The names of 1,225 people buried at the desecrated Jewish cemetery in Klaipėda were read out at a ceremony held in the first week of August called “Voices of the Departed.” A symbolic headstone was also erected there in their honor.

Master of ceremonies Nerijus Gedminas said: “This was the Klaipėda Jewish cemetery and ritual funeral home right up until World War II. The Klaipėda Jewish community was annihilated during the Nazi occupation and its material legacy was largely destroyed as well. The post-war Soviet government set up a secret radio jamming station in the former [sic] cemetery called No. 61. Jewish headstones were used as construction material and for the bases of the antennae.”

Klaipėda Jewish Community chairman Feliksas Puzemskis said: “On the eve of Klaipėda’s birthday we want to give the city a list of the people who built this city and who are buried in this cemetery. Many visitors from around the world come here looking for their roots. Until now there hasn’t been a database for visitors to check whether their relatives are buried here. To accomplish this, organizers and money were required, but more importantly, the right person to undertake this work. We were very fortunate that Klaipėda University invited in professor Ruth Leiserowitz, thanks to whom this list has been reconstructed. She compiled a priceless treasure house of information.”

Deputy Israeli ambassador to Lithuania spoke at the ceremony and said it represented the return of the memory of the departed to the history of Klaipėda.

Guests were invited to the Community building following the ceremony where Leiserowitz gave presentation and the Shatil troupe of actors performed.

Photographs by Dinara Fritzsch