Den Jødiske Begravelsesplads - Randers, Denmark
Posted by: 
pstidsen
N 56° 27.835 E 010° 02.616
32V E 564303 N 6258202
Ude af syne og ukendt for de fleste finder du, mellem trafikerede veje en forladt jødisk begravelsesplads i Randers
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Out of sight and only known by the few a abandoned Jewish cemetery is hidden in the trees. Close to roads but still a secret.
Waymark Code: WMG6PZ
Location: Denmark
Date Posted: 01/21/2013
Views: 32
I midten af 1800-tallet havde Randers en stor jødisk menighed. Afstanden til den nærmeste jødiske begravelsesplads var så stor at det var svært at begrave de døde inden 48 timer som jødisk lov og tradition indtil 1814 foreskrev. Derfor oprettede man i 1806 gravpladsen og i 1858 byggede man også en synagoge som dog blev nedrevet igen i 1936.
Begravelsespladsen dækkede et stort geografisk område. Protokollen for Randers nævner en del jøder fra andre byer som Viborg og Hobro der ikke havde egen begravelsesplads. I alt blev 360 jøder begravet her og ca. 250 gravsten står stadig tilbage. Gravene er ordnet fint i 11 rækker hvor de ældste grave findes i den bagerste nordlige del mens de nyeste findes i den sydlige del af pladsen.
Den sidste begravelse fandt sted i starten af 1988. På det tidspunkt var der ikke længere en jødisk menighed i byen. Jøderne var en betydningsfuld del af forretningslivet i 1800-tallet men idag er den efterladte begravelsesplads et af de sidste vidnesbyrd om en nu forsvunden jødisk menighed og befolkningsgruppe.
Den jødiske begravelsesplads ligger lidt for sig selv vest for Østre Kirkegård, næsten skjult for den der ikke lige ved det og indgangene til pladsen er låst. Adgang til pladsen kan kun ske ad en lille sti ved pladsens nordlige ende (N 56° 27.863 E 010° 02.625).
De hebraiske ord: "bet olam" og "bet hachajim" som betyder begravelsesplads kan oversættes til "Evighedens hus" eller "Livets plads". I følge jødisk opfattelse er gravpladsen den afdødes hvilested indtil de messianske tider kommer og den afdøde genopstår til et evigt liv. Derfor kan gravstederne ikke nedlægges.
Dansk lovgivning siger at et gravsted er fredet i 20 år hvorefter det kan nedlægges men da dette er en jødisk begravelsesplads vil den formentlig blive liggende urørt og godt skjult mellem træer hvor den kan bevare den helt særlige ro og højtidelighed den udstråler.
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In the middle of the 1800s, Randers had a large Jewish community. The long distance to the nearest Jewish cemetery made it hard to bury the dead within 48 hours as Jewish law and tradition until 1814 prescribed. Therefore a local cemetary was inagurated in 1807. Later in 1858 a synagogue was build but it was demolished again in 1936.
The cemetery covered a large geographical area. Protocols for Randers mention Jews from other cities as far as Viborg and Hobro where no local jewish cemetary was pressent. A total of 360 Jews where buried here and approx. 250 gravestones are still left. The graves are arranged in 11 rows with the oldest graves found in the rear northern part while the newest is in the southern part of the square.
The last burial took place in the beginning of 1988. At that time there was no longer a Jewish community in the city. The Jews were an important part of business life in the 1800s but today, this cemetery is one of the last witness of a now vanished Jewish congregation and community.
The Jewish cemetery is located west of Østre Kirkegård, almost hidden from those who do not know, and the entrances to the cemetary are locked. Access to the site can only be done by a small path at north end of the place.(N 56° 27.863 E 010° 02,625).
The Hebrew word "bet olam" and "bet hachajim" meaning cemetery can be translated as "eternal house" or "place of life". According to the Jewish view, the burial site is the resing place of the deceased until the Messianic times, where the dead resurrected to eternal life. Therefore, graves can't be abolished.
Danish law says that a tomb is protected for 20 years after which it can be disbanded but since this is a Jewish cemetery it will probably remain untouched and well hidden between the trees where it can maintain its own unique tranquility and solemnity.
Earliest Burial: 02/13/1807
Latest Burial: 01/02/1988
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Visit Instructions:
Take a photo of at least one grave marker and including a qualitative and quantitative description