EGRIS: Zakarpatskaya

AGRIS, EGRISH, OLSHENIK: 48°10' N 22°58' E, 374.0 miles WSW of Kyyiv

US Commission No. UA06470101
Alternate names Ergesh (Yiddish), Belegregy (German), Felsoegregy (Czech) and Olshanitsa (Slov). Agris (Oleshnik) is located in Zakarpatskaya, 43km from Mukachevo and 50km from Lvov. Cemetery: the railroad to Irshava Center. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.

• Town: Major-Kirigan Alexandr Ivanovich [ph: (03143) 43332]. Zakarpatsky Oblast Administration of Culture of Chairman-Gavorets Vasiliy Stepanovich [ph: (03122) 35373]. Others: Jewish Community of Vinogradov [ph: (03143) 23446].
  
• Local: Vinogradov Regional Department of Culture of Chairman-Goliba Ivan [ph: (03143) 22774].
  
• Regional: Zakarpatsky Oblast Executive Council of Chairman-Ustich Sergey Ivanovich [ph: (03122) 33051].

The earliest known Jewish community was in the 19th century. 1926 Jewish population was 100. In 1918, Zakarpat'ye was transferred to Czech and 1944 Jews were deported to the death camp. The Hasidic Jewish cemetery was established in the 19th century with last known Jewish burial in 1942. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The isolated urban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. No stones are visible. Location of removed stones is unknown. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are commercial or industrial, residential and Railroad. The cemetery boundaries are unchanged since 1939. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. There is no maintenance or structures. Vegetation overgrowth is a seasonal problem preventing access. Serious threat: vegetation and vandalism. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access, pollution and existing nearby development. Slight threat: weather erosion and proposed nearby development.
Documentation: Short Jewish Encyclopedia , vol. 2, Jerusalem 1982; Encyclopaedia Ukraineznavstvo , vol. 1-2, Kiev, 1993. Other documentation was inaccessible. Oks Vladimir Moiseevich of 270065, Odessa, Varnenskaya St., 17d, apt. 52 [ph: (0482) 665950] visited for this survey on /07/1995 and interviewed Rozner Nikolay of Vinogradov on /07/1995. This survey was completed on 03/08/1995.