International Jewish Cemetery Project - Romania C The cemetery is located in Chiesd, near the village, code 4795, judet Salaj, 4723 2253, 255.6 miles NW of Bucharest and 39 km from Zalau. Alternate name: Kovesd (Hungarian). Current town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
- Mayor Catana Ioan, tel. 655 400, Chiesd
- The Jewish Community of Oradea, Mihai Viteazu Str. no. 4, 3700 Oradea, Romania, tel. 0040-59-134843 (132587)
- 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, Universităţii 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.
- Key holder or caretaker: none
The 1850 Jewish population by census was 13, in 1857 was 7, in 1880 was 25, in 1900 was 44, in 1910 was 41, and in 1930 was 26. In May 1944, the Jews were gathered in the ghetto of Cehei, then in Simleul Silvaniei and were deported to Auschwitz on May 31, June 6 and 8. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established in 19th century. Last known burial was 20th century.
The isolated rural/agricultural flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open to all. A fence with a non-locking gate surrounds the site. Approximate pre-WWII and post-WWII size is 15 m x 35 m. 1-20 stones are visible, some not in original location. Less than 25% of the stones are toppled or broken. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a constant problem disturbing stones. Water drainage is good all year. No special sections.
The oldest known gravestone dates from 19th century. The 19th and 20th century limestone flat shaped and smoothed and inscribed common gravestones have Hebrew inscriptions. No known mass graves. The national Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop at the never vandalized cemetery. No maintenance. No care now. No structures. Weather erosion is a moderate threat. Vegetation is a serious threat. Vegetation is disturbing the graves.
Cosmina Popa, Tatra Str. no. 4, tel. 064/ 128764, Cluj Napoca, 3400 and Ioana Oprea, Bd. 21 Decembrie, 13-15, 064/190849, Cluj-Napoca, 3400 visited the site and completed the survey on September 29, 2000 using the following documentation:
- Recensamantul din 1850. Transilvania (The 1850 Jewish population census. Transylvania) coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1996.
- Recensamantul din 1857. Transilvania coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1997.
- Recensamantul din 1880. Transilvania coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1997.
- Recensamantul din 1900. Transilvania Traian Rotariu, Cluj, 1999
- Recensamantul din 1910. Transilvania coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1999.
- Recensamantul din 1930. Transilvania coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1999.
- Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. History of the Jews of Transylvania (1623-1944), Bucuresti, 1994, in Romanian, Budapest, 1995, in Hungarian
- Recensamantul general al populatiei din 29 decembrie 1930 (The General Census of the Population from December 29, 1930), vol. II, Bucuresti 1938
- Szilagy megye Salaj zsidosaganak emlekkonyve, ed. Giladi David, Tel Aviv, 1989.
- 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
- Coriolan Suciu, Dictionar istoric al localitatilor din Transilvania (The Historical Dictionary of Localities in Transylvania), vol. I-II, Bucuresti, 1967
- Ernst Wagner, Historisch Statistisches Ortsnamenbuch fur Siebenburgen, Ed. Bohlau, 1977.
Grad Cornel, Inspector for Culture, Zalau was interviewed. [January 2003]