Story Summary:
The first Botosani American Society was established by immigrants hailing from Botosani, Romania. Initial Jewish presence dates to the 16th/17th centuries. The Jews of Botosani maintained their cultural and religious presence in Botosani, establishing labor organizations, engaging in trade, and establishing schools and Heders. The Jews of Botosani were victims of both World Wars, however most survived the Holocaust. Nonetheless, many immigrated overseas, brining the total population from over 30,000 in the 1930s to just over 100 in 2002. Their memories continue to live on. ~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
1st Botosani American
The first Botosani American Society was established by immigrants hailing from Botosani, Romania. Initial Jewish presence dates to the 16th/17th centuries. In the 1760s, some Jews engaged in the trade of cattle and honey, while others worked as professionals in tailoring, shoemaking, and butchers. The 19th century brought trade unions, fourteen of which were Jewish. By the 1930s, there were over 30,000 Jews in Botosani. This number decreased due to mass immigrations to Palestine and Israel after World War 2, bringing the total to just over 10,000 in 1956, about 260 in 1992, and just over 100 in 2002.
In 1911, a loan bank was founded in Botosani. The Jewish hospital, which started as a Hekdesh in 1877, was still functioning. A woman’s aid society was established in 1833, along with a society to aid school children in 1892. A boys and girls school was established in 1865 and 1896 respectively. In 1908, the Talmud Torah was founded, and there were over 30 Heders operating.
During World War I, cultural activities continued, however the Jews of Botosani were heavily persecuted. In 1918/1919, the Jews were granted equal rights. Most of Botosani’s Jews survived the Holocaust, however, in 1940 they were the subject of multiple robberies and property confiscations carried out the legionnaires following the Nationalization laws of October 5th and November 17th, 1940. They were also subjected to forced labor and many were victims of deportations to Transnistria.
https://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/botosani/botosani.html
https://encyclopedia.yivo.org/article/907
https://balkanist.net/my-jewish-family-in-romania-past-and-present/
https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/botosani
https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/12/resources/5330
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://jewishromgen.pythonanywhere.com/static/Botosani%20Records%20Project%20paper%20ver_1p8.pdf
https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/pinkas_romania/rom1_00029.html
https://portal.ehri-project.eu/units/us-005578-irn523859
~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
