Pécs Jewish community was organized in 1840. Once a prominent Jewish community, only one Romantic-style synagogue built in 1865 still stands although once four existed. In the 1980s, this was one of the first synagogues in Hungary to be restored. The carved and stuccoed interior is beautiful but haunting. The inscription around the clock says: "May all the people call this place a house of prayer." In 1941, about 3,500 Jews remaining in the town. In May, 1944, the Jews were confined to a ghetto and in the first week of July, deported to Auschwitz. The murdered Jews of Pécs are listed in the yizkor. photo, map, and contact information. postcard Local Jewish community cares for cemetery.[February 2009]
Jewish Cemetery: Address: Szív Street 2. Hours: 8-16.00 Telephone: (72) 319-881 [February 2009]
US Commission No. 000010
Alternate name: Funfkirchen in German. In Baranya at 46°05' 18°14', 198km from Budapest. Cemetery on Sziv utca 2.
- Responsible for site: Polgarmesten Hivatal of Pecs Szechenyiter 1. Ph: 72 13222 and Izraelita Hitkozseg of Pecs Furdo utca 1. Ph: 72 15881; MAZSIHISZ of Sip U.12, H-1075, Budapest Phone: (011-361) 122-6475/78.
- Caretaker with key: Val Janos of Pecs Sziv utca 2. Ph: 72 19 381.
- Interested: Janus Pannonius Muzeum of Pecs Kulich Gy. 5. Ph: 72 15694.
Noteworthy Jew buried here was Perls Armin, Rabbi (1914). Last known Neolog Jewish burial was 1991. Orfu, Kozar, and Pellerd used this cemetery. The isolated urban area has inscriptions on pre-burial house and Jewish symbols on locked gate or continuous masonry wall. Size before WWII-3.00 hectares, now-2.94 hectares.
500-5000 stones, in original position with less than 25% toppled or broken, have Hebrew, Yiddish, German and Hungarian inscriptions. Some have metal fences around graves. Special section was for children. Oldest stone is 1830. Memorial mounuments to Holocaust victims exist but no known mass graves. Owner is local Jewish community. Properties adjacent are commercial or industrial and residential. A pre-burial house with tahara (table), wall inscriptions, and an ohel are in cemetery.
Survey: Peter Wirth on 12/10/91. Documentation: M.Zs.L (land record); Cserlcuti Adolf: Olz elso pecsi Zsidok; Wallenstein Zoltan: Adalekok a pecsi izr. hitkozseg totlenetehoz (1926); Weisz Gabor: A pecsi Zsidok. Site survey: 12/06/91.