Derek Robertson Posted 15 April , 2004 Share Posted 15 April , 2004 During a visit to Belgium last week nearly all the Jewish CWGC headstones we saw had small stones on the top of them. Someone mentioned that small stones also featured in the film "Schindler's List". What is the significance of the stones being placed on the headstones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Hollington Posted 15 April , 2004 Share Posted 15 April , 2004 Not sure of the total answer but I believe it shows someone has visited that grave. I'm sure a more definative answer will appear. Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevew Posted 15 April , 2004 Share Posted 15 April , 2004 Derek, again, I am not sure of the definitive answer........... But I believe it is a mark of repect/rememberance by a Jew visiting a grave, as at the end of Schindler's List Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeppoSapone Posted 15 April , 2004 Share Posted 15 April , 2004 During a visit to Belgium last week nearly all the Jewish CWGC headstones we saw had small stones on the top of them. Someone mentioned that small stones also featured in the film "Schindler's List". What is the significance of the stones being placed on the headstones? Try a "search". This was discussed in the forum last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 15 April , 2004 Share Posted 15 April , 2004 Actually I learned this while visiting Krakow, scene of Schindler's List. Placing stones on Jewish graves is a tradition carried down since the Exodus from Egypt. Moses took 40 years to make it from Egypt to Israel and durning that time several people obviously died. Since they were in the desert they did not bother burying the bodies, instead they just placed a sheet over the body and used stones to keep them covered. I am not Jewish, but I do know a lot of the religion is based on tradition. I am not sure exactly why but this is one of the traditions that has carried on. Something else you might notice on some Jewish graves is a 'roof' over the headstone. This has a more obvious reason, and also based on tradition. It keeps the head stone dry and clear, so that those who pass by know who is buried in that spot. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 15 April , 2004 Share Posted 15 April , 2004 This was discussed at some length on the forum a few months ago. I mentioned that I had only noticed it in the last few years in CWGC cemeteries. It is an ancient Jewish practice. More people, including more Jews of course, are now visiting the battlefields but I'm sure the increased incidence is partly due to the film. I have also seen lines of stones on memorials in Normandy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 15 April , 2004 Share Posted 15 April , 2004 When we discussed it last, I recall David Bluestein gave a very informative reply. It's there somewhere if you search. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Robertson Posted 15 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2004 Thanks chaps, I found all I wanted after a "search" - very interesting stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jeffonthego Posted 20 April , 2004 Share Posted 20 April , 2004 Thanks chaps, I found all I wanted after a "search" - very interesting stuff. Derek, any chance you can post the links you found in your "search"? Did a Search and found this thread, however it refers to another David Bluestein thread, but don't see that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 20 April , 2004 Share Posted 20 April , 2004 Perhaps some kindly moderator can the (several) threads on this fascinating topic and draw them together. We seem to air this one about every six months, and its nice to know that it still creates interest. I started to do it on occasion after the practice was explained to me some years ago. It seems a fine and simple way of remembering and paying your respects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Ryckeboer Posted 23 April , 2004 Share Posted 23 April , 2004 Today I was at Bedford House Cem. with my camera. I could not resist to take a pic while passing this Riflemans grave, to share it on the forum! Greets Joris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Bluestein Posted 23 April , 2004 Share Posted 23 April , 2004 Joris, Thanks for sharing this lovely photo David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 28 April , 2004 Share Posted 28 April , 2004 It may be of interest to have a translation of the traditional Hebrew epitaph shown engraved inside the Star of David on Rifleman Bloom’s headstone. תנצבה are the initial letters of the phrase “May his soul be bound up in the binding of life” Regards Michael D.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispy Posted 29 May , 2004 Share Posted 29 May , 2004 For the last five years one of my grandsons (now 10) has been going with me most months to the battlefields of the old Western Front, one of the first of a constant barrage of questions was why do some of the Jewish headstones have stones on whilst others do not? Now my grandaughter also asks the same question, she is concerned that the headstone of 2Lt P Freedman who lies next to Henry Cuttress at Monchy-le-Preux never has any on his, I have been unable to explain why, untill now, thank you for this thread. David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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