Alternate names: Kam˝yanets'-Podil's'kyy [Ukr], Kamenets Podolskiy-Каменец-Подольский [Rus], Komenetz-קאַמענעץ [Yid], Kamieniec Podolski [Pol], Cameniţa [Rom], Camenecia [Lat], Kumenetz-Podolsk, Kamenets Podolsk, Kamenets Podolski, Komenitz Podolsk, Kamenets Podilski, Kamenez Podolsk. Ukrainian: Кам'янець-Подільський. 48°40' N, 26°34' E, SE Podolia, near the borders with Bessarabia and Galicia. Capitol of Podolia Gubernia, 1793-1917. 1900 Jewish population. 16,211. Formerly the administrative center of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast (Ukrainian: Хмельницька область, translit. Khmelnyts'ka oblast'), the city is now the administrative center of the Kamianets-Podilskyi Raion (district) within the Khmelnytsky Oblast (province), after the administrative center of the oblast was moved from the city of Kamyanets-Podilsky to the city of Khmelnytskyi in 1941. The city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast. 2011 estimated total population is around 103,036.
Wikipedia. [July 2011]
Shtetlink. Yizkors:
- Kamenets-Podolsk u-sevivata
(Tel Aviv, 1965) - Kamenetz-Podolsk; a memorial to a city annihilated by the Nazis
(New York, 1966) - Kaminits-Podolsk; excerpts from Kaminits-Podolsk u-sevivatah, a memorial book
(Washington DC, 1990) - Kaminits-Podolsk and its environs
(New Jersey, 1999)
Jewish Community of Kamenets-Podolsky
Grushevskogo pr. 32-93
Kamenets-Podolsky, Ukraine 32300
Tel.: (380 03849) 3-25-00, 3-43-87
Jewish Community information. [September 2009]
" 'A Torah in Search of a Home.' Martin Ingall of Maryland has reported to Avotaynu that six months ago an abandoned Jewish cemetery was found in Kamenets Podolskiy in western Ukraine. It included a mass grave of about 200 bodies from the Holocaust era. The bones in the mass grave were exhumed and reburied, as much as possible, in individual graves each with a separate headstone. Since the identity of the victims is unknown, each headstone has a verse from Psalms instead of a name. Also found in the mass grave were two Torahs, one wrapped in a Gestapo body bag. Ingall bought the Torah, is having it repaired, and his son will read from it at his upcoming bar mitzvah. The other Torah is also in the process of being repaired. Ingall states that "it would be nice for this other Torah to find a home" with a person who has some connection with Kamenets Podolskiy." [Source is Avotaynu in September 2001]
Source in Russian with photos: "For a long time the municipality of Kamenetz-Podolsk prevented attempts of Jews to settle in this important shopping center in the south-east of Poland-Lithuania. In 1447, Jews were forbidden to stay in the city for more than three days.
In 1598 King Sigismund III forbade Jews to settle in the city and suburbs and to trade there; their visits again limited to only three days. During Khmelnytsky Uprising, many Jews sought refuge in the fortified city, which withstood the attack of the Cossacks in 1648 and 1652. Subsequently, King John II Casimir allowed Jews to live here, and they apparently continued to live in Kamenetz-Podolsk, despite repeated prohibitions in 1654, 1665 and 1670, respectively. During the Ottoman Jewish settlement city was allowed and has grown to a considerable size. After Poland return the city city council appealed to the state and church authorities to expel the Jews, claiming that they had no right to live here, and in 1750 King August III expels Jews from Kamenetz-Podolsk. Their house was transferred to the City Duma, the synagogue was demolished. Expelled Jews settled in the suburbs and surrounding villages, which were under the jurisdiction of the Polish nobility, and there took a massive trading activity, which led to additional complaints from citizens. In 1757 in Kamenetz-Podolsk held a public debate between church and sect Jacob Frank and his supporters. Frank disputes was not strong, and after the event, the Talmud was publicly burned in the city on the orders of the bishop. After Kamenetz-Podolsk went to Russia, Tsar Paul I in 1797 affirmed the right of Jews to live in it. In 1832 Christians Kamenetz- Podolsky petitioned the government to expel the Jews from the city, relying on their ancient privileges. The petition was rejected, but