Piltene — a town (since 1557) in the Ventspils District of the Republic of Latvia.
Founded in 1295. From 1795, it was part of the Russian Empire. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Piltene was a town in Windau District, Courland Governorate. From 1918–1940, it was part of the independent Republic of Latvia, and from 1940–1991, the Latvian SSR.
Jews lived in Piltene from the 17th century. In 1708: A synagogue already existed.In early 19th century: A chevra kadisha (burial society) was active. In 1805 Rabbi Reuven-Yehoshua-Zelig Ashkenazi served the community, 1850–1855: Rabbi Yosef Hertzberg (d. 1855), 1855–1859: Rabbi Menachem-Mendl Israelson, 1860–1891: Rabbi Yosef-Yehuda Berenstein, 1891–1915: Rabbi Yisroel Movshovich Litvin (b. 1863, Grodno – d. 1941, Riga).
In 1857 the town had 2 synagogues and 3 cheders. In 1860s Jews owned 22 shops. In 1910 a private Jewish boys’ school, a synagogue, and a Jewish cemetery were present. In 1913 Jews owned the only pharmaceutical supply warehouse, 11 of 15 grocery stores, and all 3 dry goods shops. In 1925 the 1850 synagogue was reconstructed. In 1920s the rabbi was Efraim Samunov (b. 1860, Piltene – d. unknown).
Demographics
1798: 209 Jewish men
1818: 351 Jews (55% of population)
1897: 629 Jews (42%)
1910: 359 Jews (27%)
1920: 34 Jews (4%)
1925: 59 Jews (6%)
1930: 53 Jews (7%)
1935: 45 Jews (6%)
In 1915, Jews were expelled from Piltene during WWI.
During the Holocaust, the Jewish population of Piltene was annihilated.
Piltene. Sinagogue built in 1850.