Alternate names: Vitsyebsk [Bel], Vitebsk [Rus, Yid], Witebsk [Pol], Wizebsk [Ger], Vicebska [Latv], Vitebskas [Lith], Vitsebsk, Vicebsk, Viciebsk, Belarusian: Віцебск. Russian: Витебск. וויטעבסק - Yiddish. 55°12' N, 30°12' E, in NE Belarus. Capital of Vitebsk gubernia, 1802-1917. Yizkors: Sefer Vitebsk (Tel Aviv, 1957) and Vitebsk amol; geshikhte, zikhroynes, khurbn (New York, 1956) ShtetLink. JOWBR burial list: Jewish Cemetery. [June 2009]

Vitebsk developed from a river harbor where the Vitba River flows into the larger Dvina, which is spanned in the city by the Kirov Bridge. Shtetl Information. JOWBR burial listings. [August 2010] [August 2010]

• Estaro-Ulanovich Jewish Cemetery
• Old Cemetery
• Cemetery: Established in December 1909, the cemetery contains 6,300 graves. The old part is to the right of the cemetery center and contains older graves transferred from other area cemeteries. From 1918 until 1999, the cemetery had no security. Most gravestones from prior to the 1917 revolution were vandalized or stolen for building projects. Granite and marble matzevot were used for building interior work. The fence and gate reconstructed between 1993 and 1997 marked a change in conditions. Graves on the left side of the cemetery date from before the revolution and the interwar period. Most of those were in bad condition and were patched. The third section was in use secretly since the 1960s when the cemetery's use was forbidden. Section 1-2,300 graves, Section 2-2,500 graves, Section 3-1,500 graves. Additional burials may be unmarked as well as non-Jews buried with Jewish spouses.The Vitebsk Foundation at the Credvedi Museum of Vitebsk, Gogol Street, house # 17, apt # 24 may have additional information. [May 2009]

photo. [February 2010]

photos. [February 2010]

Also see Oktybr'skiy Rayon [October 2000]