Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

📍 Dobó István u. 20, Abaújszántó, Ungaria

453

Deceased

27.857

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About the cemetery

Abaújszántó or Szántó in short is a town in Northeastern Hungary, 23 miles from Miskolc in the area of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, that was always part of Hungarian territory. In 1941 out of the general population of 4,908 there were 681 Jewish community members. On May 1944 they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. A memorial listing the names of the victims is located both in the Abaújszántó and Miskolc cemeteries. The tombstones face east, and stand erect according to the Ashkenazi custom. The gravestones with their decorations are characteristic representations of religious symbols and Jewish folk-art. The cemetery is a treasure field of historical knowledge. It includes testimonies, sometimes the only remaining ones, relating to the once lived local Jewish population, as in Abaújszántó. The history of the Abaújszántó Jewish community dates back to 1738. Prior to that Jewish settlers lived outside the town walls. The cemetery is in existence since 1793 when the Hevra Kaddisha (Jewish Burial Society), with ninety members, was founded. Located in 20 Dobó Utca, a walking distance from the synagogue and the center of the town. Nearby is also the Catholic cemetery. The stone markers or matzevot, frequently carry precise dates and information on relatives that are not preserved by any other means. Cemetery records are among the most important genealogical sources yielding valuable data. Many of the markers have words and images that speak directly of the family member who is being honored. Tombstones make biographical and historical statements as they reflect family life. In the 17th thorough 19th centuries the tombstones included more information than the name and date of death. Often a description on a man's life, his occupation and his town would be written. A woman's tombstone would contain such information as name, date of death, name of her father, as a married woman, often "wife of..." the phrase "a woman of valor" and a symbol, a candelabrum. Entering the gate on the first level is the grave of Abaújszántó and Hungary's important rabbi, Elazar Loew (1758-1837), known as Shemen Rokeh from the title of a book he authored. The rabbis following him in Abaújszántó Rabbinate expected to be buried next to their respected Rabbi, who had presided before them. People visited the grave of Rabbi Elazar Loew at times of peril and peace. Rabbi Loew's name was known also among the area's gentiles and they prayed occasionally by the Rabbi's tomb. In a separate group on the first level, not far from their husbands, are the graves of the Rebbetzins (Wives of the Rabbis). While the names are almost unreadable, the colorful stones and the wording on the Matzevot are poignant reminders of their dedication as they stood at the side of their respectful husbands. As a spiritual link between the living and the dead, the tombstones became the site of pilgrimage and supplication for help from the deceased. Many of the markers have words and images that speak directly of the family member who is being honored. As the lower section was filled, the cemetery extended to the higher level, reached by steps. Overlooking the surrounding valleys from the cemetery's high elevation, the view is especially beautiful. There are the open meadows and unlimited distance of visibility. On the first line at the higher level are the graves of the Zimmerman family who made the town an important exporter of the famous Tokay wine. Reading the gravestones one could observe the tragedy that accompanied the family's success. There is the beautiful three-dimensional black marble tombstone of their eighteen-year-old daughter, Erzsébet. Not far from the Zimmermans is the grave of Moses Mór Szász, my great-grandfather. Within a Mogen David is the carving of a water pitcher representative of the ritual function of a Levite. The graceful gravestone erected in 1916 was a statement, a written message that reached me many years later, after surviving Auschwitz. The words "good name " carved in stone, were the esteemed attribute of the departing old man. His full name and eulogy were expressed in an acrostic pattern. Each line begins with a Hebrew letter, eventually forming the name בן נתן משה Moshe, the son of Nathan. Standing by the grave and reading the words of the Matzevah, my heart overflew with thanks and gratitude. The graves of my two great grandmothers, Sara Szász and Golda Reinitz are in another section of the cemetery. The three graves are my only remnants of a world scattered by the winds of hate. Finding them I received a message of love and belonging. Higher on top, on the second level, are buried Rabbi Nathan Yizhak and his son Lipot Aryeh Lipschitz. They served the Abaujszanto Jewish community. With devoted joint efforts and financial expenses Eli Szamosi and Miksa Winkler photographed the graves. They dedicated their work to the memory of Mrs. Elza Reich Szamosi, Eli's mother. Mrs. Szamosi, deported from Abaújszántó, survived Auschwitz, Markkleeberg and other camps. The Cemetery list was prepared by the kind volunteer work of Ms. Madeleine Isenberg and Mr. Peter Absolon . They, together with Mr. Szamosi and Mr. Winkler deserve our greatest thanks and appreciation. Their Mitzva of Hesed Shel Emet is an act of truthful and pure loving kindness. Zahava Szász Stessel, Ph.D. See also: Zahava Szász Stessel, : The History of Abaújszántó, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Associated University Presses, 1995. Zahava Stessel, "Traces of a Jewish Community in Rural Hungary," The Jewish Press, 25 March 1988, 50C.

