WARSAW, Poland (JTA) — Pieces of Jewish gravestones found at the bottom of Poland’s longest river, the Vistula, were returned to a Jewish cemetery.
The 17 gravestone pieces from the cemetery in the Brodno district were found last week at the bottom of the Vistula, which is at a record low water level due to drought. On Monday they were placed at the cemetery, which was established in 1780 and now is being managed by the Nissenbaum Family Foundation..
The Jewish Community of Warsaw said it plans to repair the damage and place security cameras at the cemetery.
A few decades ago, construction companies removed gravestones from the cemetery and used them as building material. The gravestones also were used to strengthen the bottom of the Vistula.
In addition to the gravestones, fittings of the Royal Palace in Warsaw including a fountain, vases and marble steps that the Swedes tried to take from the city in the 17th century reportedly also were discovered.
