SANDOMIERZ

SANDOMIERZ - Photo Gallery at the bottom of this page

Sandomierz is a town established in 1286 and soon became the centre of a royal power. It has a picturesquely location - on the banks of Wisła River, at the border of Krakowsko-Częstochowska Upland and Sandomierska Cirque. It attracted both Poles and Jews. Wisła was an excellent communication rout from Oświęcim to Zawichost.

Geographical location of Sandomierz predetermined the town to conduct a long-distance trade. Trade in textiles and food by river was dominated by Jews already at the beginning of the 17^th century. Sandomierz was spreading during the battle with local government and Christian guilds. The town development was stopped by Swedish wars, who for example blew up the castle constructed by Benedykt from Wawel and then Santi Gucci. King Korybut Wiśniowiecki allowed Jews to live on the area of the castle in 1673.

In 1774 townspeople complained to king Stanisław August about Starost Józef Ossoliński and County Commissioner Robert Cienciewicz that they favour Jews, who were engaged in trade, craft and liquor propination - against privileges.

Partitions of Poland reduced the role of the town and that had also an influence on Jewish colonization. Town suffered because the repressions for supporting January Uprising. There were only 47 brick houses and 269 wooden ones in the 1860's. That time Sandomierz had the population of 4200 people. On the eve of World War I 7757 people lived in Sandomierz.

Jewish community in Sandomierz belonged to one of the oldest and largest in Poland already in the Middle Ages. Jews settled in Sandomierz in the 13^th century. Zenon Guldon wrote that: "Quite populous and thriving aggregation of Jews existed in Sandomierz at least since the 14^thcentury".Sandomierz had 40 Jewish residents in 1550, they made their living mainly through trade.

Anti-Jewish events took place in 1639 - Jews were accused of profanation of the Host. They have also seriously suffered at the beginning of Polish-Swedish War. Polish army murdered over 600 Jews accused of supporting Swedes on April 2, 1656.

King Jan Kazimierz granted Jews a privilege in 1658, not only allowing them to live there, but also giving them a broad economic power - that was done to revive the town. King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki allowed them to live on the area of damaged castle in Sandomierz. Synagogue was constructed in 1688 at Basztowa Street, where the former one was situated - before it was burnt. Square prayer room was covered with groin vault with lunettes, decorated with fresco. Dawid Kandel wrote in 1912 that its interior gives:"an impression of spirit atmosphere and political orientation of Jewish population in Poland in the era of flourishing of Republic and of their attachment to the adopted country. It must have been a deep attachment since they put Polish eagles on saint arks."

In 1710 a small boy's body was found on the backyard of Rabbi Jakub Herc. It caused a trial - ritual murder and ban on Jewish existence in Sandomierz. Jewish population rebuilt quite fast - in 1765 in Sandomierz lived 32 families of farmers and 58 Jewish families that didn't possess their own houses - 430 people in general. There were 14 tailors, 8 cap makers, 2 mercers, 2 goldsmiths, 5 butchers, 2 glaziers, a baker, a bookbinder an a soap maker. Stanisław August issued a protective letter in September 1774, ordering Starost to take care of Jews. At the end of the 18^th century Jews possessed in Sandomierz 52 townhouses, a synagogue, a bath house, a hospital and a cemetery at Przedmieście Opatowskie. 799 Jews lived in Sandomierz in 1827 and that constituted 23% of the total population. That number grew to 2164 in 1897 - i.e. 34% of all residents. A house for the Management of a community was built by the synagogue in the 19^thcentury. A "new" cemetery at Sucha Street was also established.

The first permanent bookshop, which sold book written in Polish, Russian and even in Hebrew, was opened from the initiative of Lew Liberman in 1871. Szlama Lejzor Fiszman opened a bookshop with a place for reading in March 1910. Lejzor Mojżesz Kupeferblum from Ożarów also opened a bookshop by the Main Square the same year. Since 1912 the latter was then run by Leja Zoberman, under the name "Progres". Both Poles and Jews could have buy or read not only books but also newspaper from whole Russian Empire, Vienna, Paris and London.

It is worth to mention that both merchants and holiday-makers used connection between Sandomierz and Puławy by Wisła River. Two PARACHOD, as was said those times, "Zefir" and "Konstanty" had courses everyday beside Saturdays since April to October. They have also stopped in Solec and Zawichost.

Polish independence appeared, when Sandomierz was a small, provincial town, dilapidated and seriously damaged during warfare of the I World War. It had the population of only 5891 people in December 1918; 6763 people in 1921 and 11,503 people in 1938. The first census in the II Republic (1921) registered 2641 Jews. Orthodox Jews dominated. Jan Załęski mentions: "The town was settled by Poles and Jews in relation 6 to 4".

