International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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OLES'KO:     US Commission No. UA13450101
Alternate names: German and Polish. It is located in Lvovskaya oblast at 49°55' and 42°31', 70 km from Lvov. The cemetery is located at the west part of the village, entering Oles'ko to the left from main road, Shevchenko St., 1. Present town population is 1000-5000 with no Jews.
  • Town officials: Village Soviet Chairman Grubrin Yarina Lukiyanovna, Zamkovaya St., 1, tel.: 25292, 25231.
  • Regional officials: Lvov Regional State Administration, Lvov Vinnichenko St., 18, reception room, tel.: 722947, 728093. Lvov Center State Historical Archives (CSHA), Sobornaya square, 3a, tel.: 723508.
  • Lvov Jewish Community, Lvov, Mikhnovskih St. 4, Rabbi Mordekhai Shloime Bold, tel.: 330524.

The unlocked cemetery has no caretaker. The earliest mentioned Jewish Community is 1500. 1935Jewish population was 738. Effecting Jewish community was meeting of Russian-Bratslav land and residence of tzadakkim in Oles'ko in 19th century. The Hasidic Orthodox cemetery was created is 17th century with last known Jewish burial before June 1941. Yasenov (10km away) and Ozhigov (6 km away) used this unlandmarked cemetery. The s isolated uburban hillside peak has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off the road, access is open to all. A continuous fence and gate with no lock surround. The approximate size of the cemetery before the World War II and now is 1.25 hectares. There is one 17th century, sandstone finely smoothed gravestone with Hebrew inscription, three-quarters broken, in original location. Stone were destroyed after the war. No separate monuments or mass graves exist. Some missing gravestones are part of the roads or Structures in Oles'ko. Municipality owns site used only as Jewish cemetery. An agricultural area and veterinarian border the cemetery. The cemetery boundaries are the same as in 1939. From time to time, organized individual tours and private visitors (Jews) stop. The cemetery was vandalized during the World War II and since. Jewish groups within the country and abroad fixed walls and gates in 1996-1997. At present, there is occasional cleaning. Within the cemetery is an ohel (crypt) found ruins of old ohel. Serious threat: vegetation overgrowth, vandalism, and summer high grass that prevents access. During excavation, only one 17th century stone was found. Moderate threat: pollution. Slight threat: safety, erosion, and incompatibility with present and planned development.
Iosif Gelston, Lvov 290049, PO Box 10569, tel./fax: (0322) 227490 completed survey in 7.11.1998. Documentation: CSHA, Fond 186, Inventory 6, 811 Points of Safe; Fond 146, Inventory 85, pages 152-153; Jewish Encyclopedia, B.12, p.74, St Petersburg, 1912; M. Horn Zydzi na Rusi Czerwonej, 1975. p. 63 (in Polish); Slownik Geogr. Krol. Pol., T.7, p. 462, Warsz., 1885 (in Polish); Akty Grodzkie i Ziemskie, t 19, nr.2599, Warsz., 1900 (in Polish). Gelston visited site in 15.10.1998. Gritsina Miroslava Mikhailovna, an old citizen of Oles'ko, Zamkovaya St. 7 was interviewed.

[UPDATE] Photographs from Oles'ko and Busk [January 2015]

 

[UPDATE] Photos by Charles Burns[March 2016]