Visitors to Auschwitz-Birkenau in recent months have been horrified by the sight of thousands of human bone fragments in pools of water around the crematoria, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported.
Apparently, bone fragments survived the crematoria and thousands of bone fragments among the ashes have been scattered around the camp, especially in the pools of water surrounding the crematoria.
In coordination with Polish authorities, a Zaka delegation and representatives of the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe (CPJCE) traveled to the site and saw the many bone fragments throughout the camp, but especially around the crematoriums where some of the ashes were thrown.
After the war, Poles searched through the ashes for valuables and scattered the ashes throughout the camp.
According to halacha, all bone fragments larger than the size of a barley grain must be buried and ashes have the same din as bones. Bone fragments smaller than the size of a barley grain do not convey tum’ah.
Zaka and CPJCE representatives prepared a protocol to solve the problem following the visit.
Zaka chairman Yehudah Meshi-Zahav implored participants in last week’s World Holocaust Forum to assist in retrieving the bone fragments, writing: “This is a complex engineering and logistical project that requires the guidance and advice of engineers and hydrologists. We call upon the heads of states participating in the World Holocaust Forum that before occupying yourself with memorializing the memory of the victims, it is more important to occupy yourself with their dignity.”
“We appeal to you with a humanitarian request – to help carry the burden of this complex project so that after 75 years, the bones of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust who were murdered while sanctifying G-d’s name will be brought to Jewish burial and everlasting rest.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Cordon off the entire site and leave it completely untouched, not even for renovations. People’s remains may not be trampled upon. It is IMPOSSIBLE to gather all the bones and all the dust! Stop desecrating the resting place of the Holy Keddoshim!
curious what happened till now , did no one ever notice and how did they last 75 years of snow , rain, …?
There is a halacha that one should not wear his tzitzis out when going to a cemetery. I would venture to guess that the
same halacha applies at the concentration camps. Just my 2 cents.
As we just learned in Daf Yomi Gemarah Brochos, this could render the whole area a Beis Hapras
And there are still sick people out there that deny the holocaust. They will lie about everything and say that these bones were placed there, or that the ashes is sand from the beach.
Entire area should be considered a cemetery.