Viesite, town (since 1928) in Jēkabpils

District (Republic of Latvia). Est. in 1890. In

the 19th – early 20th century – Vesit in Courland Province.

In 1918–40 – part of the Republic of Latvia, in 1940–91 – Latvian SSR. In 1925, 152 Jews lived in V. (14%), in 1930 – 187 (15%), in 1935 – 193 Jews (14%).

Jews lived in V. from the late 19th century. By 1914 Jews

made up more than half of the population of V. During

World War I Jews were expelled from

V.; after 1918 some of them returned. V. had

a synagogue, a mutual aid fund, a library, a club

named after H.-N. Bialik, and a kindergarten. In the 1930s the rabbi of V. was Kukla.

At the end of June 1941 V. was occupied by

units of the German army. On 19 July 1941 all Jews of V.

were shot in a forest near the town. After

liberation the remains of the victims were reburied at the Jewish cemetery according to the laws

of Judaism.

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