Jewish Families of Gaya (Kyjov)

This project identifies individuals connected to the town of Gaya (Kyjov) in the Hodonín district of Southern Moravia. Individuals who lived in Gaya and its surrounding villages, or who were raised in families with immediate connections to the town, will be tagged here.

A list entitled Namen das Familianten appears in the Czech Jewish Registers volume on "Kyjov, #931: N [Births] 1818, 1823, 1825, 1830-1846," images #6 and #7 of the online file. A spreadsheet listing the names is available, in Excel format. Copies of the original images with names transcribed appear in the Photos section of this Project page. You may find it necessary to download an image and enlarge. Note that Familiant numbers were transferable, and some were used by more than one person.

The following are GENI profiles of some Jewish families in Gaya / Kyjov:

1. Dr. Moritz Duschak, Rabbi in Gaya during the 1860s
2. Samuel Deutsch
3. Herschel Ehrenfest
4. Salomon Fischer
5. Dr. David Haas
6. Isak Jellinek
7. Aron Platczek (1786)
8. Abraham Sonnenschein
9. Salomon Hayek
10. Samuel Fischer
11. Aron Redlich
12. Markus Redlich
13. Salomon Czuczka
14. Herman / Josef Strakosch, Vlkoš, near Gaya
15. Herschel / Herman Konig, Vlkoš, near Gaya

Birth, Death and Marriage records for the region are online at two Badatelna websites: Badatelna/Fond/1073 (the original set of "Czech Registers") and Badatelna/Fond/241, with newly available records for localities in the Czech lands. In both cases, go to the INVENTAR tab to start a search. Information on using these valuable records, called the Czech Jewish Registers, is here. To read these early records, you will need to study up on the old German script, Kurrent.

History. The Jews in Gaya (Kyjov) were protected by a royal charter of 1613. Gaya was the only one of the royal cities in which Jews were allowed to live. The community had existed long before then, the ancient synagogue (demolished in 1851) having been built in 1506 (an inscription on the ceiling of the old synagogue bore the date 1507). Jews remained in Kyjov in 1650, when they were expelled from all communities which had not existed before 1618.

There were 12 Jewish houses in Kyjov in 1688. The burghers petitioned several times for their expulsion, asking Emperor Leopold I "to free them from the troublesome Jews who are encroaching upon all branches of industry." But their request was refused, and the royal charter was adhered to. In 1651, a compromise was signed, which included a clause permitting the Jews to distill spirits. In 1727, under Charles VI, the Jews of Gaya were organized as an independent municipality, which still exists. The number of Jewish families permitted by the Familiants Law was 74.

In 1848 the number of members contributing to the expenses of the Jewish community was 94; the Jewish quarter remained a politische Gemeinde until 1918. The Jews numbered about 900 in a total population of about 3,800. The community numbered 427 in 1830, 510 in 1848, 884 in 1869; it declined to 820 in 1890, and numbered 620 in 1900. [See footnote]

Gaya has a synagogue which was dedicated in 1852; an old and a new cemetery; and a school building with four classrooms.

The "Memorbuch" contains the names of twenty rabbis, among whom are Isaac of Janow (author of "Pene Yiẓḥaḳ Zuṭa)" Amsterdam, 1731, Josef Weisse, and Moritz Duschak. When the latter was called to Cracow in 1872, the rabbinate remained vacant until 1902, when Moritz Bauer was called.

The Gaya (Kyjov) community includes the former communities of Kosteletz and Koritschan; Vlkoš was close by. Kyjov (Czech: [%CB%88k%C9%AAjof]; Latin: Gaya, German: Gaya or Geyen) is in the South Moravian Region, Hodonin District, of the present-day Czech Republic, 45 km SE of Brno.

According to the International Jewish Cemetery Project, "The unmarked Jewish cemetery [at Kyjov], called Old Cemetery, is .4 km SW on Rude Armady Str. It originated at the beginning of 17th century with the last known Conservative Jewish burial in the late 19th century. The isolated, flat urban site has no sign; it is now private property with no wall, fence or gate. Size of cemetery before WWII was .77 ha. Present size of cemetery is about .4 ha with no stones or structures. Property is used for crops or grazing. Vegetation overgrowth seasonally prevents access."

