“3D Matzevot” – A Digital Documentation Project

“3D Matzevot” is an innovative digital documentation project in which 3D technology is used to scan select tombstones of Jewish cemeteries in Wrocław/Breslau and – where possible – personal microhistories are recovered. Contemporary digital technologies offer new possibilities of not only documenting the past, but also recreating that which seemed irreversibly damaged.

Jewish heritage in Wroclaw encompasses, among others, cemeteries and gravestones whose style and ornamentation reflected the bourgeois culture of the time. Unfortunately, time, environmental pollution, acts of vandalism, and atmospheric conditions caused gradual deterioration of these artistically and historically significant objects.

The digitization of select matzevot along with their designs allows for the creation of a database – virtual atlases accessible not only to researchers and historians, but also to families in search of their ancestors, or simply those interested in the history of the city. The 3D Matzevot Project allows us to move back in time, glimpse the past, and animate a fragment of a bygone era. The initiative likewise advances new research modalities in the digital humanities and efforts within the field of cultural heritage.

3D scanning technology allows us to preserve the matzevot for future generations. Moreover, using existing documentation, extant pictures, and tombstone designs, it is possible to reconstruct those matzevot, which were either destroyed or did not survive.

Scope and Partners

The project encompasses three Jewish cemeteries in Wrocław: at Ślężna Street, Lotnicza Street, and Gwarna Street. The first two have been preserved, while the third and oldest was destroyed and built upon in the years following WWII. Previously understood only as isolated elements of local heritage, the cemeteries will now be handled equally and centered in the social awareness and research initiatives implemented in 2024-2025 in collaboration with local partners:  Fundacja Akcelerator Obywatelski Spark responsible for the 3D scanning; the Jewish Community of Wrocław; Renata Wikoszewska-Krakowska, and the Museum of Cemetery Art – City Museum of Wrocław; the “Spod Ziemi Patrzy Breslau” initiative dedicated to working with the remnants of the cemeteries of olden Wrocław as well as the recovery of the history of individuals buried here; Piotr Gotowicki – formerly a longtime caretaker of the cemetery at Lotnicza Street; and researchers Agata Strządała, Monika Piechota, and Danuta Płókarz.

The 3D Matzevot Project is part of a larger initiative titled “MultiMemo: Multidirectional Memory: Remembering for Social Justice,” under implementation by the Urban Memory Foundation in collaboration with eight European partners thanks to the support of the European Union CERV Program.

Thanks to these collaborations as well as the experts involved, it will be possible to view – for the very first time – virtual iterations of preserved tombstones, and, in some cases, read their inscriptions, and reconstruct the histories of specific individuals.

Presentation of results – 3D models and selected micro-histories

How to use the possibilities offered by a 3D model?

Watch a short clip showing how the “Model Inspect” function works on Sketchfab – the platform on which we placed the models. Using this function allows you to analyze a 3D model without the texture of a given object, revealing its important details. In the case of digitized tombstones, it allows you to read otherwise poorly or not at all visible tombstone inscriptions and to analyze carved motifs more precisely.

GERTRUD OYRES (1876–1923)

Our first case study was a 3D matzevah and history of Gertrud Oyres (1876-1923), reconstructed through archival research. The marble matzevah, which has the rarely seen shape of the Ark of the Covenant, can be found in the Nowy Cmentarz Żydowski at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław.

We found it thanks to Piotr Gotowicki, a former longtime caretaker of the necropolis. The matzevah was overturned and hidden under ivy. Thanks to the activists from the Spod Ziemi Patrzy Breslau initiative it was possible to set the matzevah upright, scan it, and conduct archival research. We invite you to view the results of this multi-stage process and familiarize yourself with Gertrud’s history.

