Candlesticks in Siret

Siret is in the very far north of Romania, on the border with Ukraine. Here are found three Jewish cemeteries — probably the most celebrated in Romania.

The Old Jewish Cemetery was in operation from 1700 to 1840 and is one of the few Jewish heritage sites in Romania to be designated a historic monument. The “Middle Cemetery” dates from the 19th century and has an array of wonderfully ornate, Baroque-style tombstones, some of which can easily be attributed to the same artist. It occupies a field that rises, like a plateau, high above the “New Cemetery,” a well-kept assembly of 20th century tombs.

The stones in the Old Cemetery have been closely studied. I have taken information used here from the book Dainuire prin Piatra, by Silviu Sanie (Bucharest, 2000), which includes translations of the epitaphs of all the stones.

Click picture to enlarge image.

: Siret, Old Cemetery, 2006. Gravestone of the “important woman”, Mrs. Toiva Juta, daughter of Joseph, who died April 28, 1832.

: Stone of an “important woman,” Yocheved, daughter of Moshe. She died on the eve of the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) of the month of Shevat. (January 2, 1832). The stone to the right (partially cut off) is that of the “important, modest” woman Haia, daughter of Maier Haim, died December 8, 1832.

: Old Cemetery, Siret, 2006. Tombstone with candelabra of Feige, daughter of Moshe. September 25, 1805. Next to it is a tomb of a woman that does not use the candlestick imagery: Rivka, daughter of Menachem Mendl Margalis. March 11, 1808