Monastyrishche

Jews began to settle in Monastyrishche in the first half of the 17th century. The Jewish community of Monastyrishche suffered greatly from pogroms during the Chmielnitsky Uprising (1648-1649) and the Haidamak revolts of the 18th century.

During the civil war in Russia (1918-1920) 106 Jews were murdered in Monastyrishche in pogroms carried out by the White Army, Petlyura’s Ukrainian Army, and local gangs.

In 1920 a Yiddish school was opened in Monastyrishche and in 1925 a Jewish soviet was established. At the same time traditional primary schools (hadorim ) continued to operate in the town. In 1920s the Jewish kolkhoz Naye Lebn was established near the town and in 1932 two more Jewish kolkhozes – Lenins Veg and The 13th of October. During the Soviet period most Monastyrishche Jews were craftsmen or workers.

At the beginning of 1939 the Jews of Monastyrishche numbered 1,398, comprising 74.4 percent of the total population of the town.

The Germans occupied Monastyrishche on July 22, 1941 and immediately began persecuting the Jews. Most Monastyrishche Jews were killed on May 29,1942. Several Jews from Dashev, center of the County adjactent to Monastyrishche were murdered in Monastyrishche in 1942 or 1943 too.

Monastyrishche was liberated by the Red Army on March 10, 1944.