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~ Koson' Synagogue ~ Postcard: Photographer unknown (Left, the synagogue on Fö utca)
~ Religious Life ~
Religion played an important part in the day-to-day lives of Koson's Jews and all were Orthodox Jews. Most spoke Hungarian, Czech, Ukrainian, Russian and Yiddish, the language of the home and commerce.
This was a vibrant village with farmers, craftsmen, salesmen, traders, etc. and the children of each family had their work, too, such as getting up early to hitch the horses to the wagons, feed the horses, make deliveries of milk and then be back in time to go to school.
Koson' was under the jurisdiction of the Beregszász Rabbinate and by 1944, the community maintained a synagogue, Jewish school and a talmud torah, in addition to a broad network of welfare and charity organizations.
Its first rabbi, Yehosef Ha-Levi ROTENBERG (1853 - 1911) also ran the local Ateret Tzevi yeshiva. Succeeding him was his son, Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Ha-Levi ROTTENBERG (d. 1920). Following him was Rabbi Yisruel Tzvi ROTTENBERG, who perished in the Holocaust (1944).
~ ROTTENBERG Rabbis ~
Rabbi ROTTENBERG, the famous "Kaszonyer Rebbe" was born in 1890 and served his congregation from 1919 to 1944. He was descended from a family of famous rabbis. His great grandfather was Rabbi Zvi Hirsh from Bezidisow, Galicia, the author of Ateret Zvi (The Crown of Zvi), and the student of the Choze (the Seer of Lublin). Rabbi Zvi Hirsh died without a male heir, therefore his work was continued in many Polish villages by his sons-in-law and his nephews. One of his sons-in-laws was Rabbi Yosef who spread Rabbi Zvi's teachings in Koziba, Galicia. His son was Rabbi Zvi Hirsh and he inherited his father's rabbinate.
In 1853, his son Rabbi Yosef (Yehosaf) Ha-Levi ROTTENBERG, was born. In 1873, when he was only twenty years old when he became the Rabbi of Nyirtas, Hungary. From Nyirtas he went to Nyirmada and in 1894 became the Rabbi of Debrecen. Three years later, in 1897, he became the Rabbi of Kaszony where he remained for fourteen years until his death in 1911. He was the first in a line of the Kaszonyer Rebbes. Rabbi Yosef Ha-Levi ROTTENBERG was an exceptional personality who became known and honored all over Hungary. In fact, he was considered to be one of the fathers of Hassidim in Hungary. His yeshivah (religious school) made Kaszony famous all over the world. Thousands of students came to study with him and on certain holidays, Kaszony was flooded with chasidim who came to listen to his sermons, seek his advice and to receive his blessing. His teachings were incorporated in two books titled Bnei Shileishim (The sons of three generations) which was about the Torah and the holidays, and Vayatzber Yosef (Lit: And Yosef collected produce or a collection of his sermons). He used to fast very often and whatever he received from his followers, he contributed to charity. He died in 1911.
After his death, his oldest son, Rabbi Hayem Shlomo ROTTENBERG became the Rabbi of Kaszony and was the author of Shmua Tova (Good News). He died in 1919.
In 1919, the Jews of Kaszony picked Rabbi Yosef's youngest son, Rabbi Yisroel Zvi Ha-Levi ROTTENBERG to become their rabbi. He was incidentally the son-in-law of his oldest brother, Hayem Shlomo. Rabbi Yisroel Zvi Ha-Levi ROTTENBERG was reluctant to accept this position, but he was persuaded to do so by Rabbi Yissachar Dov ROKEACH, the "Belzer Rabbe". During his rabbinate, Kaszony again became an important center of the chassidic sect. Rabbi Yisroel Zvi Ha-Levi ROTTENBERG was considered one of the gaonim (eminent scholars) in the Kabala (higher spiritual living), the Torah and its commentaries. All of his time was devoted to learning and teaching. Under his leadership, Kaszony which was hardly known in Hungary, became well known as the center of Talmudic learning and the source for consultation about all Jewish problems. Rabbi Yisroel Zvi ROTTENBERG was respected not just by his Hasidim, but by all Jews who needed help. He never preached against anybody nor did he become involved in the daily disputes of his people. His life was devoted to learning, teaching and spreading the word of Torah in his Ateret Zvi Yeshiva (The Crown of Zvi). He authored Sefer Ohr Malé (Full Light). Several times a year he preached at the Great Synagogue of Kaszony whose members were less orthodox. His students were supported by the entire Jewish population, not just the ultra-orthodox.
In April 1944, Rabbi Yisroel Zvi Ha-Levi ROTTENBERG was transferred to the ghetto, together with the rest of the Jews of Kaszony. In the ghetto, he was almost beaten to death by one of the guards whom he asked whether he might keep a cheap clock. On 3 Sivan 1944, he perished in Auschwitz with the rest of the martyrs of Kaszony.
His book, Ohr Malé (Full Light) was published in 1984 by David FELBERBAUM, USA, one of his many admirers.
Sources (portions): Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG) The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, (2001), p. 663.
~ Rabbi of Koson' ~
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( * = Perished in the Holocaust )
Rabbi Yisruel Tzvi ROTENBERG * Photo credit: Sefer Roshei Goles Ariel by Shlomo ROSMAN
Rabbi Yehosef Ha-Levi ROTENBERG Photo: Courtesy of Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG)
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Sefer Vayatzber Yosef by Rabbi Yehosef Ha-Levi ROTENBERG Photo: Courtesy of M.Y. EHRENREICH, USA
Sefer Ohr Malé by Rabbi Yisruel Tzvi ROTENBERG Photo: Courtesy of Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG)
Sefer Shmua Tova by Rabbi Hayem Shlomo ROTTENBERG Photo: Courtesy of Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG)
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Sabbath stroll with Rabbi ROTENBERG c. unknown Photo credit: Sefer Harerie Kedem
Center, Rabbi Yisruel Tzvi ROTTENBERG (Rabbi of Koson') and on his right side, Rabbi Moshe BRODY (Dyan of Ungvár)
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Rabbi ROTENBERG with two students c. unknown Photo: Courtesy of Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG)
If you can identify the two students above, click HERE to contact me.
~ Koson' Religious Schools ~
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Yeshiva Ateret Zvi 1939 Photo: Courtesy of Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG)
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Yeshiva Ateret Zvi 1941 Photo: Courtesy of Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG)
If you can identify anyone above, click HERE to contact me.
~ Koson' Religious Organizations ~
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Bétar Zionist Group 1940 Photo: Courtesy of Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG)
Seated, left to right: Yoszi ACKERMAN and Mojshi FRIEDMAN
Standing, left to right: Józsi SALAMON, Miklós AUSPITZ, Béla BERKOVICS, Pubi HERBSTMAN, Henrich ACKERMAN, Menyus HERBSTMAN, Józsi KLEIN, Miki EINCZIG and Józsi GRÓSZ
~ Koson' Cemetery ~
Jewish families that lived in Koson', and possibly other nearby villages, used the Koson' Cemetery, located by turning off Kossuth Lajos street and is surrounded by a continuous wall, part masonry and part fence. The cemetery has a memorial to Holocaust victims.
In the documents section of the "Other" tab, you will find a link to a U.S. Commission Report completed in 2005 that attempted to document Jewish Cemeteries (and Synagogues and Mass Grave Sites) in Ukraine. This cemetery is listed, but many other village cemeteries are not documented in that report.
Source (portions): International Jewish Cemetery Project - Kosiny
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Following is a representative sample of the tombstones found in the cemetery.
(Click the images below to view a larger image. Optionally, you can use the arrows at the top of the pop-up window to navigate through the images.)
[ d. = died ]
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. 9 Adar II ____ (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. 9 Adar II ____ (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Moshe Shmuel ben Tzvi d. Illegible (Illegible)
Moshe Shmuel ben Tzvi d. Illegible (Illegible)
Salamon HENDRICH d. unknown (unknown)
Salamon HENDRICH d. unknown (unknown)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Meir ben Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Meir ben Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Drezel bat Dovid d. 27 Elul 5696 (14 September 1936)
Wife of Rabbi ? Shlit"a, Shochet and Inspector
Drezel bat Dovid d. 27 Elul 5696 (14 September 1936)
Wife of Rabbi ? Shlit"a, Shochet and Inspector
Eszter KLEIN
Age 79; Wife of Ferenc
Eszter KLEIN
Age 79; Wife of Ferenc
Igga bat Yosef Shmuel d. 15 Iyyar ____ (Illegible)
Igga bat Yosef Shmuel d. 15 Iyyar ____ (Illegible)
Yuta bat Yehoshua d. 21 Tevet 5696 (16 January 1936)
Aged: 58
Yuta bat Yehoshua d. 21 Tevet 5696 (16 January 1936)
Aged: 58
Mindel bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Aged: 27
Mindel bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Aged: 27
Meshulam ben Yeshaya Dovid FISH d. 10 Kislev 5676 (17 November 1915)
Meshulam ben Yeshaya Dovid FISH d. 10 Kislev 5676 (17 November 1915)
Yosef ben Avigdor d. 20 Adar1 5662 (27 February 1902)
Yosef ben Avigdor d. 20 Adar1 5662 (27 February 1902)
Chaim Moshe ben Mechachem MASH d. 4 Shevat 5659 (15 January 1899)
Chaim Moshe ben Mechachem MASH d. 4 Shevat 5659 (15 January 1899)
Yitzchak ben Shlomo HaKohen d. 16 Tevet 5673 (26 December 1912)
Aged: 69; 1 of 2
Yitzchak ben Shlomo HaKohen d. 16 Tevet 5673 (26 December 1912)
Aged: 69; 1 of 2
Zsigmond HERMANN d. 16 Tevet 5673 (26 December 1912)
Aged: 69; 2 of 2
Zsigmond HERMANN d. 16 Tevet 5673 (26 December 1912)
Aged: 69; 2 of 2
Dov ben Alexander d. 25 Kislev 5671 (26 December 1910)
Dov ben Alexander d. 25 Kislev 5671 (26 December 1910)
Baruch ben Yitzchok DANIPALK? d. __ ___5668 (Illegible)
Baruch ben Yitzchok DANIPALK? d. __ ___5668 (Illegible)
Yitzchak Yehuda ben Avraham d. __ Cheshvan 5655 (Illegible)
Yitzchak Yehuda ben Avraham d. __ Cheshvan 5655 (Illegible)
Yocheved Chaya bat Yehuda Yitzchak d. 19 Elul 5666 (09 September 1906)
Yocheved Chaya bat Yehuda Yitzchak d. 19 Elul 5666 (09 September 1906)
Yuta bat Yosef Yehuda d. 5 Nisan ____ (Illegible)
Yuta bat Yosef Yehuda d. 5 Nisan ____ (Illegible)
Rivka bat Leibish d. 14 Cheshvan 5666 (12 November 1905)
Rivka bat Leibish d. 14 Cheshvan 5666 (12 November 1905)
Esther bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Esther bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Efraim Fishel ben Chava Shalia? d. __ Elul 5687 (Illegible)
Efraim Fishel ben Chava Shalia? d. __ Elul 5687 (Illegible)
Yosef ben Moshe d. Illegible (Illegible)
Yosef ben Moshe d. Illegible (Illegible)
Efraim Fishel ben Dovid d. __ Tishrei 5677 (Illegible)
Efraim Fishel ben Dovid d. __ Tishrei 5677 (Illegible)
Yosef ben Shlomo? d. Illegible (Illegible)
Shlomo's middle name might begin with "Pe"
Yosef ben Shlomo? d. Illegible (Illegible)
Shlomo's middle name might begin with "Pe"
Meshulam ben Yeshaya Dovid FISH d. 10 Kislev 5676 (17 November 1915)
Meshulam ben Yeshaya Dovid FISH d. 10 Kislev 5676 (17 November 1915)
Yitzchak ben Dovid KLEIN d. 10 Av 5689 (16 August 1929)
Aged: 69; Died in Budapest and buried 12 Av 5689 (18 August 1929)
Yitzchak ben Dovid KLEIN d. 10 Av 5689 (16 August 1929)
Aged: 69; Died in Budapest and buried 12 Av 5689 (18 August 1929)
Chaim ben Yitzchok KLEIN d. 15 Shevat 5689 (26 January 1929)
Aged: 39
Chaim ben Yitzchok KLEIN d. 15 Shevat 5689 (26 January 1929)
Aged: 39
Yisrael ben Chaim VELT? d. 29 Iyyar ____ (Illegible)
A brilliant doctor
Yisrael ben Chaim VELT? d. 29 Iyyar ____ (Illegible)
A brilliant doctor
Chana bat Tzvi Eliezer d. 25 Tamuz 5676 (26 July 1916)
Chana bat Tzvi Eliezer d. 25 Tamuz 5676 (26 July 1916)
Esther bat Avraham Aba KLEITEL? d. 19 Sivan 5676 (20 June 1916)
Esther bat Avraham Aba KLEITEL? d. 19 Sivan 5676 (20 June 1916)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Matel bat Chaim d. 6 Nisan 5673 (13 April 1913)
From Papiye
Matel bat Chaim d. 6 Nisan 5673 (13 April 1913)
From Papiye
Illegible ben/bat Mordechai Tzvi d. 25 Shvat ____ (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Mordechai Tzvi d. 25 Shvat ____ (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. (Illegible)
Chana bat Asher Yaakov d. 15 Cheshvan 5632 (30 October 1871)
Chana bat Asher Yaakov d. 15 Cheshvan 5632 (30 October 1871)
Tzartel? bat Dovid d. 20 Cheshvan 5622? (24 October 1861)
Tzartel? bat Dovid d. 20 Cheshvan 5622? (24 October 1861)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. 14 Adar I ____ (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. 14 Adar I ____ (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Rochel bat Shmuel HaKohen d. 6 Elul 5685 (26 August 1925)
Rochel bat Shmuel HaKohen d. 6 Elul 5685 (26 August 1925)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Illegible ben/bat Illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Liba Reizel bat Chaim Tzvi d. 19 Adar I 5694 (06 March 1934)
Wife of Leopold SCHVARTZ
Liba Reizel bat Chaim Tzvi d. 19 Adar I 5694 (06 March 1934)
Wife of Leopold SCHVARTZ
Sara Rochel bat Dovid d. 5 Sivan 5695 (06 June 1935)
Aged: 80
Sara Rochel bat Dovid d. 5 Sivan 5695 (06 June 1935)
Aged: 80
Chantsha bat Dovid d. 5 Cheshvan ____ (Illegible)
Wife of Moshe ____
Chantsha bat Dovid d. 5 Cheshvan ____ (Illegible)
Wife of Moshe ____
Chana Malka bat Yisrael Ari d. 21 Tamuz 5691 (06 July 1931)
Chana Malka bat Yisrael Ari d. 21 Tamuz 5691 (06 July 1931)
Chava bat Baruch Bali? d. Illegible (Illegible)
Leah bat Baruch Bali? d. Illegible (Illegible)
Daughter
Chava bat Baruch Bali? d. Illegible (Illegible)
Leah bat Baruch Bali? d. Illegible (Illegible)
Daughter
Blima bat Mordechai Meizel d. 24 Shvat 5690 (22 February 1930)
Wife of Yaakov Yitzchak KLEIN
Blima bat Mordechai Meizel d. 24 Shvat 5690 (22 February 1930)
Wife of Yaakov Yitzchak KLEIN
Chana bat Moshe HaKohen VATEDIZAER d. 16 Tishrei 5701 (18 October 1940)
Chana bat Moshe HaKohen VATEDIZAER d. 16 Tishrei 5701 (18 October 1940)
Rivka bat Dovid HaLevi d. 3 Iyyar 5697 (14 April 1937)
Rivka bat Dovid HaLevi d. 3 Iyyar 5697 (14 April 1937)
Chava bat Yitzchak d. 6 Shevat 5701 (03 February 1941)
Chava bat Yitzchak d. 6 Shevat 5701 (03 February 1941)
Tzvia bat illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Tzvia bat illegible d. Illegible (Illegible)
Herman KLEIN d. not shown (not shown)
Aged: 84; 1 of 2
Herman KLEIN d. not shown (not shown)
Aged: 84; 1 of 2
Tzvi ben Yosef KLEIN d. 1 Iyyar 569_ (Illegible)
Aged: 84; 2 of 2
Tzvi ben Yosef KLEIN d. 1 Iyyar 569_ (Illegible)
Aged: 84; 2 of 2
Laura STERN d. not shown (not shown)
Aged: 88; Wife of Herman KLEIN
Laura STERN d. not shown (not shown)
Aged: 88; Wife of Herman KLEIN
Leah bat Binyamin d. 3 Adar I 5703 (08 February 1943)
Aged: 88
Leah bat Binyamin d. 3 Adar I 5703 (08 February 1943)
Aged: 88
Dr. Samu ZELMANOVITS d. not shown (not shown)
Aged: 57; doctor
Dr. Samu ZELMANOVITS d. not shown (not shown)
Aged: 57; doctor
Shlomo ben Yehuda Yitzchak d. 4 Shevat 5702 (Illegible)
Aged: 57
Shlomo ben Yehuda Yitzchak d. 4 Shevat 5702 (Illegible)
Aged: 57
M??jer FENDRICH d. not shown (not shown)
Fani (n??e RIEDERMAYER) FENDRICH d. 26 Adar I 5704 (21 March 1944)
M??jer FENDRICH d. not shown (not shown)
Fani (n??e RIEDERMAYER) FENDRICH d. 26 Adar I 5704 (21 March 1944)
Meir ben Tzvi FENDRICH d. __ Adar2 5698 (Illegible)
Aged: 88
Meir ben Tzvi FENDRICH d. __ Adar2 5698 (Illegible)
Aged: 88
Yehoshua ben Tzvi FENDRICH d. 27 Tevet 5703 (04 January 1943)
Aged: 90
Yehoshua ben Tzvi FENDRICH d. 27 Tevet 5703 (04 January 1943)
Aged: 90
Yosef Dovid ben Yisrael d. Illegible (Illegible)
Yosef Dovid ben Yisrael d. Illegible (Illegible)
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Lara DIAMOND, USA
M.Y. EHRENREICH, USA Kaszony Yiskor Book by Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG), USA
International Jewish Cemetery Project - Kosiny
Daniel KATZ, USA
Joseph VAYS, USA
Amos Israel ZEZMER, France
and the following: JewishGen members/descendants and
contributors of Koson' Jewish families:
Goldi (née SHTARK) ALTSHULER, Israel
Joseph EDEN (EINCZIG), USA
Lisa (née BRAHIN) WEINBLATT, USA
d. 9 Adar II ____
(Illegible)