US Commission No. ROCE-0657 -
The cemetery is located in Pungesti, judet Vaslui, 4642 2720, 167.5 miles NNE of Bucharest and 34 km. from Vaslui. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.
- Mayor Spiridon Constantin, com. Pungesti, judet Vaslui
- The Jewish Community of Iasi, Str. Elena Doamna 15, Iasi-6600, judet Iasi. Phone: 113711; 114414.
- The Federation of the Jewish Communities of Romania, Sfintu Vineri street, no. 9-11, sect. 3, Bucharest, Romania
- A.D. Xenopol" Institute of History, Lascar Catargi Street, no. 15, 6600- Iasi Judet Iasi, Moldavia , 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: Mitocaru Vasile, com. Pungesti, judet Vaslui
The Jewish population by 1899 census was 62 and in 1930 was 254. Noteworthy Jewish residents of the community were Aizic Leib Roller, Gherson ben David, Matatia Landa - rabbis.
Orthodox The cemetery was established at the end of the 19th century with last known burial in 1960. Dragomiresti, judet Vaslui, also used this unlandmarked cemetery 3 km from the congregation that used it.
The isolated rural/agricultural hillside has Jewish symbols on wall or gate mark the cemetery. Reached by a public road, access is open with permission. A fence with a gate that locks surrounds the site. Approximate pre- and post-WWII size is 300 X 250 m. 20-100 stones are visible, in original location. 1-20 stones are not in original location. More than 75% 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 end of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, limestone, and sandstone
Some have traces of painting on their surfaces, iron decorations or letting, bronze decorations or lettering, and other metallic elements. Some have metal fences around graves. Inscriptions are in Hebrew and Romanian.
The national Jewish community owns the property used for an orchard. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery has no maintenance. Current care is occasional clearing or cleaning by unpaid individuals. Within the cemetery boundaries is a house. Vegetation is a moderate threat moderate.
Lucian Nastasă, Clinicilor Street, 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 28, 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, Ierusalim, 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 Mitocaru Vasile, com. Pungesti, judet Vaslui on 24 September 2000. [January 2003]