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This project seeks to document all of the Jewish families from the town of Černovice near Tabor, Bohemia, Czech Republic.
The small town Černovice is situated about 22 km E of the town of Tábor on the Černovický Potok (Černovice Stream).
Černovice is first mentioned in 1369 as property of Lords of Choustník. From 1581 it was under the ownership of Lords of Hradec and then of the Rožmberks. A brewery, distillery, starch factory, sawmill and a lot of mills worked here in the town's heyday.
The main historical sight in the village is a Baroque chateau. The church originates from the 15th century and stands in the square. The originally Gothic building was rebuilt into the Baroque style in 1737. The Baroque chateau (from the end of the 18th century) is situated on the outskirts of the town in the valley of the Černovický Potok stream. It was rebuilt into the Classical style in the first half of the 19th century and is surrounded by an English park.
Earliest known Jewish community was 1723 (but congregation was older). 1930 Jewish population was 32. Peak Jewish population in mid-19th century was about 15 families. Later, Jews moved to big towns. Town had a rabbi until till about 1900.
The Jewish cemetery originated in 17th century. Cemetery: 800 m N of square. Buried in the cemetery are Rabbi David Platschek (d. 1883). The last known Conservative Jewish burial was in 1940. Between fields and woods, the isolated hillside has no sign or marker. Reached by crossing private field, access is open via a broken masonry wall without gate.
Established for families of Černovic, Nové Včelnice and Kamenice nad Lipou. At beginning of the 18th century, the site was extended to the north. Then the old walled entrance on the west got a new entrance from the east. 1867 repair. Today, the cemetery with an area of 1,099 m2 has about 300 tombstones from the early 18th century to 1930s. Buried here include the local rabbi, David Platschek (d. 1883). The last were buried in 1941 were Emil Wind Černovice No. 27, a former businessman and farmer, who died aged 70, a trader Černovice No. 111 Charles Vogel, who died aged 64, and in 1942 former trader Černovice from No. 337 Bernard Winternitz, who died at the age 86.
By 1990s, the cemetery was heavily overgrown with vegetation and mortuary enclosure wall was very damaged,; dozens of tombstones were knocked down. In 1996 the cemetery was cleaned and reconstruction started of the cemetery grounds. Fixed were a mortuary, part of the quarry stone wall and re-erected all toppled modern tombstones. In November 2002, reconstructed Holocaust memorial with a small exhibition on the history of the local Jewish community. Between 2008 and 2009 completely corrected the enclosing wall of quarry stone. Currently, ongoing maintenance cemetery allow for restoration of of historic tombstones where necessary to continue in the future. In the future," [September 2011]
Within the limits of the site is a pre-burial house (vandalized). Prague Jewish community owns the Jewish cemetery. Adjacent properties are agricultural and woods. Occasionally, private visitors stop. Vandalism occurred frequently 1945-1991. Local/municipal authorities did restoration in 1992 with vandalism afterward. There is no maintenance.