Botosani was the second largest Jewish town in the Romanian province of Moldavia. This province experienced large waves of Jewish immigration from Poland and Russia in the 19^th century. By the end of that century the Jewish population of Botosani reached about 16000 which constituted about 50% of the town’s population according to the Encyclopedia Judaica. 

The Botosani cemetery ledgers lists about 13,000 burials between January 1906 and and 2002. It is important to note that Jews lived in Botosani since the 17^th century and many Jews are buried there in what is known as the old cemetery. Most of the burials listed in the Botosani cemetery ledgers are in the new cemetery that was started in the later part of the 19^th century. However, for some of the entries listed in the ledgers it is indicated that the burial was in the old cemetery.

It is important to note that many Jews who lived in Moldavia did not have last names until early 20^th century. Many Jews were listed according to their patronymics in the cemetery ledgers and in other vital records. A man might be listed as Meir sin Iehuda Leib where it can be assumed that Iehuda Leib was Meir’s father. However, a woman that is listed as Rivka sin Meir sin Iehuda Leib might be the wife of Meir sin Iehuda Leib if she was married. Occasionally, the ledgers might indicate the name the husband as well as a woman’s maiden name or name of her father. Also on some occasions a person is listed according to the mother’s name.

The Botosani Cemetery Database spans some very significant historical periods for the Jews of Botosani and as such contains a treasure of information. First, it contains burials during 1907 which saw the great peasant uprising throughout Moldavia. Many Jewish homes were attacked and looted and some Jews were killed during the uprising. It can be assumed that some of the victims were buried in Botosani as well.

Romania saw many battles on its territory during World War I and many Jewish soldiers from the Romanian army as well as other armies are buried in Botosani. The cemetery ledgers lists many soldiers who are buried in Botosani who died in battle or as a result of wounds suffered in battle. For some of those soldiers the ledgers indicate the army corps where the soldier served and possibly the hospital from where the body arrived.

The Botosani cemetery ledgers do not identify the age of the deceased until listings from 1943. However, the ledgers do identify from 1906 if the deceased was a child. It seems that children were buried in a special section for children. The ledgers also indicate many instances of miscarriages and even what month the miscarriage occurred. Sometimes you can ascertain if a woman died in childbirth by noticing the death of a child on the same day as the mother.

There are some cases where the ledgers indicate if the death was a suicide or a homicide. In some cases the ledgers identifies that the spouse of the deceased was also deceased at the time of the burial. For example, it might say Rivka the wife of the deceased Meir sin Avram. In a similar manner the ledgers might indicate the profession of the spouse. Rivka the wife of Meir the tailor.