Story Summary:
The First Independent Zinkower Society was established in New York by landslayt from Zinkov, Ukraine. The society, dissolved in 1976, provided burial and funeral expenses. Initial Jewish presence in Zinkov dates to the 16th century. Prior to the Tatar and Turk attacks, the Jews of Zinkov made their livings through trades, and had established various communal institutions promoting study. The town, and its Jewish population ceased until the 18th century. Repopulation and revitalization of Zinkov is visible from the 18th century up until Nazi occupation of the town. The Jewish population of Zinkov perished during the Holocaust. Their memories live on.
~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
First Ind. Zinkower Blog
The First Independent Zinkower Society was established in New York by landslayt from Zinkov, Ukraine. The society, dissolved in 1976, provided burial and funeral expenses. Initial Jewish presence in Zinkov dates to the 16th century. The Jews made their livings by trading with one another, mostly wheat and fruits. Torah and Talmud study was encouraged, as well as studying the Mishna and Ein Yaakov in the study halls. The town was repeatedly devastated through attacks by Tatars and Turks, resulting in the destruction of the town and hence, removal of the Jewish population. It was not until the 18th century that the town began to be rebuilt. Jews came to resettle in the “new city”, building about ten stores and forty-three Jewish houses, creating a marketplace. The Great Synagogue was also built during the first half of the 18th century. A Beit Midrash, and multiple prayer houses were also established. By the 1920s/1930s, there were about 5000 Jews inhabiting Zinkov.
The Jews of Zinkov now made their living mostly through trades and crafts (tinsmith, coppers, blacksmiths, furriers, and shoemakers). The cultural rebuilding of the town coincided with the Haskalah Enlightenment movement, and Zionism. Following the February Revolution of 1917, the “Thiya” and the Zionists club was established. The youth population created a drama studio and the “Pirhey Zion” children's society in support of the Zionist movement. A Jewish labor Bund was also established. Following the pogroms of the early 20th century, many migrated to Israel or the United States. A Jewish defense unit (Samoobrona) was created shortly after the pogroms of 1905.
German forces entered Zinkov on July 10th 1941. The Jews of Zinkov, which by this time totaled about 2000 people, were relocated into a ghetto. On August 4, 1942, the Germans again relocated them, this time into a mine along with those from neighboring towns (now totaling to about 3500 people). Only a few survived the mine explosion. The town was liberated on March 27, 1944. By 2013, there were no records of any Jews in Zinkov.
http://www.yivoarchives.org/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=33329
https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/zinkov/zin027.html#:~:text=Zinkov's%20populace%20was%20entirely%20Jewish,were%20an%20estimated%205000%20people.
https://iajgscemetery.org/eastern-europe/ukraine/zinkov
https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/zinkov/zin064.html
~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
