DARABANI: (Botosani judet)

International Jewish Cemetery Project - Romania D-F DARABANI (I): (Botosani judet) US Commission No. _

The cemetery is located at str. Poenitei no. 58, Darabani, Botosani judet, Moldavia region at 48°20' 26°35', 6.25 km from Dorohoi. The current population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.

• Local Authority: Mayor Arosoaiei Cornel, str. 1 Decembri no. 100, Darabani, Botosani judet. Phone: 630347.
• Religious Authority: The Jewish Community of Botosani, Soseaua Nationala no. 220. Phone: 514659
• Regional Authority: The Federation of the Jewish Communities of Romania, Sf. Vineri str., no. 9-11, sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.
• Interested: "A.D. Xenopol" Institute of History, Lascar Catargi str., no. 15, 6400- Iasi (Iasi judet), Romania. Tel. 032/212614; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Director: Alexandru Zub.
• Caretaker with key: Bulgaru Dumitru, str. Poenitei no. 33, Darabani, Botosani judet

The Census from 1839 registered 150 Jewish families. The 1899 Census registered 630 Jewish inhabitants. The 1930 Census registered 1884 Jewish inhabitants. The Jewish Community was founded in 1837 by an agreement with the owner Teodor Balus. On 1 July 1940, many Jews were massacred. Between June and July 1944, many Jewish families were deported in Oltenia. This Jewish cemetery was established in the 18th century. The last known Jewish burial in cemetery was in 19th century. The unlandmarked Conservative cemetery is 2 km. from the congregation that used it. Suharau (Botosani judet) also used the cemetery.

The isolated urban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open with permission. A continuous masonry wall and a gate that locks surround the cemetery. The pre- and post-WWII size is 50 m X 60 m. 100 to 500 tombstones are visible with none in original location. More than 75% are toppled or broken. Vegetation overgrowth is a seasonal problem, preventing access. Water drainage is good all year.

Tombstones date from the 18th and 19th centuries. The limestone, sandstone, and other material are rough stones or boulders, flat shaped stones, finely smoothed and inscribed stones, and flat stones with carved relief decoration. Some have portraits on the stones. Inscriptions are in Hebrew. The national Jewish community owns the cemetery property used for agricultural purposes. Adjacent properties are agricultural and residential. Compared to 1939, the cemetery boundaries enclose the same area. Rarely, private visitors (Jewish or non-Jewish) stop. The never vandalized cemetery has no maintenance, but gets regular care by the unpaid caretaker. No structures. Weather erosion is a moderate threat. Security and vegetation are slight threats.

Lucian Nastasa, Clinicilor str., no. 19, Cluj, Romania, tel. 064/190107. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. completed the survey on July 24, 2000 using the following documentation:

• Leonida Colescu, Analiza rezultatelor recensamîntului general al populatiei Romaniei de la 1899, cu o prefată de Sabin Manuila, Bucuresti, Institutul de statistica, 1944.
• I.M. Dinescu, Fiii neamului de la 1859 la 1915. Statistica sociala pe întelesul tuturora, Iasi, Institutul de Arte Grafice N.V.Stefaniu, 1920.
• Pinkas Hakehillot, Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities Romania, I-II, Jerusalem, 1980.
• D.Ivanescu, Populatia evreiască din orasele si tîrgurile Moldovei între 1774-1832 , în "Studia et acta historiae iudaeorum Romaniae", II, Bucuresti, Edit.Hasefer, 1997, p. 59-65.
• I.Kara, Inscriptii funerare ebraice din judetul Botosani, în "Memoria Antiquitatis", II, 1970, p. 523-531.
• Marius Mircu, Pogromurile din Bucovina si Dorohoi, Bucuresti, Edit.Glob, 1945.
• E.Schwarzfeld, Din istoria evreilor: împopularea, reîmpopularea si întemeierea tîrgurilor si tîrgusoarelor în Moldova, Bucuresti, 1894.
• E.Schwesul tuturora, Iasi, Institutul de Arte Grafice N.V.Stefaniu, 1920.
• N.Sutu, Notiti statistice asupra Moldaviei, Iasi, 1852.

