DOKSHITSY

DOKSHITSY (Pol. Dokszyce), town in Molodechno district, Belarus. It passed from Poland to Russia in 1793; was within Poland from 1921 to 1939; and afterwards was in the Belorussian SSR. The Jewish community probably started at the beginning of the 18th century and increased from 210 Jews in 1766 to 2,775 (49.1% of the total population) in 1878. It numbered 2,762 in 1897 (75.8%). The Jews traded in lumber and agricultural products, exporting to central Poland, Russia, and even Leipzig. They were also occupied in crafts and farming. In 1925 they numbered approximately 3,000. Between the two world wars, the Jews lost their markets and were required to pay heavy taxes, leading to economic decline. The loan fund sponsored by the american jewish joint distribution committee had 250 members in 1925. There was a Hebrew Tarbut school which was the center of Zionist activities. The Germans occupied the town on June 22, 1941, creating a ghetto on September   30. During Passover 1942, 65 and later 350 Jews were executed. The liquidation of the ghetto commenced on May 29, 1942. It lasted 17 days and about 3,000 Jews were murdered. The community was not reestablished after World War II. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. Kermisz, "Akcje"i Wysiedlenia (1946), index. (Shmuel Spector (2nd ed.)