The new Jewish cemetery is situated next to the central graveyard in Dubrovnik, in the Boninovo neighborhood, 20 minutes walk from the Old Cemetery. (You do not need to go there now, but if you have time, you can explore the Boninovo neighborhood after the tour ends).
At the beginning of the 19th century, during the French rule in Dubrovnik, a private individual donated land on Boninovo to the city of Dubrovnik, which has since served as the city's main cemetery. While most of the cemetery was designated for the burial of Catholics, the Jewish municipality of Dubrovnik purchased a section of the cemetery to establish a new Jewish cemetery. Over time, the remains and monuments from the old cemetery were gradually relocated to the new one, and this process was completed in 1913.
In the followings you can read about a rather tragic story connected to transfer of remains:
Jakob Tolentino, a religious teacher, ritual butcher, and craftsman in the early 20th century, took it upon himself to oversee the relocation of all the remains and monuments from the old cemetery. Without any protective gear or gloves, Tolentino personally dug up the graves, collected the bones with his bare hands, and placed them in small boxes. He insisted on doing the task himself, as it went against Jewish customs for non-Jews to be involved in the process. Once he had gathered a few boxes, a cart would arrive to transport them to the new cemetery, where the bones were scattered in the ossuary. However, while collecting bones from one grave, Tolentino accidentally stabbed himself deeply with a bone, drawing blood. This wound resulted in sepsis, and he tragically passed away shortly thereafter. The story was later recounted by his son, Emilio Tolentino, who witnessed the bone relocation as a young boy alongside his father.
What would you highlight from the story? Why did you choose that particular part?
What is the relevance of the story in light of what you have learned so far about the Jews of Dubrovnik?