The Jewish settlers of Erdőbénye arrived in the early 18th century, and were mainly grape and wine producers. The village was famous for its coopers and their high-quality barrels made of Zemplén oak, which were used to brew and transport wine. The Jewish community had a chevra kadisa (burial association), a relief- and a women’s association, and an elementary school. The synagogue was destroyed, the only Jewish memorials remaining are the cemetery and the mikveh.

The Erdőbénye Jewish cemetery
(Erdőbénye, Petőfi u. 13.)
The Jewish cemetery constitutes a well-maintained section of the village cemetery with graves in good condition.

The former mikveh (ritual bath)
(Erdőbénye, Serház utca)
The bath water of the mikveh has to be naturally sourced. This one is supposedly the only free flowing mikveh in Central Europe, sourced by natural spring water. The building is in need of renovation.

Sources:
Elie Wiesel: Studytour;
Börzsönyi, Komjáthy, Szabados, Tóth, „A csodarabbik nyomában”
www.csodarabbikutja.hu
Zsidó temetők Mo-on 2020. (Facebook)
Photos: Káposznyák István és Juhász István