It is surprising how many people can trace their descent to Dokshitsy, a small town now in Belarus. Rob Benjamin The Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy, Inc.(FOJD), a Massachusetts non-profit organization, was created "to preserve the memory of the Jewish residents of Dokshitsy (Dokshitz in Yiddish), Parafianov, and nearby villages." The organization was founded in 2006 in response to a message from the Dokshitsy District. The District sought help to restore the Jewish cemetery forty years after it's destruction. Most of Dokshitsy's Jews were killed during the Holocaust. Before then, thousands had left, many going to America. The result is a worldwide Dokshitsy Diaspora.
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   Dokshitsy: holocaust site and Jewish cemetery are across the street from each other. left: "Everyone has name given by G-d, by the sea, and by death. Zelda. On
this site more than 3000 members of the Dokshitsy Jewish community were
killed. They are numbered among those who performed Kiddush
Hashem." Cemetery (center):
"They should know that there was once a shtetl named Dokshitz, where Jewish life flourished." Shechina Kantorovitch
all black monuments were erected by The Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy with your help.
center photo by Frank Swartz others by Kristian Väisänen.most photos on this site can be enlarged with one click.
Rob Benjamin sums up the August, 2010 Dokshitsy Diaspora Reunion Eva Fogelman's keynote Why Remember Dokshitsy? was a highlight.
If someone says, "My grandfather was from Dokshitz, and I don't know anything about the place," how would you respond? Here's one possibility.
Learn about the Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy, the history and geography of Dokshitsy's Jewish community, trips to Dokshitsy, the Jewish Cemetery in Dokshitsy, its restoration, other cemeteries where Dokshitzers are buried and Dokshitsy families. See old pictures from Dokshitsy, recent photos and videos. See side bar for more. Submit photos and more. Planning a family reunion? Contact us. Become part of our community. Our work is not finished. help preserve our history |