Jews began to settle in Rożyszcze (currently Rozhyshche, Ukraine) at the end of the 18th century, but the community started to flourish when the town gained a railway connection. In 1897, it had 3,169 Jewish inhabitants – 82.1% of the total population. The main sources of revenue were small textile manufacturing plants and breweries, as well as gristmills. The town also boasted numerous Jewish-owned trading stores specialising in agricultural products.
According to the 1921 census, the number of Jews in Rożyszcze decreased to 2,686, but the community continued to constitute the majority of the population – 82.3%. Fluctuations in the community size were a consequence of the difficult situation of Jews during the World War I. It was only possible to rebuild the community with support from the Joint Distribution Committee. In the interwar period, 270 out of all 320 stores in the town belonged to Jews. The Zionists were the most active political movement – all major Zionist parties and most youth movements had their cells in the town. There was also a Tarbut school.
In September 1939, the town found itself under Soviet occupation. On 28 June 1941, it was taken over by Germans; a pogrom was perpetrated by Ukrainians almost immediately after the arrival of Nazi troops. In July 1941, two extermination “actions” were carried out by the occupier, resulting in the death of a total of 430 people. The Germans ordered the creation of a Judenrat and imposed forced labour regime on the Jewish population. In February 1942, a ghetto was set up in the town. It was extremely overcrowded, with some 25–30 people per room. The liquidation of the closed district took place on 23 August 1942. The Germans forced Jews to line up next to previously dug pits and murdered them. Ca. 80 would-be victims survived, having been given shelter by local Polish and Czech families.
Bibliography
- “Rozyszcze,” [in:] The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, vol. 2, eds. Sh. Spector, G. Wigoder, New York 2001, pp. 1060–1061.
