International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

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Alternate name: Sameschdorf.  46°00' N 22°27' E,  207.9 miles WNW of Bucureşti. map. a commune in Hunedoara  composed of thirteen villages: Almaş-Sălişte (Almásszelistye), Almăşel (Almasel), Brăşeu (Brassó), Cerbia (Cserbia), Deleni, Godineşti (Godinesd), Micăneşti (Mikanesd), Pogăneşti (Poganesd), Pojoga (Pozsga), Sălciva (Szolcsva), Tămăşeşti (Tamasesd), Valea and Zam.

US Commission No. ROCE-0307 -
The cemetery is located at Zam, 2747, judet Hunedoara,46°00' N 22°27' E, 207.9 miles WNW of Bucharest and 40 km from Deva. Zam is the Hungarian name. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.

Mayor Munteanu Ion, Town Hall of Zam, 2747, 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 21, by 1900 census was 33, and in 1930 was 15. The unlandmarked Orthodox and Neolog The cemetery was established at end of the 19th century. Last known burial was 1956.

The hill and hillside, part of a municipal cemetery, has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open to all. A fence with a non-locking gate surrounds the site. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 70 x 14 m. 1-20 stones are visible, some 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 end of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble and granite, concrete sculpted monuments are common gravestones with Hebrew and Hungarian inscriptions. No known mass graves. The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are residential and agricultural. Private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The cemetery was not vandalized in the last ten years. No maintenance. No care now. No structures. Weather erosion is a moderate threat. Vegetation is a moderate threat.

Claudia Ursutiu, Pietroasa Str. no. 21, 3400 Cluj Napoca, Romania, tel. 0040-64-151073 visited the site and completed the survey in 24 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 Claudia and Adrian Ursutiu, NoIlia. [January 2003]