Pupils from the Euregio-Gymnasium take care of the Jewish cemetery

The Jewish men and women from Bocholt, Rhede and Dingden who are buried in the Jewish cemetery have now been commemorated with a day of remembrance and action. Around 80 Year 10 pupils from the Euregio-Gymnasium school learnt about the history of this place of remembrance and then looked after the cemetery.

"All those who died here lived in Bocholt, all of them have their own story", emphasises Jan-Bernd Lepping, deputy headmaster of the Euregio-Gymnasium. "We as a school are immediate neighbours of the places of remembrance in the city of Bocholt, as well as the Jewish cemetery. Now we want to give these neighbours back their place in life", he explains.

The pupils cleared paths, cut back ivy and maintained the 94 grave monuments. Beforehand, the young people were given an introduction to Jewish burial culture by Sharon Fehr, Honorary Chairman of the Jewish Community of Münster.

As a refreshment, the pupils were provided with a kosher braided bread. Finally, they presented the family and life stories of individual Jewish families that had been compiled in advance in the city archives, allowing them to delve deeper into the significance of the culture of remembrance.

"We are grateful that young people are engaging with the history of the Jews in Bocholt", said Renate Volks-Kuhlmann, Head of the Bocholt City Archive. "that they do this not only theoretically, but also actively, by looking after the Jewish cemetery here and letting their hands, their heads and their hearts speak - and dealing with how Jews lived here in Bocholt".

The event was organised in cooperation with the Bocholt City Archive and the City of Bocholt's Department of Culture and Education. The project day was financially supported by the Rudolf and Margot Ostermann Foundation.

The history and significance of the Jewish cemetery in Bocholt

The cemetery on Vardingholter Straße is considered an important testimony to Jewish life in Bocholt. After it was first established around 1700 and relocated in 1810, the Jewish community was forced by the National Socialists to abandon the cemetery on the street "Auf der Recke" in 1940. Over 130 deceased were reburied on a new site at the current location under duress and in disregard of Jewish traditions.

After the end of the war, the cemetery was redesigned and a memorial stone was erected in 1948 in honour of the victims of National Socialist persecution. Today it stands for the long history of the Jewish community in Bocholt, for the injustice suffered and for the continuing remembrance.

Further information on the history of the Jewish cemetery can be found in the city encyclopaedia.