US Commission No. ROCE-0654
The cemetery is located in Murgeni, judet Vaslui, Romania at 4612 2801, 153.4 miles NE of Bucharest and 51 km from Birlad. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.
- Mayor Carp Mihai, com. Murgeni, judet Vaslui
- The Jewish Community of Barlad, Str. Sfintu Ilie no. 2, Barlad, judet Vaslui, phone: 412001.
- The Federation of the Jewish Communities of Romania, Sf. Vineri Str., no. 9-11, sect. 3, Bucharest, Romania
- A.D. Xenopol" Institute of History, Lascar Catargi Str., no. 15, 6600- Iasi (judet Iasi), Romania. Tel. 032/212614; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Director: Alexandru Zub.
- Key holder and caretaker: none
The Jewish population by 1899 census was 109 and in 1930 was 5. The cemetery was established in the 19th century. Last known burial was the 20th century. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery is 3 km from the congregation that used it. The isolated rural/agricultural hillside has no sign or marker. Reached via private property, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate.
Approximate pre- and post-WWII size is 70 x 50 m. 20-100 stones are visible. 1-20 stones are not in original location. 25%-50% of the stones are toppled or broken. Location of stones removed from the cemetery is unknown. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a seasonal problem preventing access. Water drainage is good all year.
The oldest known gravestone dates from the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century limestone and sandstone memorial markers and double tombstones have Hebrew inscriptions. Some have traces of painting on their surfaces, iron decorations or letting, bronze decorations or lettering, and other metallic elements.
The national Jewish community owns the property used for an orchard. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, local residents stop. The cemetery was vandalized occasionally in the last ten years. No maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security (uncontrolled access) and vandalism are very serious threats. Weather erosion and vegetation are moderate threats. Vegetation is a moderate.
Lucian Nastasă, Clinicilor Str., no. 19, Cluj, Romania, tel. 064/190107. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. completed the survey on September 16, 2000 using the following documentation:
- E. Schwarzfeld, Din istoria evreilor: împopularea, reîmpopularea si întemeierea tîrgurilor si tîrgusoarelor în Moldova, Bucuresti, 1894.
- Recensamintul general al populatiei Romaniei. 1930, vol.II, Bucuresti, "Monitorul Oficial", 1938
- N.Sutu, Notiti statistice asupra Moldaviei, Iasi, 1852.
- George I.Lahovari, Marele dictionar geografic al României, 5 vol., Bucuresti, Edit.Socec, 1899.
- Recensamintul general al populatiei Romaniei. 1930, vol.II, Bucuresti, "Monitorul Oficial", 1938
- I.M.Dinescu, Fiii neamului de la 1859 la 1915. Statistica sociala pe întelesul tuturora, Iasi, Institutul de Arte Grafice N.V.Stefaniu, 1920.
- Leonida Colescu, Analiza rezultatelor recensamîntului general al populatiei României de la 1899, cu o prefata de Sabin Manuila, Bucuresti, Institutul de statistica, 1944.
- Pinkas Hakehillot, Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities Romania, I-II, Ierusalem, 1980.
- D. Ivanescu, Populatia evreiasca din orasele si tîrgurile Moldovei între 1774-1832, în "Studia et acta historiae iudaeorum romaniae", II, Bucuresti, Edit.Hasefer, 1997, p. 59-65
Lucian Nastasă interviewed Irimies Vasile, com. Murgeni, judet Vaslui on September 16, 2000. [January 2003]