We are saddened to learn of the vandalism in Karmanowice, Poland this week. In collaboration with Fundacja Zapomniane, Stowarzyszenie Żydowski Instytut Historyczny w Polsce, the local community, and others, The Matzevah Foundation was proud to be a partner in the commemoration of this mass grave last year.


There is no place for disrespect of any holy and sacred site, no matter the religion. Our hope is that this incident will create more awareness and unity within the community.

​The Matzevah Foundation is pleased to announce our projects for the summer of 2019!

​Our hearts break for the families of those killed and injured at Congregation Chabad and for the Jewish community of Poway, California.  Such an act of violence against worshipers on the last day of Passover is all the more horrifying and unthinkable.  Houses of worship for believers of all faiths should be safe places for everyone.


The Matzevah Foundation strongly condemns this and any act of anti-semitism.  It holds no place in our society.


To the Poway Jewish community, we stand with you in prayer.

A few days ago we shared with you the great AP News article that was done that highlights the work of Steven Reece and The Matzevah Foundation.  Today we're happy to share with you the video they shot while we were on location with our friends at Rohatyn Jewish Heritage as we worked together in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Rohatyn.

The video provides a great look into the work of a cemetery restoration project.  Please visit Rohatyn Jewish Heritage's website for a complete recap of this project.

While working in Rohatyn, Ukraine with our partners at Rohaytn Jewish Heritage, Steven Reece was interviewed by a pair of reporters from AP News.  They have published their article today and we're seeing it being picked up by news agencies all around the world.  It's very exciting!

The article focuses on Steven's calling to restore Jewish cemeteries around Poland as well as his desire to restore dialogue between many different groups of people.  The AP also took film footage of our work in Rohatyn and will be releasing that shortly.

Please check out the AP News article and we invite you to share it with people who might be interested in the important work that is happening to around Poland and Ukraine to remember and honor the Jewish heritages of these great countries.

We are recently back from a wonderful week spent in Rohatyn, Urkaine with our partners at Rohatyn Jewish Heritage.  Jay and Marla Osborn invited The Matzevah Foundation to Ukraine last year with the goal to help them understand all of the particulars of carrying out a Jewish cemetery restoration project.  TMF president Steven Reece along with board members Rachel McRae and Przemek Panisuik and volunteer staff member Bruce Mussey joined in on the project.  We were also lucky to have Rachael Romero join us for a second project this summer.

Rohatyn Jewish Heritage has provided a thorough recap of the week of work in the Old Jewish cemetery.  We invite you to check out this article and to learn more about their future plans in Rohatyn by visiting their website.

The documentary, The Presence of Their Absence, follows Fred Zaidman as he travels to Poland to discover what happened to his family during the Shoah.  Steven Reece, president of The Matzevah Foundation, had the privilege of meeting Mr. Zaidman on his journey.  Together they visit a family cemetery to spend time cleaning some overgrown sections.

Steven will be a part of some of the screenings of the film later this year at the L.A. Jewish Film Festival.  

The Matzevah Foundation would like to thank Mr. Zaidman and especially Donna Kanter who directed the film.  Learn more about this documentary by visiting their website.

Our friends at The Project to Restore the Przerosl Jewish Cemetery has written up a detailed look into the week of work we did together earlier this month.  This was the first time we have partnered together and hope to return to this eastern corner of Poland to continue the work next year.

We invite you to check out their article about the project and to learn about their future plans to remember the Jewish heritage of Przerosl, Poland. 

A great article has been published with The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle that recaps the recent project that The Matzevah Foundation was a part of.  President Steven Reece joined 10 gentleman, all alumni of the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy in Kansas City.  The team worked in the Jewish cemetery in Wodzislaw, Poland to begin cleaning the overgrown cemetery.  

The article provides a great look into the experience and reflections these young men had during the week of work together.