Skvyra
Encyclopedia
Skvyra is a town in the Kiev Oblast
(province
) of central Ukraine
. It is the administrative center of the Skvyra Raion
(district
), and is currently a municipality of raion subordinance. Skvyra currently has a population of about 18,009 and an area of 6328 km² (2,443.3 sq mi).
The ancient town of Skvyra was completely destroyed at the end of the 16th century. In 1736, Skvyra was mentioned as a village (selo) leased by a Jewish lessee. According to the census of 1765, there were 124 houses in Skvyra, 51 of which belonged to Jews. In 1775, 116 Jews lived in Skvyra, in 1784 there were 204, and in 1787, 144.
After Skvyra was included in the Pale of Settlement
, the town’s Jewish community increased. In 1847, the Jewish population amounted to 2,184 people, and in 1897 there were 8,910 Jews in the town (49.5% of the general population). At the end of the 19th century, there were seven synagogue
s, a parochial school, a hospital, a chemist and a district doctor in Skvyra. Many Jews were involved in grain and timber export. By 1910 the town housed a Talmud Torah
, a Jewish private boys’ school and two private girls’ schools.
Two pogrom
s were carried out in the town in 1917, and a wave of six pogroms in 1919, some of which lasted for several weeks. There were rapes, houses were burnt down, and Jewish property was seized and destroyed or sold to local peasants. 191 people were killed and hundreds injured. After the pogroms an epidemic in the town killed up to 30 people a day. The Jewish population fled to Kiev
, Odessa
and Belaya Tserkov.
Under the Soviet regime
, the religious and communal life of the Jews of Skvyra was dissolved. In 1926, the Jewish population was 4,681, about 33.6% of the population. In 1939, 2,243 Jews lived in Skvyra, which ranked among the biggest Jewish communities of Ukraine at that time.
During World War II
, German forces occupied the town in September 1941. For a time, the Sonderkommando
headquarters was based in Skvyra. On September 20, 1941, 850 Jews were shot in Skvyra. A few days later, over 140 more were executed. According to the head of Skvyra’s Jewish community, mass shootings of Jews took place in the vicinity of the market, the 2nd school and in Bannaya Street. After the war, Skvyra’s Jewish population totalled approximately 1,000 people, in 1960 about 500 people.
The Twersky Skver Hasidic dynasty
line emanating from Skvyra eventually settled in the United States
where part of the community founded their own township called New Square
(Skvyra being pronounced as "Skver" in Yiddish
) in Rockland County, New York
. In 2004 the Skvyra synagogue and the tzaddik’s court, now a hotel for Hasidic visitors, were restored. In 2009, the Jewish community of Skvyra numbered about 120 people.
was born in the city.
Kiev Oblast
Kyiv Oblast, sometimes written as Kiev Oblast is an oblast in central Ukraine.The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Kyiv , also being the capital of Ukraine...
(province
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
) of central Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. It is the administrative center of the Skvyra Raion
Skvyra Raion
Skvyra Raion is a raion in Kiev Oblast of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Skvyra....
(district
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
), and is currently a municipality of raion subordinance. Skvyra currently has a population of about 18,009 and an area of 6328 km² (2,443.3 sq mi).
History
After Skvyra was included in the Pale of Settlement
Pale of Settlement
The Pale of Settlement was the term given to a region of Imperial Russia, in which permanent residency by Jews was allowed, and beyond which Jewish permanent residency was generally prohibited...
, the town’s Jewish community increased. In 1847, the Jewish population amounted to 2,184 people, and in 1897 there were 8,910 Jews in the town (49.5% of the general population). At the end of the 19th century, there were seven synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s, a parochial school, a hospital, a chemist and a district doctor in Skvyra. Many Jews were involved in grain and timber export. By 1910 the town housed a Talmud Torah
Talmud Torah
Talmud Torah schools were created in the Jewish world, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic, as a form of public primary school for boys of modest backgrounds, where they were given an elementary education in Hebrew, the Scriptures , and the Talmud...
, a Jewish private boys’ school and two private girls’ schools.
Two pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s were carried out in the town in 1917, and a wave of six pogroms in 1919, some of which lasted for several weeks. There were rapes, houses were burnt down, and Jewish property was seized and destroyed or sold to local peasants. 191 people were killed and hundreds injured. After the pogroms an epidemic in the town killed up to 30 people a day. The Jewish population fled to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
and Belaya Tserkov.
Under the Soviet regime
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the religious and communal life of the Jews of Skvyra was dissolved. In 1926, the Jewish population was 4,681, about 33.6% of the population. In 1939, 2,243 Jews lived in Skvyra, which ranked among the biggest Jewish communities of Ukraine at that time.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, German forces occupied the town in September 1941. For a time, the Sonderkommando
Sonderkommando
Sonderkommandos were work units of Nazi death camp prisoners, composed almost entirely of Jews, who were forced, on threat of their own deaths, to aid with the disposal of gas chamber victims during The Holocaust...
headquarters was based in Skvyra. On September 20, 1941, 850 Jews were shot in Skvyra. A few days later, over 140 more were executed. According to the head of Skvyra’s Jewish community, mass shootings of Jews took place in the vicinity of the market, the 2nd school and in Bannaya Street. After the war, Skvyra’s Jewish population totalled approximately 1,000 people, in 1960 about 500 people.
The Twersky Skver Hasidic dynasty
Skver (Hasidic dynasty)
Skver is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver . Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim....
line emanating from Skvyra eventually settled in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where part of the community founded their own township called New Square
New Square, New York
New Square is an all-Hasidic village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Hillcrest; east of Viola; south of New Hempstead and west of New City...
(Skvyra being pronounced as "Skver" in Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
) in Rockland County, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 2004 the Skvyra synagogue and the tzaddik’s court, now a hotel for Hasidic visitors, were restored. In 2009, the Jewish community of Skvyra numbered about 120 people.
People
Asher Ginzberg (Ahad Ha'am), writer and publicist, founder of Cultural ZionismCultural Zionism
Cultural Zionism is a strain of the concept of Zionism that values Jewish culture and history, including language and historical roots, rather than other Zionist ideas such as political Zionism...
was born in the city.
See also
- History of the Jews in UkraineHistory of the Jews in UkraineJewish communities have existed in the territory of Ukraine from the time of Kievan Rus' and developed many of the most distinctive modern Jewish theological and cultural traditions. While at times they flourished, at other times they faced periods of persecution and antisemitic discriminatory...
- Skver (Hasidic dynasty)Skver (Hasidic dynasty)Skver is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver . Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim....
- New Square, New YorkNew Square, New YorkNew Square is an all-Hasidic village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Hillcrest; east of Viola; south of New Hempstead and west of New City...
, from anglicized form of Skvyra.