Dunaevtsy

Dinewitz, Dinovits, Dunivits, Dunayevitz, Dinovitz (Yiddish), Dunajevcy, Dunaivci, Dunaivtsi, Dunaje, Dunajowce (Polish), Дунаевцы – Dunaevtsy (Russian), Дунаївці (Ukrainian)

Dunaivtsi is the capital city of Dunaivtsi Region, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukraine. The city is located on the river Ternavka, 22 km away from the railway station Dunaivtsi and 68 km from the Khmelnytskyi. Population is 16,448 (2001).

Beginning

Jews lived in Dunaevtsy since the XVI century. In the XVII – XVIII centuries main Jewish activity were trading, lease and crafts (there guilds of weavers, shoemakers, painters, etc.). In 1648, almost all the Jews were slaughtered by troops of Bogdan Hmelnitskiy. In the 2-nd part of XVII century community revived. In 1748 the Jews were victims of “blood libel.”

The  Jewish community numbered 1,129 in 1765, but by 1775 was  reduced to 484 as a result of the Haidamak uprising of 1768.  In 1780th  community revived again.  From the beginning of the 19th century many Jews found employment as workers, dyers, and traders in the flourishing textile industry there.

The Jewish population numbered 2,020 in 1847 and approximately 10,000 before the outbreak of World War I (about two-thirds of the total population).

In the middle of  XIX century Jews were most of tailors, cobbler’s in Dunaevtsy. Merchant Roitman opened a tobacco factory. In the 1830th 82 Jews were brought to trial for the murder of two informants who reported to the authorities of the Jews fled from compulsory military service (according to legend, 30 people died after “shpitsruten punishment”).

In 1847 there were two synagogues. In 1871-72 land for a Jewish cemetery was purchased. In 1882 there were 6 synagogues. In 1880th rabbi was Shloime Gorodok. In 1890  There were 11 synagogues, a Jewish hospital, almshouse, Talmud Torah and many cheders in Dunaevtsy.

Dunayevtsy became known as a center of Hebrew and Zionist literary and educational activity. The scholars and writers Yezkel Kaufmann, Levi Scharfstein, S.L. Blank and Abraham Rosen were born and educated there.

In 1899 the Jews rented sugar beet, refinery, distillery factories and from 1907 – iron foundry (from workers were a lot of Jews). In 1903 was opened Jewish female 3d class specialized school by Burshtatman and in 1907 male Jewish 2nd class specialized school by Gusakova.

In 1906, Jews owned two printers, leather factory and few cloth factories, as well as shops, stores, hotels, pharmacies, book shop, photography and other substances beginning.

Dunaevtsy enterpreneurs list from Russian Empire Business Directories by 1904 and 1913:

After the establishment of Soviet rule the town became impoverished.  Many Jews immigrated or moved to the cities of the Russian interior.

After Civil War

In the beginning of 1920th in Dunaevtsy were illegal Bund, “Ge-Halutz” and the Zionist groups. In 1925 there were 212 Jewish families, who wanted to move to the Jewish Agricultural colony in Crimea. There were 5,186 Jews in Dunaevtsy in 1926 (60.5%  of the total).

Dunaevtsy Jewish Community money of revolution period:

Since 1931 there were Dunaevetsky Jewish village council. In the Jewish collective farm in 1933 there were 362 Jews. In 1932-33 the Jewish population suffered from hunger. Before 1936 in Dunaevtsy rabbi was Benzion Fendler.

Next photos of Dunaevtsy were made by Pavel Zholtovskiy and Stefan Taranyshenko in the 1920′s-1930′s. There you can see “classic” shtetl buildings which were destroyed in second half of XX century:

Holocaust

The Germans occupied Dunaevtsy on July 11, 1941.

Germans concentrated the local Jews and Jews from neighbouring villages in the ghetto, they were forced to pay contribution (all gold, silver and copper items). Exit from the market was allowed only one time during 1 hour in week. Every day dozens people died in ghetto.

Grave of 19 young Jews killed by Nazi in 1942

On March 11, 1942 were hang 19 young Jews. After the war they were reburied to Jewish Cemetery. Only 10 names are known…

On May 8, 1942 approximately 2300 Jews were thrown alive in the phosphate mine (this place was adviced to germans by local engeneer ). Enterance to mine was immured and nobody could get out. Three weeks people outside heard cries for help, moaning, crying dying in terrible agony. They died of thirst, hunger and suffocation.