Jews lived mainly by the Main Square, constituting 82.8% of population there, and at Streets: Żydowska, Berka Joselewicza, Opatowska, Zamkowa, Mały Rynek and Poniatowskiego Square. Small industry factories dominated in the town, the largest were as follows: bricklayer of Ch. Landau, steam mill of M. Milsztajn, brewery of Landau brothers. 92 out of 147 craftsmen were Jews in 1929. Tailors and bakers dominated. Tailor's workshops were run by, inter alia: I. Baranek, M. Czapnik, H. Engelender, I. Frydman, Sz. Glas, Ch. Kogut, M. Szerman, Ch. Zyngier; bakeries by: Ch. Birenbaum, Sz. Lewi, A. Mandelbaum, Sz. Galant.

Majority of shops traded in gallantry and were run by: Ch. Bluman, I. Gertner, A. Goldfingier, S. Goldman, J. Grinbaum, K. Klajman, M. Migdal, M. Rosenberg, B. Rosenfeld, Ch. Szklarska, H. Wasser. Shops with food were run by, inter alia, J. Kestenbaum, M. Kohn, G. Korman, J. Mincberg. A. Rotsztajn, H. Rozenberg, J. Rozenberg, G. Tajtelbaum, L. Warensztajn, G. Wasser, J. Zylberberg. The right of PKO (Polish bank) transactions had only one Jew - Josek Nussbaum, who led a radio-electronic shop by the Main Square.

Jews in Sandomierz were very active, participating in works of Magistrate. Some of them stand out - Chil Tanenblum, Lejb Minc, Jankiel Czapnik, Lejb Kogut, Szlama and Markus Kupferblums, Zajwel Szucht, Uszer Himmelsztejn Szpiro, Szmul Hersz, Szlama Wurman, Icek Rubinsztajn, Jankiel Wilczek. 30 people were employed in industry in 1938, 250 people in craft, 470 in trade, 19 in free professions. 121 people were engaged in work at their own houses. Monday fairs and Thursday markets played an important role.

In 1918 the Jewish community comprised Jews from Sandomierz, Obrazów, Wilczyce and Jews from communities in Samborzec and Dwikozy - the total of 3500 people. That year the Management comprised: Moszek Milard, Izrael Nusenbaum and Haskiel Frydman. Four people belonged to the Management in 1922 - Icek Feldsztajn, Sz. Werner, J. Rubinsztajn and J. N. Wilczek. Mendel Naj served as a rabbi since 1894.

Rabbi made a request to pay assessor Abram Lejman his salary in 1924. Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that assessors do not exist in Poland, there are only rabbis and deputy rabbis - so the correspondence went on.

The community possessed the synagogue, number of cheders, the bath house and the cemetery. There was also Jewish Help Committee, which maintenance kitchen and shelter at Zamkowa Street. Linas Chacedek had 150 members, Health Protection Society branch in Sandomierz comprised 249 members in 1927. Adolf Gutfreund and Flora Spirowa stood at the forefront of the Society.

The budget of the community was closed with the amount of 5,291,940 Mk including 3,750,000 Mk from ritual slaughter, 1,542,940 Mk from contributions. 362 families were obligated to pay contributions, 309 from the town itself. The planned amounts have never been collected.

After the 1924 elections, the Management comprised: Jakób Rubinstaj (owner of a printing house), Icek Feldsztajn (merchant), Jankiel Nusyn Wilczek (merchant), Szyja Werner (merchant), Moszek Gecel (merchant), Szmul Frydman (merchant), Bencjan Kaden (merchant) and Zajwel Szucht (feldsher). Orthodox Jews predominated.

According to the files from 1925, contributions were reasonable and varied from 4 zloty to 80 zloty, the average was 17 zloty. Despite that, many people weren't able to pay them.

The arrears in contributions reached 21,997 zloty in 1927. The community had some cases that needed to be solved that time: synagogue and mikveh renovations, square for school purchase, deputy rabbis also asked for higher salaries. Slaughter taxes were as follows: 6 zloty - ox, 3 zloty - calf or goat, 0.75 zloty - turkey, 0.30 zloty - hen.

According to the preserved budget, the community accounted for 2500 people (547 families) in 1927 and 383 people were appointed to pay contributions. The average contribution was 23 zloty. It was supposed to charge 39,000 zloty from slaughter, 5512 zloty from contributions, 1000 zloty from cemetery fees, 200 zloty from tombstones, 3000 zloty from Seter Torah reading, 1000 zloty - voluntary donations. The planned amounts haven't been collected this time too - 28,238 zloty was charged from slaughter and 4159 zloty from contributions.

