Various web sources quote the "earliest known Ripky Jewish community emerging in the first half of 19th century." Those details have been borrowed from the Soviet era encyclopedia, which in turn was quoting old tsarist official data. The tsarist government wanted to suppress the knowledge of the earliest Jewish settlements for various socio-political reasons. In fact, Chernigiv gubernia (on government orders) was conducting Jewish censuses at least 11-12 times, with the earliest data going back to mid 18th century. Prior to that, Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth conducted multiple Jewish censuses, starting from the early 16th century. Commonwealth used those records for a Jewish poll tax. Some of those records have already been digitized. Others are likely to emerge through the genealogical research. Known Repki demographics over time is presented below:
1797: Repki population was included into Chernigov Gubernia censuses - showing 1,113 Jews [on record; not counting illegals]
1856: Military censuses. Repki total population - 1,442; Jews in the Repki district ~ 3,437; Jews in Repki ~1,000 [estimated]
1897: All Russia Census. Repki total population - 3,336 , Jews - 3,049 [on record]
Before 1921, approximately 1,400-2,000 Jews still resided in Repki [Translator's note: extrapolated from the Kiev Pogrom Commission data ]
By 1926 Repki Jewish population was reduced to 134 [Translator's note: from the Soviet time, local district censuses ]
Hasidic congregation of Danichi (7.2 km away) and Lovin (17 km away) also used this non-landmarked cemetery. The last known Hasidic burial was recorded there in 1933.
No further burials were registered at this location.
This is the likely site where local residents would have buried the victims of 1881-1932 pogroms.
The victims of 1941-42 murders were buried at the Pelskoe cemetery of Repki (Russian: Пельское)
Contextual Translation
Recorded on : 10-17-1994
Cemetery Location:
Oldest known Ripky cemetery of Chernihiv Raion, Chernihiv Oblast, northern Ukraine.
The plot of land is located 35 km from Chernihiv, and 3 km from selo Holubychi.
Present Ripky town population is 5,001 with fewer than 10 Jews.
Site General Description:
The isolated suburban flat land has no sign or marker.
No headstones are visible. According to witnesses, the headstones were removed from the cemetery, and incorporated into roads and local structures.
The cemetery contains no known mass graves.
Within the limits of the cemetery there are no standing structures.
Hasidic congregation of Danichi (7.2 km away) and Lovin (17 km away) also used this non-landmarked cemetery. The last known Hasidic burial was recorded there in 1933.
Municipality owns this site. Land is presently identified as "other property" and is adjacent to some residential developments. Due to ongoing housing development, the cemetery boundaries are smaller now than it was in 1939. [Translator's note: hence, an accurate estimation of number of graves is problematic.]
Jewish community cared for the cemetery until the 1933.
The cemetery was vandalized prior to World War-II and during World War-II.
There is no maintenance plan for this cemetery.
[ Translator's notes:
There are at least 3 newer cemeteries in the vicinity of Ripky. The specific location of this cemetery must be verified.
During the 2022 occupation by military forces of Russian Federation, many locations were damaged by heavy armored vehicles and tanks. The location and condition of this cemetery would have to be reassessed after the war. ]
Signatories:
Researcher:
Sokolova Eleonora Evgenievna [of Kiev, Tychin Prospect 5, Apt. 68] visited the site and completed a survey on 10/17/94. She also conducted interviews of the local officials and witnesses.
Local Witnesses:
Markov Aleksey Michaylovich of Lenina St., 52, Repki
Zhila Aleksey Ivanovich of Lebedskaya St., 3, Repki
Seminog Melaniya Nikolaevna of Sovetskaya St., 78, Repki
Relevant Documentation:
At the time of recording, witnesses believed that former cemetery documentation still existed [Translator's note: in local Chernigiv archives.]
Researcher was not able to access the archives during the survey