International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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Alternate names: Jiu-Vaidei-Vulcan, Hungarian: Vulkán, Zsilyvajdejvulkán (Zsily-Vajdej-Vulkán), German: Wolkersdorf, Wulkan). 2010 population: 30,188. The second-largest city in the Jiu Valle, the town includes the villages of Paroşeni and Dealul Babii. The city is named after the Vulcan Pass that connects the Jiu Valley to Oltenia. Coal was discovered in 1788 while defending Vulcan from the Ottoman Turks. In 1850, the first mine was set up by the Hoffman brothers of Braşov.

 

CEMETERY:

US Commission No. ROCE-0306 -

The cemetery is located at Vulcan, Fintinelelor Street, 2692, near Motel "Brazi", judet Hunedoara, 4523 2316, 8 km from Petrosani. Alternate names: Zsilvajdejvulckan (Hungarian.) Present town population is 25,000-100,000 with no Jews.

  • Mayor Cristoiu Virgil, Town Hall of Vulcan, judet Hunedoara
  • The Jewish Community of Deva, Libertatii Street no. 9, Romania, tel. 0040-54-215550
  • 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.
  • Key holder or caretaker: none

The 1880 Jewish population by census was 5, by 1900 census was 91, and in 1930 was 505. The unlandmarked Orthodox and Neolog The cemetery was established at end of the 19th century. Last known burial was 1984.

The urban hillside, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 60 x 44 m. 20-100 stones are visible. 1-20 stones are not in original location. More than 75% of the stones are toppled or broken. Stones removed from the cemetery are probably in the farms. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is not a problem. Water drainage is good all year.

The oldest known gravestone dates from end of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, limestone, sandstone, and concrete flat shaped and smoothed and inscribed common gravestones have Hebrew and Hungarian inscriptions. No known mass graves. The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are in village residential setting with houses, gardens, orchards, and pastures. Rarely,
private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized frequently in the last ten years. No maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security is a very severe threat:: broken fence, no gate and away from the town. Vandalism is a serious threat. Most of the gravestones are vandalized.

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

  • Recensamantul din 1880. Transilvania (1880 Transylvania Jewish Population Census.) coord.: Traian Rotariu, Cluj 1997.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Otto Mitelstrass, Historisch-Landeskundlicher Atlas von Siebenburgen, Ortsnamenbuch, Heidelberg, 1992

Claudia and Adrian Ursutiu interviewed no one. [January 2003]