photo: the facade of the abandoned synagogue in 1984
There are two cemeteries, one near Vörösmarty square and the other on Kossuth street. Bonhad has undergone a tremendous building boom. I was hard pressed to find the cemetery that I had visited in 1993. Generally, older people (70s and 80s) are happy to help you if you asked for the "Jido temeto." Some middle-aged folks asked, "What is a Jido?" Men in general were more helpful then women. Especially helpful was one WWII veteran whose friend is the sole Jewish woman in town. Source: Abe Kohen; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [1997]
Bonyhád Orthodox cemetery: well kept and maintained by the Bonyhadi rabbi in Vienna. Shoo the dogs away on entry and say "Yo nappot kivanok" to the old caretakers. The Orthodox Synagogue was converted into a book warehouse. The old Orthodox "kehila" center, which I visited in 1993, was in disrepair. We did not visit the Neolog cemetery as it was late in the day. Source: Abe Kohen; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [1997]
Bonyhád Neolog Cemetery: next to the "new" Gymansium (High School). This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [1997] The older cemetery from somewhat before its expansion in 1768 later became the Neolog community cemetery. In 1783 it was expanded again. The Jewish cemetery directly beside the Catholic one, separated by no more than a wall, proves the favorable positions of Jews in Bonyhád. The wall was built by Ignác Kliegel in 1800 when he allowed the Jews to extend their cemetery to the edge of the Catholic one. Generally in Hungary, Jews were allowed only to have their cemetery outside the settlement, far away from the Catholic cemetery. The mortuary was renovated in 1793. In 1820, a hospital-like pauper asylum was built in the cemetery's courtyard, renovated in 1868. The unfortunate location of the cemetery led to efforts since 1846 to avoid graves being washed away from the steep bank by erecting a supporting wall. Another serious problem are the abysses around the Majos end. Purportedly remains of cave homes from the early Middle Ages. The cemetery keys are with József Szautner, Vörösmarty utca 14. [March 2009]