Would you like to help us improving the content? Send us your suggestions
The Jewish Community of Dobruska
Dobruska
German: Dobruschka, Guttenfeld
A small town in northeast Bohemia, Hradec Kralove Region, Rychnov nad Kneznou District, Czech Republic
The town of Dobruska was established before the beginning of the 14th century. It is located about 10 miles (16km) from the district town of Rychnov nad Kneznou. Until 1918 the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; after World War I and until 1933 it was part of the Republic of Czechoslovakia.
The Museum of Dobruska contains a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the local Jewish community, and includes the mikvah (ritual bath) that was once used by the town's Jewish community.
The Jewish cemetery has been kept in good condition and hundreds of tombstones in Czech, Hebrew, and German, have remained standing in their original locations. In addition to the tombstones, there is also a memorial to the Jewish soldiers who fought in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The cemetery is owned by the Jewish community of Prague.
HISTORY
Jews are recorded as living in Dobruska during the first half of the 16th century. In 1618 four Jewish families are recorded as living in the town; 9 families were living in the town in 1666 and 1702. A Jewish Quarter was created in 1718 and shortly thereafter, in 1721, the bishop of Hradec Kralov demanded the expulsion of all Jews from Christian homes. This was counteracted by the local noblemen, who granted the Jews protection.
Once they were moved to the Jewish Quarter the Jewish community permitted to rent land for a synagogue. Later, the town of Dubroska was demolished during a fire in 1706. While the Jews of the town attempted to rebuild, they were denied permission to purchase plots of land and to build houses. The community escaped expulsion only due to the high rents that they paid to the town council. It was only in 1834 that the Jews were granted permission to purchase the homes in which they lived. Other restrictions were imposed on the Jews of the town, particularly in 1721. Among the restrictions was the prohibition against purchasing food and liquor anywhere other than Dobruska.
In 1848 Jews throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire were emancipated and the social, religious, and economic restrictions they were subjected to were gradually removed. Taking advantage of the removal of residence restrictions, the Jews of Dobruska built a new synagogue in Neo-Gothic style on the site where the old synagogue stood, east of Dobruska's central square. The cemetery, which was consecrated in 1675, was expanded in 1837. The cemetery eventually contained a mass grave of Jewish soldiers who died in a plague during the war between Austria and Prussia in 1866.
Most of the Jews of Dobruska made their living as merchants and artisans. This continued into the 20th century, when most of the Jews of Dobruska were merchants, and some worked in industry.
In 1921 there were 148 Jews registered in the community, 40 of whom paid taxes. By 1930 that number had dropped to 39. On the eve of World War II there were 17 Jewish families living in Dobruska.
THE HOLOCAUST
Following the Munich Agreement of September 1938, about a year before the outbreak of World War II, the Republic of Czechoslovakia was disbanded. Beginning in March 1939 Bohemia and Moravia were occupied by Nazi Germany and became a protectorate of the Third Reich, beginning a period of discrimination and violence against the Jews remaining in these regions. Beginning at the end of 1941 most of the Jews remaining in the protectorate had been concentrated in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Ghetto; before their deportation, 105 ritual objects from the community of Dobruska were transferred from the synagogue to the Central Jewish Museum in Prague. From there they were deported to concentration and death camps, mostly in Poland, where most were killed.
German: Dobruschka, Guttenfeld
A small town in northeast Bohemia, Hradec Kralove Region, Rychnov nad Kneznou District, Czech Republic
The town of Dobruska was established before the beginning of the 14th century. It is located about 10 miles (16km) from the district town of Rychnov nad Kneznou. Until 1918 the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; after World War I and until 1933 it was part of the Republic of Czechoslovakia.
The Museum of Dobruska contains a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the local Jewish community, and includes the mikvah (ritual bath) that was once used by the town's Jewish community.
The Jewish cemetery has been kept in good condition and hundreds of tombstones in Czech, Hebrew, and German, have remained standing in their original locations. In addition to the tombstones, there is also a memorial to the Jewish soldiers who fought in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The cemetery is owned by the Jewish community of Prague.
HISTORY
Jews are recorded as living in Dobruska during the first half of the 16th century. In 1618 four Jewish families are recorded as living in the town; 9 families were living in the town in 1666 and 1702. A Jewish Quarter was created in 1718 and shortly thereafter, in 1721, the bishop of Hradec Kralov demanded the expulsion of all Jews from Christian homes. This was counteracted by the local noblemen, who granted the Jews protection.
Once they were moved to the Jewish Quarter the Jewish community permitted to rent land for a synagogue. Later, the town of Dubroska was demolished during a fire in 1706. While the Jews of the town attempted to rebuild, they were denied permission to purchase plots of land and to build houses. The community escaped expulsion only due to the high rents that they paid to the town council. It was only in 1834 that the Jews were granted permission to purchase the homes in which they lived. Other restrictions were imposed on the Jews of the town, particularly in 1721. Among the restrictions was the prohibition against purchasing food and liquor anywhere other than Dobruska.
In 1848 Jews throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire were emancipated and the social, religious, and economic restrictions they were subjected to were gradually removed. Taking advantage of the removal of residence restrictions, the Jews of Dobruska built a new synagogue in Neo-Gothic style on the site where the old synagogue stood, east of Dobruska's central square. The cemetery, which was consecrated in 1675, was expanded in 1837. The cemetery eventually contained a mass grave of Jewish soldiers who died in a plague during the war between Austria and Prussia in 1866.
Most of the Jews of Dobruska made their living as merchants and artisans. This continued into the 20th century, when most of the Jews of Dobruska were merchants, and some worked in industry.
In 1921 there were 148 Jews registered in the community, 40 of whom paid taxes. By 1930 that number had dropped to 39. On the eve of World War II there were 17 Jewish families living in Dobruska.
THE HOLOCAUST
Following the Munich Agreement of September 1938, about a year before the outbreak of World War II, the Republic of Czechoslovakia was disbanded. Beginning in March 1939 Bohemia and Moravia were occupied by Nazi Germany and became a protectorate of the Third Reich, beginning a period of discrimination and violence against the Jews remaining in these regions. Beginning at the end of 1941 most of the Jews remaining in the protectorate had been concentrated in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Ghetto; before their deportation, 105 ritual objects from the community of Dobruska were transferred from the synagogue to the Central Jewish Museum in Prague. From there they were deported to concentration and death camps, mostly in Poland, where most were killed.