Vyzhnytsia Old Jewish Cemetery

The exact period of the cemetery’s establishment is unknown, but it was marked on an Austria map of the 1860s. Presumably, the cemetery was operating until the end of the 19th century. It can be supposed that it was demolished after WWII and built over during the Soviet time.

Jews were present in the mid-18 century. The local Jews were mostly engaged in trade and crafts. A Hevra Kadisha society was organised in 1768. In 1774, 191 Jews were inhabitants of Vyzhnytsya. A first synagogue was erected in 1826. By 1888, the number of synagogues grew to eight for Jews of different professions. The Sadigur and Boyan Hasidic dynasties predominated in Vyzhnytsya. The Jewish population of Vyzhnytsya increased after the setting up of the Vizhnitsya Hasidic dynasty by Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Hager (1830–1885) in 1854. In 1873, the Jewish population stood at 2,975 and, by 1890, Vyzhnytsya was 90% Jewish city with 4,247 Jewish residents. The Jewish population reached a peak of 5,080 (89% of the total population) in 1910. During the WWI, many Jews moved to Vienna. The Jewish Joint Distribution Committee assisted the Jewish community of Vyzhnytsya after WWI. In 1918, a yeshiva was opened. In the 1920s-30s, a Hebrew high school, heder, Jewish hospital, cemetery and Talmud Torah were maintained by the Jewish community. The Zionist youth organizations were active. The Agudat Israel group was established at that time. In 1930, 2,666 Jewish residents (56% of the total population) lived in the city. On July 5, 1941, a pogrom claimed lives of 21 Jews. By August 8, 1941, 1,820 Jews were deported to Transnistria and the remnants in October 1941. The number of the Jewish population decreased to 800 people in 1945. Most of them immigrated to Eretz Israel. In 1990, three Jewish families resided in Vyzhnytsya.