BERCU: Satu Mare County, Transylvania (Szárazberek , Bercul, Bercu Colonia in Lazuri commune)

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Alternate names: Bercu [Rom], Szárazberek [Hun], Bercul, Bercu Colonia. 47°55' N, 22°53' E, 8 miles N of Satu Mare (Szatmár), 7 miles WSW of Halmeu (Halmi).. Jewish population: 60 (in 1877). Located in Lazuri (Hungarian: Lázári) commune composed of six villages:

In RomanianIn Hungarian
Bercu Szárazberek
Lazuri Lázári
Nisipeni Sándorhomok
Noroieni Kissár
Peleş Nagypeleske
Pelişor Kispeleske

CEMETERY:

The cemetery is located in Bercu, 3992, com. Lazuri, judet Satu Mare, 4 755 2253, 285.4 miles NNW of Bucharest and 14 km from Satu Mare. Alternate name: Szarazberek (Hungarian). Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.

The 1880 Jewish population by census was 60, by 1900 census was 71, and in 1930 was 76. In May 1944, the Jews were gathered in the ghetto of Satu Mare and on May 19, 22, 26, 29, 30, 31, and June 1 were deported to Auschwitz. The unlandmarked Orthodox, Hasidic cemetery was established in second half of the 19th century. Last known burial was 1948.

The isolated rural/agricultural flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open with permission. A fence with a gate that locks surrounds the site. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 34 x 22 m. 20-100 stones are visible. 1-20 stones are not in original location. Less than 25% of the stones are toppled or broken. Location of stones removed from the cemetery is unknown. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is not a problem. Water drainage is good all year.

Cannot determine if cemetery has/had special sections. The oldest known gravestone dates from second half of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, granite, limestone, and concrete flat shaped and smoothed and inscribed common gravestones have Hebrew and Hungarian inscriptions. The cemetery has Holocaust memorial. No known mass graves. The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery maintenance has been cleaning stones and clearing vegetation. Current care is regular unpaid caretaker. No structures.

Claudia Ursutiu, Pietroasa Str. no. 21, 3400 Cluj Napoca, Romania, tel. 0040-64-151073 visited the site and completed the survey 23 July 2000 using the following documentation:

Claudia and Adrian Ursutiu interviewed Biro Gyula, Bercu [January 2003]


BERCU II:
The unlandmarked Orthodox, Hasidic cemetery was established in second half of the 19th century. Last known burial was 1948.

The isolated rural/agricultural flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open with permission. A fence with a gate that locks surrounds the site. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 20 x 8 m. 1-20 stones are visible, some not in original location. Less than 25% of the stones are toppled or broken. Location of stones removed from the cemetery is unknown. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is not a problem. Water drainage is good all year.

No special sections. The oldest known gravestone dates from second half of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble and limestone flat shaped and smoothed and inscribed common gravestones have Hebrew inscriptions. No known mass graves.

The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery maintenance has been cleaning stones and clearing vegetation. Current care is regular unpaid caretaker. No structures. Weather erosion is a moderate threat.

Claudia Ursutiu, Pietroasa Str. no. 21, 3400 Cluj Napoca, Romania, tel. 0040-64-151073 visited the site and completed the survey 23 July 2000 using the following documentation:

Claudia and Adrian Ursutiu interviewed Biro Gyula, Bercu [January 2003]

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Parent Category: EASTERN EUROPE