This cemetery is in the worst condition I have seen in a long while. The cemeteries in the south of Transylvania are in generally worse condition than those in Maramures or Satu Mare counties.
The gate to the cemetery is closed only with a wire and there is no key. The Jewish cemetery neighbors the other town cemeteries and the entrance is situated on Str Cimitirului very close to the corner of Str. Eroilor.
Half of the cemetery was sold by the Jewish community to the Pentecostal Christians and that area has been cleared and is well-maintained.
The old caretaker’s wife was looking after the cemetery but she died 4 years ago. Her daughter is named Ekaterina and lives on Soarului 6. Her phone number is +40 25 746 6980. She is happy to help but explains that it hasn’t been touched in over 4 years. She said that the Jewish community in Bucharest had offered 250 Lei per year (about $60) but that wasn’t enough for anyone to want to do the work. Workers need to maker 100 Lei per day (about $25) and this would take 2 men at least 2 days if not 3 plus there is the cost of fuel and supplies. Once cleared, annual maintenance would obviously take less time. There are many trees growing all over the cemetery that are full of thorns. Many of the gravestones are covered in thick ivy making it difficult to see the stones without getting scratched.
The cemetery is on a hill with those graves at the top the older ones, from the 1820s onwards. The newest grave I saw there was from the 1970s. There is one beautifully built ohel in the right corner but it is locked and the
REPORT: The cemetery is located at Pincota, Cimitirului Street, no. 1, 2911, judet Arad, 4620 2142, 250.4 miles WNW of Bucharest and 21.0 miles ENE of Arad. Alternate names: Pankota ( Hungarian) and Pancota. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.
- Mayor Retter Iosif, Pincota, Luncii Street, no. 8, phone: +40-57-466245
- The Jewish Community of Arad, 10, Tribunul Dobra Street, 2900 Arad, Romania. Tel. +40-57-281310
- The Federation of the Jewish Communities of Romania, Sfintu Vineri Str., no 9-11, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.
- "Dr. Moshe Carmilly" Institute for Hebrew and Jewish History, Universitatii Street, 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: Kiss Jolan, Soarelui Street, no. 6, Pincota, judet Arad, Romania
The Jewish population by 1880 census was 124 and in 1910 was 174. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established in 19th century. Last known burial was around 1938,
The isolated rural/agricultural hillside has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road,
access is open to all. A fence with a gate that locks surrounds the site. The cemetery needs restoration. The very beautiful monuments are marked by the passing of the time. Approximate pre- and post-WWII size is 1 hectare. 100-500 stones are visible. 1-20 stones are 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 constant problem damaging stones. Water drainage is good all year. No special sections.
The oldest known gravestone dates from 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and slate, iron, and "other" sculpted monuments and common gravestones have Hebrew, Romanian, and Hungarian inscriptions. No known mass graves. The national Jewish community owns the property used for orchard. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Occasionally, individual tours and private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery maintenance has been clearing vegetation. Current care is regular unpaid caretaker. Within the limits of the cemetery is an ohel and a sculpted column with flowers; and a shield shape monument. Vegetation is a moderate threat.
Assistant Professor Alexandru Pecican, Almasului Street, Bl. R1, apt. 14, 3400 Cluj-Napoca
completed the survey on August 30, 2000 using the following documentation:
- Coriolan Suciu, Dicţionar istoric al localităţilor din Transilvania, I-II, Bucharest, 1968
- Marki Sandor, Arad varmegye es Arad szabad kiralyi varos tortenete, Arad, 1895
- 1880 census, Bucharest, Edit. Staff, 1999.
- Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. History of the Jews of Transylvania (1623-1944), Bucharest, 1994 (in Romanian)
He visited the site August 30, 2000 and interviewed Kiss Jolan. [January 2003]