Among descendants of Polish Jews, the path to family history is paved not only with archives or DNA. Jewish cemeteries in Poland are often overlooked in family history research, yet they can offer valuable context and unexpected clues for those tracing their Polish-Jewish roots.
When we think of genealogy, we often imagine dusty documents, censuses, or immigration files. But cemeteries offer something else: they’re frequently missed in genealogical research, yet a single gravestone can provide key information when other records are missing or unclear—and sometimes it’s the clue that breaks through the wall – especially in Jewish genealogy.
Moreover, in many Polish towns, the Jewish cemetery may be the only surviving trace of a once-thriving Jewish presence. And the information preserved there can be astonishing:
Hebrew names and patronymics (e.g., “Moshe son of Yaakov”)
Information about the spouse and other relatives
Place of birth
Dates according to the Hebrew calendar
Titles and honorifics indicating profession or social status
Symbolic carvings that hint at personality, trade, or lineage
For descendants seeking to reconnect, a tombstone is more than a memorial—it can be a quiet confirmation that your ancestor truly lived and left a trace that still exists. I felt it myself recently, when with a help of Paweł Kulig I found the graves of my great-great-grandparents in Łódź.
The photo of Chana Estera Alpern’s grave in Jewish cemetery in Łódź. Photo: Paweł Kulig
Jewish gravestones (matzevot) often follow a structure that is both formulaic and rich with meaning.
A typical inscription might include:
Introductory phrase: “Po Nikbar” or “Po Nitman” – “Here lies buried”
Hebrew name of the deceased: including patronymic (e.g., Reuven ben Shmuel)
Date of death: using Hebrew letters as numerals
Blessings or honorifics: e.g., “Ish Tzadik” (a righteous man)
Acronyms: such as ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. (“May his/her soul be bound in the bond of eternal life”)
Jewish cemetery in Lesko. Photo: Marta Maćkowiak
Jewish gravestones often include carved symbols that convey personal, spiritual, or communal identity.
Here are just a few examples:
Animals depicted on tombstones often refer to the name of the deceased:
Additionally, a unicorn symbolizes salvation and a righteous person.
There are also universal symbols, not exclusive to Jewish culture, such as an hourglass with wings (a reminder of the passage of time) or a butterfly (representing the soul ascending to heaven), as well as professional symbols—for example, the Rod of Asclepius for doctors, musical instruments for musicians, or helmets for soldiers.
Each symbol adds nuance. Even if names are illegible, the imagery alone can hint at gender, lineage, or role in the community.
Jewish cemetery in Wrocław (Breslau). Photo: Marta Maćkowiak
Yet even neglected cemeteries can offer value. In fact, some information about preserved tombstones can be found online. Databases such as the JewishGen Burial Registry (JOWBR), Foundation for Documentation of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland or dedicated websites like the one for the Jewish cemetery in Łódź contain valuable entries.
What can you actually do with information found in a cemetery?
You can:
Match Hebrew names with civil records (many Jewish given names were changed or Anglicized)
Confirm parent-child relationships across generations
Uncover previously unknown family members buried nearby
Determine approximate birth years using Hebrew death dates
Learn about family occupations, lineage, or religious standing
Gravestones can even help trace lost branches of your family tree, particularly when other documents were destroyed during war.
In Legnica, a city in Lower Silesia that was part of Germany before WWII and became part of Poland afterward, Heinoch Ebel was buried. It was unclear where he had been born, which made tracing his ancestors difficult. One possible solution was to request a copy of his death certificate—but due to data protection laws, that requires a direct descendant. The other, more accessible option was to translate the Hebrew inscription on his tombstone.
It turned out that the inscription contained a wealth of useful details, and now we know that:
His Hebrew name was Henech (the same)
His father’s name was Wolf
His birthplace was Oświęcim
From this one grave, we are now able to trace earlier generations and expand the entire family tree.
The tombstone of Heinoch Ebel in Jewish cemetery in Legnica. Photo: Marta Maćkowiak
Jewish cemeteries in Poland are more than burial grounds—they are open-air museums, spiritual memorials, and keys to lost family narratives.
For descendants abroad visiting (or researching) these cemeteries can be a turning point. In a single hour, you might discover more than years of searching in digital archives.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
I’m a professional genealogist based in Poland, specializing in Jewish ancestry research.
Here’s how I can help:
Locate and access Jewish cemeteries—even in remote areas
Translate and document Hebrew inscriptions
Trace burial records and connect them to your family tree
Plan and guide meaningful cemetery visits
Provide full photo documentation and genealogical reports
Contact me today to uncover the stories waiting in stone 
Marta
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