| LITEN: Beroun, Bohemia |
|
|
US Commission No. ZCE0000041 Alternate name: Litten in German. Liten is located in Bohemia, Beroun at 49º54 14º09, 9 km SE of Beroun and 28 km SW of Prague. Cemetery: 1 km SSW. Present town population is under 1,000 with no Jews.
Earliest known Jewish community was 1715. 1930 Jewish population was 13. Peak Jewish population was 1793 with 102 people; Jews moved to big towns after 1848. The Jewish cemetery originated in 1680 with last known Conservative or Progressive/Reform Jewish burial before 1941. Vseradice; Bestin (before 1835); Lochovice, Praskolesy, Horovice (before 1865); Beroun (before 1886) (5 km; 14 km; 13 km, 15 km, 18 km; and 8 km respectively) used cemetery. The isolated rural (agricultural) slope has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open with permission (but available across open low wall). A continuous masonry wall and locking gate surround. The pre- and post-WWII size of cemetery is 0.4061 ha. 100-500 stones date from end of 17th-20th century. The cemetery has old and new part. The granite, limestone and sandstone flat shaped stones, finely smoothed and inscribed stones, flat stones with carved relief decoration, double tombstones or multi-stone monuments have inscriptions in Hebrew, German and Czech. Some tombstones have portraits on stones and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. Within the limits of the site is a closed pre-burial house. Praha Jewish community owns the site used only for Jewish cemetery. Adjacent properties are agricultural, forested, and unused areas. Occasionally, organized Jewish tours or pilgrimage groups, Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors and local residents stop. Vandalism occurred prior to World War II, (by Nazis), during World War II, occasionally 1945-1991. Jewish groups within the country did the restoration in late 1980s-1990s. The Jewish congregation probably pays regular caretaker. Slight threats: uncontrolled access, weather erosion, vegetation and vandalism. |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 19 February 2009 18:06 |