He visited July 18, 2000 and interviewed Bulgaru Dumitru, str. Poenitei no. 33, Darabani, Botosani judet. [June 2002]

DARABANI (II): (Botosani judet) US Commission No. _
See Darabani I for town details.

• Caretaker and keyholder: Hrimiuc Eugenis, str. 1 Decembrie 1918 no. 389, Darabani, Botosani judet. Phone: 031/630414.

The Census from 1839 registered 150 Jewish families. The 1899 Census registered 630 Jewish inhabitants. The 1930 Census registered 1884 Jewish inhabitants. The Jewish Community was founded in 1837 by an agreement with the owner Teodor Balus. On 1 July 1940, many Jews were massacred. Between June and July 1944, many Jewish families were deported in Oltenia. This unlandmarked Conservative Jewish cemetery was established in the 19th century. The last known Jewish burial in cemetery was in 1967. Suharau (Botosani judet) also used the cemetery, 6 km. from the congregation that used it.

The isolated flat rural (agricultural) land has no sign or marker. Reached by crossing private property, access is open with permission. A broken fence and a gate that locks surround the cemetery. The pre- and post-WWII size is 150 m. X 75 m. 100 to 500 tombstones are visible with 1 to 20 not in original location. 50% - 75% of the tombstones are broken or toppled. Vegetation overgrowth is a seasonal problem, preventing access. Water drainage is good all year.

The marble, limestone, and sandstone tombstones date from the 19th to 20th centuries. The rough stones or boulders, flat shaped stones, finely smoothed and inscribed stones, and flat stones with carved relief decoration have Hebrew and Romanian inscription. Some have portraits on the stones.

The national Jewish community owns the property used for agricultural purposes. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Compared to 1939, the cemetery boundaries enclose the same area.

Occasionally, private visitors (Jewish or non-Jewish) stop. The never vandalized cemetery has no maintenance but the unpaid caretaker gives regular care. No structures. Security is a moderate threat. Weather erosion, vegetation, and vandalism are slight threats.

Lucian Nastasa, Clinicilor str., no. 19, Cluj, Romania, tel. 064/190107. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. completed the survey on July 25, 2000 using the following documentation:

• Leonida Colescu, Analiza rezultatelor recensamîntului general al populatiei Romaniei de la 1899, cu o prefată de Sabin Manuila, Bucuresti, Institutul de statistica, 1944.
• I.M. Dinescu, Fiii neamului de la 1859 la 1915. Statistica sociala pe întelesul tuturora, Iasi, Institutul de Arte Grafice N.V.Stefaniu, 1920.
• Pinkas Hakehillot, Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities Romania, I-II, Jerusalem, 1980.
• D. Ivanescu, Populatia evreiască din orasele si tîrgurile Moldovei între 1774-1832 , în "Studia et acta historiae iudaeorum Romaniae", II, Bucuresti, Edit.Hasefer, 1997, p. 59-65.
• I. Kara, Inscriptii funerare ebraice din judetul Botosani, în "Memoria Antiquitatis", II, 1970, p. 523-531.
• George I. Lahovari, Marele dictionar geografic al Romaniei, 5 vol., Bucuresti, Edit.Socec, 1899.
• Marius Mircu, Pogromurile din Bucovina si Dorohoi, Bucuresti, Edit.Glob, 1945.
• E. Schwarzfeld, Din istoria evreilor: împopularea, reîmpopularea si întemeierea tîrgurilor si tîrgusoarelor în Moldova, Bucuresti, 1894.
• N. Sutu, Notiti statistice asupra Moldaviei, Iasi, 1852.

He visited July 23, 2000 and interviewed Hrimiuc Eugenis, str. 1 Decembrie 1918 no. 389, Darabani, Botosani judet. Phone: 031/630414 [June 2002]

Photos by Charles Burns [February 2016]