Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
, 35 kilometers from county capital
Miskolc
Miskolc ( , ; ; Czech language, Czech and ; ; ; ) is a city in northeastern Hungary, known for its heavy industry. With a population of 161,265 as of 1 January 2014, Miskolc is the List of cities and towns in Hungary#Largest cities in Hungary, ...
.
History
The area has been inhabited since ancient times. A necropolis from the
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...
was founded here. At this time the village was called ''Csát'' and it had two separate parts: ''Szabadcsát'', where freemen lived, and ''Lakcsát'' where
serf
Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery. It developed du ...
s lived.
During the Mongol invasion of Hungary Mezőcsát was destroyed. It was mentioned again only in the 1330s. After the battle of
Mezőkeresztes
Mezőkeresztes is a town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary in the continent of Europe near Mezőkövesd and Eger.
Location
south from county seat Miskolc. Can be reached by car on highway M3. The train station ''Mezőkeresztes� ...
it was abandoned again, but people settled in the area once more when Borsod comitatus was ruled from
Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
under Ruling Prince Gábor Bethlen. In 1686 the Imperial forces burnt Mezőcsát down, but in a document from 1698 it is mentioned as a town with right to hold a market, so it must have been a significant town then. The inhabitants took part in the revolution against the Habsburgs in 1848-49, and the imperial forces burnt the village again.
After 1867 Mezőcsát prospered, the railway line reached the village; mills were built and banks were opened.
In
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, Mezőcsát lost 176 of its residents. The monument on Heroes Square, the main square of Mezőcsát, was erected to their memory. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
the
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
inhabitants were
deported
Deportation is the expulsion of a person or group of people by a state from its Sovereignty, sovereign territory. The actual definition changes depending on the place and context, and it also changes over time. A person who has been deported or ...
. On 7 November 1944, the Soviet army occupied the village.
During the next few decades Mezőcsát prospered, even though its role as centre of the area was taken over by the newly built town of
Tiszaújváros
Tiszaújváros (; ) is an industrial town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, south-east of Miskolc, near the river Tisza.
History
The town was built up on the outskirts of the old village Tiszaszederkény. In legal terms the ol ...
. On 1 January 1991, Mezőcsát regained its town status.
Jewish History of Mezőcsat
Chief Rabbis of the Jewish Community of Mezőcsát, Hungary
Jewish community
Jews began settling in Mezőcsát (then part of the Kingdom of Hungary) during the second half of the
18th century
The 18th century lasted from 1 January 1701 (represented by the Roman numerals MDCCI) to 31 December 1800 (MDCCC). During the 18th century, elements of Enlightenment thinking culminated in the Atlantic Revolutions. Revolutions began to ch ...
. The Jewish community was officially organized in the early
19th century
The 19th century began on 1 January 1801 (represented by the Roman numerals MDCCCI), and ended on 31 December 1900 (MCM). It was the 9th century of the 2nd millennium. It was characterized by vast social upheaval. Slavery was Abolitionism, ...
. The community included eight surrounding villages:
Tiszadorogma
Tiszadorogma is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northea ...
,
Tiszakeszi
Tiszakeszi is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary. It is not connected to any railway networks. An estimated 30% of the population in Tiszakeszi are Romani people
{{Infobox ethnic group
, group = Romani people
, ...
Hejőpapi
Hejőpapi is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County in northeastern Hungary.Emőd, Nemesbikk, and Hejőbába.
The original synagogue was destroyed in a fire. In
1880
Events
January
*January 27 – Thomas Edison is granted a patent for the incandescent light bulb. Edison filed for a US patent for an electric lamp using "a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected ... to platina contact wires." gr ...
(Hebrew year 5640 – תר"מ), a new synagogue was constructed, which still stands today. A Talmud Torah was established in
1878
Events January
* January 5 – Russo-Turkish War: Battle of Shipka Pass IV – Russian and Bulgarian forces defeat the Ottoman Empire.
* January 9 – Umberto I becomes King of Italy.
* January 17 – Russo-Turkish War: ...
