Karolina Kron

GEDCOM Note

Dombrad

The census of the 1770s already mentions Jews living in Dombrad. They were attracted here by the favourable terms offered by the large landowners.

The majority of Dombrad's Jews were small merchants, who mainly dealt in the regions renowned crops of potatoes and tobacco. There were also a few craftsmen, such as shoemakers, tailors, blacksmiths, butchers and carpenters. There were also civil servants. There were three Jewish physicians in the town, one of them being the town's medical officer, and the pharmacist. Jews owned the distillery, the mill, the sawmill and a factory refining medicinal herbs. There were 18 farmers, including three who were substantial landowners.

The congregation appears to have been established in the second half of the 18th century, and in 1868 it opted to join the Orthodox movement. The following smaller communities reported to the Dombrad congregation: Tiszakanyar, Borgaszka (5 Jews), Karahalom (9 Jews), and Rekhaloma (4 Jews). The congregation had a Hevra Kaddishah, a sisterhood, charitable fund (gemilat hesed), tiferet bahurim and hevra shas. In addtion to a rabbi, the small congregation supported two teachers, a cantor (who doubled as the slaughterer), and a sexton. The congregation had both a yeshiva and an elementary school.

The synagogue was built near the end of the 18th century. Later it was renovated and enlarged.