in 1833 the government restricted the right of Jews to build new houses and shops. Restriction was lifted in 1859. In 1857 in Kamenetz-Podolsk and the county was 67 Jewish merchants 1st and 2nd guilds (the Christians were not), the merchants of the third guild - 933 (Christians - 10). community numbered 16,211 people (40% of the total population) in 1897, they were engaged in small-scale industry, trade and handicrafts. In 1910, the city had 22,279 Jews and 33 synagogues. After 1918, during the Civil War, Jews in Kamenetz- Podolsky severely damaged, 200 Jews were killed in pogroms Petlyury gangs in July 1919. In February 1921, 16 Jews from Kamenetz-Podolsk were shot by the Red Army. From 1917 until the mid-1920s has various Zionist organizations. At the beginning of the Soviet period, the majority of local Jews were merchants, artisans, officials or workers.After the establishment of Soviet power, many wealthy Jews crossed the border, the economy of the Jewish population was destroyed. By 1926, only 12,774 remained Jews (29.9% of the total population). 15 synagogues and prayer houses have been closed since 1936. Mikvah was reorganized into the bath. In January 1939 the Jewish population of Kamenetz-Podolsk was 13 796 people - 38% of the total number of people living in the city. Kamenetz-Podolsk was occupied by German and Hungarian troops July 11, 1941. Shortly after the occupation of about 60 Jewish men were shot in Old Town. German military authorities appointed local administration consisting of Ukrainian ultra-nationalists, who have launched an anti-Semitic propaganda.Ukrainian administration was responsible for the registration of the Jewish population of the city, the appointment of members of the Judenrat, and forced Jews to wear the Star of David. August 5, 1941 Kamenetz-Podolsk Jews were forced into a ghetto in the Old Town. At the end of July 1941 the Hungarian occupation authorities began deporting Jews from Carpathian Ruthenia (later they were called Hungarian Jews, but in fact they were from what is now the Transcarpathian region Ukraine). By the end of August, more than 10,000 deportees arrived in Kamenetz-Podolsk, where they were placed in the lock, and then in the ghetto together with local Jews. Deported Jews were shot August 26, 1941. 27 and 28 August 1941 were killed about 10,000 Jews Kamenetz-Podolsk. The remaining 5,000 Jews of the city were placed in a new area of the former ghetto in Chemical Institute. In the summer of 1942 killed about 800 Jewish children and the elderly. Murder of the Jews of Kamenetz-Podolsk continued throughout 1942. During the second half of the same year, the remaining Jews were transferred to the former Soviet military camp. In early November 1942 about 4,000 prisoners last ghetto were shot. 500 Jews escaped from the ghetto to the liquidation, but most of them were caught and killed. Murder of Jews who survived the massacres of 1941-1942, continued in 1943. A total of almost 30,000 Jews were victims of the Nazi genocide in Kamenetz-Podolsk (12 000 local Jews and 18,000 Jews from Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania). town was liberated by the Red Army March 27, 1944. Commission to investigate the crimes of the German fascist invaders discovered seven mass graves of Jews, including the grave with the bodies of 500 children. In 1979, in Kamenetz-Podolsk lived about 1,800 Jews. Most Jews in the 1990s emigrated to Israel or the West. In 2013, the city is home to about 150 Jews. use the material site" . Detailed photos
CEMETERIES:
KAMENETS PODOLSKIY I: US Commission No. UA22020101
Alternate names: Kamenets Podolsk (Yiddish), Kjmenitz Podolsk (Hungarian), Kamenets Podolski (Polish) and Kamieniets Podolski (Russian). Kamenets Podolskiy is located in Khmelnitskaya at 48º40 26º34, 62 km from Chernovtsy and 100 km from Khmelnitskiy. The cemetery is located at Zhukova St. Present town population is over 100,000 with 1,001-10,000 Jews.
- -- Town: Mer Krylov - Nezavisimosty pl., 1. Archive of Kamenets Podolskiy.
- -- Regional: Head of Regional Executive Committee - Gusinnikov Evgeniy Yakovlevich [Phone: (03822) 65025].
- -- Head of Kamenets Podolsky Jewish Community, Khayat Efim Abramovich [Phone: (03849) 24813].
