Jewish Cemetery

The Jewish cemetery in Rusko was most likely established in the early 19th century. It covers an area of 0.12 ha and has a nearly square layout. It was once surrounded by a wall made of natural stone and brick. There was also a funeral home next to it. Today, the cemetery is no longer in use, and most of the matzevot have been destroyed. Some were moved to the lapidarium in Darłowo, and those that remain are mostly toppled and overgrown with moss and lichen. The tombstones were all crafted in the same manner—both their form and their decorations are simple. The matzevot consist of a rectangular stone slab topped by a decorative element—a triangular or semicircular tympanum engraved with a palm leaf, a maple leaf, or a spiral. The Jewish cemetery was devastated during “Kristallnacht” in 1938. Since then, no major changes have been made to it. It is undoubtedly a significant silent witness to history.