The historians mention the most ancient cemetery in the Moldavian part of the town, closed down in 1691.

It is a very significant evidence of Jewish presence in those ancient times.

After the cemetery was closed down, part of the graves were desecrated and the tombstones were taken by the population of the town and used to build the steps of the Sf.John Church; they were put face down, to hide the inscriptions on the stones (this fact is reproduced from “The Romanian Jews in Historic Writings”, HaSefer Publishers, page 53).

Another two ancient cemeteries are known, both from the 18 th century:

The first – in Moldavian Focsani, Perjoi-St (1781)

The second – in Muntenian Focsani, in the Bahne-region, beside the “Balta lui Asanache” (“Asanache’s Pool”) (1787)

It is obvious that in the 28 th century and even before, two Communities existed who participated in the development of the town.

Nowadays, there is no trace of those cemeteries; no one knows their exact location. (This information is taken from "450 de ani Focsani 1546-1996" (“450 Years of Focsani 1546- 1996”) Dr.Virgil Paragina, page 93)

Another, less well-known cemetery was functioning until 1874 at 18, Nicolae Balcescu St, when it was closed down. Here 4393 people of ancient generations are buried, the great-grandparents of the present-time Jewish Community. Unfortunately this cemetery is totally neglected, the tombstones are in ruin … a forgotten cemetery ….

(The above information I received personally from the Federation of Jewish Communities in Bucharest).

In the 1940s, two hearses were kept here, transporting the dead (one for the rich, one for the poor).

The cemetery is now in a state of complete neglect; part of the tombstones is completely destroyed.

The Jewish Cemetery, functioning until today, is situated on the way to the small forest.

It was established in 1874. More than 3245 dead are buried in 50 rows (single and family graves, for two, three and four dead). The earthquakes damaged many of the tombstones. Part of the tombstones carries German inscriptions, others are in Hebrew, and others in Romanian.

Our former Focsani countrymen, dispersed all over the world and especially in Israel return to Focsani to visit the graves of their beloved.

In this cemetery the newer generations of the Jewish Community are buried, people who contributed to the development of the town and the Community life.

The inscriptions on the tombstones tell part of the history of the Focsani Jews.

The most ancient tombstones, more than 120 years old :