Human Remains Found Near Ancient Jewish Cemetery in Poland

Human bones were discovered near the ancient Jewish cemetery in Kozienice, Poland, after a local contractor began excavation work just 40 centimeters from the cemetery's fence. The discovery was revealed by Meir Bulka, chairman of J-nerations, an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish heritage in Europe, who was investigating the site's boundaries at the request of the Kozienice Poland Guest House Committee, led by Asahel Shachaf.

The construction project, initiated by a local developer, spans approximately 100 meters along the cemetery's fence, near a local restaurant. The cemetery's fence was erected in 1984, and previous checks by the committee had already indicated the presence of graves outside the entrance gate.

The cemetery is the burial site of the holy Maggid of Kozienice, successive rebbes of the dynasty, and thousands of Jews whose tombstones were destroyed during World War II. Following this incident, Asahel Shachaf collaborated with Poland's Chief Rabbi and head of the Cemetery Supervision Committee, Rabbi Michael Schudrich, the municipality, the police, and the Polish Ministry of Antiquities to halt the construction work.

At the instruction of the Rebbe of Kozienice, an urgent delegation of activists will travel to Poland to meet with representatives of the Ministry of Antiquities to prevent further desecration. Shachaf stated that the discovery was a "miraculous intervention" that allowed the damage to the graves to be stopped, and pledged to use all legal means to protect the dignity of the deceased.