Saturday, February 26, 2011

Photoessay #1218 - Doudleby nad Orlici


Doudleby nad Orlicí is a market town and municipality in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. This region previously known as Bohemia.

My great great grandfather Samuel Lederer (1824-1916) was born in this town in 1824. He was a tanner, emigrated to this country and established himself as a leading citizen of New Brunswick New Jersey. His father was David Lederer (1791-1829) and grandfather Juda Lederer (1760-1835). I also have record of his great grandfather Abraham Jacob Lederer. David, Juda and Abraham all lived in the Czech town.

My new third cousin Sue sent me this photo purportedly to be Juda's grave. There was no Jewish cemetery, likely this was in a neighboring town, Vanberk.

According to Jewishgen:

The Jews lived, with few exceptions, in the Jewish Ghetto consisting of more than 30 houses. All houses were along one street, the "Jews" street."


In 1772, a blood-libel riot erupted in this town (watch out with your words, Sarah Palin) after a Christian girl was found dead shortly before Pesach. A mob attacked Jews claiming that the Jews murdered her to bake matzos with her blood. I don't know about casualties. Later the murderer was found, a Christian.

In 1848 restrictions were listed regard where Jews could live. The Jewish population peaked at 305 in 1834. In 1930, only 2 Jews lived in this town and they were murdered in the Holocaust.

The picture taken Evtan D. Lederer of Haifa, Israel. Another cousin who Sue is in touch with.

Do you have any roots in a place far away and a long time ago?

Many thanks to Emily J (on her way to New York today) for contributing a contribution for a current relative living in a rural place.

No comments: