Jewish cemetery in Boskovice

The Jewish Cemetery in Boskovice ranks among the three largest Jewish burial grounds in the Czech Republic and stands as one of the most valuable monuments of Jewish heritage in Moravia. It sits on the southwestern edge of the town, roughly 500 meters from the main square, spread across a steep slope northwest of the local castle.

When was the cemetery founded?

The necropolis in its current form most likely dates back to the 17th century. The oldest identified grave bears the date 1670, making it one of the earliest surviving traces of Jewish presence in the Boskovice region. Over the following centuries the cemetery grew steadily alongside the local Jewish community, which was one of the more significant in Moravia.

How large is the cemetery and how many gravestones remain?

The cemetery covers an area of 14,528 square meters, placing it among the largest Jewish cemeteries in the region. Around 2,500 tombstones of various types have survived within this space, ranging from modest, plain slabs to richly decorated matzevot bearing Hebrew inscriptions. The variety of forms and styles allows visitors to trace shifting funerary customs across several centuries.

Who is buried at the cemetery?

Several notable figures from the local rabbinical community rest here, including Rabbi Mose ben Hirsch ha-Levi, Rabbi Abraham Placzek, and Samuel ben Nathan Ha-Levi Loew, author of the well-known rabbinical work "Machatsis haShekel." Their graves serve as an important reference point for anyone interested in the history of Judaism in Moravia. The cemetery also contains a memorial dedicated to Jewish soldiers who died in the First World War, commemorating the local community's involvement in the conflict.

Why is the site worth visiting?

The Jewish cemetery in Boskovice is today a protected historical monument, often mentioned alongside the country's other most important Jewish cemeteries, in Mikulov, Holešov, and Třebíč. For visitors, it is more than a place of remembrance — it functions as an open-air record of the local Jewish community's history, prosperity, traditions, and the tragedies that befell it in the 20th century. Because the ground rises steeply along the slope, walking between the rows of tombstones also offers scenic value, with views opening up over the surrounding hills and the rooftops of Boskovice from several vantage points.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Jewish cemetery in Boskovice? The oldest surviving tombstone dates from 1670, though the cemetery in its present form is believed to date from the 17th century.

How many gravestones are preserved at the cemetery? Around 2,500 tombstones of various types remain on the site.

Which notable people are buried there? Among those buried are Rabbi Mose ben Hirsch ha-Levi, Rabbi Abraham Placzek, and Samuel ben Nathan Ha-Levi Loew, author of "Machatsis haShekel."

Is the cemetery legally protected? Yes, it is a protected historical monument, counted among the most important Jewish cemeteries in Moravia alongside those in Mikulov, Holešov, and Třebíč.