The History of Sejny Jews

The History of Sejny Jews

The Jews were brought down to Sejny already in 1768 by the Dominicans who hoped for animation of the town's economics growth. They got the privilege to settle down in 1787, and four years later 72 Jews lived here already, in 1769 - three times more. Jewish community was developing rapidly and already in 1828 there were 2036 Jews among 3514 inhabitants. In 1880s. the Jews consisted approximately 75 percent of 4500 Sejny population. In 1897 they counted 3300 Jews here, but already between the World Wars – only 817. 

Tomasz Wiśniewski: Jews in Suwalki region [Żydzi na Suwalszczyźnie], IKS, 89 no 2/3/4/5

Rabbis in Sejny 

1838 - 1844 - Judel Heszel Bachrach 
? - 1846 - Jehuda Baruch 
1864 roku - ? - Moses Icchak Awigdor 
1885 - 1905 - Moses Becalel Luria 
1909 - ? - F. Epsztain 
? - 1920 - N. Kalijadycki 
1921 - 1929 - Izaak Rajcer 
1930 - 1938/1939 - Morduch Rogow 

The above data was established based on scarce information provided by material and interviews with the descendants of Sejnian Jews who are visiting Sejny today.