The 1928 budget assumed the incomes of 40,479 zloty including: 32,177 zloty - slaughter, 5102 zloty - contributions, 1500 zloty - cemetery fees, Seter Torah reading - 500 zloty, voluntary donations - 1000 zloty, permissions for tombstones construction at the cemeteries - 200 zloty. The planned expenditures contained: annual salary of Rabbi M. Naja - 4800 zloty, of assistant rabbi Rachmil Nusym Rozencwajg - 3500 zloty, of cantor Nusyn Ciepielowski - 550 zloty, of kosher butchers Szmul Zylberberg and Majer Rajz - 3100 zloty each, of kosher butcher Kopel Tenenbaum - 3380 zloty, personal assistant Dawid Rozencwajg - 1925 zloty, teachers Szmul Pryzant and Goldwand - 375 zloty each; donation for Talmud Torah - 1200 zloty, TOZ - 1200 zloty, poor people - 500 zloty, Passover bread for poor people - 1000 zloty. National authorities believed that the rabbi's salary (4800 zloty) was specially understated by the Management, who was reluctant to him. Sometimes Meszyta school and National Fund were donated with some money. 582 oxen and cows, 475 calves, 5803 geese and ducks and 4799 chickens were slaughtered for the community's needs in 1928.

In 1929 377 families were appointed to pay contributions, which oscillated from 4 zloty to 100 zloty. It was assumed to charge 5157 zloty from this source. Only 281 people were obligated to pay in 1930, with the same taxes. According to the officials of County Office the community economy was neglected, salaries weren't paid regurally, the predesigned amounts for poor people treatment weren't paid. There was the necessity to conduct the synagogue renovation and a poultry slaughterhouse construction.

The 1931 budget predicted the income of 29,000 zloty from slaughter, 5228 zloty from contribution, 1886 zloty from mikvah, 500 zloty - cemetery fees, 50 zloty - monuments. Moreover there were also plans to charge the outstanding contributions (1889 zloty). That not happened and only 24,700 zloty was collected from a slaughter, 3980 zloty from contributions, 430 zloty from cemetery fees. Only the income from monuments was crossed by 70 zloty. The expenditures were planned as follows: annual rabbi's salary - 4800 zloty, assistant rabbi's salary - 3500 zloty, kosher butchers' - 3500 zloty to 3600 zloty, personal assistant's - 2400 zloty, maintenance of the mikveh - 1000 zloty, Passover bread for poor people - 5000 zloty, synagogue - 200 zloty, Beis Yaakov school - 100 zloty, Talmud Torah - 100 zloty, treatment - 1023 zloty. It is interesting that janitor earned 1400 zloty per year, while cantor only 520 zloty; teachers from 200 to 320 zloty.

An inspection of finances in 1931 showed that the Management owed some officials from 50 to 945 zloty. The arrears accounted for 4090 zloty in general.

Contributions for the community in Sandomierz were paid not only by Jews from Sandomierz but also those living in: Łączna, Kielce, Radom, Cracow. Henryk Bruner (well-known industrialist in Kielce, timber branch) paid 50 zloty, Factory "Fusman and Company" from Cracow - 250 zloty, industrialist Stanisław Starke from Kielce - 200 zloty, Herman Lewi (timber branch industrialist from Kielce) - 50 zloty. Those mentioned didn't live in Sandomierz, but had possessions on the area of the town.

Zajwel Szucht stood at the forefront of the Management in 1931 and members were as follows: Szmul Frydman, Josek Feldsztajn, Dawid Fajersztajn, Berek Mały, Szmul Majer Rozenfel and Icek Las. Samuel Wajntraub was the personal assistant of the community, Icek Dawid Lejman worked as a religious supervisor, Awnar Szuchman as a cantor, Sara Gutbrojt as a teacher in Beis Yaakow.

The income in 1932 was predicted at 31,344 zloty and it included: 10,500 zloty from cattle slaughter, 10,356 zloty from poultry slaughter, 60 zloty from cemetery fees, 50 zloty from monuments, 300 zloty from the bath house and 6105 zloty from contributions.

According to the County Office data from 1933 in Sandomierz lived 2863 Jews. The incomes were planned as follows: 28,700 zloty - slaughter, 7394 zloty - contribution, 2228 zloty - other sources; 38,323 zloty in general. Expenditures assumed: 4800 zloty - salary of rabbi, 21,882 zloty - officials’' salaries, 400 zloty - investments, 500 zloty - charity, 5081 zloty - other expenses, 2260 zloty - other costs.

2200 people belonged to the community in Sandomierz in 1937 and 329 families were appointed to pay contributions. The movables were estimated at 10,252 zloty, the realties at 54,500 zloty. The indebtedness accounted for 18,000 zloty.

Number of discords occurred in the community in 1939, inter alia during elections for a new rabbi - after M. Najan death (May 7, 1939). Some people supported Lejba Lipszyc (deputy rabbi), others opted for Icek Wajsbrot (rabbi from Jedlicz). The latter became the rabbi in Sandomierz finally. Orthodox Jews dominated in the Management.

Four associations were registered between 1918-1939. With community were connected: Linas Hacedek, Gemiłus Chesed. Jewish Craftsmen Association and Makkabi Sport Club functioned outside the community.

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Today:

1. Synagogue – currently offices of the National Archives
2. Jewish cemeteries – Cemetery located by the synagogue: ‘About 40 matzevot in rows  can be found near the monument and along the wall’. Cemetery on Tatarska street: ‘There are no signs of the cemetery. Residential buildings and pension Sandomiria have been built there. Human bones were found during construction’.