For many years, it was assumed that the sacred tombstone of HaRav
Nochum'ke Grodner, zt"l, was located near that of his mentor,
the author of Yesod Veshoresh Ho'avodoh in the cemetery in
Grodno.
However, when Rebbe Nochum'ke's descendants, the Sheinin family (grandchildren
of Rav Velvel Margolis, rav of the Adas Yisroel community in New York)
sought to locate Reb Nochum'ke's exact grave, the task proved very
difficult. What at the onset seemed easy, due to the known proximity
of Reb Nochum'ke's grave to that of the Yesod Veshoresh Ho'avodoh,
on whose grave a tombstone had been erected in recent years, turned
out to be far more difficult than anyone had expected.
Doubts have also recently arisen about the true location of the grave
of the Yesod Veshoresh Ho'avodoh. There are two cemeteries in Grodno,
one across the river, near the Grodno yeshiva, where the grave of
the Yesod Veshoresh Ho'avodoh and supposed vestiges of Reb Nochum'ke's
tombstone were found. However, the older cemetery is located within
the city of Grodno, and there are reasons to think that these tzaddikim
were indeed laid to rest in this cemetery.
Through the various investigations, a fragment of the Hashachar
newspaper from the those days came to light. It contains an interesting
description of the huge, emotion- filled levaya of Reb Nochum'ke.
However, it does not mention in which cemetery he is buried.
Former residents of Grodno or yeshiva students who still recall Reb
Nochum'ke's grave are asked to contact HaRav Yosef Sheinin, 17 Shimon
Hatzaddik Street in Bnei Brak, telephone 03-6188980, or HaRav Eliezer
Sheinin, Jerusalem 02- 5713903.