(תרל"ח), and the town's yeshiva was founded by Rabbi Yaakov Tannenbaum leter Chief rabbi of Putnok ("''Nehar Efarsemon''"). Leadership later passed to his brother Rabbi Shraga Tzvi Tannenbaum ("''Neteh Sorek''") and continued through future generations.
Rabbis of Mezőcsát
* Rabbi Eliezer Spitz – Served as Av Beit Din (Chief Rabbi) of Mezőcsát from 1810 (תק"ע) to 1840 (ת"ר).
* Rabbi Menachem Bleier – Son-in-law of R. Spitz; author of ''Kavod HaLevanon''. Succeeded his father-in-law for 2 years, then served as rabbi in Paraszló, and later in
Eger
Eger ( , ; ; also known by other #Names and etymology, alternative names) is the county seat of Heves County, and the second largest city in Northern Hungary (after Miskolc). A city with county rights, Eger is best known for Castle of Eger, its ...
. Passed away on
Shavuot
(, from ), or (, in some Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi usage), is a Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday, one of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan; in the 21st century, it may ...
1890 (תר"נ).
* Rabbi Aharon Fried – Disciple of the Chatam Sofer. Served briefly in Mezőcsát in 1843 (תר"ג) but left after his house burned down. Later became rabbi of Beszterec. Author of ''Omer LaTziyon'', ''She’elot u-Teshuvot Mahara"f'', ''Zeken Aharon'', and more. He was a son-in-law of the author of ''Shemen Rokeach''.
* Rabbi Yosef Reis (Reisz) – Disciple of the Chatam Sofer. Previously rabbi in Lik, he served in Mezőcsát from around 1847 (תר"ז) until his death on 8 Iyar 1865 (תרכ"ה). Buried in Mezőcsát.
* Rabbi Menachem Levi Stein – Later moved to
Berlin
Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
. Many of his Torah insights were published in ''Tel Talpiyot'', ''Yagdil Torah'', ''Veyilket Yosef'', and others.
* Rabbi Yaakov Tannenbaum – Author of ''Nehar Efarsemon''. Served as rabbi from 1869 (תרכ"ט) to 1873 (תרל"ג), then accepted a position in Putnok.
* Rabbi Shraga Tzvi Tannenbaum – Older brother of Rabbi Yaakov, author of ''Neta Sorek''. Served from 1874 (תרל"ד) until his passing on 4 Adar 1897 (תרנ"ז).
* Rabbi Yehuda Altman – Son-in-law of Rabbi Shraga Tzvi; author of ''Yam Shel Yehuda'' and others. Served from 1897 (תרנ"ז) until his death on 3 Iyar 1923 (תרפ"ג).
* Rabbi Shraga Tzvi Altman – Son of Rabbi Yehuda Altman; author of ''Ataret Tzvi''. Appointed in 1923 at the age of 24. Martyred in the Holocaust on 24 Sivan 1944 (תש"ד).
After the Holocaust
Following the
Holocaust
The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...
, about 80 Jews returned to Mezőcsát and reestablished the community under the leadership of the shochet Rabbi Eliyahu Alter Rosenfeld. However, after the
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 (23 October – 4 November 1956; ), also known as the Hungarian Uprising, was an attempted countrywide revolution against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1989) and the policies caused by ...
, most Jews fled due to fears of communist oppression. By 1960 (תש"ך), only around nine families remained.
In 1988 (תשמ"ח), a new yeshiva named Neta Sorek Mezőcsát was founded in Kiryas Joel,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
, led by Rabbi Meir Yehuda Tannenbaum, a grandson of Rabbi Shraga Tzvi ("Neta Sorek"). He also established the Neta Sorek de'Tshateh'' community, including a mikveh, in Kiryas Joel.
Works Authored by Mezőcsát Rabbis
* ''Nehar Efarsemon'' – R. Yaakov Tannenbaum
* ''Neta Sorek'' – R. Shraga Tzvi Tannenbaum
* ''Yam Shel Yehuda'' – R. Yehuda Altman
* ''Ataret Tzvi'' – R. Shraga Tzvi Altman
* ''Omer LaTziyon'', ''Mahara"f Responsa'', ''Zeken Aharon'' – R. Aharon Fried
* ''Kavod HaLevanon'' – R. Menachem Bleier
And more