International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

OSTER: Chernihiv Oblast [Ostor, Ostr, Ostez, Ostjor]

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Alternate names: Ostër [Rus], Ostor [Yid], Oster [Ukr, Ger], Ostr [Pol], Ostjor. 50°57' N, 30°53' E, 39 miles NNE of Kyyiv, 42 miles SSW of Chernihiv. 1900 Jewish population: 1596

CEMETERY:
  • JOWBR: Jewish Cemetery
  • US Commission No. UA24100101
      • Alternate name: Ostor (German) and Ostez (Polish). Oster is located in Chernigovskaya at 50°57 30°53. 18km from Kozelets and 62km from Kiev. Present town population is 5,001-25,000 with 11-100 Jews.
  • Caretaker with key: Pilipchuk Olga, Gagarina St., 11, (04646)32284.
  • The earliest known Jewish community was end 18th century. 1926 Jewish population (census) was 1267. The last known Hasidic burial was 1994. Jewish Kiev (62km away) used this unlandmarked cemetery. The urban crown of a hill, separate but near other cemeteries has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. A broken fence with a locking gate surrounds the cemetery. 101 to 500 stones, all in original location with none toppled or broken, date from 1916. Location of any removed stones is unknown. The cemetery has special sections for men and women. Some tombstones have traces of painting on their surfaces, portraits on stones, and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The property is used for "other." Properties adjacent are residential and other. The cemetery boundaries are smaller now than 1939 because of "other." Occasionally, Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors and local residents. The cemetery was vandalized occasionally in the last ten years. Jewish individuals within country cleaned stones, cleared vegetation, and fixed gate in 1994. Local contribution and Jewish survivors pay the regular caretaker. Within the limits of the cemetery are other structures. Vegetation overgrowth is a seasonal problem, preventing access. Serious threat: uncontrolled access. Moderate threat: vegetation. existing nearby and proposed development.
  • Sokolova Eleonora Evgenievna of 253152, Kiev, Tychini Prospect 5, Apt. 68 [Phone: (044)5505681] visited site and completed survey on 7/20/94. Interviewed were Gelber Semen Volfovich and Raisa Isaakovna of K. Marksa 63, [Phone: (04646)31849] on 7/20/94. Other documentation exists but was too general.

  • Oster Jewish Cemetery - The overall condition of the site is good, but excess vegetation and garbage need to be removed.

  • OSTER II:     US Commission No. UA24100501
    • The mass grave is located at Lenina St., near autostation. Effecting Jewish Community were 18 Oct. 1905 pogroms and 1919 Deniken's & Petlyura's pogroms. Living here was Shteyngob Boris Leybovich. The Jewish mass grave was dug in 1941 with last known Jewish burial 1943. No other towns or villages' Jews were murdered at this unlandmarked mass grave. The urban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate surrounds the mass grave. 1 to 20 common tombstones, all in original location with none toppled or broken, date from 1975. No stones were removed. The site contains marked mass graves. Municipality owns site used for mass burial site. Properties adjacent are Jewish cemetery on Lenina St. Frequently, Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors and local residents. This mass grave was not vandalized. Now, occasionally authorities clean or clear. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Vegetation overgrowth is a seasonal problem, preventing access. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access. Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution and vegetation.
    • Other documentation exists but was inaccessible. Sokolova Eleonora Evgeniyevna of 253152, Kiev, Tychiny Prospect 5, Apt. 68 [Phone: (044)5505681] visited site and completed survey on 24/11/1994. Interviewed were Gelber Semen Volfovich, of K.Marksa St., 63 [Phone: (04646)31849] on 24/11/1994 and Litvinenko Ivan Stepanovich [Phone: (04646)31192] on 24/11/1994.
    • Oster Mass Grave - Located near the Jewish cemetery, this mass grave is the final resting place for about 350 Jews who were murdered here in 1941. The site is marked but requires a plaque mentioning the Jewish identity of the victims.
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Parent Category: EASTERN EUROPE