The earliest known Jewish community was end 17th century. 1939 Jewish population (census) was 12,774. Effecting the Jewish Community was Koliivshchina. The last known Hasidic burial was 1995. 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 with permission. A continuous fence with non-locking gate surrounds site. 501 to 5000 stones, less than 25% of surviving stones toppled or broken, date from the 20th century. Location of any removed tombstones is unknown. The cemetery has no special sections. Some tombstones have iron decorations or lettering, portraits on stones, and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains marked mass graves. The municipality owns the site used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are residential. The cemetery boundaries is larger now than 1939. Frequently, organized individual tours, Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors and local residents visit. The cemetery was not vandalized in the last ten years. Jewish individuals and Jewish groups within country cleaned stones and fixed wall in 1990. Now, authorities occasionally clean or clear site. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Vegetation overgrowth is a constant problem, disturbing graves and stones. Very serious threat: vegetation. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access and pollution. Slight threat: weather erosion and vandalism.
Shwartz Yulia Nikolaevna of Kiev, Buchmy St. 5/1, apt. 8 [Phone: (044) 5503228] visited site and completed survey on 7/22/95. Interviewed on 7/22/95 were Poakh Leonid of Khmelnitskiy [Phone: (03822) 29746] and Arkadiy Levi of Kamenets Podolskiy. Documentation: Central 2 Eastern Europe; The Road from Letichev. Devid A. Chapin, Ben Weinstock.
KAMENETS PODOLSKY II: US Commission No. UA22020501
See KAMENETS PODOLSKY I for town information. The mass grave is located at center in park, 150m from old town bridge.
- -- Town officials: Rayispolkom of Yarimchuk Vladimir Andreevich [Phone: (03841) 91261]. Head of town Department of Culture - Shidlovskiy Vladimir Valentinovich.
- -- Regional: Head of Khmelnitskiy Oblispolkom - Guseynikov Evgeniy Yakovlevich [Phone: (03822) 65024]. Head of Oblast Department of Culture - Slobodnik Petr Yakovlevich [Phone: (03822) 65979].
- -- Khmelnitskiy Jewish Community- Zeleniy Mikhail.
The Jewish mass grave was dug in 1941. No Jews from other towns or villages were murdered here. The unlandmarked isolated urban hillside has no sign or marker. The approximate size of mass grave is now 0.01 hectares. The mass grave has no special sections but contains unmarked mass graves. The municipality owns the property used for mass burial site and town park. Adjacent is town park. Occasionally, local residents visit site. The mass grave was vandalized occasionally in the last ten years. There is no maintenance. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Vegetation overgrowth is a constant problem disturbing graves.
Oks Vladimir Moiseevich of 270065, Odessa, Varnenskaya Street 17D, Apt. 52 [Phone: (0482) 665950] visited site and completed survey on 5/16/95. Interviewed on 04/1995 were Malish N.P. of Kamenets Podolskiy in 06/1995 and Gutsal P.I. of Staraya Ushitsa. Other documentation exists but was inaccessible.
KAMENETS PODOLSKY III: US Commission No. UA22020502
The mass grave is located at west in residential area "Mikrorayon". The Jewish mass grave was dug in 1941. Staraya Ushitsa (40 km away) and Chermolintsy (40 km away) Jews were murdered here also. The unlandmarked urban flat land has signs or plaques in local language and in Hebrew mentioning Jews and the Holocaust. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate surrounds the mass grave. The approximate size of mass grave before WWII and now is 0.01 hectares. No stones were removed. The common tombstones date from 1941. The site contains marked mass graves. The municipality owns the property. Adjacent properties are residential. Occasionally, organized individual tours and local residents visit site. This mass grave has not been vandalized. Now, authorities occasionally clean or clear site. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access. Slight threat: pollution, vegetation and vandalism.
Oks Vladimir Moiseevich of 270065, Odessa, Varnenskaya Street 17D, Apt. 52 [Phone: (0482) 665950] visited site in 03/1995 and 06/1995. Interviewed were Malish of Kamenets Podolskiy in 06/1995 and Gutsal L.I. of Staraya Ushitsa in 06/1995. Oks completed survey on 06/16/1995. Other documentation exists but was inaccessible.