The first mention of Ostroh was in the 1100s as the seat of the Ostrogski family. In the 14th century, Ostroh Castle was built and served as part of the fortress of Volhynian princes.
Jews are documented to have arrived in Ostroh by the mid-1400s, based on tombstone dates. The town's synagogue was an integral part of this defensive position; Jewish men were expected to man the synagogue parapets in the event of an attack. Women defended the town by forming bucket brigades to fight fires.
Ostroh's large Jewish community, relatively well-off compared to other towns, was the home of Samuel Edels, the founder of the seventeenth century Edels Yeshivah. The city became known as a center for talmudic study.
Ostroh was also known as a center of publishing. Books printed in Ostroh publishing houses fill several chapters of Jewish Bibliography.
This site shows:
the town's name in various languages,
political jurisdictions during different time periods, and
contact information for other researchers interested in this town via the JewishGen Family Finder (JGFF).
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