US Commission No. ROCE-0173
The cemetery is located in Sangeorz Bai, near the Somes River and at the end of the village, on the road to Rodna, cod 4529, judet Bistrita, 4722 2441, 213.7 miles NNW of Bucharest and 30 km. from Nasaud. Alternate names: Olahszentgyorgy (Hungarian), Rumanisch St. Georgen (German), SINGEORZ-BAI, CORMAIA, SINGIORZ-BAI. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
- Mayor Pop Nicolae, Sangeorz Bai
- 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: none
The 1857 Jewish population by census was 10 Jewish inhabitants, in 1880 was 50, and in 1900 was 148. and from 1930 census was 97. 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 20th century.
The isolated suburban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate. Approximate pre- and post-WWII size is 50 m X 35 m. 20-100 stones are visible. 1-20 stones are not in original location. 25%-50% 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 19th and 20th century granite 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 orchard. Adjacent properties are a village setting with houses, gardens, orchards, and pastures. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery had no maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security is a serious threat. ( there is no gate ) Weather erosion is a moderate threat. Vegetation is a serious threat. The vegetation is growing all over the cemetery.
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 27, 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 Buia Maxim, Sangeorz Bai. [January 2003]