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The Jewish Community of Huncovce

Huncovce

In German: Hondorf; in Hungarian: Hunfalu or Hunfalva

A small town in north-eastern Slovakia.

Huncovce is situated on the river Poprad, between the towns Poprad in the south and Kezmarok in the north. Until 1918 the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and then, until 1993, part of the Republic of Czechoslovakia.

Huncovce is known in the Jewish world thanks to its yeshivot, in which over 10,000 torah scholars were trained in the course of the years. The Jewish community of Huncovce is one of the oldest in the region of Spis (in Hungarian Szepes). The region was inhabited mostly by Germans, who opposed the settlement of Jews in the towns of the district. The first Jews came to Huncovce in the 17th century. In 1728 there were still only two Jewish families in the town, and in 1754 the number rose to 31, but the community was organized only in the 1760’s.

The old synagogue was burnt down around 1760. The fire destroyed also important documents and rabbinical literature. In 1821 a new splendid synagogue in the baroque style was consecrated, with a mikveh (purification bath) in its cellar. In 1844 an elementary Jewish school was opened.

In the middle of the 19th century when the restrictions on the settlement of Jews in Hungary were abolished, many Jews moved from Huncovce to the towns of Spiska Nova Ves, to Levica and to Poprad.

In 1851 the community consisted of 928 Jews. In 1860 there were about 200 Jewish families in the place and in 1900 the number dwindled to just 40.

The first rabbi of Huncovce, Rabbi Benjamin Sinai, died in 1708. The second rabbi of Huncovce is on record in 1757. He was followed by Rabbi Rappoport, the author of the book Bigdei Kodesh; Rabbi Jehezkel Levy; Rabbi Joav Billizer; and Rabbi Jehezkel Weil. In 1812 Rabbi Mordecai Broda, the grandson of Rabbi Abrahm Broda of Frankfurt/Main was appointed. He was succeeded by Rabbi Solomon Perlstein who in 1833 became the district rabbi. Since then until the end of the 19th century Huncovce became the center for the Jews of the Spis region.

At the beginning of the 19th century there were three yeshivot at Huncovce. Following the decrease in the Jewish population at the place only one yeshiova was left, which developed particularly under its head Rabbi Shmuel Rosenberg (1825-1918). Rabbi Rosenberg was regarded in his congregation as a wonder-maker and was called Zadik. A monument was built over his grave.

The yeshiva was the second most important in Europe, after the Yeshiva of Pressburg. It was recognized as an institute of higher education by the Hungarian authorities and also by the Republic of Czechoslovakia. In the years 1908-1910 it was attended by 300 students from all over the world. In 1929 living quarters were built for the students but in 1931, when Rabbi Joseph Horowitz, the head of the yeshiva, left the town, the yeshiva was closed. The majority of the Jews of Huncovce made their living in trade and crafts.

In 1848, when the Hungarian revolted against the Austrian rule, Jews of Huncovce joined as volunteers the Hungarian rebels and eight of them fall in battle. After the emancipation of the Jews of Hungary (1867) the Jews of Huncovce became integrated in the life of the Hungarian society and economy. In the Republic of Czechoslovakia, that came into being in 1918, the Jews were given a national-cultural autonomy. At that time started also Zionist activity in the town. In 1926, prior to the election to the 15th Zionist Congress, 12 shekels membership in the Zionist organization and a voting right were acquired at Huncovce.

In 1930, 194 Jews were living at Huncovce.


The Holocaust Period

Following the Munich Agreement of September 1938, about a year before the outbreak of World War II, the Republic of Czechoslovakia disintegrated. In October Slovakia declared its autonomy and in March 1939 became an independent state, a satellite of Nazi Germany. The Fascist regime removed the Jews from the social and economic life of the country. In 1941 only 75 Jews lived in the town. In 1942 all the Jews of Huncovce and the neighborhood except one were taken to Poprad and from there deported to Auschwitz in Poland, where most of them were murdered by the Germans.

Only a few survivors of the community returned to Huncovce after the war. The synagogue building, which during the war suffered damage in air raids, was turned into a warehouse. At the end of the century, many tombstones in the old cemetery, which borders the river, were found under water. One tombstone was of the year 1697. At the new cemetery, which was opened in the 19th century, the tombstones were found in place, undamaged.

