The Jewish cemetery in Leżajsk in Górna street was established in the first half of the 18th century. It was located 200 meters from the synagogue. The last burial ceremony in the cemetery was performed in 1939. During the course of the Second World War, the Germans completely ravaged the cemetery and tore down the wooden ohel of tzadik Elimelech. In 1962, out of the initiative of Rabbi Friedman from Vienna and with cooperation with Rabbi Mendel Reichberg, a stone ohel was erected in place of the wooden one. The work was funded with financial help from American Jews.
In the cemetery of the size of 2.06 hectares very few matzevot are preserved. In 1988 several dozen tombstones that the Germans used during the Second World War to pave the market square were recovered. Around 40 matzevot dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries were set up. In the past few months, several dozen matzevot were fixed into the wall at the back of the cemetery.
Of special interest is tzadik Elimelech's grave, which is the place of many pilgrimages from around the world. The ohel was renovated in 1988 by the Nissenbaum Family Foundation. The building consists of three parts: in the middle one, a grille painted gold protects the tzadik's grave, adjoining the middle room there are rooms for prayer separate for men and women. By the entrance stands the matzeva of tzadik's son, Eleazar, who died in 1806. It is the oldest preserved matzeva of a tzadik that can be found in Poland. In the ohel there are also tables with epitaphs: of Eleazar, tzadik in Chmielnik, son of Elimelech (died February 26, 1813); of Menachem Isachar, son of Elimelech (died February 5, 1814); of Naftal, tzadik in Leżajsk, grandson of Elimelech; and of two sons-in-law of Elimelech, Natan Ezechiel and Izrael.
In March 2008, tzadik Elimelech's ohel was devastated once again: antisemitic writings and marks were painted on it.
For information about keys to the cemetery gate and ohel please contact The Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland: phone 22 436 60 00, E-mail [email protected]
