An interim agreement to prevent the continual desecration of
the ancient cemetery in Prague was reached last week. The
English Committee for the Rescue of the Cemeteries in Europe,
prominent rabbonim from the United States, chareidi activists
and the Office of Chief Rabbi of Israel Yisroel Meir Lau, all
made untiring efforts to prevent the desecration of this
ancient cemetery.
Attempts to build a large commercial center and a huge
parking lot over the ancient graves of the ancient Czech
cemetery have been going on for a long time. The cemetery is
apparently nine hundred years old. During the construction
work remains of the deceased were removed and either
transferred to investigators for their research or collected
in undignified heaps and then given to the community to be
transferred elsewhere.
The Chief Rabbi of the Czech Republic, Rabbi Ephraim Sidon,
was accused by activists on behalf of the prevention of the
desecration of graves in Europe of thwarting earlier attempts
to reach agreement on the cessation of work in the ancient
cemetery. In his favor, some said that he had no previous
experience in the delicate and difficult procedures involved
in dealing with ancient graves.
In the wake of heavy pressure exerted by prominent rabbonim
from Europe as well as of the Office of the Ashkenazi Chief
Rabbi of Israel Yisroel Meir Lau, the decision on the issue
was transferred to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The
director of the office wrote to Rabbi Sidon to stop all steps
regarding the ancient cemetery until Rabbi Menachem Mendel
Eckstein, a top-ranking member of the IDF Chevra Kadisha,
arrived in Prague on a special assignment to study the
problem.
An initial examination showed clearly that this is an ancient
cemetery dating back nine hundred years with two levels. The
walls of the upper story were seen clearly to have three
burial levels. Skull segments and human bones are found on
the ground level of the upper area and all signs indicate
that it is an ancient Jewish cemetery.
No remnants of graves were found on the bottom level. As a
result, it was requested that an additional examination be
made and that all information in the possession of the
authorities -- including cartographic, historical and
archaeological information as well as future plans of the
construction companies in the area -- be transferred to Rabbi
Eckstein.
After receiving Rabbi Eckstein's report, the Israeli Chief
Rabbinate sent a detailed letter to Rabbi Sidon explaining
the proper procedures for dealing with the cemetery.
Regarding the upper level, the letter said, "The area must be
fenced in properly, as is customary in all Jewish cemeteries.
Due to the fact that no graves were found on the lower level,
since there is still a possibility that there are graves
there, all work must be done with extreme caution and
care."
Rabbi Sidon was told unequivocally that commercial
considerations have no bearing upon this issue. All parties
involved in the affair, including the construction company
and the rabbonim of Europe, agreed with the letter's
content.
Two weeks ago, a large demonstration to protest the cemetery
desecration was held in Prague. It was attended by Jews from
all over the word.
No agreement can guarantee an actual work stoppage. As in
similar cases which ended in various ways, contracts have
already been signed with the insurance company that was about
to build on the cemetery site, which is today prime real
estate in the center of Prague. Final cancellation of the
plans would entail large costs and heavy litigation fees. No
final decision is expected in the near future.
