Finding Jewish graves in Transylvania

First Documented Jews in Transylvania

There is archeological and numismatic evidence of the presence of Jews in Transylvania as early as the times of the Roman rule over Dacia (106–275 CE).

• International Jewish Cemetery Project
• ROMANIA - Transylvania Jewish Cemeteries
• Jewish Cemeteries of HUNGARY / Transylvania
• Save Jewish Cemeteries in ROMANIA

About 800 cemeteries identified are about to be destroyed. There is a dire need to assume responsibility for managing the maintenance, restoration, renovation and reconstruction of Jewish Romanian heritage. Century old cemeteries and newer ones, hosting tombs and old tombstones that real pieces of art, tombs of real wise rabbis are now being destroyed every day.

• Jewish Cemetery Project in Transylvania - Satu-mare
• Jewish Cemeteries in Hungary
• Elie Wiesel's Memories from Transylvania
• The Rebuilding Of Old Siget By Satmar Chasidim
• Heritage Foundation for Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries (HFPJC) - Avoyseinu

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References

Jewish Graveyards in the Custody of the Mosaic Community of Cluj Napoca by Micea Moldovan, by Ladislau Gymant. :

• At the end of 1987, there were 675 identified graveyards, 459 of which were in Transylvania. Many were closed because there were no more Jews left.
• In the Transylvanian counties of Bihor, there were 59 cemeteries, Bistrita-Nasaud-52, Cluj-40, Maramures over 80, Satu-Mare-over 100, and Sãlaj-28.

• Rich and Poor were buried side by side, but rabbis were arranged in separate rows. Chevra Kadishas generally were set up when the community began; therefore often are older than the synagogue.
• The tombstones had definite heights, but their width could differ according to social rank and fortune.

• One-third of the early stones were made of earth, 2/3 were carved and were lower. Later ones were over six to eight feet tall.
• The article describes the type and artistic designs of the stones. Detail about the cemeteries in the Cluj-Napoca area are given." [See Cluj-Napoca]. Source: Ladislau Gyemant, str. Tarmta, B1B5 SCIII op.28, 3400 Chj-Nepocie, Moldavia, Transylvania; e-mail:

Tanu ez a kohalom Saros Laszlo and Vali Dezso. (This Cairn is Witness Today). ISBN 963 7476 172.

A very interesting book of Jewish Cemetery Photographs published in Hungary in 1993, 149 pages of black and white photos and 8 (English) pages of text with general information.

The sections are: Introduction, Cemetery in Ancient Times, Old Tombstones, Cemetery and History, The Tombs of the Ancestors, Tent and Parchment, People and Flower, Rituals of Death, Epitaphs, Signs and Symbols Source: '; and see http://jgsr.net

Istoria evreilor din Transilvania (1623-1944) Moshe Carmilly-Weinberger, History of the Jews of Transylvania-1623-1944), Bucure ti, 1994.

• Professor Moldovan recorded the tombstones of the various cemeteries on VHS videotape.      .

Jewish Cemeteries of Bucovina. Publisher: Noi Media Print (Bucharest). 2009. ISBN: 978-973-1805-50-4. Rom, Ukr, Eng, French, Ger. 111 pages.

• To order, contact the author/photographer: simon.giessbuehler@eda.admin.ch [July 2009]

Bukovina: [October 2000]

• 

A photographic essay of abandoned Jewish cemeteries in Europe by Ruth Ellen Gruber . 


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Satu Mare Cemetery

• Satu Mare judet, Transylvania

Lack of money makes a good part of the Hebrew cemeteries in the county of Satu Mare to lie in ruin. Many places are fenceless ever, with gravestones and tombs destroyed and, last but not least, full of weeds.

Currently, the Jewish Community of Satu Mare records contained a number of 128 cemeteries scattered all over the county. The oldest dates from 1600's.

Alexander Huzau, produced an excellent history with photographs about this Jewish community. Please contact Mr. Huzau for further information and see his photos below. [November 2010] - JOWBR burial listings [July 2011]

The Sat mare Orthodox cemetery has a fence and the gate is locked. Mrs. Schwartzkopf, who lives very close to the cemetery, keeps the keys. Entrance costs some money. It is difficult to move inside the cemetery because of the vegetation. Source: David Holits, 6/16 HaMifras St., Ashdod 77414, Israel; e-mail: Davidhol@zahav.net.il

The Orthodox cemetery is located in Satu Mare, 9 Mai Street no. 1, 3900, judet Satu Mare, 4748 2253, 278.8 miles NNW of Bucharest , 126 km. NW of Cluj, and 67 km from Baia Mare.

The cemetery was established in beginning of the 19th century. Noteworthy individuals buried in the unlandmarked Orthodox, Hasidic cemetery: large number of Cohanim and four Rabbis ( among them: Grunwald family and wife of Rabbi Teitelbaum).

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Orthodox Cemetery
 District X, 12 Granatos Utca
 Tel: +36(1)263-2897

Farkasret Cemetery 
District XII, 9 Erdi Utca
 Tel: +36(1)319-3092


Kerepes Cemetery 
District VIII, Salgotarjani Utca
 Tel: +36(1)314-1269


Obuda Cemetery
 District III, 369 Kulso Becsi Utca 
Tel: +36(1)250-6060


Rakoskeresztur Cemetery
 District X, 6 Kozma utca
 Tel: +36(1)265-2458


Tokaj Cemetery