The Jewish cemetery in Haarhausen is one of the oldest in Hesse. It is said to have existed since the middle of the 16th century. For many centuries it was difficult for Jews to acquire their own burial grounds. Usually they were only given land that could not be used in any other way. An owner of a knight's estate had probably provided the then quite large Israelite community with an area of 78.32 a (7832 m²) in order to establish a cemetery there. 372 gravestones can be seen in the Haarhäuser cemetery, the oldest from 1705, the youngest from 1940.

A burial of the Jesberg Jews was therefore connected with a 12km long and arduous way, which had to be covered in wind and weather. Around 1900 the Haarhäuser cemetery was almost completely occupied and the majority of the communities involved had already established their own cemeteries. Care and maintenance now proved difficult. Since the Jesberg Jews were now also living in economically secure circumstances at the turn of the century, a cemetery of their own was now also established here.

The community members were now buried on their own 10.92 acre site on the edge of the Hemberg. The cemetery is located beyond the settlement, because dead bodies are considered cultically unclean according to the Jewish purity law. Thus, a Jewish cemetery should be at least 50 cubits (57.15 m) from the outermost house of a town or village. This explains the location of the cemetery on the Hemberg, beyond the village.

An article from 1903 shows that it was already inaugurated in 1903. The first burial took place at the end of December 1902, the last in August 1933. Altogether about 30 Jesberg and Densberg (belonged to the Jesberg community from 1905) Jews found their last resting place here. As the records show, there are still 26 gravesites/gravestones in the cemetery. They were members of the following families:

• Castle
• Ganss
• Katz
• Katzenstein
• Star
• Höxter
• Bird
• Israel
• Köppel

Judaism provides for burial in the ground only. The burial places are permanent resting places, with no time limit. The dead may not be deprived of their resting place, as they await the resurrection "at the end of days" and eternal life of body and soul. The Jewish cemetery is thus inviolable. That is why in Hebrew the cemetery is also called "house of eternity", "good place" or "house of graves".

No burials took place on the Sabbath, nor was the cemetery visited. Men (including non-Jews) must wear a head covering when visiting. Instead of flowers as grave decorations, small stones were usually placed on the grave. The custom of laying stones is reminiscent of the time of the desert wanderings of the people of Israel. Stones prevented the bodies from being dug up by wild animals. If a burial was made, friends or tribal relatives brought a stone to cover the grave.

Until the 18th century, the dead were oriented towards Jerusalem, this then changed as well as the gravestone design. Originally, the inscription was in Hebrew. The Haskalah (Jewish enlightenment) led to the adaptation of the gravestones to the Christian design. As a result, they became more elaborate. The inscription was then in Hebrew on the front and in the national language on the back. Various motifs adorned the upright stones.

Traditional gravestone motifs:

• Roses and flowers
• Levite jar
• Blessing priest hands
• Channukkale chandelier
• Lion
• Blessing hands
• Broken tree trunk
• Star of David
• Zedaka box
• Pair of birds

The blessing hands refer to the origin of the dead man from the priestly family of Aaron. They indicate the blessing gesture of the priest. Family names such as Cohen, Katz and Kahn also recall an origin from an ancient priestly family.

The symbol of a jug (Levitical jug often with a water bowl) refers to the deceased's origin from the ancient priestly family of Levi (temple servants). Family names that recall this origin are Levi, Lewin, Löwe, Löwenthal, and the like.

Roses and flowers are found on the tombstones as a decorative element. It was often used for women named Röschen. Often the broken rose also decorates the grave of a girl who died at an early age.

The Star of David is often found on tombstones. The hexagram is an ancient sign that increasingly became the symbol of Judaism. Its six corners symbolize the six days, the hexagon in the middle the 7th day, the Sabbath, when God rested from his work.

Remark: The key to the cemetery can be obtained at the local administration of Jesberg.

(Author: Sandra Kurzrock (head of the village Jesberg) with friendly support of pastor Reinhard Keller, Jesberg)