International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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The cemetery is located in Borlesti, 3948, com. Pomi, judet Satu Mare, Romania at 4741 2321, 260.2 miles NNW of Bucharest and 37 km from Satu Mare. Alternate names: Barlafalu (Hungarian) and Burlescht (German.) Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.

  • Mayor Barbu Gheorghe, Town Hall of Pomi, judet Satu Mare
  • The Jewish Community of Satu Mare, Decebal Str. no. 4A, 3900 Satu Mare, Romania, tel. 0040-61-713703
  • The Federation of The Jewish Communities of Romania, Sf. Vineri Str. no. 9-11, sect. 3, Bucharest, Romania
  • "Dr. Moshe Carmilly" Institute for Hebrew and Jewish History, Universitatii Str. no. 7-9, room 61, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Director: Ladislau Gyemant, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • "A.D. Xenopol" Institute of History, Lascar Catargi Str., no. 15, 6400- Iasi (judet Iasi), 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: None

The 1880 Jewish population by census was 45, by 1900 census was 60 and in 1930 was 58. 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 cemetery was established in second half of the 19th century. Last known burial was first half of the 20th century.

The rural/agricultural, isolated hillside has no sign or marker. Reached via private property, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is approximately 30 x 10 m. 1-20 stones are visible. 1-20 stones are not in original location. 25%-50% of the stones are toppled or broken. Stones removed from the cemetery are probably in the farms. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a constant problem damaging stones. Water drainage is good all year.

The oldest known gravestone dates from second half of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century 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 cemetery was vandalized occasionally in the last ten years. No maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security is a very severe threat: (no fence, no gate) Vegetation is a very serious threat. (The cemetery is completely covered by vegetation.) Vandalism 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 in July 2000 using the following documentation:

  • Recensamantul din 1880. Transilvania coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1997.
  • Recensamantul din 1900. Transilvania Traian Rotariu, Cluj, 1999
  • Recensamintul general al popula]iei din 29 decembrie 1930, (The General Census of the population from December 29, 1930), vol. II, Bucuresti 1938
  • Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. History of the Jews of Transylvania (1623-1944), Bucuresti, 1994, in Romanian
  • Recensamantul general al populatiei Romaniei din 29 decembrie 1930, vol.
    II (The General Census of the Population of Romania from 29 December 1930,
    vol. II), Bucuresti, 1938
  • Recensamintul general al populatiei din Romania din 7 ianuarie 1992 (The General Census of the Population of Romania from January 7, 1992), vol. I, Bucuresti, 1994
  • Tereza Mozes, Evreii din Oradea (The Jews from Oradea), Bucuresti, Ed. Hasefer, 1997
  • Izvoare si marturii referitoare la evreii din Romania (Sources and Testimonies on the Jews in Romania), vol. III/1-2, coord. L. Gyemant, L. Benjamin, Bucuresti, Ed. Hasefer, 1999
  • Zsido Lexicon, ed. by Ujvari Peter, Budapest, 1929
  • Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. History of the Jews of Transylvania (1623-1944), Bucuresti, 1994, in Romanian
  • Coriolan Suciu, Dictionar istoric al localitatilor din Transilvania (The Historical Dictionary of Localities in Transylvania), vol. I-II, Bucuresti, 1967
  • Otto Mitelstrass, Historisch-Landeskundlicher Atlas von Siebenburgen, Ortsnamenbuch, Heidelberg, 1992
  • Microsoft Auto Route Express 1999

Claudia and Adrian Ursutiu interviewed Ardelean Gheorghe, no. 168, Borlesti. [January 2003]