International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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International Jewish Cemetery Project - Romania F-J The cemetery is located at Gataia, 1837, judet Timis, Romania. The alternate names are Gatalja (Hungarian) and Gattaja (German.) 4526 2125, 239.1 miles WNW of Bucharest and 19 km from Deta. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.

  • Mayor Buhas Craciun, Town Hall of Deta, 1927, judet Timis
  • The Jewish Community of Timisoara, Gheorghe Lazar Str. no. 5, Romania, tel., Timisoara, 1900, Romania
  • 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.
  • Key holder and caretaker: none

The Jewish population by census was 29 in 1880, 110 in 1900, and thirteen in 1930. The unlandmarked Orthodox and Neolog cemetery was established in second half of the 19th century. Last known burial was 1976.

The rural/agricultural flat land, part of a municipal cemetery ((Catholic cemetery) has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 40 x 20 m. 20-100 stones are visible with 20-100 in original location and 20-100 stones not in original location. 25%-50% of the stones are toppled or broken. Location of stones removed from the cemetery is unknown. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a seasonal problem preventing access. Water drainage is good all year. No special sections. The oldest known gravestone dates from 1874. The 19th and 20th century marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and concrete memorial markers are flat shaped, smoothed and inscribed, and carved relief-decorated. Some have other metallic elements and metal fences around graves. Inscriptions are in Hebrew, German, and Hungarian. No known mass graves.

The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are in village residential setting with houses, gardens, orchards, and pastures. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The cemetery was not vandalized in the last ten years or occasionally in the last ten years. [sic] No maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security and vegetation are moderate threats.

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

  • Recensamantul din 1880. Transilvania coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1997.
  • Recensamantul din 1900. Transilvania Traian Rotariu, Cluj, 1999
  • Recensamantul general al populatiei din 29 decembrie 1930 (The General Census of the Population from December 29, 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
  • Zsido Lexicon, ed. by Ujvari Peter, Budapest, 1929
  • Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. History of the Jews of Transylvania (1623-1944), Bucuresti, 1994, in Romanian
  • 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
  • Victor Neumann, Istoria evreilor din Banat (A history of the Jews from Banat), Bucuresti, Atlas, 1999
  • Coriolan Suciu, Dictionar istoric al localitatilor din Transilvania (The Historical Dictionary of Localities in Transylvania), vol. I-II, Bucuresti, 1967
  • Microsoft Auto Route Express 1999

No interviews. [January 2003]