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The Jewish Community of Fuzesgyarmat

Fuzesgyarmat

A village in the Bekes district, south east Hungary.

Jews first settled in the place in the second half of the 19th century. During the two world wars the number of Jews increased while their economic position improved. The Christian inhabitants generally displayed animosity towards the Jews, although there were never any physical attacks. The community was orthodox. There were a hevra kadisha (burial society), synagogue built during the second half of the 19th century, mikveh (ritual bath) and heder (religious school).

In 1930 the community numbered 217.

The Holocaust Period

In 1938, following the publication of discriminatory laws which aimed at restricting Jewish participation in the economic and cultural fields, the majority of Jews were deprived of their means of livelihood. The men were conscripted for forced labor in 1942. In 1944, after the German occupation, the inhabitants of the village cooperated with the Germans in implementing all the cruel edicts imposed on the Jews. The Jews were transferred to bekescsaba in the middle of June where they were held under overcrowded conditions in tobacco warehouses near the railway station. On the way there they were cruelly harassed by the gendarmerie. Only a few managed to escape, mainly to nearby Romania. On June 25 they were loaded into cattle cars with blows and curses, and sent to Austria.

After the war, the majority of those deported to Austria returned; they renewed communal life. Slowly they began to disperse, most of them going on aliyah to Israel.

Bekes

A town in the Bekes district, south east Hungary.

Jews first came to Bekes from Adony in 1840. At the beginning, many of them worked in agriculture, although later they turned to other occupations, mainly commerce. Active in the place and started in the 1890s was a women's association, a society for visiting the sick and clothing the needy. In addition, there were a synagogue which was built in 1908 and a school which was founded in 1861.

During World War I eight Jews fell in action.

During the period of the White Terror, pogroms against the Jews instigated by right wing military elements (1919-21) after the fall of the communist regime, some of the Jewish residents were murdered. For a short period the town was under Romanian rule.

In 1930 the community numbered 317.


The Holocaust Period

In the middle of May 1944, after the German occupation, all the Jews were herded into a ghetto. In the middle of June, they were sent to a concentration camp in a brickfield in Bekescsaba, where all the Jews of the area were confined. On June 26, the majority were transported to Auschwitz, and only a few were sent to Austria.

After the war returning survivors renewed communal life. A memorial was built to the martyrs. There was a continuous movement of Jews away from the village.

Kisujszallas

A town in the Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok district, central Hungary.

Jews first settled in the town only during the second half of the 19th century, after they were given permission to live in towns in Hungary. Prior to this Jewish traders came to the town on fair days and were allowed to spend one night there. From 1860 Jewish settlement developed rapidly. The majority of the Jews were engaged in commerce, while there were also several artisans and members of the free professions. Most of the Jews were economically well-off, and the community took care of the poor.

The community was founded in 1868 and the synagogue built in 1869, and renovated and enlarged in 1902. The women's association and a school were opened in 1883. The community gained independent status in 1867. The Christians were envious of the economic success of the Jews and the protection they had of the Austrian government. anti-Semitism prevailed from this time.

During the period of the White Terror, pogroms against the Jews instigated by right wing military elements (1919-21) after the fall of the communist regime, gangs of hoodlums freely roamed the streets. They organized mass protest meetings which spread hatred against the Jews. Many Jews were put on trial and others were held in detention centers without trial. It was only in 1927 that life returned to normal.

In 1930 the community numbered 310; in 1900 the number was 525.

The Holocaust Period

In March 1944, the Germans entered the town, and in May the Jews were ordered to stay in their homes and later were assembled in the synagogue. At the beginning of June they were sent to the ghetto in Szolnok, and from here one group was sent to Austria and the remainder transported to Auschwitz.

After the war over a hundred survivors returned; they renewed communal life. It was not long before they began to leave the place especially after the failure of the 1956 anti-Russian revolt. By the 1970s only a few individuals remained.

