In August, the Chevra Kadisha in Oudtshoorn discovered that the Oudtshoorn Jewish Cemetery had been vandalised, with a number of gravestones damaged in the process.
A spokesperson for the Oudtshoorn Chevra Kadisha, Bernard Herman said this is the first bad incident they’ve experienced at this cemetery.
“We intend to restore all the affected headstones at this stage. [approximately 25 gravestones]. We intend laying them flat, as has been the policy in the last couple of years, but this will be the next project once repairs have been done.
“Maintaining the cemetery over the years has been a costly affair. Our recent expenses were incurred working around the southern boundary wall, removing old trees which were damaging graves and recreating the many children’s ground mounds, which date back to the flu epidemic.
“We also surrounded the entire boundary wall with hundreds of meters of barbed wire at great expense some time ago, and every inch has been removed and stolen since. We are fighting a losing battle in our small and shrinking Jewish community.”
Bernard said people globally are connected to the Oudtshoorn Jewish Cemetery, which must be considered one of the oldest in South Africa. He hopes to soon make a list available of the names recorded on damaged stones, for families’ ease of reference.
To get involved or find out more information, contact Bernard Herman on 078 053 6002 or 083 298 4326, or via email to debsher48@gmail.com. You can also get in touch with the Cape SAJBD office via email to info@capesajbd.org, as the Board continues to work to support our Country Communities.
Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies website: www.capesajbd.org, Instagram, and Facebook page.
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