Contact & location

Locality: Abaújszántó
Dobó István u. 20
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Deceased (453)

Gershon Meir Goldberger

1880

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yaakov. Died 22 Elul 5640.

Hani Chaia Kohn Goldmann

1837 – 1932

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Chaim. Wife of Lajos / Eliezer. Died 9 Adar2 5692.

Mordechai Tiegerman

1905

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Meir. Died 2 Adar2 5665.

David Schmidt

1894

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Died 3 Elul 5654.

Leopold Yehuda Schwarcz

1877

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Avraham. Died 5 Av 5637.

Zeev Neumann

1853

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Baruch. Died 20 Tishri 5614.

Sara

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Jozsef Josef Smiedt

1914

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: David. Died 3 Adar 5674.

Jeremiahu Blau

1882 – 1940

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Mother's name: Mindel. Died 1 Tevet 5701.

Hendel Weiser

1876

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Mordechai. Mother's name: Malka. Died 4 Tevet 5636.

Yaakov Weisz

1911

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Mordechai. Died 9 Av 5671.

Aytche

1877

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Aytche, daughter of Yehuda. Died 30 Av 5637.

Taube Schwartz

1902

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Wife of Falk. Died 4 Kislev 5663.

Zvi

1815

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yehuda. Died 18 Tishri 5576.

Roza

1923

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Chaim Zvi. Died 27 Iyyar 5683.

Sara Gluck

1929

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Mother's name: Taube. Wife of Yaakov Zeev. Died 22 Av 5689.

Artur Mordechai Zvi Freund

1876 – 1934

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Joel. Mother's name: Rivka. Died 17 Heshvan 5695.

Mirel Geiger

1867

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Daughter of Josef

Rivka Reich

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Eizik.

Katalin Golde Klein Reinitz

1905

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Avraham. Wife of Feis. Died 6 Kislev 5666. Complete Transcription: Hear lies the important woman Mrs. Golde daughter of Kvod Harav Rabbi Avraham wife of Kvod Harav Rabbi Feis Reinitz (May his candle yet shine, meaning he was still alive) Died 6 Kislev 5666 May Her Soul be Bound in the Bonds of Eternal Life (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )

David Gluck

1889

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Asher. Died 13 Adar 5649.

Lobl Aryeh Leib Buxbaum

1853

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Died 14 Sivan 5613.

Avraham

1861

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father: Netanel, grandson of a a sage (name eroded) Died 7 Heshvan 5622. (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )

Sara Grunblatt Appel

1909

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yaakov. Mother's name: Chaia Rivka. Wife of Jekutiel. Died 27 Nisan 5669.

Czilli Serel Kleinman Fuchs

1891

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe. Wife of Mordechai. Died 10 Av 5651.

Itzchak Stern

1876

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Josef. Died 12 Shvat 5636.

Chana Blau

1922

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Josef. Wife of Binyamin Zeev. Died 18 Kislev 5683.

Ezriel

1913

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Zvi, the Levite. Mother's name: Lea. Died 5 Adar2 5673.

Dina Gele Reich

1865

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Wife of Leib. Died 4 Heshvan 5626.

Simonné Rosenberg

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Wife of Simon 184x-19xx

Malka Wohl Schwartz

1905

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Avraham. Wife of Yehoshe. Died 17 Nisan 5665.

Zvi Gross

1903

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: David. Mother's name: Taube. Died 26 Tevet 5663.

Jakab Lipa Grunblatt

1901

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Zvi. Died 5 Heshvan 5662.

Josef Zeitner

1912

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: David Yehuda. Mother's name: Nechama. Died 5 Sivan 5672.

Natan Lowy

1865

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Died 18 Adar 5625.

Jakab Chaim Gellman

1893

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Itzchak Yaakov. Mother's name: Rachel. Died 19 Tishri 5654.

Sara Weinstein Kohn

1919

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Shlomo. Mother's name: Sprintze. Died 60 years old, 7 Adar2 5679. Memorial also for her family killed in the Holocaust, her grandson Meir and his family, and his brother, Mordechai. (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )

Yehoshua Groszman

1899

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Shmuel. Died 2 Shvat 5659.

Josef Reich

1888

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Akiva. Died 4 Adar 5648.

Pista Moshe Meisels

1886 – 1887

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yaakov. Died 25 Tamuz 5647.

Sheindel

1940

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Wife of Dov Aryeh. Died 29 Adar2 5700. Granddaughter of the author of the book, "Magen Shaul," who turns out to be, Rabbi Shaul Eliezer haCohen Friedenson. (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )