The History of Malinec
In the region, tombstones attest to the presence of Jews since at least the 15th Century,
but the first reports on the Jewish community in Malinec date from the mid-18th Century
(Jewish archives: book 70, page123 - Sarah LOWY married Daniel WACHTEL in 1775 and they
had a son Lowy in 1780). At that time, the religious teacher of Malinec was Herman VOGEL.
As in the neighbouring village of Vlci, most Jews were traders and others were engaged in
the cattle business and farming. The 1837 census lists14 jewish families in 9 houses;
their names were KLEIN, LOCHNER and WACHTEL. In 1890, 6 families remained in their own
family houses. Malinec was part of the district of Prestice and, in 1893, it was
established as one of the seven communities of this district, with 146 souls, a synagogue
and a religious teacher. It was the largest community of the district after the city of
Prestice. Jews moved to larger towns after 1893, especially to Svihov and Prestice, and
probably to Pilzen. Elder townspeople (interviewed in the year 2000) remember the Jewish
community that existed until the first half of the 20th Century and describe them as "very
merry people".