A shocking act of antisemitic vandalism has been reported at the historic Jewish cemetery in Vyzhnytsia, Ukraine, where the revered Vizhnitz Hasidic Rebbes are buried, reports Israel National News.
Unknown assailants broke through the cemetery’s perimeter fence and smashed several tombstones late Wednesday night. Local police have launched an investigation into what community leaders have condemned as a desecration of a sacred site.
The attack occurred just one day after the annual yahrzeit (commemoration) of the Tzemach Tzadik of Vizhnitz, which had drawn hundreds of pilgrims from around the world. The timing has intensified outrage among the Vizhnitz Hasidic community globally, with many describing the act as a deliberate provocation.
Fortunately, the graves of the Rebbes and the adjacent memorial and hospitality structure were not damaged, likely due to the presence of security cameras installed at the site.
Representatives from Hagan Hana’eh and Hachnasat Orchim organisations arrived the following morning to file a formal complaint and assess the damage.
Rabbi Moshe Hersh Stern, chairman of Hachnasat Orchim, condemned the desecration, saying: “Despite the severity of the incident, we will not give up. Desecrating a cemetery is a grave offence, but we will do everything in our power to restore this sacred site and preserve the dignity of the departed.”
Rabbi Stern added that repairs to the fence and damaged gravestones would begin immediately and expressed confidence that local authorities will bring the perpetrators to justice.
Community leaders have also announced plans to significantly strengthen security at the cemetery to prevent further attacks.
The Vyzhnytsia Jewish cemetery is one of the most important Hasidic heritage sites in Ukraine, attracting thousands of Vizhnitz followers and Jewish visitors each year who come to pray at the graves of their spiritual leaders. The desecration has therefore been seen not only as a crime against the Jewish dead but as a direct attack on Jewish memory and identity in the region.
Photo credit: Behadrei Haredim
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