PAUL SCHWARZ (1928–1932)

Modernist matzevah of Paul Schwarz (1928–1932). Marble. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

ERNST PERITZ (1928–1934)

Matzevah of Ernst Peritz (1928–1934) with family history described by a descendant. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

EMMA WERNER (1828–1907)

Matzevah of Dr. Emma Werner née Jaffa (1828–1907). Red granite. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

HADDA FAMILY

Hadda family matzevah. Resting place of Bertha née Juliusburger (1857–1939) and commemorative inscriptions for Moritz Hadda (1887–1941), and Martin Hadda (1859–1943), victims of the Holocaust. Silesian granite. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

SERAPHINE OLLENDORFF (1826–1902)

Matzevah of Seraphine Ollendorff née Bandmann (1826–1902). An example of secondary use of a tombstone – on the back there is an inscription of another person. Red sandstone. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

VASE WITH FLOWERS

Matzevah with a vase with flowers motif. Grave of an unknown person. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

DANIEL KONSTADT (1867–1902)

Trilingual matzevah of Daniel Konstadt (1867–1902). An example of damage to a tombstone as a result of military operations during WWII. Sandstone. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

ROSA SALOMONOWITZ (1859–1904)

Matzevah of Rosa Salomonowitz (1859–1904). An example of contemporary reconstruction of a damaged tombstone. Marble. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

WORLD WAR I MONUMENT

Monument commemorating Jewish soldiers and medical personnel who died during WWI. Designed by brothers Paul and Richard Ehrlich. Sandstone. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

KUNSTSTEIN

A matzevah made of artificial stone, the so-called Kunststein. Grave of an unknown person. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

ALFRED WIENER (1896–1908)

Matzeva by Alfred Wiener (1896–1908) with a motif of a tree trunk. Sandstone with marble slab. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

TISCHLER FAMILY

Tischler family matzevah of Louis (1856–1934), Fanny née Juliusburger (1859–1941) and Heinrich (1892–1938). Silesian granite. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

SCHLESINGER FAMILY

Devastated tomb of the Schelsinger family, Georg (1856–1911) and Johanna née Schlesinger (1860–1940). There is an inscription on the monument commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, Wilhelm Ludwig (1887–1942) and Georg (d. 1942), who died in the Warsaw Ghetto. Sandstone. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław.

TROPLOWITZ FAMILY

The Troplowitz family tomb, Ludwig (1825–1913) and Agnes née Mankiewicz (1838–1912). Designed by Arthur Bock. Limestone. New Jewish Cemetery at Lotnicza Street in Wrocław, Poland.

ARTHUR WOLFGANG COHN (1894–1920)

Matzevah of Dr. Arthur Wolfgang Cohn (1894–1920) with a helmet, sword and oak leaves motif. Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland

ROSENTHAL FAMILY

Damaged family matzevah of rabbi Dr. Ferdinand Rosenthal (1838–1921) and his wife Amalie Rosenthal née Kaufmann (1858–1911). Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland

GRAETZ FAMILY

Matzevah of professor Heinrich Graetz (1817–1891) and his wife Marie Graetz née Monasch (d. 1900). Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland

ERICH BRUCK (D. 1915)

Matzevah of Dr. Erich Bruck (d. 1915) with the motif of the antique helmet. Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland.

LOUISE ALEXANDER (D. 1857)

Matzevah of Louise Alexander née Goldschmidt (d. 1857) in the shape of a paper scroll and with a plant ornament. Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland

BRANN FAMILY

The Brann family matzevah of professor Marcus Brann (1849–1920) and Emma Brann née Fränkel (1852–1925). Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland.

NATALIE GOLDSTÜCKER (1849–1881)

Oriental style matzevah of Natalie Goldstücker née Werner (1849–1881). Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland.

JETTEL SCHEER (D. 1867)

Matzevah of Jettel Scheer née Sand (d. 1867). She died at the age of 26. An example of damage to a tombstone as a result of military operations during WWII. Old Jewish Cemetery at Ślężna Street in Wrocław, Poland.

ROSALIE EHRLICH (D. 1849)

Digital reconstruction of the non-existent tombstone of Rosalie Ehrlich née Schlesinger (d. 1849) based on archival sources. She died at the age of 26. Winged hourglass decorative motif. Destroyed Jewish cemetery at Gwarna Street (formerly Claassenstrasse) in Wrocław, Poland.