A Hall of Shame – Milas Jewish Cemetery

As a result of years of neglect and lack of maintenance, Milas Jewish Cemetery today is facing extinction in an unpreserved environment where there’s a children’s playground at the entrance, sheep being pastured on the grass area and garbage being disposed around the tombstones. The fact that these historic tombstones need to be preserved as cultural heritage whereas they are being wrecked is simply overlooked. 

In the early 20^th century, there were over 1.600 Milas Jews who later migrated to Izmir and other countries. Their grandchildren are genuinely committed to Milas, a heavenly place as they visualize it based on the stories they’ve heard from their grandfathers and grandmothers, on long winter nights. They try to visit their ancestors’ place of birth, Milas at every chance they get to explore with great enthusiasm some traces of the stories they’ve heard and memorized.  At each discovery, they are overwhelmed with emotions, yet the only place where they feel dismayed is this deplorable cemetery where their ancestors are buried.   

It should be an imperative task for Milas Municipality to restore the deplorable condition of the cemetery which even made the headlines in international media. The Municipality should afterwards preserve this social and cultural asset which could contribute significantly to Milas’ tourism potential. 

In 2009, Milas Jews met with Milas Mayor Muhammed Tokat to discuss possible solutions to stop the destruction in the cemetery. The Mayor promised to support and said, “We are aware of the fact that the cemetery which had been surrounded by an enclosure wall, cleaned and afforested in the previous period, is a sacred space. With respect, first we will remove the playground at the entrance; then build fences over the surrounding enclosure walls.  Furthermore, with the support of Izmir Jewish Cemetery Charitable Society, we will start restoring approximately 150 tombs inside the cemetery and design the interior landscape.” Milas Jews are waiting impatiently for the authorities to fulfill their promises, as soon as possible. 

Mr. Ersel Siyman, with whom I had the opportunity to discuss the issue, left Milas in 1978 and moved to Izmir. He said that he continues his commercial relations with Milas and maintains his personal relations with various friends he deeply values. He added that the last Jew to leave Milas was his brother Dr. Jak Siyman. E. Siyman stated that an official visit to Mayor Muhammed Tokat by a delegation consisting of representatives from Izmir Jewish Community, Cemetery Society and former Milas Jews to bring the issue forward once again and implore the Mayor’s current stance could be very beneficial for the cause.

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