Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

📍 Dobó István u. 20, Abaújszántó, Ungaria

453

Deceased

27.863

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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)

Avraham Schwartz

1891

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: David. Died 17 Sivan 5651.

Zisel

1924

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Josef. Died 6 Iyyar 5684.

Malka Dick

1873

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Wife of Jonah. Died 2 Tevet 5633.

Malka Fried

1938

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yechiel. Died 11 Adar2 5698.

Chana

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Fani Feiga Stern

1880

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Zvi. Wife of Moshe. Died 17 Shvat 5640.

Sara Friedmann Szasz

1901

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Shimon, the Levite. Wife of Moshe. Died 1 Tamuz 5661. (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )

Lea Schwartz Roth

1932

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yehuda. Wife of Eliezer. Died 23 Kislev 5693.

Zsigmond Yehoshua Dick

1887

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Josef (HaCohen). Died 1 Adar 5647.

Roza Reizel Roth Fogel

1911

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Mother's name: Chaia. Wife of Dov. Died 27 Sivan 5671.

Esther Frisch

1880

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Itzchak. Wife of Yaakov. Died 10 Shvat 5640.

Zeev Pollak

1908

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Mordechai. Died 18 Iyyar 5668.

Boroka Dvora Forgacs

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe.

Pinkas Bezalel Rubinstein

1884

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Zeinvel. Died 23 Av 5644.

Zisel

1824

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Meir. Died 24 Adar2 5584.

Zvi Weisz

1894

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Mordechai. Mother's name: Tzirl bat Zvi. Died 12 Sivan 5654.

Samuel Yehoshua David Rosenberg

1906

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Shimon Yaakov Mother's name: Chana. Died 21 Av 5666.

Joob

1885

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Chaim. Died 4 Tishri 5646.

Herman Czeiszler

1890

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Matel Klein

1902

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Eliezer. Wife of Lipman. Died 15 Iyyar 5662.

Yoel Zelinger

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Yechezkel Groszman

1893

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Avraham. Died 17 Sivan 5653.

Zvi Hirsch Haas

1833

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Shmuel. Died 25 Nisan 5593.

Jozsef Josef Fried

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe.

Adolf Asher Gluck

1878

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Efraim. Died 18 Elul 5638.

Zvi

1840

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yaakov. Died 12 Shvat 5600.

Yaakov Zeev Gluck

1925

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Mother's name: Rachel. Died 15 Sivan 5685.

Bernat Dov Glattstein

1904

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Zeev. Mother's name: Blima. Died 10 Elul 5664.

Rivka Patron

1913

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Shmuel. Wife of Josef Zeev. Died 18 Heshvan 5674.

Esther Grosz

1873

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yehoshe. Died 15 Av 5633.

Jakab Zisha Friedmann

1898

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Died 24 Iyyar 5659.

Amalia Sara Malka Blasberger

1892

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Itzchak. Wife of Shmuel. Died 7 Elul 5652.

Roza Reizel Deszberg

1885

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Wife of Josef. Died 22 Sivan 5645.

Yaakov Blau

1915

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe. Died 18 Adar 5675.

Shimon Friedmann

1915

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Itzchak Zvi. Mother's name: Mirel. Died 5 Av 5675.

Moshe Blau

1929

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Zvi. Died 1 Kislev 5690.

Itzchak Yaakov

1920

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Shmuel. Died 13 Av 5680.

Mor Moshe Reikovits

1861 – 1927

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Zvi. Died 20 Elul 5687.

Mordechai

1874

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe Josef. Died 25 Iyyar 5634.

Vilmos Jekutiel Zeev Flegman

1904

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe Josef. Mother's name: Chaia Chana. Died 2 Nisan 5664.

Chaia Schwartz

1929

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Mordechai. Mother's name: Dina. Wife of Moshe. Died 16 Adar2 5689.

Bluma Guttmann Gluck

1926

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe Avraham. Wife of David. Died 16 Tevet 5687.

Nathan Jakab Nachum Bauman

1901

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Jeremiahu Juda Zindel. Mother's name: Rachel. Died 13 Nisan 5661.

Josef

1900

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Asher. Died 1 Nisan 5660.

Serl

1796

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Itzchak. Died 13 Shvat 5556. She donated a Torah scroll to the synagogue. (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )

Gitel

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Jakab Israel Yaakov Schwarcz

1899

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Aharon. Died 13 Av 5659. Served the Szanto community in holy service for 30 years, teaching Torah. Was very charitable and greatly eulogized at his funeral. (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )

Rachel Bauman

1879

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Itzchak. Wife of Zindel. Died 16 Shvat 5639.

Jakab Yaakov Meisels

1848 – 1926

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Moshe. Died 23 Tevet 5686.

Moshe Blau

1936

Abaujszanto Jewish Cemetery

Father's name: Yaakov. Mother's name: Rivka Feigele. Died 23 Elul 5696. Grandson of Rabbi Jeremais LÖW ("Divrei Yermiya") and (Binyamin Wolf LÖW ("Shaarei Torah") and and Eliezer LÖW ("Shemen Rokeach) (each a son of the other), He requested not to praise him on his tombstone. (Contributed by: Madeleine Isenberg )