A New Cemetery is on Svatoborska Str., also unmarked. It originated at end of 19th century with last known Jewish burial in 1950s. Reached by passing a public hospital, access is open to all via no wall, fence, or gate. Size of cemetery before and after WWII: 0.34 ha. No stones or structures exist. Contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims: transferred 200 meters to the north. Rarely, private visitors stop. Vandalism occurred during World War II and between 1945 and ten years ago. Not maintained. Vegetation overgrowth seasonally prevents access.

Source: Jewish Virtual Library

Familianten in Gaya. A list entitled Namen das Familianten for Kyjov/Gaya appears in the Czech Jewish Registers online volume "Kyjov, #931: N [Births] 1818, 1823, 1825, 1830-1846," images #6 and #7. Copies of the images with names transcribed appear in the Photos section of this Project page. You may find it necessary to download an image and enlarge. An Excel spreadsheet listing the Kyjov Familianten names is available here. Note that Familiant numbers were transferable, and some numbers were used by more than one person.

1. Markus Trost
2. Israel Platzek
3. Israel Platzek
4. Simon Platzek
5. Markus Löw Mandl
6. Joseph Hayek
7. Joachim Langer
8. Salomon Kämpf
9. Josias Hayek
10. Herschel Ehrenfest
11. Jakob Buxbaum
12. Moises Platzek
13. David Ehrlich
14. Markus Löwel
15. Isak Müller
16. Lazar Platzek
17. Abraham Mandl
18. Samuel Fischer
19. Moises Klein
20. Markus Redlich
21. Joseph Steif
22. Lazar Redlich
23. Aaron Redlich
24. Moises Ehrenfest
25. Matias Steif
26. Bernard Mondschein
27. Matias Mondschein
28. Lazar Ehrenfest
29. Joseph Jellinek
30. Abraham Hayek
31. Moises Sonnenschein
32. Lechner
33. Bernard juny Mondschein
34. Jakob Klein
35. Sallomon Leichter
36. Simon Platzek
37. Moises Mandel
38. Mathias Klein
39. Benedikt Marrizek
40. David Sommer
41. Daniel Czuczka
42. Isak Israel Mandel
43. Jakob Platzek
44. Löbl Krziwatzek
45. Salloman Herschan
46. Markus Mandl
47. Moises Hayek Herschl
48. Isak Sommer
49. Salomon Boxhorn
50. Aaron Boxhorn
51. Moises Pollak
52. Nathan Redlich
53. Moises Weinberger
54. Aron Czuczka
55. Rudolph Buxbaum
56. Markus Krziwatzek
57. Isak Jellinek
58. Markus Sonnenschein
59. Jakob Mandl
60. Jonas Klein
61. Benedikt Wolf
62. Michael Klein
63. Isaak Berl Zweig
64. Abraham Weinberger
65. Salomon Hayek
66. Markus Sonnenschein
67. Moises Sonnenschein
68. Bernard Fischer
69. Salomon Müller
70. Salomon Hayek
71. Markus Herrschen
72. Josias Trost
73. Ignatz Fischer
74. Salloman Fischer
75. Salomon Redlich
76. Isak Czuczka
77. Michael Hayek
78. Elias Fischer
79. Abraham Bucher
80. Markus Fischer
81. Jakob Fischer
82. Joachim Sonnenschein
83. Moises Hayek Herschl
84. Moises Baumann
85. David Herschel Sonnenschein
86. Lazar Hayek
87. Simon Ehrlich
88. Aron Platzek
89. Jakob Pollak
90. Aaron Löb Platzek
91. Salomon Czuczka
92. Abraham Platzek
93. Joseph Platzek
94. Jeremias Weinberger
95. Abraham Mondschein
96. Abraham Kämpf
97. Moises Herschan
98. Moises Jellinek
99. Markus Klein
100. Joachim Klein
101. Jakob Herschan
102. Lazar Redlich
103. Elias Fischer