PLEVEN JEWISH CEMETERY

Pleven, in northern Bulgaria, had a Jewish community since at least the Middle Ages. When the Hungarians overtook Vidin in 1376 many Vidin Jews departed and settled in Pleven to join the well-established local community consisting of both Sephardis and Romaniotes. In 1470 they were joined by a number of Ashkenazis fleeing persecution in Bavaria. The mixed community quarrelled about their rites and customs. The conflict was put down by Yosef Karo who persuaded the Pleven Jews to adopt the traditions of the Sephardis, who were the majority. A century later the Jews emerged as the second largest minority in Pleven. They are said to have had four synagogues at the end of the 17th century. Now all that remains of Pleven's Jewish heritage is a cemetery located off the road to Radishevo. This is where Chelibon Grasiani, one of the Jews who fought on the Russian side in the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War, was buried. The site has been encroached upon by developments.