International Jewish Cemetery Project - Romania C US Commission Reference Number RO/MM/03
Alternate Hungarian name: Csokas. Located in Maramures County at 47°33' 23°48', 20.8 kilometers SE of Baia Mare and approximately 23 km from Tirgu Lapus. The road from the town of Cernesti towards Ciocotis branches in two directions just before entering Ciocotis proper, the left branch heads towards Trestia and the right branch towards Ciocotis and Izvoarele. The cemetery is located at this intersection on the left-hand side of the road towards Trestia. The cemetery in Ciocotis (Csokas) is located at the intersection of two dirt roads just below the town of Ciocotis. It is positioned on a slight hill and is bordered by two dirt roads and some agricultural land. On the day that we visited, we observed that a former collective building was being dismantled nearby. This site appears to be well maintained. Vegetation has been cleared on a regular basis and a sturdy concrete post and chain link fence erected (although the gate was not locked). This site was on a list provided by the Jewish Community of Baia Mare according to who the fence was erected in 1990. Unlike many cemeteries, the caretaker lives within sight of the location. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to meet with the caretaker, as she was not home at the time.
The only threat to the cemetery appears to be that water drainage from the nearby road runs through the cemetery in two locations. This appears to be a seasonal or periodic problem only. In addition, as with most cemeteries, stones are exposed to the constant threat of weather erosion.
- LOCAL: Comunitatea Evreilor (Baia Mare), Str. Somesului Nr. 5, 4800 Baia Mare, Jud. Maramures, Romania. Tel: (40-62) 211-231.
- REGIONAL: Comunitatea Evreilor (Bucuresti), Str. Sf. Vineri 9-11, Bucuresti, Tel: (40-1) 157-441.
- The unlocked cemetery caretaker has the key: Rafila Gheorghel. Casa Nr. 429, Sat Ciocotis, Comuna Cernesti, Judetul Maramures.
The setting is a rural hillside and isolated between at the intersection of two unpaved roads and is bordered by agricultural land with no sign or marker. Access is open with permission of caretaker. The cemetery is fence and locking gate that was unlocked.
Present cemetery size is 525 square meters according to list from Baia Mare Jewish community and probably is the same size as in 1939. Number of gravestones in cemetery, all in original position: 14-15: 10 full upright stones, 2 stone bases, 1 rough shaped stone (perhaps a gravestone), 2 partial/broken stones. They are flat-shaped, smoothed and Hebrew inscribed. Possibly, one that is a boulder but it is not certain. Missing stones probably were incorporated into roads or structures. Vegetation is not a problem. The present owner of the site used only as a Jewish cemetery is unknown. Adjacent property is a village residential setting near houses, gardens, orchards and pastures. Theft of stones is the primary problem encountered between 1945 and the present. Care: clearing vegetation by regular unpaid caretaker, fixing wall and gate in 1990 by local non-Jewish residents and Jewish groups with the country.
John DeMetrick and Christina Crowder, (formerly of Cluj, they have no further information), completed this survey on 22 April 2000 using a list of cemeteries known by the Jewish Community in Baia Mare. They visited the site on 10 April 2000.