Obj. ID: 49495
Jewish Funerary Art  Jewish cemetery in Chodel, Poland

According to ESJF European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative, the Jewish cemetery was established no later than 1872 (right after the founding of the synagogue). Jerzy Chomicki in his book “Studium historyczno-urbanistyczny” (“Historical and Urban Study”) describes it as follows: “The cemetery is located to the north of the settlement, by the road to Adelin, it initially covered a small area of approximately 50 x 50 cubits (approximately 900 square meters). With time, it was enlarged to approximately 1 ha [hectares], and in the interwar period it was surrounded by a bedrock wall”.

After the deportation of the Jews in 1942, the Germans began to destroy the cemetery. The fence was dismantled after the war by the inhabitants of Chodel. The unattended cemetery deteriorated in the following years. The remains of the tombstones were used for construction purposes. Thanks to an anonymous informant, it is known that at least one basement in a private house is covered with tombstones from the Jewish cemetery until this day. Over time, the area became an illegal rubbish dump as well as a sand mine. The area was also used for cattle grazing. No tombstones have survived in the area (of about 0.6 ha). In 2015, in connection with plans to build a sports field, the commune authorities commissioned professional field studies of the cemetery area. As a result, burial pits on the road adjacent to the cemetery and remains of the fence wall foundation were discovered. The construction of the sports field has been suspended, but until now (2021), the area remains unmarked and there is no form of commemoration.

No tombstones preserved. No traces of the cemetery preserved.

The cemetery is located on Polna Street, behind 41A, Partyzatów Street, at the end of the street. It is close to the intersection of Polna and Partyzantów streets, between 41A, Partyzantów and 22, Piłsudzkiego Street.