Contents of This Site Include
We have
prepared a map with the locations of the significant
places in Rezekne identified. This includes the America
area where Jewish families lived, the Jewish Cemetery, the Mass Grave Burial Sites,
the Green Synagogue and many more. Go to the Maps link find out where things were and are today.
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Jewish shops lined the main street of Rezekne
in the 1920s. These are all gone today. There are several accounts of the
Jewish History of Rezekne. Visit the Index of Articles page for a guide to
those pages. There are several excellent articles in
this section.
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Jewish Families and
Genealogy section of where you can
read the sad and wonderful stories of our Jewish Families of Rēzekne. The lead page gives a brief summary of each contribution.
People from around the world contributed to this section.
See if your own family is mentioned. These stories and family trees are a wonderful source
of genealogical information. The GORDIN History by Tela Zasloff is a 95
page book including many photos. Horwitz Families of Rezekne article
attempts to link
together most the people with that family name in Rezekne. It is an
extensive family tree. Do not miss David
Michaelson's very personal and moving story of how he became
the force behind the restoration of the
Green Synagogue in his
personal family history. The restauration has actually begun as of April 2, 2014.
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Monument that rests in the Jewish Cemetery
in Rēzekne today noting the tragedy of
the Holocaust in Rezekne. There were several different locations in the Rezekne
area where Jews were humiliated and murdered by Nazis and overzealous local police.
The locations are identified, the stories are told. There are photos, maps, and eyewitness
descriptions. The following links have more information about the
Holocaust, Mass Burial
Sites, and the World War II Destruction. Holocaust (Shoa),
Maps, and Cemeteries.
World War II.
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Cemeteries in Rezekne and New York. The Jewish
Cemetery in Rezekne is still in use and many old headstones are toppled over
and are in poor condition. There is some restoration work being done. The New York cemetery is party of the
Rezekne Cemetery Association in New York. Go to the
following links to find out more and
see the photographs of many headstones with translations into English in both cemeteries.
Cemeteries, New York Tombstones, and
Rezekne Tombstones. We have included the
tombstones photographed and translated under the direction of
Christine Usdin ZL.
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Rezekne is an ancient city going
back to the 9th century. There are many photographs and articles at the
Town History and Land Marks page.
We also have a wonderful Collection of
Old Postcards and Photographs
as well as photographs taken inside the Rezekne Museum.
You can see where these
places
are located by going to the Maps link.
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This is a glimpse of what
remains of a once vibrant Jewish community in Rezekne. Once there
were 11 synagogues and the town was 2/3 Jewish. Now there are a handful of
Jewish people. are only a handful
of people in the Jewish community and one lonely dilapidated Synagogue:the Green
Synagogue. This is in a town that boasts of its beautiful churches that show off
some of it's religious past. To find out more about what is left of Jewish Rezekne
today use the link
Rezekne Today. Also check out the link to Pictures Index. Visit the Green Synagogue link for an
update on its status.
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Some of us have gone back for
a visit to see what it is like today. There are many photos from the America area
where Jewish families lived over a hundred years ago. You can see their big yards and
out buildings. Go to the
Link: Rezekne Today and visit our page of photographs
at Recent Visits and Modern Views.
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Nathan Horwitz served in the Russian army. Jews were forced to serve and many times had to serve for many years
before they could return to their homes. Notte was sent off to fight in the Russo-Japanese
War that lasted from 8 February 1904 to 5 September 1905. Notte's father would see the
red sunrise and say it was Notte's blood and he would never return. Listen to his younger
sister tell the story of his surprise return to Rezekne and how the Jewish town stayed
up all night to celebrate his return. Oral family history link.
