US Commission No. ROCE-0013 -
The cemetery is located at Silea, com. Farau, judet Alba. Transylvania. Alternate name is Sulye (Hungarian.) 4619 2407, 161.7 miles NW of Bucharest and 40 km from Tirnaveni at 4620 2417. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.
- Mayor Abrudan Ion, com. Silea, judet Alba
- The Jewish Community of Alba Iulia, Str. Tudor Vladimirescu no. 4, Alba Iulia, Romania. Phone: 00/40/58/817840
- The Federation of The Jewish Communities of Romania, Sfintu Vineri Street no. 9-11, sect. 3, Bucharest, Romania
- Interested: "A.D. Xenopol" Institute of History, Lascar Catargi Street, no. 15, 6400- Iasi Judet Iasi, Moldavia , 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: Abraham Geza, Str. Tudor Vladimirescu no. 4, Alba Iulia, Romania. Phone: 00/40/58/817840
The Jewish population by census was eighteen in 1880. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established in 19th century. Last known burial was 19th century. The cemetery is 40 km from the congregation that used it. The isolated rural/agricultural hillside has no sign or marker. Reached via private property, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate.
Approximate pre- and post-WWII size was 20 X 20 m, 20-100 gravestones are in cemetery. 1-20 stones are in original location. All gravestones are in original location. More than 75% 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 19th century. The 19th century limestone, sandstone, and marble tombstones have inscriptions in Hebrew and some metallic elements. The national Jewish community owns the property used for an orchard. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, local residents stop at the never vandalized cemetery with no maintenance or care. No structures. Security is a moderate threat.
Lucian Nastasă, Clinicilor Street, no. 19, Cluj, Romania, tel. 064/190107. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. visited the site and completed the survey on Oct. 29, 2000 using the following documentation:
- Tr.Rotaru (coord.), Recensamintul din 1880. Transilvania, Cluj, Edit. Staff, 1997.
- Kalman Weszpremy, A magyarorszagi zsidok statistikaja, Debrecen, 1907.
- Recensamintul general al populatiei Romaniei, 1930, vol.II, publicat de Sabin Manuila, Bucuresti, 1938.
- Lajos Venetianer, A magyar zsidosag tortenete, Budapest, 1922
- Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. Istoria evreilor din Transilvania (1623-1944), Bucuresti, Edit. Enciclopedica, 1994.
- dit.Enciclopedica, 2000
Unnamed interviewees. [January 2003]