YURBURG JEWISH CEMETERY RESTORATION PROJECT

Goal: Raise $30,000 to continue renovate the cemetery: build substantial fence around area, repair and set upright broken and fallen headstones, landscape and clean up cemetery area of overgrowth.

The entrance gate has already been rebuilt through our efforts.

List of the restoration project participants

Brenda Freshman, Los Angeles

Ben Craine, Detroit

Fania Hilelson Jivotovsky, Montreal

Gary Schumann, Miami

Joel Alpert, Boston

David Rosenbloom, Washington D.C,

Richard Ruvelson, Seattle

Re

Please help us call on other Yurburg descendants to contribute to this project.

History of the Yuruburg Jewish Cemetery:

The cemetery was established in the 1700s, and served Yurburg and nearby towns: Shaudine, Sudarg, etc. When all the Jews of Yurburg were murdered in the summer of 1941, ironically the cemetery was not destroyed. One of the mass murder sites of the Yurburg Jews is adjacent to the cemetery.

In 1993, Milton Blackstone of La Jolla, California traveled to Lithuania, and visited many Jewish cemeteries. He wrote: "The Yurburg Jewish Cemetery is one of the best preserved in all of Lithuania."

In May 2001, members of the Rosin, Naividel, Krelitz, Ellis, and Menzer families made a historic trip back to Yurburg, the town of their ancestors. On the trip they met two survivors of Yurburg, Zalman Kaplan and Duba Most Rosenberg. We funded new plaques for the Holocaust victims of Yurburg.

In 2004 Zalman Kaplan approached us with the idea of restoring the cemetery. We embraced the project and invite your participation, so that this treasure will not fall into disrepair and so that it can be preserved forever.

In May 2005, we met with the Yurburg (Jurbarkas) town council and came to an agreement to jointly restore the cemetery.

In fall 2006, we funded the reconstruction of the gate to the cemetery. Construction was managed by a committee of the Kaunas (Kovno) Jewish Community and completed in November 2006.

In October 2006, the cemetery was officially recognized by the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad as a site worthy of protection.

Many many headstones of our ancestors

Headstone of Sarah Beylah Naividel Rosin, showing excellent condition of many of the headstones

Headstone of Leah Naividel Krelitz (sister of Sarah Beylah Naividel Rosin), great grandmother of Esther Sherman Bejar and Joel Alpert, standing at the headstone.

Poor condition of current fence

Undergrowth needs removal

We don't have photos of headstones broken and lying on the ground, but there are many that need to be repaired and re-erected.

Many many headstones.

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DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE IN THE US AND CANADA

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Receipts will be sent for donations over $250 to satisfy US Tax requirements.

Make out donation check to:

Friends of the Yurburg Jewish Cemetery Inc.

Mail to: c/o Gary Schumann

628 Navarre Ave.

Coral Gables, FL 33134

Email to Gary: MiamiFLusa@aol.com

This project is endorsed by the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad.

You may also send your tax-exempt donations to the Commission, and please make note that it is for the Yurburg Cemetery Restoration Project. http://www.heritageabroad.gov/

Family Names on Headstones

Abramson

Achdan?

Alperovitz

Anazavitz?

Anshel

Apriaski

Aranom

Arnstein

Azafavitz

Azaftitz

B?edlar

Barski

Beckman

Beralmitz

Beralovar

Berkover

Berman

Bernstain

Bloma

Boraski

Chabdon

Chosid

Dramveen?

Epshtein

Ess

Feenah

Feinberg

Feinberg

Fidler

Freeman

Galvshar

Hacohen?

Hertz

Heselovitz

Ivenski

Ivensky

Jablonski

Joelsohn

Joffe

Juselit?

Kagan

Karabelnik

Katz

Kavakalaska

Kobelkowski

Kolisar

Kopelov

Kopelovitz

Kopelow

Krelitz

Kushlevitz

Kushner

Landan

Lashitz

Latushitz

Lau?

Lavzinov

Lazar

Lesvin

Levin

Levinson

Levishitz?

Levitan

Leyuveen?

Liubin?

Lveafshitz ?

Mashkerstmal?

Menev?

Mentzer

Michalauskienes

Milbar?

Mivalosky

Modar?

Most

Naividel

Natmechuas?

Palavin

Poladavitz

Pollak

Pulerevitz

Rabinovitz

Razkeal?

Reezkin?

Rickler

Ricklish

Rozen

Rochco

Sach

Schmulovitz

Simonov

Singerman

Shachnovitz

Shapira

Sheftakboim

Shmalovitz

Shov-zatzal?

Shraga

Sundelowitz

Tavbtall ?

Urbach

Tompavski

Urmizn?

Vabil

Vaboaroski

Vachan

Valdislevski

Veelenzek

Verbelovski

Verblauskas

Weizman

Yablonsky

Yaffach

Yankelovitz

Yazakovitz?

Yerkmeaheum

Zadokoski

Zalabartski

Zak

Zapolsky

Zaratzeer

Zeedar

Zelik

Zochder?

Zoldarolavitz

Zundelevitz

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Last updated on Feb 7, 2007