US Commission No. ROCE-0171 -
The cemetery is located in Rodna, no. 1032, cod 4532, judet Bistrita, 4725 2449, 215.0 miles NNW of Bucharest and 45 km. from Nasaud. Alternate names: Rodna (Hungarian), Altrodna (German). Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with fewer than 10 Jews.
- Mayor Nascan Alexandru, Rodna
- The Jewish Community of Bistrita, Gr. Balan Street, 71, cod 4400, Bistrita, Romania
- 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: Cotler Maria, no. 1032, Rodna
The 1857 Jewish population by census was 24, in 1880 was 98. in 1900 was 298, and in 1930 was 299. In May 1944, the Jews were gathered in the ghetto of Bistrita and in June 2-6, 1944 were deported to Auschwitz The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established in 19th century. Last known burial was 1980.
The isolated hill and hillside 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- and post-WWII size is 100 m X 100 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 a seasonal problem preventing access. Water drainage is good all year.
No special sections. The oldest known gravestone dates from 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, granite, and limestone boulders, flat shaped, smoothed and inscribed, and carved relief decorated gravestones have Hebrew inscriptions. No known mass graves.
The national Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are a village setting with houses, gardens, orchards, and pastures. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery maintenance has been clearing vegetation. Current care is occasional clearing or cleaning by unpaid individuals. No structures. Weather erosion is a moderate threat.
Cosmina Popa, Tatra Street no. 4, tel. 064/ 128764, Cluj Napoca, 3400 and Ioana Raiciu, Bd. 21 Decembrie, 13-15, 064/190849, Cluj-Napoca, 3400 visited the site and completed the survey on July 26, 2000 using the following documentation:
- The General Census of the Population of Transylvania- 1857, Bucharest, Ed. Staff, 1996
- Wager, Ernest. Historisch- Statistisches- Ortsnamenbuch fur Siebenburgen- Ernst Wagner, Ed. Bohlau, 1977
- Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. Istoria evreilor din Transilvania (1623-1944), Bucharest, 1994 (Romanian version); Budapest, 1995 (Hungarian version)
- Coriolan Suciu, Dictionar istoric al localităţilor din Transilvania, I-II, Bucharest, 1968.
- Recensamintul general al populatiei din Transilvania ? 1930 decembrie 29, I-III, Bucharest, 1938
They interviewed Cotler Maria. [January 2003]