The Jewish Community of Szatmárcseke

A village in Szabolcs-Szatmár- Bereg county, northeastern Hungary.

HISTORY

Jews first settled in the village at the beginning of the 18th century. The Jewish people played a significant role in the village’s economic development; most worked in trade, crafts, and farming, and later some Jews were factory owners. During this period, the relationship between the local Jews and their Christian neighbors was generally good.

The region was famous for its fruit brandy (szatmári szilvapálinka), the production of which drew many Jews to the area; Jews were among those who produced the fruit brandy. As part of their economic activity, they were also involved in buying and selling the lands of Christian estate owners.

The community had a cheder, a mikveh, a kosher butcher house, and a charity organization. A teacher, a butcher and a shamess served the community. The community did not have its own rabbi, but rabbis would visit from nearby places in order to provide the local Jews with religious services. A synagogue was consecrated in 1884.

 The first documented Purim Shpil in Hungary took place in Szatmárcseke in 1839, documented by Köcsey Antonia, the cousin of the famous national poet Kölcsey Ferenc. During the play, which was called Hámánfutás (Haman’s Run), a group of Jews dressed up as shepherds, and chased a Haman figure, who was on horseback, through the streets of the village. Children also participated in the Haman Run.

The General Jewish Congress in Hungary was organized in 1868-1869 in order to discuss the formation of an autonomous, united Jewish body that could organize the entire Hungarian Jewish community and act as its official representative. This initiative ultimately failed, resulting in a split between the Neolog and Orthodox movements. The Jews of Szatmárcseke chose to affiliate with the Orthodox movement, which refused to accept the regulations adopted by the Congress.

A few years later, a new law was passed in regards to the religious communities in Hungary. According to the new rules, Hungarian Jews were required to belong to an official religious community; the Vital Records Registration Districts Act of 1885 required Jewish communities to be divided into mother and branch district organizations. As a result, the Szatmárcseke community belonged to the mother community of Fehérgyarmat.

At the beginning of the 20^th century the Jewish community numbered 123 people.

During the communist revolution that took place in Hungary in 1919, the Jews were targeted for owning property. Then came the period of the “White Terror” (1919-1921), during which right-wing counterrevolutionary groups carried out violence against the supporters of the Communist Republic of Hungary. In many places in Hungary Jews were among those who were targeted. The Jews of Szatmárcseke were among those who suffered during this period, and were even interned. Those who attacked the Jews claimed that they were responsible for the communist revolution, since many communist leaders had Jewish origins.

 

THE HOLOCAUST

Due to the adoption of anti- Jewish laws in 1938, Jews were no longer permitted to work in the liberal professions, and permits for trading and crafts were rescinded from of most of the Jews in the village.  The local authorities proved to be very strict in implementing the anti-Jewish measures. For instance, the Jews of the village were ordered to wear the yellow patch even before the government implemented it.

In 1941 there were 68 Jews living in Szatmárcseke. As time went on, the conditions worsened, and the population decreased. In 1942, two Jews were arrested and interned in a concentration camp. One was tortured and died, and the other was released a few months later.

The Jewish men of the village, including the elderly, were taken for forced labor along with other Hungarian citizens whom the authorities did not want to draft into the armed forces.

A few weeks after the German occupation of Hungary (March 19, 1944), the remaining Jews of Szatmárcseke were concentrated into the local ghetto. Several days later they were transferred to the village of Kölcse, then to Mátészalka, and ultimately to Auschwitz.

 

POSTWAR

Five survivors returned to the village after the war, but they soon left because of antisemitism from their neighbors. The community was officially liquidated and its property was sold.