Lepel

The first mention of Jews residing in Lepel relates to the mid-19th century. In the early Soviet period many young Jews left the town. Thus, on the eve of the German invation only 1,919 Jews remained; they comprised 13.6 percent of the total population. The town had a 7-year Yiddish school. Lepel was captured by German troops on July 3, 1941. The occupiers proceeded to set up a ghetto and to appoint a Jewish elder. The Jews of Lepel were killed in two murder operations - in the fall of 1941 and in February 1942. Lepel was liberated by the Red Army on June 28, 1944.