Eydtkuhnen

Summary: Eydtkuhnen (present-day Chernyshevkoye, Russia) was an important border crossing between Russia and Germany. From 1880 until after World War I, the town was a transit station for Jews fleeing Russia. In 1880, many of these Jews settled in Eydtkuhnen, which helps explain why this formerly tiny Jewish community peaked at 350 that year. The new arrivals conducted services in the Eydtkuhnen synagogue, built in 1870, and received financial support from the Association of East Prussian Communities. The Jewish population of Eydtkuhnen began to dwindle in the late 19th century, so that by 1925 only 120 Jews lived in the town. Of these, many left after the Nazis’ election victories. Although we do not know how many Jews lived in Eydtkuhnen in 1938, we know for certain that the synagogue was set on fire and demolished on Pogrom Night (November 1938).

Author / Sources: Moshe Finkel
Sources: EJL, LJG