Alternate names: Vaslui [Rom], Vasluiul. 46°38' N, 27°44' E, 37 miles S of Iaşi (Yash). 1900 Jewish population: 3,747. Seat of Vaslui County in the historical region of Moldavia, the city administers five villages: Bahnari, Brodoc, Moara Grecilor, Rediu and Viişoara.
Jewish history: YIVO [June 2011]
JewishGen Romanian SIG- Pinkas ha-kehilot; entsiklopediya shel ha-yishuvim le-min hivasdam ve-ad le-aher shoat milhemet ha-olam ha-sheniya: Romania vol. 1 (Jerusalem, 1969) p. 120: "Vaslui"
"There once was a fairly large Jewish community in the city of Vaslui. Their arrival from Galicia during the second half of the 19th century gave a new impetus to the economical development. In 1899, Jews formed 37% of the population, and Vaslui was home to the Vasloi Hasidic dynasty. However, waves of pogroms, associated with the Holocaust (see Romania during World War II and Holocaust in Romania) as well as emigration to Israel during Romania's communist period largely diminished its presence." Source: Wikipedia. [June 2011]
The cemetery contains about 1000 stones. Enclosed and always locked, the caretaker does not live onsite. One must first contact the head of the Jewish community, Julius Avram. He has the burial records including grave locations. There is little rhyme or reason to the burials. The cemetery is in good condition, with most stones accessible, though some have toppled. Stones supposedly date to the late 1700s. Source This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
US Commission No. ROCE-0658
The cemetery is located in Vaslui, judet Vaslui at Str. Calugareni, 88, judet Vaslui, 171.2 miles NNE of Bucharest. Current town population is over 100,000 with ? Jews.
- Mayor Cristea Victor, Str. Stefan cel Mare no. 56, Vaslui, judet Vaslui
- The Jewish Community of Iasi, Str. Elena Doamna 15, Iasi-6600, judet Iasi. Phone: 113711; 114414.
- The Federation of The Jewish Communities of Romania, Sfintu Vineri Street no. 9-11, sect. 3, Bucharest, Romania
- "A.D. Xenopol" Institute of History, Lascar Catargi Street, no. 15, 6400- Iasi Judet Iasi, Moldavia , Romania. Tel. 032/212614; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Director: Alexandru Zub.
- Key holder: Dobrea Constantin, Str. Cornisa 17, Vaslui.
- Caretaker: Sorin Boca, Str. Stefan cel Mare, no. 35, sc.A, ap.11, Vaslui
The 1852 Jewish population by census was 269 and in 1930 was 3275. In 1941, the Jews were deported to Transnistria. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established in the 19th century. Last known burial was July, 1999. The cemetery is 1 km from the congregation that used it.
The isolated urban hillside has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is entirely closed. A masonry wall and fence with a gate that locks surround the site. Approximate pre- and post-WWII size is 120 X 300 m. 500-5000 stones are visible. 20-100 stones are not in original location. More than 75% 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. Within the cemetery boundaries is a house.
The oldest known gravestone dates from the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and slate gravestones have inscriptions are in Hebrew and Romanian. Some have traces of painting on their surfaces, iron decorations or letting, bronze decorations or lettering, and other metallic elements and metal fences around graves.
The national Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are residential. Occasionally, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors and local residents stop at the never vandalized cemetery with no maintenance. Current care is regular unpaid caretaker. Pollution is a moderate threat. Vegetation is a moderate threat.
Lucian Nastasă, Clinicilor Street, no. 19, Cluj, Romania, tel. 064/190107. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. visited the site and completed the survey on 21 October 2000.
- E. Schwarzfeld, Din istoria evreilor: împopularea, reîmpopularea si întemeierea tîrgurilor si tîrgusoarelor în Moldova, Bucuresti, 1894.
- N.Sutu, Notiti statistice asupra Moldaviei, Iasi, 1852.
- George I.Lahovari, Marele dictionar geografic al României, 5 vol., Bucuresti, Edit.Socec, 1899.
- Recensamintul general al populatiei Romaniei. 1930, vol.II, Bucuresti, "Monitorul Oficial", 1938
- I.M.Dinescu, Fiii neamului de la 1859 la 1915. Statistica sociala pe întelesul tuturora, Iasi, Institutul de Arte Grafice N.V.Stefaniu, 1920.
- Leonida Colescu, Analiza rezultatelor recensamîntului general al populatiei României de la 1899, cu o prefata de Sabin Manuila, Bucuresti, Institutul de statistica, 1944.
- Pinkas Hakehillot, Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities Romania, I-II, Ierusalim, 1980.
- D. Ivanescu , "Populatia evreiasca din orasele si tîrgurile Moldovei între 1774-1832", în Studia et acta historiae iudaeorum romaniae, II, Bucuresti, dit. Hasefer, 1997, p.59-65
Lucian Nastasă interviewed Sorin Boca, Str. Stefan cel Mare, no. 35, sc.A, ap.11, Vaslui. [January 2003]