Project «Voices of Jewish settlements. Vitebsk region.»פיתוח קשרי התרבות בין העמים של ישראל ובלרוס
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Alexander RosenbergBESHENKOVICHIUrban settlement, located in Vitebsk region on the Western Dvina river.The first settlement in this place dates from the 15th century. Back then it was a small village, and the earliest reference about its Jewish population dates from 1600. The Jewish settlers were mainly involved in crafts and minor trade, which led Beshenkovichi to economic prosperity and soon the village gained the status of a town. In 1785 Jews owned around 150 houses. One of the biggest summer fairs in Russia, Petropavlovskaya fair, was organized in the town. Jews mostly sold pottery, soap and roof sheets. In 1847 the Jewish community in Beshenkovichi consisted of 663 men and 678 women. In 1834 there were two synagogues, and in 1849 – five. In 1848, 1854 and 1858 the Jewish population of the town suffered immensely from fires, which was negatively reflected on the living conditions. In 1852 there were 1,341 Jews in Beshenkovichi, accounting for 53.6% of the whole population. At the end of the 19th century the Jewish population started to grow continuously, with 1,729 people (64.3% of the total population) in 1881 and 3,182 people (71.9% of the total population) in 1897. Beshenkovichi was famous for its rabbis. Rabbi Abraham Israel Goldenson (disciple of Rabbi Menahem Mendle from Vitebsk) lived and worked in the town and was buried at the local cemetery. In 1909-1910 Abraham Ben Aharon Gildinson and Yevsey Joseph Neimotin were appointed local rabbis, in 1912 – Rabbi Joshua Leyin, in 1914 – Rabbi Israel-Yankel Hirsh Lerman. During the First World War, the Civil War and collectivization the Jewish population of Beshenkovichi suffered immensely from the social changes. Traditional religious life was practically destroyed: the synagogues were closing, the rabbis persecuted, people died. By 1926 the Jewish population had decreased by half in comparison with 1897. The Bolshevik authorities did not encourage development of Jewish national and especially religious identity. In 1939 the Jewish population of Beshenkovichi accounted for 16% (1,119 people) of the total population. Before the Great Patriotic War this number almost doubled (2,800 people) due to the Jews that had fled from Poland. On June 6th, 1941 the Nazi troops invaded the town. The occupation lasted almost three years until June 25th, 1944. From 1941 to 1942 all the Jews that had not managed to escape the town, were killed. According to an official investigation 2,900 Jews were executed in Beshenkovichi. The executions took place on the bank of the Western Dvina river, the bodies later discarded into the river. Many victims were buried alive, especially children and old people. From the story of a former town dweller, who came back from evacuation, the local Jews collected money and set up a memorial stone, surrounded by a chain, on top of one of the hills. However the memorial was destroyed in the 60’s. Later a new memorial was set up in the town with an inscription in Russian and Hebrew “To 1,068 Soviet citizens, who perished during the Nazi invasion on February 11th, 1942”. The Jewish community life was not restored after the war. Around 30 Jews lived in Beshenkovichi in 1998 and currently the Jewish population is practically not present. The author of the article is grateful to Vladimir Akopian, who works at the Affiliate of the Jewish Agency in Belarus, for his assistance in writing this article. Vadim’s grandmother originated from Beshenkovichi, and his valuable help in creating this material was a tribute in memory of his relatives.Literature:
1. Jewish encyclopedia. Reprinted edition. Edited by Garkavi and Katznelson. V.4. M.:Terra, 1991
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Shtetls of Vitebsk regionVitebsk • Albrehtovo • Babinovichi • Babynichi • Baran • Bayevo • Begoml • Beloye • Beshenkovichi • Bigosovo • Bocheikovo • Bogushevsk • Bolbasovo • Borkovichi • Borovuha • Braslav • Bychiha • Chashniki • Chereya • Disna • Dobromysli • Dokshitsy • Druisk • Drutsk • Druya • Dubrovno • Dunilovichi • Dvorishe • Germanovichi • Glubokoye • Golubichi • Gomel • Gorodok • Ikazn • Iody • Kamen • Kohanovo • Kolyshki • Kopys • Koziany • Krasnoluki • Krasnopolie • Kublichi • Latygolichi • Lepel • Liady • Liozno • Lukoml • Luzhki • Lyntupy • Matiyevo • Miory • Новый Погост• Obol • Oboltsy • Opsa • Orehovsk • Orsha • Osintorf • Ostrovno • Osveya • Parafianovo • Plissa • Podsvilye • Polotsk • Postavy • Prozorki • Rossony • Senno • Sharkovshina • Shumilino • Sirotino • Slavnoye • Slobodka • Smolyany • Surazh • Svecha • Tolochin • Trudy • Ulla • Ushachi • Verhnedvinsk • Vetrino • Vidzy • Volkolata • Volyntsy • Voronichi • Vorontsevichi • Yanovichi• Yezerishe • Yuhovichi • Zhary • |
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