Skvyra
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| Skvyra Сквира |
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  Skvyra
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country Oblast Raion |
Ukraine Kyiv Oblast Skvyrskyi Raion |
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| Founded | 1615 | ||
| Magdeburg Rights | 1791 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | |||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 63.28 km² (24.4 sq mi) | ||
| Population | |||
| - Total | 18,009 | ||
| Postal code | 09003 | ||
| Area code(s) | +380 4468 | ||
Skvyra (Ukrainian: Сквира; Russian: Сквира, translit.: Skvira) is a town in the Kiev Oblast (province) of central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Skvyrskyi Raion (district), and is currently a municipality of raion subordinance. Skvyra currently has a population of about 18,009 and an area of 6,328 km² (2,443 sq mi).
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[edit] History
Skvyra was an ancient town which was completely destroyed at the end of the 16th century. In 1736, it was mentioned as a village (selo) leased by a Jewish lessee. In 1789, there was a total of 37 Jewish households out of a total number of 197 households counted that year. In 1847, Jews totaled 2,184 about. The Jewish community of Skvyra was primarily engaged in the trade of grain and other agricultural products. In 1897, there was a total number of 8,910 Jews in Skvyra, which was about 49.5% of the city's population.
During the Russian Civil War, Jews suffered severely and during the pogroms which had frequently occurred, several hundred Jews were killed. The total number of Jews decreased considerably after the First World War and in 1926, there were only 4,681 Jews, about 33.6% of the population, remaining. Under the Soviet regime, the religious and communal life of the Jews of Skvyra was soon dissolved. During World War II, German forces had occupied the town in September of 1941. Almost 1,000 Jews were murdered. In the late 1960s, the Jewish population was totaled at about 500.
The Twersky Hasidic line emanating from Skvyra had eventually settled in the United States where part of the community founded their own township called New Square (translated as Skvyra in Ukrainian) in Rockland County, New York.
The Skver Hasidic dynasty had its roots in Skvyra, (Skvyra being pronounced as "Skver" in Yiddish) and his continued to exist and grow in numbers in the United States.
[edit] People
Asher Ginzberg (Ahad Ha'am), one of the great pre-state Zionist thinkers, was born in the city
[edit] See also
- Skver
- New Square, New York, from anglicized form of Skvyra
[edit] External links
- nachshen.com - Information about the city
- mrt5.com - Some images of Skvyra
- fallingrain.com - Climate information of Skvyra
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