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The Jewish Community of Huncovce

Huncovce

In German: Hondorf; in Hungarian: Hunfalu or Hunfalva

A small town in north-eastern Slovakia.

Huncovce is situated on the river Poprad, between the towns Poprad in the south and Kezmarok in the north. Until 1918 the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and then, until 1993, part of the Republic of Czechoslovakia.

Huncovce is known in the Jewish world thanks to its yeshivot, in which over 10,000 torah scholars were trained in the course of the years. The Jewish community of Huncovce is one of the oldest in the region of Spis (in Hungarian Szepes). The region was inhabited mostly by Germans, who opposed the settlement of Jews in the towns of the district. The first Jews came to Huncovce in the 17th century. In 1728 there were still only two Jewish families in the town, and in 1754 the number rose to 31, but the community was organized only in the 1760’s.

The old synagogue was burnt down around 1760. The fire destroyed also important documents and rabbinical literature. In 1821 a new splendid synagogue in the baroque style was consecrated, with a mikveh (purification bath) in its cellar. In 1844 an elementary Jewish school was opened.

In the middle of the 19th century when the restrictions on the settlement of Jews in Hungary were abolished, many Jews moved from Huncovce to the towns of Spiska Nova Ves, to Levica and to Poprad.

In 1851 the community consisted of 928 Jews. In 1860 there were about 200 Jewish families in the place and in 1900 the number dwindled to just 40.

The first rabbi of Huncovce, Rabbi Benjamin Sinai, died in 1708. The second rabbi of Huncovce is on record in 1757. He was followed by Rabbi Rappoport, the author of the book Bigdei Kodesh; Rabbi Jehezkel Levy; Rabbi Joav Billizer; and Rabbi Jehezkel Weil. In 1812 Rabbi Mordecai Broda, the grandson of Rabbi Abrahm Broda of Frankfurt/Main was appointed. He was succeeded by Rabbi Solomon Perlstein who in 1833 became the district rabbi. Since then until the end of the 19th century Huncovce became the center for the Jews of the Spis region.

At the beginning of the 19th century there were three yeshivot at Huncovce. Following the decrease in the Jewish population at the place only one yeshiova was left, which developed particularly under its head Rabbi Shmuel Rosenberg (1825-1918). Rabbi Rosenberg was regarded in his congregation as a wonder-maker and was called Zadik. A monument was built over his grave.

The yeshiva was the second most important in Europe, after the Yeshiva of Pressburg. It was recognized as an institute of higher education by the Hungarian authorities and also by the Republic of Czechoslovakia. In the years 1908-1910 it was attended by 300 students from all over the world. In 1929 living quarters were built for the students but in 1931, when Rabbi Joseph Horowitz, the head of the yeshiva, left the town, the yeshiva was closed. The majority of the Jews of Huncovce made their living in trade and crafts.

In 1848, when the Hungarian revolted against the Austrian rule, Jews of Huncovce joined as volunteers the Hungarian rebels and eight of them fall in battle. After the emancipation of the Jews of Hungary (1867) the Jews of Huncovce became integrated in the life of the Hungarian society and economy. In the Republic of Czechoslovakia, that came into being in 1918, the Jews were given a national-cultural autonomy. At that time started also Zionist activity in the town. In 1926, prior to the election to the 15th Zionist Congress, 12 shekels membership in the Zionist organization and a voting right were acquired at Huncovce.

In 1930, 194 Jews were living at Huncovce.


The Holocaust Period

Following the Munich Agreement of September 1938, about a year before the outbreak of World War II, the Republic of Czechoslovakia disintegrated. In October Slovakia declared its autonomy and in March 1939 became an independent state, a satellite of Nazi Germany. The Fascist regime removed the Jews from the social and economic life of the country. In 1941 only 75 Jews lived in the town. In 1942 all the Jews of Huncovce and the neighborhood except one were taken to Poprad and from there deported to Auschwitz in Poland, where most of them were murdered by the Germans.

Only a few survivors of the community returned to Huncovce after the war. The synagogue building, which during the war suffered damage in air raids, was turned into a warehouse. At the end of the century, many tombstones in the old cemetery, which borders the river, were found under water. One tombstone was of the year 1697. At the new cemetery, which was opened in the 19th century, the tombstones were found in place, undamaged.

Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People