GPS: 53°25'N 23°30'E

Size: c.3 acres (suburban pine forest with varied vegetation)

Number of matzevoth: c. 1000

Bagnowka.com: Sokolka Gallery (photographed in 2003, 2004, 2006)

Directions: From Bialystok, take highway 19 north for 42 km to Sokołka. The cemetery is located in the northwestern part of town at the intersection of Ul. Zamenhofa. As you enter the town take one of the larger roads left (north) to Ul. Zamenhofa. (If you reach the Rynek and city proper, you’ve gone too far.) As you gradually ascend a hill the cemetery will be on your left, a residential neighborhood at right. On reaching the intersection of Ul. Zamenhofa, turn left. At this corner you’ll see what was once the entrance to the cemetery, with a broken cobblestone wall paralleling the road (Image 2). Turn left onto Ul. Zamenhofa and drive slowly to the near end of this small street. Along the way at left you’ll see matzevoth literally beside the road, at right are newer houses (Image 3). Just ahead is an old industrial park, set off by a rusted chain link fence. A much used path into the cemetery is at left (Image 4).

 

Image 2	Image 3 Cemetery at right, looking back to main road
Image 4 Industrial park at right (on other side of fence), path leads to cemetery

 

Conditions: The cemetery has a broken cobblestone wall on its eastern side, with a broken masonry wall near the intersection at Ul. Zamenhofa (Image 10). On entering at Ul. Zamenhofa, a rusted chain link fence bounds the western side with an opening to an industrial area (Image 4). Various worn paths run throughout this heavily overgrown cemetery, with varied vegetation (Images 1,5,6) . A four-sided tombstone literally stands beside Ul. Zamenhofa (Image 7). Hundreds of matzevoth are still extant, although many inscriptions are no longer legible (Images 1,7-9,11,12). The western side looks out over the city, literally down into a new subdivision (Image 13). The area is used for walking dogs and other recreation – a bonfire was burning unattended on this visit. The greatest threats are vegetation and natural wear to matzevoth, but more urgent are the dangers from the new housing development and recreation.

 

Image 5 Cobblestone wall	Image 6 New subdivision in background
Image 7 Stands beside Ul. Zamenhofa	Image 8 Lichen covered matzevoth

Image 9 General View	Image 10 remains of masonry wall
Image 11	Image 12
Image 13 New Subdivision

 

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