On June 13, 2026, the founders of the Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Memorial Museum project met with leaders and representatives of communities affiliated with the Religious Association of Progressive Judaism Communities in the Republic of Belarus.
Approximately 70 leaders of Progressive Jewish communities from across Belarus participated in the meeting. During the event, the concept for the future Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Memorial Museum in Novogrudok was presented, together with information about the project’s mission, objectives, current achievements, and future development plans.
Participants were introduced to the progress already made, including the establishment of a non-profit organization, the launch of the project’s official website, the formation of an international Board of Trustees, and the engagement of experts to assist in developing the concept for the future memorial complex.
Special attention was devoted to preserving the memory of the Holocaust in Belarus, the history of the Novogrudok Ghetto, Jewish resistance in Belarus during World War II, and the legendary tunnel escape of September 1943.
The project team invited representatives of Jewish communities to participate in the development of the museum by contributing historical materials, testimonies, artifacts, archival documents, professional expertise, and educational support.
Following the presentation, representatives of the Religious Association of Progressive Judaism Communities in the Republic of Belarus expressed strong support for the initiative and their willingness to assist in its implementation. Participants emphasized that preserving the memory of the Holocaust and Jewish resistance is an important responsibility not only for the Jewish community of Belarus but for society as a whole.
An important outcome of the meeting was the agreement of Rabbi Grigory Abramovich, Chief Rabbi of the Progressive Jewish Communities of Belarus, to join the project’s Board of Trustees.
The historical and academic concept of the Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Memorial Museum is currently being developed with the participation of leading Belarusian scholars and experts specializing in Holocaust studies, history of World War II, and Jewish heritage.
Among the project’s academic advisors are:
• Igor Marzalyuk — Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, and Chairman of the Standing Commission on Education, Culture and Science of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus;
• Yevgeny Rozenblat — Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor at Brest State University, and a leading researcher of Holocaust history in Belarus;
• Irina Yelenskaya — Doctor of Historical Sciences and Associate Professor at Polessky State University.
The Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Memorial Museum is being established as an international memorial, educational, and research center dedicated to preserving the historical truth about the fate of Belarusian Jewry during World War II, documenting Jewish resistance to Nazism, and passing this memory on to future generations.
We sincerely thank the Religious Association of Progressive Judaism Communities in the Republic of Belarus for its support of this important initiative and look forward to continued cooperation.