the jews of częstochowa

Coexistence – holocaust - memory

At the turn of the 19th and 20th century Częstochowa was a vibrant city teeming with multicultural and multilingual life. The Jasna Góra Monastery towered over the city. Pilgrims from all over the centurywere constantly present at the Monastery. Visitors coming by trainwere welcomed by the beautiful view of the New Synagogue atWilson Street. Faithful Russian- and German- speaking peoplegathered at Orthodox and Evangelical churches during religiousceremonies. Residents, speaking Polish, Yiddish, Russian and German, used to walk along the main avenues. On market days a colorful crowd was very busy buying and selling at Stary(Old) and Nowy (New) Rynek (Market). Częstochowa, located close to theborder between the Russian Empire and Prussia, was a city of accelerated industry, trade and crafts development.

The general view of Częstochowa,thedome of the new synagogue seen in thetop right hand corner.

The old marketplace

The new marketplaceFranke’s building withadjacent wolberg’s house

Krakowska streetPanoramic view of częstochowaseen from the Mirów side

Jews in the jewish quarter Jewish soap stall

In the courtyard, częstochowa

Jews of częstochowa, at theturn of century

The earliest evidence of the prsence of Jews inCzęstochowa dates back to the 17th century and isfound in the reports of royal inspections from theyears 1620 and 1631. A separate Jewish ReligiousCommunity was established in 1808, when the CalisianDepartament gave its permission to create community in Old Częstochowa.

The oldest document related to a Jews, foundin the State Archives in Częstochowa is thebirth of Ruchla Bomba from 1809.

Birth certificate of Ruchla Landau, born inCzęstochowa on 19 June 1788, issued by theelders of the Częstochowa kahal Jewishcouncil

Certification issued by the elders of theCzęstochowa kahal in 1810 confirmingthat Anzel Mayzel was born inCzęstochowa on 13 March 1780.

A passport for Dawid Bursztyn, issued 13 June 1826

A permit issued by the Commission of the Calisian District authorizing a Jew, Lewek Sorgenlos to purchase a hause inCzęstochowa.

A certificate announcing the marriageof Wolf Zand and Rozalia Freymanissued and signed by Rabbi Zacharias Weingutt in 1845.

Last will of Częstochowa merchantDavid Landau Kronenberg drawnup in Herbew in 1847.