Királyhelmec was once the center of Bodrogköz in the 19th-20th centuries. The first Jews arrived here in 1820. They were mostly ashkenazi Jews from Galicia, among them merchants, tradesmen, draymen, doctors, lawyers, journalists and printers. They settled in quickly, and made up more than 25% of the total inhabitants (1100-1200). In 1944 the Jewish population was deported to concentration camps. There are two monuments to commemorate the once thriving community: the orthodox synagogue and the cemetery.

The orthodox synagogue
(Királyhelmec Hviezdoslavová utca)

The building was completed in 1851 and functioned until the beginning of the 1960’s.  (Two Jewish families live in town today.) The local government purchased the building with plans to renovate it with the help of EU funds and to use it as a cultural center. According to the plans there will be a memorial room dedicated to the Jewry of Királyhelmec. (The building is currently not open to visitors.)

The Királyhelmec Jewish cemetery
(Királyhelmec, Hlboká u. 33.)

The cemetery was used from the early 18th century to the 1970’s. (It can be visited by appointment).

Source: Tomas Mittelman Királyhelmec 2022.
Photo: Juhász István