VYSOKOYE

VYSOKOYE (Pol. Wysokie Litewskie ), city in W. Brest oblast, Belorus; in Poland-Lithuania before 1795 and between the two world wars. Jews were living in Vysokoye from the late 16^th century. A community was organized in the early 17^th century, which by decision of the Lithuanian Council (see Councils of *Lands), came under the jurisdiction of the Brest community. The synagogue, built of stone in 1607 was enlarged in 1828. In 1650 a meeting of the Lithuanian Council took place in Vysokoye. Jewish economic activity in the second half of the 18^th century was encouraged by the owner of the town, Duchess A. Jablonowsky (1728–1800), in accordance with her policy toward Jews in Semiatycze and *Kock. A bet midrash was established in 1757. A new building was completed to house the bet midrash in 1837 and a new cemetery was opened in 1898. A talmud torah was founded in 1853. The Jewish population numbered 1,475 in 1847 and 2,876 (85% of the total) in 1897. In the 19^th century Jews engaged in the trade of agricultural products, tailoring, tanning, carpentry, and transportation. Between the two world wars, when it was part of independent Poland, there was a Hebrew *Tarbut school. The community, which numbered 1,902 (91%) in 1921, was annihilated in World War ii.

bibliography:

S. Dubnow (ed.), Pinkas ha-Medinah (1925), index; B. Wasiutyński, Ludność żydowska w Polsce w wiekach xix i xx (1930), 83; R. Mahler, Yidn in Amolikn Poyln in Likht fun Tsifern (1958), index.

[Arthur Cygielman]