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 16th century. A community was organized in the early 17th 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 18th 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 19th 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)