Ostrozhets

Dubno district, Rivne region

Sources:
- Jewish encyclopedia of Brockhaus & Efron;
- Russian Jewish encyclopedia. Translated from Russian by Eugene Snaider;
- The All South-Western Territory: reference and address book of the Kyiv, Podolsk and Volyn provinces. Printing house L.M. Fish and P.E. Wolfson, 1913;
- A.I. Kruglov, "Ostrozhets", [in:] I.A. Altman (ed.), Holokost na tieritorii SSSR, Moscow 2009

Photo:
- European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative. Ostrozhets New Jewish Cemetery
- Vladimir Levin, Center for Jewish Art. Torhovytsya and Ostrozhets Victims Monument

Rivne region - list of settlements and location of objects

Ostrozhets, 2024

Ostrozhets (ukr. Острожець, rus. Острожец) was founded in 1528. In the 16-18 centuries - as part of the Commonwealth. Since 1795 - as part of the Russian Empire. In the 19th - beginning of the 20th century - the township of Dubno district of the Volyn province. In 1919–39 - as part of Poland, in 1939–91 - the Ukrainian SSR.

In 1784, 82 Jews lived in Ostrozhets and the surrounding settlements,
in 1847 in Ostrozhets - 333,
in 1870 - 177 (18.2%),
in 1897 - 636 (43.4%),
in 1921 - 632 (37%),
In 1939 - 624 Jews.

The first mention of Jews in Ostrozhets dates back to 1528. In the 17th century, a Jewish cemetery was laid. In 1867, the synagogue acted.
Since 1870, Benjamin Firer (1840–?) was a rabbi in Ostrozhets.

The main classes of the Jewish population in the 19th - early 20th centuries are trade (goods brought from Lutsk) and various crafts.
In 1897, among the Jews of the town there were 8 merchants, several small traders, 6 artisans.

In 1914, Jews owned all 5 grocery shops and the only shop of ironed goods.


New Jewish cemetery in Ostrozhets, 2019		Holocaust memorial in the New Jewish cemetery, 2019

Ostrozhets in the 1913 reference book

In the 1920-30s. Ostrozhets had 3 synagogues, including 2 Hasid. There were branches of various Jewish parties and organizations.

After the occupation by parts of the Wehrmacht in Ostrozhets, 40 Jews were shot in August 1941.
In April 1942, a ghetto was created, which contained approx. 900 Jews from Ostrozhets and Torhovytsya.
On October 9, 1942, the ghetto was liquidated. More than 700 Jews are shot, approx. 200 Jews managed to escape on the eve of "action".

Torhovytsya and Ostrozhets Victims Monument in Holon cemetery, Israel, 2023