All other Jews from ghetto was moved to second ghetto which was a labor camp. In the second half of May 1942, Jews from Balin, Velikiy Zhvanchik, Zinkov, Smotrich, Shatava were brought to ghetto. Prisonres were forced to work at railway station. After the start of epidemic Germans decide to eliminate camp.
On October 19, 1942 about 1,820 Jews from the Dunayevtsy ghetto were assembled in the ghetto square, then they were taken in 3 groups to the Solonenski forest and shot to death in sandpits.
On August 1942 were killed 2000 Jews and at October 27, 1942 were killed 1500 Jews.

Near former Jewish collective farm “Pedeks” Germans shot 68 people from mixed Jewish families.

One of the Judenrat heads, Shiko Goren, attempted to strangled one of the German soldiers, but was shot to death by Ukrainian policemen.

During the WWII in Dunaevtsy were killed more than 8000 Jews, 2500 of them were local inhabitans. All together in Dunaevtsy region were killed more than 12000.

There is only 2 lists of Holocaust victims (all there collected by members of Dunaevtsy Jewish community after WWII):
- names of 150 head of the families with mark “killed with family”
- 77 names of killed Jews.

Available lists you can download here (Special thanks for translation to Anna Roizner).

Dunaevtsy was liberated by Red Army at March 31, 1944.

After WWII

After liberation few Jewish families returned to Dunaevtsy. In 1948 there were illegal minyan.

Monument to Dunaevtsy Holocaust victims in New Montefiore Cemetery of New York.

In the honor of Dunaevtsy Holocaust victims in NEW MONTEFIORE CEMETERY of New York was erected memorial (in 1965). Initiator was United Dinewitzer Podolier Benevolent Association. Memorial Committee: Louis Meilman (hon. chairman), Harry Shein (chairman), Irving Rosen, Adolph Gellman, Max Belzer, Israel and Sonia Zipperman, Oscar Kalinowsky, Sol Zipperman, Ezzie Zutler, Julius Miller (information find here).

“In memory of the martyrs of Dinewitzer Podolier who were murdered by the Nazis and their agents during the years 1941-1945. Humanity must never forget them. We will keep their memory alive forever. May their souls rest in peace..”

In 1970s and 1980s most Jews immigrated to Israel and USA.

Jewish Community was registered in 1995.  In 2002-2004 there were exist children Jewish Sunday school with studing Hebrew and Jewish traditions. Dunaevtsy emmigrants in USA sponsored monument on the mine in Demyankivcy.

Head of Jewish Community is Roizner Tatiana Konstantinovna.

Places

Old Jewish Cemetery

Old Jewish cemetery was destroyed after WWII and Armature Plant was built on this place. Location of gravestones is unknown.

Sichenci Jewish Cemetery

This cemetery still in use. Oldest gravestones can be dated by the beginning of XX century (according to photos which I have find). There is a grave of Holocaust victims.
On the cemetery located ruins of Hevra Kadisha house.

Synagogue

The Last building of synagogue. Photo from photohunt.org.ua

Only one building of synagogue is existing in our time (there were 11 synagogues before the Revolution). it is located on the corner of Sportivna Str. and Bazarna Str. and belong to Police Department.

Jewish Ghetto during WWII

It was located at the Erysalimka region. Before the Revolution it was a living place of impecunious Jewish population.

Jewish Labor Camp

It was located on the place of current Hospital.

Demyankovtsy phosphate mine

On May 8, 1942 approximately 2300 Jews were thrown alive in the phosphate mine. They died of thirst, hunger and suffocation. Monument was erected at Soviet times. It was restored at 2003 for a money of last members of Dinewitzer Association in USA. One of them Martin Gelman visited Dunaevtsy. At 2002-2003 only in USA was only 3 members of this organization and they were ~90 years old.

Holocaust Mass grave on private courtyard

Tretiego Internacionala (Third International) St. 12, in the courtyard. Owner: A. P. Chichanovskyi. There is a memorial at the site.

Mass grave in Solonenski forest