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Uzhgorod was the center of Subcarpathia [4]. This was a small beautiful town on the banks of the Uzh River. There was a strong Jewish community in the town. There were Jews of different levels [streams] of religiosity – from Orthodox [5] and Hasidim [6] to Neologs [7]. They had synagogues, community buildings and cheders. There was a yeshivah, a higher religious educational institution. Jews lived in the center of Uzhgorod and the non-Jewish population lived in the suburbs.
Jews did well during all regimes. They were craftsmen: plumbers, tinsmiths and blacksmiths. Jews owned many shops. All tailors and barbers in the town were also Jews. They also owned almost all trade businesses. There were Jewish freight wagoners and passenger cabmen. They owned wagons, nice carriages and had fancy harness on their horses. There were rich Jews who owned factories, were doctors, lawyers and bakers.
The Jewish community took care of all poor Jews and there were no Jewish beggars in the town. All Jews, with few exceptions, were religious. They went to synagogues on Sabbath and Jewish holidays, celebrated Sabbath and Jewish holidays at home. The Jewish community provided food to all poor Jewish families on Sabbath, and matzah, chicken, gefilte fish and wine on Pesach. Every week collectors of money made the rounds of Jewish houses to collect money for poor Jews. They willingly contributed for the needs of the poor.
There was no routinely or state-level anti-Semitism during the Austro-Hungarian and Czechoslovak rule [cf. First Czechoslovak Republic] [8], but the situation changed when the Hungarians came to power in 1938.
Jews did well during all regimes. They were craftsmen: plumbers, tinsmiths and blacksmiths. Jews owned many shops. All tailors and barbers in the town were also Jews. They also owned almost all trade businesses. There were Jewish freight wagoners and passenger cabmen. They owned wagons, nice carriages and had fancy harness on their horses. There were rich Jews who owned factories, were doctors, lawyers and bakers.
The Jewish community took care of all poor Jews and there were no Jewish beggars in the town. All Jews, with few exceptions, were religious. They went to synagogues on Sabbath and Jewish holidays, celebrated Sabbath and Jewish holidays at home. The Jewish community provided food to all poor Jewish families on Sabbath, and matzah, chicken, gefilte fish and wine on Pesach. Every week collectors of money made the rounds of Jewish houses to collect money for poor Jews. They willingly contributed for the needs of the poor.
There was no routinely or state-level anti-Semitism during the Austro-Hungarian and Czechoslovak rule [cf. First Czechoslovak Republic] [8], but the situation changed when the Hungarians came to power in 1938.
Period
Location
Uzhgorod
Ukraine
Interview
Stepan Neuman