The Old Jewish Cemetery of Lublin — cradle of Polish Hasidism

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The Old Jewish Cemetery of Lublin was founded in 1450 — according to rabbinic tradition earlier still, but the first certain written records date from around 1500. Grodzka Hill, on which the cemetery is laid out, lies about half a kilometre from the former Jewish Gate and the Great Synagogue complex (destroyed in 1942–1943).

Lublin in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was one of the most important centres of Jewish scholarship in Europe. Here flourished the famous Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin (Yeshiva of the Sages of Lublin) — founded in the sixteenth century, later continued in the twentieth century by Rabbi Meir Shapira. Here met the sessions of the Va’ad Arba Aratzot (Council of the Four Lands) — the Jewish parliament of the Polish Crown. Lublin was called "the Jerusalem of the Kingdom of Poland" and "the Jerusalem of Lechistan".

The most distinguished burial at the Old Cemetery is the grave of Rabbi Solomon Luria (1510–1573), known by the acronym Maharshal — Rosh Yeshiva of the Lublin Talmudic school, author of Yam Shel Shlomo (a commentary on seven tractates of the Talmud). The Maharshal is regarded as one of the foremost halachic decisors of the sixteenth century, alongside Rabbi Moses Isserles of Krakow (the Remuh).

The second pillar of the cemetery is the grave of Rabbi Meir ben Gedalia of Lublin (1558–1616), known as the Maharam Lublin, author of Meir Einei Chachamim and of numerous halachic responsa. His ohel stands in the central part of the cemetery and is a place of pilgrimage for observant Jews.

The third great burial is the grave of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz (1745–1815), known as the Chozeh — the Seer of Lublin. The Chozeh was the founder of Polish Hasidism and the teacher of the next generation of Hasidic rabbis, including the Tzaddik of Przysucha, from whose line grew the greatest Polish Hasidic dynasties of the nineteenth century (Ger, Aleksander, Kotzk). The ohel of the Chozeh remains the destination of mass Hasidic pilgrimage, particularly on the anniversary of his death (the 9th of Av).

The cemetery was officially closed to new burials in 1830, after the opening of the new cemetery at ul. Walecznych. It remained, however, a place of pilgrimage until the Second World War.

During the German occupation (1939–1945) Lublin was devastated. The Germans destroyed the Great Synagogue complex and most of the matzevot at the Old Cemetery. After the war the cemetery lay neglected for decades — of the three thousand original matzevot only several hundred survived. Miraculously the ohels of the Maharshal, the Maharam and the Chozeh endured — sheltered by the dense growth of trees on the hill.

Restoration began in the 1980s, led by the "Brama Grodzka — Teatr NN" Centre — a cultural institution of Lublin that has become the principal custodian of the city’s Jewish heritage. The cemetery is today protected, fenced and accessible by advance arrangement. The ohels have been restored.

The Old Cemetery of Lublin is not freely accessible — visits require advance arrangement with the "Brama Grodzka — Teatr NN" Centre or with the Lublin Jewish Religious Community. Bookings should be made at least two weeks in advance; VIP Transfers coordinates contact.

The standard customs of a Jewish cemetery apply. Men and boys from the age of thirteen are required to cover their heads. The cemetery is closed on Saturdays (Shabbat) and on Jewish holidays. Admission is free or for a voluntary donation.

The tradition of placing stones is observed — particularly at the ohels of the Maharshal, the Maharam and the Chozeh, where pilgrims also leave small written petitions (kvitlech).

Men who are kohanim traditionally do not enter the cemetery. We can arrange a visit from outside the boundary with a view of the ohels.

The cemetery stands on a hill — entry requires walking up a steep path from the lower part of the town. We recommend comfortable footwear. For those with limited mobility the Mercedes V-Class can be driven to the highest accessible point, but the final metres to the gate require walking.

Photography is permitted. Inside the ohels we ask for silence and no use of flash.

Zasady wizyty:

• • Nakrycie głowy: wymagane (mężczyźni, chłopcy 13+)
• • Otwarcie: By arrangement via Brama Grodzka — Teatr NN or Lublin Jewish Community; not freely accessible. Closed Saturday (Shabbat) and Jewish holidays
• • Tradycja kładzenia kamyków: tak — symbol pamięci
• • Fotografia: dozwolona z szacunkiem

For families seeking Lublin forebears the first source is the "Brama Grodzka — Teatr NN" Centre, which maintains the "Story of One Person" database covering hundreds of Lublin Jewish families. The Centre also maintains a digital archive of former residents of the Jewish quarter of Lublin.

The State Archive in Lublin holds the records of the Lublin Jewish community from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries. JewishGen (Lublin Project) contains indexed community records and lists of Shoah victims. Yad Vashem holds thousands of biographical entries for Lublin Jews murdered at the Majdanek camp (5 km from central Lublin) and elsewhere.

For families descended from Lublin Hasidic dynasties (Chozeh, Przysucha, Ger) the dynastic archives are useful.

VIP Transfers helps arrange consultations with the "Brama Grodzka" Centre and the Jewish community in advance of the visit.

The Old Jewish Cemetery stands on Grodzka Hill in Lublin, at ul. Sienna, about 1 km from the Old Town. The Mercedes V-Class draws up as high as possible — the final metres to the gate require walking up a steep path. From most central hotels (Mercure, Hotel Lublinianka, Hotel Europa) the drive takes 10 minutes.

Lublin lies about 175 km from Warsaw (2.25 hours via the S17) and 270 km from Krakow (3.25 hours). For guests travelling from Warsaw we offer a full-day "Memory of Lublin" programme: the Old Cemetery, Brama Grodzka, the former Jewish quarter and the State Museum at Majdanek.

A standard visit to the Old Cemetery lasts one to one and a half hours. We recommend combining the visit with Brama Grodzka (a cultural centre, hub of Lublin’s Jewish heritage) and with Majdanek for a complete picture of Lublin remembrance. Hotel pickup and returns are included.