APATEU: (Dobrácsapáti) in Culciu: Satu Mare judet, Transylvania

Culciu (Hungarian: Nagykolcs]) is a commune of 3,751 inhabitants situated in Satu Mare judet with Culciu Mare commune as the center of six villages:

The cemetery is located at Apateu, 3940, com Culciu, judet Satu Mare, 46°37' N 21°47' E, 273.8 miles NNW of Bucharest and 13 km from Satu Mare. Alternate name: Dobrancsapati (Hungarian). Present town population is under 1,000 with no Jews.

• Mayor Balaj Nicolae, Town Hall of Culciu, judet Satu Mare
• The Jewish Community of Satu Mare, Decebal Str. no. 4A, 3900 Satu Mare, Romania, tel. 0040-61-713703
• The Federation of the Jewish Communities of Romania, Sf. Vineri Str., no 9-11, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.
• "Dr. Moshe Carmilly" Institute for Hebrew and Jewish History, Universitatii Str., no. 7-9, room 61, 3400 Cluj Napoca, Romania, director: Ladislau Gyemant, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Key holder and caretaker: None

The 1880 Jewish population by census was 33, by 1900 census was 25 and in 1930 was 8. In May 1944, the Jews were gathered in the ghetto of Satu Mare and on May 19, 22, 26, 29, 30, 31, and June 1 were deported to Auschwitz. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established at end of the 19th century. Last known burial was inter-war period

The rural/agricultural flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate. Approximate pre- and post-WWII size is 5 x 4 m. Compared to 1939, the cemetery boundaries enclose a smaller area due to agriculture. 1-20 stones are visible, some not in original location. Less than 25% of the stones are toppled or broken. Stones removed from the cemetery are probably in local farms. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a constant problem damaging stones. Water drainage is good all year.

The oldest known gravestone dates from end of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century granite, sandstone, and concrete smoothed and inscribed common gravestones have Hebrew inscriptions. No known mass graves. The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are in village residential setting with houses, gardens, orchards, and pastures. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery has no maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security is a very severe threat: broken fence, no gate and outside of the village. Weather erosion is a moderate threat. Vegetation is a very serious threat. The cemetery is completely covered by vegetation.

. Claudia Ursutiu, Pietroasa Str. no. 21, 3400 Cluj Napoca, Romania, tel. 0040-64-151073 visited the site and completed the survey 24 July 2000 using the following documentation:

• Recensamantul din 1880. Transilvania coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1997.
• Recensamantul din 1900. Transilvania Traian Rotariu, Cluj, 1999
• Recensamantul general al populatiei din 29 decembrie 1930 (The General Census of the Population from December 29, 1930), vol. II, Bucuresti 1938
• Recensamintul general al populatiei din Romania din 7 ianuarie 1992 (The General Census of the Population of Romania from January 7, 1992), vol. I, Bucuresti, 1994
• Zsido Lexicon, ed. by Ujvari Peter, Budapest, 1929
• Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. History of the Jews of Transylvania (1623-1944), Bucuresti, 1994, in Romanian
• Izvoare si marturii referitoare la evreii din Romania (Sources and Testimonies on the Jews in Romania), vol. III/1-2, coord. L. Gyemant, L. Benjamin, Bucuresti, Ed. Hasefer, 1999
• Ladislau Gyemant, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Evreii din Transilvania in epoca emanciparii, 1790-1867 (The Jews of Transylvania in the Age of Emancipation 1790-1867), Bucuresti, ed, Enciclopedica, 2000
• Coriolan Suciu, Dictionar istoric al localitatilor din Transilvania (The Historical Dictionary of Localities in Transylvania), vol. I-II, Bucuresti, 1967
• Otto Mitelstrass, Historisch-Landeskundlicher Atlas von Siebenburgen, Ortsnamenbuch, Heidelberg, 1992
• Microsoft Auto Route Express 1999

No interviews. [January 2003]