History of the structure

The Jews probably lived in Skwierzyna already in the early 14th century. They occupied a district in the south-western part of the town, stretching on both sides of the town gate.  In the late 18th century they represented around 30% of all residents and the commune belonged to the most populous and important in the west Greater Poland. The cemetery was established probably in the early 18th century. It was a burial ground also for the Jews from nearby Murzynowo. The cemetery survived World War II nearly intact - a pre-burial house, a ritual well, a fence with gates and tombstones survived. It suffered devastation at the turn of the 1970s. In the 1990s the inventorying of the tombstones was carried out, followed by ordering and reconstruction works.

Site description

The cemetery is located on a hill in the south-eastern part of the town, by the road to Międzyrzecz. It borders on the municipal cemetery (formerly Evangelical) on the north side. It covers an area of 2.2 ha where around 250 matzevot have survived. The oldest one comes from 1736.

Visitor access. Heritage site accessible to the general public.

Author of the note: compiled by Anna Jackiewicz, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Zielona Góra, 12-12-2017

Bibliography

• Borowski M., Kirmiel A., Włodarczyk T., Śladami Żydów. Dolny Śląsk, Opolszczyzna, Ziemia Lubuska, Warsaw 2008, pp. 80-81.
• Garbacz K., Przewodnik po zabytkach województwa lubuskiego, vol. 3, Zielona Góra 2013, p. 237.