The Jews of Podu Iloaiei: The Shtetl Where the Death Train Stopped
Podu Iloaiei, a Moldavian shtetl near Iași, was largely Jewish. On 30 June 1941 the second death train from Iași arrived there,…
PODU-ILOAIEI · JEWISH HERITAGE
Jewish Podu Iloaiei
Podu Iloaiei, a town on the Bahlui River about 20 km west of Iași, was a Moldavian shtetl where Jews were the majority for much of the 19th century. On 30 June 1941 the second “death train” from Iași reached its station, and more than a thousand of its passengers were buried in a mass grave in the Jewish cemetery. In 1942 the town’s Jews were expelled to Iași. Memorial ceremonies are held at the end of June in the cemetery, which has a monument to the train’s victims.
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HERITAGE COLLECTION
1 storyStories from Podu Iloaiei
Practical information
- Cemetery and mass grave
- In Podu Iloaiei, according to the Federation (no address) · monument to the death-train victims · no hours published; arrange in advance
- Memorial ceremony
- At the end of June, as part of the Iași pogrom commemoration
- Arrangements
- Jewish Community of Iași, Strada Elena Doamna 15, according to the Federation
- On the way
- On the road from Iași to Târgu Frumos
- Nearby
- Iași; Hârlău; Vaslui
- Kosher food
- We found no kosher food in the town · bring supplies
The nearest Jewish community to Podu Iloaiei
The Federation’s directory lists no Jewish community in Podu Iloaiei. The nearest registered community is in Iași, about 25 km away as the crow flies.
Jewish Community of Iași
- President
- Benjamina-Ides Vladcovschi
- Community office
- Str. Elena Doamna nr. 15, Iași
- Phone/fax
- 0232 313 711
Details from the community directory of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FCER), checked on 5 November 2026. Contact the community before visiting to arrange access to the synagogue or cemetery and to ask about a minyan and kosher food. FCER community directory
Jewish cemeteries in Podu Iloaiei
Podu Iloaiei
No address on the official list
Cimitirul Evreiesc
Jewish cemeteries nearby
- Frumușica, about 18 km
- Târgu Frumos, about 20 km
- Iași, about 25 km
From the Federation’s cemetery list (2007). Arrange visits in advance with the community, which holds the keys.
Map of Jewish cemeteries in RomaniaHalachic times in Podu Iloaiei
Astronomical calculation for the town-centre coordinates, sea-level horizon, Romanian time: dawn 16.1°, tallit & tefillin 11.5°, nightfall 7.083°, candle lighting 18 minutes before sunset, Shabbat ends 8.5°. For orientation only; consult a rabbi on questions of halacha.
Kosher products in Podu Iloaiei
Supermarket chains in town
We could not verify branches of the large chains in town. Check the store locators:
Packaged products: our kosher catalogue
Hundreds of products from Romanian supermarkets with a recognised hechsher. In the catalogue you can filter by the chain you shop at.
Open the kosher catalogueWhat you can buy fresh in any supermarket
- Fresh, whole fruit and vegetables — no kashrut issue, but leafy greens, cabbage, broccoli and strawberries must be checked for insects.
- Fresh, whole fish — a fish where you can see fins and scales, such as carp, trout, whole salmon or sea bream. Ask the shop not to clean or cut it with its own knives, or clean it at home with kosher utensils. Fillets without skin, smoked or seasoned fish — only with a hechsher.
- Eggs — permitted; check each egg for blood spots before use.
- Staples — water, sugar, salt, rice and oil — preferably from the catalogue or with a kosher symbol on the pack.
- Meat, poultry, dairy, cheese and bread — only under recognised supervision. You can order kosher meals from Moise House or ask the local Jewish community.
General guidance for travellers. For any kashrut question, consult a rabbi.