I have just received a really beautiful book entitled- "Jewish Cemeteries in Latvia" written by Mejers Melers. One of the editors is our Latvian Archivist Rita Bogdanova. The book has lovely glossy illustrations and gives historical information on the cemeteries in Latvian,Russian and English. I was interested to read in the preface among other points of historical interest that the first person in the new community was the butcher (Shokhet) and not the Rabbi. He had ministerial duties as well as his direct duties until the community was able to afford a Rabbi. A large map of Latvia has a blue Magen David marking the cemetery locations. A summary report gives the conditions of the Jewish cemeteries in Latvia. Only 24 of the 58 surveyed have been maintained or restored and at least 8 are still in use.
I have asked for details of price and where to buy it and will let you know when I have it.
