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>>Robert Schlesinger wrote:
I recently found my grandmother's birth certificate, showing that she was born in
Gmund, Bohemia. It mentioned that Ludwig STEIN, her father, "who belongs to
iskowitz in Bohemia." I am not quite sure what this means. Also, I assume that this
Gmund is the one on the Austrian-Czech border.
The birth certificate was from the Jewish Community in Waidhofen, apparently since
there wasn't a Jewish community in Gmund. About how far from each other are these
>>communities?
Robert,
Jewish community of Waidhofen an der Thaya (means on the Thaya River) in Lower
Austria, included districts: Gmund, Ottenschlag, Pogstall and Zwetttl. This town
should not be confused with Waidhofen an der Ybbs, situated WSW from Wien,
Austrian capital.
Town Gmund in Lower Austria should also be not confused with several other places
by the same name in Germany.
"Your" Gmund is situated on the Luznice River, where it form the border with town
Ceske Valenice on the Czech side. There is again a bit of confusion, since by the
1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain, the railway station of Gmund was allocated to Czech
side of town in Czechia, hence Gmund could be also recognized as town in Bohemia -
all depending by which side of the railway one was botn.
Bohemia, on the other hand, is known as the western, the largest of three lands in
Czechia. Historically, Bohemia is also known as the all of Czechia territory
(currently Czech Republic).
Distance from Gmund to Waidhofen an der Taya is 14 miles (22 km).
Ludwig Stern, your maternal grandfather was a member of Iskowitz family from
Bohemia, you should search for this family roots in Czech archives.
Last issue is how large was the Jewish community of Waidhofen an der Taya?
Entry for Waidhofen an der Thaya in WOWW (Where Once We Walked) Gazetteer lists
317 Jewish souls, but there is no source of this info identified.
Few other sources list Jewish community members of Waidhofen an der Taya as:
Year 1880 - 79,Year 1900 - 57, Year 1934 - 82.
Sources:
Genee, Pierre, Synagogen in Osterreich, Wien 1992
David, Judische Kulturzeitschrift in Osterreich
Fuhrer, E./Hitz, H., Juden in Waidhofen an der Thaya, in: F. Polleross, Die
Erinnerung tut zu weh, Horn/Waidhofen 1996
It appears that Waidhofen an der Taya is not identified as recognized Jewish
community in JewishGen databases. Please add this town and Gmund for listing in
your JGFF file.
Best
Alexander Sharon
JGFF editor