Novgorod-Seversky

Novgorod-Seversky, city in Chernigov district, Ukraine.

During the 14th century, Novgorod-Seversky was conquered by the princes of Lithuania; in the 16th and 17th centuries it was alternately in the hands of the Poles and the Russians; and in 1667 it was definitively annexed by Russia.

Beginning

A Jewish settlement is mentioned for the first time in a residence permit granted to the townspeople by King Sigismund III Vasa (1587–1632) of Poland. According to the permit Jews were forbidden to sell meat in the town, except in the courtyard of the synagogue. Also included were several tax levies which Jews were ordered to pay.

Pre-revolution building (shop) in the center of Novgorod-Seversky

During the Chmielnicki persecutions of 1648 many Jews in Novgorod- Seversky were massacred by the Cossacks.

The community was renewed only in the late 18th century. In 1847 1,336 Jews were registered in the community; by 1897 the number had risen to 1,956 (32% of the total population).

Here I find list of Jews in Novgorod-Seversky county – 1882, 1888 and 1910. You can download it.

In 1892, there were six private Jewish schools and a state Jewish school in Novhorod-Sivers’kyi. At that time Rabbi was Haim Bogin.

Before Revolution

The community suffered in the wave of pogroms which swept over Russia in 1905. On October 9, pogrom happened in Novgorod-Seversky. I find only that 59 Jewish families have suffered.

In the beginning of XX century in Novgorod-Severskiy acted 5 synagogues and Jewish secondary school. There were 2 jewish cemeteries.

Enterpreneurs list from Russian Empire Business Directorie by 1904:

In 1914, Jews owned one pharmacy (the only one in city), all 4 storage of pharmaceutical goods, both bakeries, all 3 hotels, the only photostudio, watchmaker workshop, 35 shops and stores (all 10 groceries, all 4 manufactory, the only jewelry store). Jews were both timber merchants.

On April 6, 1918, units of the Red Army retreating before the German army savagely attacked the Jews of Novgorod-Seversky and 88 Jews (including the author A.J. Slutzky) lost their lives (from another sources 57 Jews were killed and 16 were injured).

In 1924-1935 rabbi was Zelman Abramovich Khurgin (1900-?).

In 1926 there were 2,089 Jews (22.8% of the total population) in the town, and in 1939 it dropped to 982 (8.56% of the total population).

Holocaust

Monument on the Holocaust mass grave near Ostroushky village

The city was occupied by the Germans from August 26, 1941 to September 16, 1943 although by this time most of the local Jews had already evacuated.

On November 7-8, 1941, the remaining 174 Jews were shot by the 10th Infantry Regiment unit of the first mechanized infantry brigade of the SS (captain Gebel) with the assistance of Ukrainian police. The massacre of 155 people took place near the village of Ostroushky in antitank ditch. The rest of the local Jews were killed on the spot, when found in their apartments on the next day.

Monument on the territory of former concentration camp

Last local Jews were killed in concentration camp together with more than 17000 Soviet captives in 1942-1943.

We know only names of 133 murdered civilian Jews and 56 warriors…

After WWII

After the end of WWII many Jews returned from evacuation.
Officialy Jewish community was created again in 1990.

Jewish Cemetery

Cemetery was founded in first half of 19th century and still in use.
Location: Along Uryts’koho Str., entrance between the house numbers 68 and 72.

Photos were taken from Lo-Tishkah web-site.