US Commission No. ROCE-0047 -
The cemetery is located in Seleus, NW side of the village, on the field, 2861, judet Arad, 4623 2143, 23.6 miles NE of Arad and 251.5 miles NW of Bucharest. Alternate name: Csigerszollos (Hungarian). Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
- Mayor Iencin Gheorghe, Seleus, no. 118, phone: +40-57-477143
- The Jewish Community of Arad, 10, Tribunul Dobra Street, 2900 Arad, Romania. Tel. +40-57-281310
- The Federation of the Jewish Communities of Romania, Sfintu Vineri Str., no 9-11, Sector 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: Pantea Petru, no. 338, Seleus, phone: 1, judet Arad, Romania
The Jewish population by 1880 census was 19 and in 1910 was thirteen. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established in 20th century. Last known burial was around 1939.
The isolated rural/agricultural flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate. The cemetery looks pathetic and overgrown. Only by looking carefully can one discover traces of the tombs. Approximate pre- and post-WWII size is 2 m2. 1-20 stones are visible. No stones 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 constant problem damaging stones. Water drainage is a constant problem. No special sections.
The oldest known gravestone dates from 20th century. The 20th century marble and "other" smoothed and inscribed common gravestones have Hungarian inscriptions. No known mass graves. The national Jewish community owns the property used for orchard and waste dump. Adjacent properties are agricultural and "other." Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The cemetery was not vandalized in the last ten years. No maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security and vandalism are very severe threats: incompatible nearby and planned development. Pollution is a moderate threat. Vegetation is a moderate threat.
Assistant Professor Alexandru Pecican, Almasului Street, Bl. R1, apt. 14, 3400 Cluj-Napoca
completed the survey on August 27, 2000 using the following documentation:
- Coriolan Suciu, Dicţionar istoric al localităţilor din Transilvania, I-II, Bucharest, 1968
- Marki Sandor, Arad varmegye es Arad szabad kiralyi varos tortenete, Arad, 1895
- 1880 census, Bucharest, Edit. Staff, 1999.
- Carmilly-Weinberger, Moshe. History of the Jews of Transylvania (1623-1944), Bucharest, 1994 (in Romanian)
He visited the site August 27, 2000 and interviewed Pantea Petru. [January 2003]