Sadigora and Ruzhin Chassidim around the world were delighted
over recent reports that after years of efforts a wall around
the cemetery in the city of Sadigora has finally reached
completion, the refuse that accumulated over the years has
been removed and the area is being renovated and improved.
Hundreds of Jews from various generations lie buried in the
300-year-old cemetery, including famous rabbonim and
tzaddikim such as HaRav Yisroel of Ruzhin and his sons
and descendants of Sadigora who are buried in and near a
special ohel, the author of Yad Yehuda, the
rabbonim of the city and great Chassidim from numerous
generations.
Since World War II, when the Nazis destroyed the cemetery
deliberately, the place has remained in its state of
degradation. Fifty years of Communist rule further debased
the cemetery; local residents removed gravestones and used
them for building materials. Trash accumulated among the
graves and thorn bushes grew wild.
In recent years, following the collapse of the Soviet regime,
when local conditions became suitable for the undertaking of
a project to rehabilitate and improve the site, Ruzhin
Chassidim around the world responded to calls to restore the
cemetery's lost dignity. HaRav Shlomo Wilhelm, a Chabad
shaliach and rov of the city of Zhitomir and Western
Ukraine and head of the Jewish Union of Zhitomir, which works
under the Union of Jewish Communities in the Western Ukraine,
organized and directed efforts through various channels to
secure the necessary permits from the local authorities.
Besiyata deShmaya two years ago the needed permits
were finally obtained and the way was open to repair and
rebuild the cemetery.
HaRav Yisroel Moshe Friedman, the son of the Admor of
Sadigora and rov of the community of Sadigora Chassidim in
London, Kahal Or Yisroel, joined the efforts by assuming the
task of raising the funds to pay for the large project. After
a delegation from the World Committee to Save European
Synagogues, presided over by HaRav Eliakim Schlesinger,
determined exactly where to lay the wall, actual work at the
site went underway, with HaRav Wilhelm overseeing the work
firsthand to ensure it was carried out according to
halochoh.
Now that the major work has been completed project organizers
are entering the next phase of work: removing the thistles
and thorn bushes and repaving the walkways.
Guards will be posted 24 a day thanks to the director of the
World Committee for the Preservation of European Cemeteries,
HaRav Shlomo Besser, and organization sponsor the Claims
Conference.
