Symbols on Polish-Jewish Tombstones After World War II

Although some families continued to commission handcarved tombstones, fewer tombstones contained the intricate carvings shown earlier after World War II This is partially because it was easier to make more commercialized tombstones, and partially because many of the families who specialized in tombstone carving were killed.

This particular tombstone was commissioned by Rachel Salik to remember her mother, Chana Gans-Salik. On it is the Star of David which prior to World War II was found almost exclusively on the tombstones of men. The fact that Rachel Salik wanted it on her mother's tombstone says a few things.

First and foremost, her mother was Jewish. Anyone who sees the Star of David on a tombstone will most likely assume that the person buried there was Jewish and so the use of a recognizable symbol on a tombstone shows, following World War II, Rachel Salik wanted everyone to visit the Przemsyl Cemetery to know that her mother was Jewish. 

Second, when compared to tombstones commissioned prior to the Holocaust, it is clear that the Star of David is no longer just for the tombstones of men. This suggests a breakdown in gender roles, or at the very least a blurring of the lines. Earlier gravestones made it clear if the person buried there was either man or woman based on the images, but without reading Chana's name it is impossible to know at first glance if this marker is for a man or a woman. In fact, someone familiar with pre-World War II tombstones might assume, based on the Star of David, that a man is buried here.

A similar shift occurs in the use of the seven-armed menorah. Though seven-armed menorahs were still fairly uncommon on the graves of women immediately after the Holocaust, they are increasingly depicted on tombstones commissioned from the 60s onwards. Like the Star of David, this suggests a lack of concern regarding the gender of the deceased. Furthermore, gendered symbols such as the lion and the three or five-armed candelabras faded almost completely from tombstones, suggesting once again that the family of the deceased was less concerned with whether or not their loved one was the strongest or most righteous Jewish man or woman. 

Lastly, I was unable to find any images of tombstones commissioned after World War II that depicted a charity box. As mentioned earlier, this symbol was fairly common on the tombstones of men and women alike due to the emphasis Jewish tradition places on giving to the poor. The Holocaust was a traumatic event and many Jews had no posessions at all, furthermore it is likely that many acted uncharitably in order to survive. The disappearance of the charity box from Jewish tombstones likely this time when Jews were unable to uphold their religious duties.