Staro Zakrevsky Meidan
Encyclopedia
Starozakrevsky Maidan
("Old Zakrevsky Field (or Square)") , located between Derazhnia
and Volkovintzi, near Kalnaya in the Podolia
region of Ukraine
was a Jewish agricultural colony
established in 1844. It was the largest and most prosperous agricultural colony near Derazhnia
, at one point in the late 19th century it had a population of over 700. The colony continued until it was turned into a kolkhoz
Stary Maidan by the Soviets in 1928. It was nicknamed "Yiddish Maidan" by its residents, primarily to distinguish it from the nearby village of Novy Maidan("New Maidan"). Due to periodic pogroms and to impoverished conditions in the first two decades of the 20th century, many residents emigrated to the United States
(and some to Israel
). Those who settled in America formed a burial society, Yiddish Meidan Verein, purchased a plot in Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York, where many of the early immigrants are buried. In 1941, the remaining residents of Starozakrevsky Maidan were moved to the Derazhnia ghetto
and eventually shot to death by the Nazis. Today Stary Meidan is the village mostly popilated by ethnic Ukrainians
.
Maidan
Maidan or Maydan is a Persian word meaning "town square". It may refer to:- Squares and parks :* Maidan , a park in Kolkata, India* Maidan Nezalezhnosti, "Independence Square", the central square of Kiev, capital of Ukraine...
("Old Zakrevsky Field (or Square)") , located between Derazhnia
Derazhnia
Derazhnia is a city and railway station in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast of western Ukraine. Derazhnia is situated along the banks of the Vovk River , 42 km east from the regional center Khmelnytskyi. An important railway junction on the line Lviv-Khmelnytskyi-Zhmerynka. Derazhnia has 10,500...
and Volkovintzi, near Kalnaya in the Podolia
Podolia
The region of Podolia is an historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day Ukraine, corresponding to Khmelnytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast. Northern Transnistria, in Moldova, is also a part of Podolia...
region of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
was a Jewish agricultural colony
Jewish agricultural colonies in the Russian Empire
Jewish agricultural colonies in the Russian Empire were first established in Kherson Governorate in 1806. The Ukase of December 9, 1804 allowed Jews for the first time in Russia to purchase land for farming settlements . Jews were provided exemption from military service, tax abatements, and...
established in 1844. It was the largest and most prosperous agricultural colony near Derazhnia
Derazhnia
Derazhnia is a city and railway station in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast of western Ukraine. Derazhnia is situated along the banks of the Vovk River , 42 km east from the regional center Khmelnytskyi. An important railway junction on the line Lviv-Khmelnytskyi-Zhmerynka. Derazhnia has 10,500...
, at one point in the late 19th century it had a population of over 700. The colony continued until it was turned into a kolkhoz
Kolkhoz
A kolkhoz , plural kolkhozy, was a form of collective farming in the Soviet Union that existed along with state farms . The word is a contraction of коллекти́вное хозя́йство, or "collective farm", while sovkhoz is a contraction of советское хозяйство...
Stary Maidan by the Soviets in 1928. It was nicknamed "Yiddish Maidan" by its residents, primarily to distinguish it from the nearby village of Novy Maidan("New Maidan"). Due to periodic pogroms and to impoverished conditions in the first two decades of the 20th century, many residents emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(and some to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
). Those who settled in America formed a burial society, Yiddish Meidan Verein, purchased a plot in Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York, where many of the early immigrants are buried. In 1941, the remaining residents of Starozakrevsky Maidan were moved to the Derazhnia ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
and eventually shot to death by the Nazis. Today Stary Meidan is the village mostly popilated by ethnic Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
.