewish cemetery Hřivčice is a historical and to this day preserved Jewish cemetery in the district Hřivčice (German plant village ) of Peruc ( Perutz ) in Okres Louny in the Czech Republic . With 3,163 m² it is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the Czech Republic. There are around 300 preserved graves on an area of around 1,800 m². The cemetery was laid out in the first half of the 18th century and expanded in 1837. By the end of the 20th century, the cemetery that was abandoned as a result of the Shoah had fallen into disrepair. From 2000 it was restored.
history
The cemetery between the villages of Hřivčice and Vrbno nad Lesy was established in the 1st half of the 18th century. The oldest gravestones date from 1759. According to other sources, it has existed since 1732. The land register (plot 208) records the Israelite burial society for Hříškov and the surrounding area as the historical owner. In 1837 the cemetery was expanded.
After 1918, the Jewish community in the Perucko region was so integrated into the majority society that many of its relatives were buried in the community cemetery, which reduced the importance of this burial place.
During the Second World War as a result of the Shoah, the Jewish community died out. Still legible inscriptions indicate that the last burials took place in the 1930s. The cemetery was no longer maintained after 1939 and gradually overgrown. Graves and tombstones were occasionally robbed. At the end of the 20th century the cemetery was in a dilapidated condition, with bushes and undergrowth growing over the gravestones on the ground.
In 2000, the Chomutov Apostolic Church, the Černčice mission station, in cooperation with the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Peruc religious community , endeavored to recultivate it . The removal of bushes began on the cemetery, which was unkempt for 60 years. However, this activity was stopped and in 2008 the cemetery was overgrown again. A report on the Peruc website in 2008 aroused the interest of the Teplice Jewish community. It was possible to arrange a collaboration with citizens from Peruc, who cleaned almost the entire cemetery within a year. This collaboration continued in 2009 and 2010.
Currently, the reclamation project is being implemented by the Association for the Restoration of Jewish Monuments in Peruc, which was founded in early 2015. It is financially supported by the Foundation for Victims of the Holocaust , the European Organization ESJF and the Employment Office of the Aussiger District. The aim of the project is to remind the public of racial and religious tolerance. The restoration of the cemetery enables this memento to be preserved for future generations.
Todays situation
Since the year 2000, the Jewish cemetery, located about 500 m from the city cemetery, has been gradually restored. The present owner is the Teplice Jewish Community. Most recently, more than 30 preserved tombstones were put up again, and the green area was continuously recultivated and cared for. In addition, the cemetery was provided with an information board about its history.
People from Slavětín, Peruc, Hořešovice, Vraný and other communities from the surrounding area are buried in the cemetery. Many sandstone tombstones have the original Hebrew script , often supplemented by symbols such as stars, hands and traditional lily flowers. Basic information is also given in Latin on some graves. The inscriptions on younger tombstones, often made of granite, are easy to read. Many of the tombstones are designed in the baroque and classical style.
