Home      Project Coordinators        How You Can Help!       Contact Us      Photo Essay by Rita Reed      A Message From Al Stein

 Project Donors and Supporters      The Caslav Synagogue      List of Surnames in the Caslav Jewish Cemetery

* Please note: The "C" in Caslav is pronounced like the "ch" in church.

Project Details
Progress Report

The History of the Caslav Jewish Cemetery

The cemetery was established in 1884 in a section of the municipal cemetery of Caslav, off of Chotusicka Street. Its present area is 53 X 19 meters. It was reduced in size during the communist era. In the original plan for the cemetery, space was delegated for 380 burials, including the Children’s Section, but the cemetery contains just under 340 burials (there are approximately 275 adults and 59 children). 

The land on which the cemetery lies is owned by the town of Caslav (as it has always been).  Recently, an agreement was reached between the municipal authority of Caslav and the Jewish community of Prague (in whose area of responsibility the cemetery falls) for the transfer of ownership of the Jewish section of the cemetery to the Jewish Community of Prague.

Current Project Outline with Cost Estimates

Matana, a.s. has provided CJCRP with an estimate of the cost broken down in the following ways:

• Approximately 110 gravestones are lying and need to be re-erected. The cost of re-erecting all of the gravestones is approximately $7,700. ($70 each). This work will be carried out by a specialized professional firm.

• There are approximately 80 graves with no gravestones ( perhaps they were  removed during the Nazi and Soviet occupations,  stolen, etc.). A small stone tablet will be made for and set upon each of these graves, (containing names, dates, etc). The cost will be approximately $6,000, (approximately $75 each).

• The planting of an ornamental hedgerow to separate the Jewish section from the Christian section of the cemetery requires about $700. This will achieve the purpose both aesthetically and functionally at a cost far below that of erecting a wall or fence.

Additionally, the Caslav Jewish Cemetery Restoration Project wants to establish a $34,000 Trust Fund, the estimated 5% interest of which would perpetually provided the $1700 annual cemetery maintenance cost.

• If funds are available, a descriptive multi-language plaque in English, Czech and Hebrew, will be placed near the gate, to summarize the history of the site, and acknowledge the contribution of those who supported the project. Any funds raised beyond those needed to complete the above, will be made available as a donation towards the ongoing effort to restore the Caslav Synagogue.