International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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The cemetery is located at Sannicolaul Mare, Gruia Novac Street no. 3, 1976, judet Timis, Transylvania. The alternate names are Nagyszentmiklos (Hungarian) and Grossanktnikolaus (German.) 4605 2038, 289.0 miles WNW of Bucharest and 40 km from Jimbolia. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.

  • Mayor Oncu Dumitru, Town Hall of Sannicolaul Mare, Republicii Street no. 14, tel: 0040-56-230340, judet Timis
  • The Jewish Community of Timisoara, Gheorghe Lazar Street no. 5, Romania, tel., Timisoara, 1900, Romania
  • The Federation of The Jewish Communities of Romania, Sfintu Vineri Street no. 9-11, sect. 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.
  • Caretaker and key holder: Isacov Jiva Constantin, Gruia Novac Street no. 3, Sannicolaul Mare

The 1880 Jewish population by census was 425, 450 in 1900, and 450 in 1910, and 362 in 1930. 17. Buried there is Feldman Samuel, Neolog rabbi between 1928-1944 and Cohan: Pauker Lipot; Orthodox Rabbi: Itzchak Tzvi Rotter (d. 1904) with his wife Esther Leia. The unlandmarked Orthodox and Neolog cemetery was established in second half of the 19th century. Last known burial was inter-war period.

The urban flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open with permission. A masonry wall surrounds the site with a gate that locks. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 70 x 60 m. 100-500 stones are visible. 100-500 are in original location. 20-100 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 not a problem. Water drainage is good all year.

No special sections. The oldest known gravestone dates from second half of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, granite, sandstone, and concrete flat shaped, smoothed and inscribed, carved relief-decorated, double tombstones, and multi-stone monuments. Some have 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 and orchard. Adjacent properties are residential. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery Maintenance has been re-erection of stones, cleaning stones, and clearing vegetation. Current care is regular caretaker paid by the Jewish community of Timisoara. Within the limits of the cemetery is a preburial house with wall inscriptions. No threats.

Claudia Ursutiu, Pietroasa Str. no. 21, 3400 Cluj Napoca, Romania, tel. 0040-64-151073 visited and completed survey in 23 September 2000 using the following documentation:

  • Recensamantul din 1900. (1900 Transylvania Jewish Population Census) coord.: 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

Claudia and Adrian interviewed Isacov Elena in Sannicolaul Mare. [January 2003]