Story Summary:
The 1st Ottynier Lodge Society was established by immigrants hailing from Ottynia, Ukraine. Initial Jewish presence dates to around 1635. Ottyniers' Jewish population largely engaged in professions as merchants, craftsmen and factory workers. The social and economic situation of Ottyniers' Jews severely worsened at the outbreak of both World Wars. While there is not much information on the situation surrounding Nazi occupation, we know that Ottyniers' Jews, including those from surrounding areas were transported to Stanislawow and/or the Belzec extermination camp. Today, memorials/monuments stand remembering the lives of memories of Ottynia's Jewish community that perished in the Holocaust. Their memories will continue to live on. ~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
1st Ottynier Lodge
The 1st Ottynier Lodge Society was established by immigrants hailing from Ottynia (Otyniya), Ukraine. Initial Jewish presence dates to around 1635. The town itself was first mentioned around 1610 in the context of Polish aristocrats. The Jewish population of Ottynia increased steadily up until the 1900s. In 1765, there were almost 300 Jews in Ottynia. This increased from over 1500 by the 1880s, and over 2000 by 1900s. Both World Wars and the subsequent worsening economy, however, would explain the decrease in Ottynia’s Jewish population, from just over 1700 Jews in 1921, to about 1110 in 1931.
In the 1760s, Ottynia was established as a center for trades in salt and tobacco. Its Jewish population largely engaged in professions as merchants, craftsmen and factory workers. In 1899, the Gemilut Hassadim Fund was established, which provided financial assistance to the community’s merchants and craftsmen, however this was expanded in the 1930s to provide aid to all members of the community who were in need. During Russian occupation (1914-1917), the Jewish community of Ottynia became victims of anti-semitic attacks and pogroms, worsening their overall livelihoods. Despite these social and economic hardships, the Jewish community was still engaged politically, establishing and participating in Zionist organizations such as the General Zionists and Mizrahi. Youths participated in their own Zionists groups, such as the Young Zionists, and Betar.
There is very little information regarding Nazi occupation of Ottynia and the surrounding areas. Much of Ottynias’ Jewish population was deported to Stanislawow and/or the Belzec extermination camp. We also know that there were mass killings in the Szeparowce Forest. Today, a memorial stands at Beth Moses Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York remembering the lives and memories of Ottynias’ Jewish community. A monument also stands in their memory at Holon Cemetery in Israel.
https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/ottynia/ottynia.htm#:~:text=Jews%20in%20Ottynia%20are%20referred,51%20Jews%20in%20neighboring%20villages.
~Blog by Olivia Scanlon
