Jewish Religious Community in Hořice

Collection

Creator/accumulator:: Jewish Religious Community in Hořice (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde in Hořic)

Scope and content:: The fonds contains documents of the Jewish religious community in Hořice: books, files, and other material. The fonds contains filing protocols from the years 1887-1894, 1896-1916, a copy of correspondence 1896-1906, accounting books 1864-1902, a book of synagogue seats, a cemetery book, and a commemorative book. The file material mainly includes statutory matters, election agenda, correspondence, death announcements, invitations, agenda related to registration of members, property management and financial matters, documents on buildings (school, cemetery, synagogue, hospital, etc.), funeral fraternity documents, and others documents about religious instruction, ritual, social and health care. Other materials include plans (topographical plan from 1883) and technical drawings (synagogue, cemetery, mourning hall, school, hospital) from 1859-1900.

Archival history:: The fonds was first part of the archives of the Hořice Municipal Museum, and then of separate municipal archives detached from it, which were changed to the district archives in 1953. After the territorial reorganisation in 1960 and the abolition of the Hořice district, it became part of the Jičín District Archives.

Administrative/biographical history:: The Jewish settlement in Hořice had been documented since the 1520s and, probably in the 17th century, a Jewish community with its own self-government was established. Around 1739, the community built the first wooden synagogue, which was rebuilt in 1767 into a Baroque stone building. At that time, the community included 40 families. Around the middle of the 19th century, up to 400 Jews lived in Hořice. The function of the representative and administrative body of the community was performed by the mayor together with the board. The Jewish religious community employed paid officials (rabbi, cantor, teacher, gravedigger, cemetery administrator). Among the important representatives of the community were representatives of the Hořice business families like the Hirschs, the Feuersteins and the Goldschmidts.

Subject terms:: Architectural drawings; Cemeteries; Correspondence; Education; Education--Schools and universities; Financial matters; Hazkarah; Health and medical matters; Health and medical matters--Hospitals; Hevrah kadisha; Jewish community; Jewish community records; Synagogues; Welfare

System of arrangement:: The fonds is divided into three basic parts - A. books, B. files, C. other material. The file material has no internal structure, but it is arranged chronologically.