Cemeteries

Old Jewish Cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery of Henichesk dates to approximately the mid-nineteenth century, corresponding with the early formation of the town’s permanent Jewish community. It was situated on the coastal dunes along the Sea of Azov, in an area that was historically used for burials due to its elevation and relative distance from the town center.

Over time, natural shoreline erosion posed an increasing threat to the cemetery’s integrity. The shifting sands and gradual encroachment of the sea placed graves at risk of exposure and destruction. In response to these environmental pressures, portions of the cemetery were relocated further inland. Such actions, while uncommon, are permitted under Jewish law (Halakha) when graves are endangered.

Despite these efforts, it is likely that some burials were lost to the advancing shoreline. Today, the precise boundaries and condition of the original cemetery site remain uncertain, reflecting both natural landscape change and the broader disruptions experienced by the community over time.

New Jewish Cemetery

The New Jewish Cemetery of Henichesk was established by the early twentieth century, likely around 1910, as the Jewish population expanded and required additional burial space. It was located along what is now Tsentral’na Street, at approximately 46.1757 latitude and 34.8094 longitude. Historical records indicate that the cemetery covered an area of roughly 0.85 hectares (2.1 acres), with a perimeter of approximately 378 meters.

The cemetery remained in use through the early Soviet period and was still visible on maps as late as 1941. Its destruction likely occurred during or shortly after World War II, either as a result of Nazi occupation or subsequent Soviet redevelopment policies, which frequently repurposed religious and burial sites.

In the postwar period, the land was redeveloped, and today the site is occupied by a parking area and service station. No visible grave markers or structural elements remain. Despite the absence of physical traces, the location continues to hold historical significance as the primary burial ground of Henichesk’s Jewish community during its final decades.

These photographs document the current state and historical footprint of the "New" Jewish Cemetery, which is now a parking area and service station

Photograph courtesy of the European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative (ESJF), from the Henichesk New Jewish Cemetery survey