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The Jewish Community of Fuzesgyarmat

Fuzesgyarmat

A village in the Bekes district, south east Hungary.

Jews first settled in the place in the second half of the 19th century. During the two world wars the number of Jews increased while their economic position improved. The Christian inhabitants generally displayed animosity towards the Jews, although there were never any physical attacks. The community was orthodox. There were a hevra kadisha (burial society), synagogue built during the second half of the 19th century, mikveh (ritual bath) and heder (religious school).

In 1930 the community numbered 217.

The Holocaust Period

In 1938, following the publication of discriminatory laws which aimed at restricting Jewish participation in the economic and cultural fields, the majority of Jews were deprived of their means of livelihood. The men were conscripted for forced labor in 1942. In 1944, after the German occupation, the inhabitants of the village cooperated with the Germans in implementing all the cruel edicts imposed on the Jews. The Jews were transferred to bekescsaba in the middle of June where they were held under overcrowded conditions in tobacco warehouses near the railway station. On the way there they were cruelly harassed by the gendarmerie. Only a few managed to escape, mainly to nearby Romania. On June 25 they were loaded into cattle cars with blows and curses, and sent to Austria.

After the war, the majority of those deported to Austria returned; they renewed communal life. Slowly they began to disperse, most of them going on aliyah to Israel.

Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People

Bekes

Bekes

A town in the Bekes district, south east Hungary.

Jews first came to Bekes from Adony in 1840. At the beginning, many of them worked in agriculture, although later they turned to other occupations, mainly commerce. Active in the place and started in the 1890s was a women's association, a society for visiting the sick and clothing the needy. In addition, there were a synagogue which was built in 1908 and a school which was founded in 1861.

During World War I eight Jews fell in action.

During the period of the White Terror, pogroms against the Jews instigated by right wing military elements (1919-21) after the fall of the communist regime, some of the Jewish residents were murdered. For a short period the town was under Romanian rule.

In 1930 the community numbered 317.


The Holocaust Period

In the middle of May 1944, after the German occupation, all the Jews were herded into a ghetto. In the middle of June, they were sent to a concentration camp in a brickfield in Bekescsaba, where all the Jews of the area were confined. On June 26, the majority were transported to Auschwitz, and only a few were sent to Austria.

After the war returning survivors renewed communal life. A memorial was built to the martyrs. There was a continuous movement of Jews away from the village.

Kisujszallas

Kisujszallas

A town in the Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok district, central Hungary.

Jews first settled in the town only during the second half of the 19th century, after they were given permission to live in towns in Hungary. Prior to this Jewish traders came to the town on fair days and were allowed to spend one night there. From 1860 Jewish settlement developed rapidly. The majority of the Jews were engaged in commerce, while there were also several artisans and members of the free professions. Most of the Jews were economically well-off, and the community took care of the poor.

The community was founded in 1868 and the synagogue built in 1869, and renovated and enlarged in 1902. The women's association and a school were opened in 1883. The community gained independent status in 1867. The Christians were envious of the economic success of the Jews and the protection they had of the Austrian government. anti-Semitism prevailed from this time.

During the period of the White Terror, pogroms against the Jews instigated by right wing military elements (1919-21) after the fall of the communist regime, gangs of hoodlums freely roamed the streets. They organized mass protest meetings which spread hatred against the Jews. Many Jews were put on trial and others were held in detention centers without trial. It was only in 1927 that life returned to normal.

In 1930 the community numbered 310; in 1900 the number was 525.

The Holocaust Period

In March 1944, the Germans entered the town, and in May the Jews were ordered to stay in their homes and later were assembled in the synagogue. At the beginning of June they were sent to the ghetto in Szolnok, and from here one group was sent to Austria and the remainder transported to Auschwitz.

After the war over a hundred survivors returned; they renewed communal life. It was not long before they began to leave the place especially after the failure of the 1956 anti-Russian revolt. By the 1970s only a few individuals remained.