Naugard

Summary: In 1692, seven years before the town was largely destroyed in a fire, a Jewish family settled in Naugard (present-day Novogard, Poland). Few Jewish families lived there during the 18th century; they were traders of wool, leather, copper, wax and other local products. Jewish burials were conducted in Plathe until 1817, when the Jews of Naugard finally consecrated their own cemetery on Hinterburger Landstrasse. Although we do not know when the Jewish congregation was officially formed, records do tell us that in 1865/66, the community inaugurated a synagogue on the corner of Schuhstrasse and Toepferstrasse. A teacher/cantor served the community until 1925. The smaller congregations of Massov (Muszewo) and Daber (Dobra) were affiliated with the community of Naugard. Although the Massov community managed to maintain its own synagogue until 1900, at no point did its Jewish population exceed 100; Daber, an even smaller community, never established a prayer room. In 1930, in response to the political climate, the congregation began to disintegrate. On Pogrom Night (November 1938), rioters desecrated the cemetery, broke windows in Jewish homes and in the two remaining Jewishowned shops, and burned down the synagogue. Three Jewish families were deported from Naugard. Forty-five Naugard Jews perished in the Shoah.

Author / Sources: Ruth Martina Trucks
Sources: EJL, LJG, FJG, YV