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This project seeks to document all of the Jewish families from the town of Nová Cerekev (Neu Cerekwe or Neu Zerekwe) in Bohemia, Czech Republic.
The synagogue in Nova Cerekev (pictured at right) was built in ~1855, following an earlier synagogue. The building was recently restored, and is now in occasional use as a community arts venue.
- Article (in English) about the restoration, with before and after photos.
- Article (in Czech) about the restoration.
- Photo gallery.
The Jewish cemetery is adjacent to the synagogue.
- Cemetery information from IAJGS (may not be current).
- Photos of the cemetery and individual grave stones.
- Photos of the synagogue, cemetery, and individual grave stones by Petr Sraier
Many birth (N), marriage (O) and death (Z) records for the Jewish community in Nova Cerekev can be found in the following digitized archives:
Židovské matriky-- NOVÁ CEREKEV (o. Pelhřimov)
- 1377 N 1842-1858 kn 1377
- 1378 O 1842-1864 (i) kn 1378
- 1379 Z 1842-1863 (i) kn 1379
- 1380 N 1869-1895 O 1869-1885, 1887-1895 Z 1869-1895 kn 1380
Židovské kontrolní matriky -- NOVÁ CEREKEV (Neu Cerekwe, o. Pelhřimov)
- 551 (formerly 475/476) N (births) 1784 - 1842(i); O (marriages) 1784-1841(i); Z (deaths) 1784-1842(i)
- 552 (formerly 476/477) N (births) 1842 - 1860
- 553 (formerly 477/478) O (marriages) 1842 - 1865
- 554 (formerly 478/479) Z (deaths) 1842 - 1864
Additional records, including Familiant records for Nova Cerekev families, can often be found in nearby towns. The 1783, 1793, and 1799 Tabor census records may provide further information.
The JewishGen locality page for Nova Cerekev has limited information, but shows a map with nearby towns.
Jewish quarter (ghetto) in Nové Cerekev
There was never a closed ghetto, but houses (about six) were concentrated on Rubešov Street around the synagogue. A few of them were once in the square.
As a landmark of the establishment of a Jewish village with a prayer room is mentioned around 1690. Jews appeared here already in 1570 and at the beginning of 18th century 6 Jewish families lived there for centuries. At that time, the Jewish community built the first synagogue with a residential area on the east side of Rubešovy Street. Next to it was a rabbi's house, a ritual bath, a Jewish school and until 1903 a hospital.
In 1840, there were 14 Jewish houses in the town. The village had its teacher and rabbi, chazan, hospital administrator, kosherak and gravedigger. The houses on the north side of Rubešovy street are basically preserved in their original form and together with the synagogue they form a distinctive urban unit. In 1895, there were 109 Jews, five years later only 63 people and in 1930 twenty people. After 1983, the Jewish community joined the Pelh vimovská and services took place in both cities. 19 Jews from Nové Cerekva died in the Second World War.
From the hundred Jews who lived in the late 19th century in Nové Cerekvo, no one lives there anymore.
Famous painter Alfred Justitz was born in Nové Cerekvo. Theresie Berl Herrmann (Herrmann) , the grandmother of composer Gustav Mahler also came from here.
Alfred Justitz (19. July 1879 Nová Cerekev - 9. February 1934 Bratislava)
He was a Czech painter, graphic designer, illustrator, cynologist and representative of the founding generation of Czech modern painting. He is one of the most prominent figures of Czech modernism.