Jewish cemetery in Opole

The Jewish cemetery in Opole is a 0.12 hectare burial ground located at the intersection of Granicznej and Waleckiej streets. The site is enclosed by a concrete wall with sandstone decorations and contains around 778 graves featuring stones made from limestone, granite, and basalt, many bearing Hebrew inscriptions.

The cemetery was founded in 1822 after receiving official permission, though the first burial took place in autumn 1821. An expansion followed in 1866 when a second section was added to accommodate the growing number of burials.

The cemetery reflects Jewish burial customs through the orientation of graves and Hebrew inscriptions carved into the stones. The diverse materials used, including limestone, granite, and basalt, reveal how different families and periods chose to mark their dead.

The cemetery is located at an accessible intersection in Opole and can be easily reached via the two main streets bounding the site. Visitors should remember this is an active burial ground and respectful behavior is expected.

Gimpel Pozner was buried in autumn 1821, before the cemetery officially opened to the community. This early burial shows how the community used the land for essential interments even before formal establishment.