Photographs from a 2019 Visit to Poland

CRARG member Ronnie Nass shares photographs from a trip to Poland in September 2019.

Częstochowa: The Jewish Cemetery. Entrance.

Częstochowa: The Jewish Cemetery. Much of the cemetery is still not cleared.

Częstochowa: The Jewish Cemetery. The largest restored grave in Częstochowa. One of my distant Epsztajn cousins is buried in this plot.

Częstochowa: The Jewish Cemetery.

Częstochowa: Umplatz. Memorial site where the Jews of Częstochowa were forcibly gathered for transport, mainly Treblinka.

Częstochowa: Umplatz.

Częstochowa: Umplatz. The railroad tracks represent the cattle cars that carried the Jews of Częstochowa to their death.

Częstochowa: Umplatz.

Częstochowa (bunker): A fascinating story of a recently discovered bunker at this address. A woman from Israel and her daughter had a hand-drawn map from her grandmother, who was one of 23 (out of 27) Jews who were hidden in the sub-basement that was never before known.

Częstochowa (bunker)

Częstochowa (bunker): This was the entrance to the bunker which was hidden by wood and coal and other materials. Since it did not appear on any documents, the Nazis never searched for it.

Częstochowa (bunker)

Częstochowa (bunker): Current owner of the house, who was contacted by the woman from Israel and her daughter when she knocked on the door to his house.

Częstochowa (bunker): The only means of water for the hidden 27 Jews. Their own food ran out (or spoiled) after three days. One of their Polish neighbors, who also lived in the building, brought them food every night they spent there for some three weeks.

Radomsko: Birthplace of my maternal grandmother, Minnie (Chaja Mariem) Epsztajn Silver.

Radomsko: The Jewish Cemetery. Only the front area where the Tzadik is buried and the graves in the immediate area have been cleaned. From the main entrance, this is on the left side.

Radomsko: The Jewish Cemetery.

Radomsko: The Jewish Cemetery. Miraculously, in the midst of the forest we found the grave of my maternal great grandmother Rifka’s, for whom I’m named…a very emotional moment. Rivka Chojnowicz Epsztajn born 1877, died 9 February 1935.

Radomsko: The Jewish Cemetery. Example of condition of graves. All of the following are from the right side of the front entrance.

Radomsko: The Jewish Cemetery.

Radomsko: The Jewish Cemetery. Additional photo from the right side as you walk into the cemetery.

Radomsko: The Jewish Cemetery.

Włoszczowa: My first glimpse of the town of Włoszczowa, birthplace of my maternal grandfather Abraham (Zylberminc/Zylbermintz/Silberminc) Silver, going back five generations.

Włoszczowa: Former mayor Leszek of Włoszczowa, and his wife, Agnes in front of the cafe they own, which is the home where Agnes was born. She also traces her family back five generations. The Zylberminc family traces back five generations in this town as well, to mid-1720s.

Włoszczowa: The only sign of the old Jewish Cemetery in Włoszczowa.

Włoszczowa: Only four graves remain in the partially cleaned-up cemetery (work by Leszek and Agnes). Four additional gravestones are in their garage for protection.

Włoszczowa

Włoszczowa: This is what the old Jewish Cemetery in Włoszczowa looks like for the most part.

Włoszczowa: Site of where the old Jewish Synagogue once stodd stood in Włoszczowa. It is now a cobble-stoned parking lot.

Włoszczowa: Birthplace site of the Zylberminc family. Not the actual home but the site of location.

Włoszczowa: >Walking the streets of where my maternal grandfather, Abraham (Zylberminc) Silver lived.

Kielce: Jewish Cemetery.

Kielce: The memorial to the Jews murdered in the pogrom after the war ended. 42 Jews were murdered because a young boy lied to his father after staying out all night. He said the Jews kept him in the basement (there was no basement in the building) and tortured him.

Kielce: The memorial to the Jews murdered in the pogrom after the war ended. Stones of respect are all over this memorial.

Kielce: Memorial to the children killed in the Holocaust from Kielce

Kielce: Gravestones found toppled and broken in the cemetery and restored as part of the memorial.

Kielce (in town): Explanation of the Kielce Memorial.

Kielce (in town)

Kielce (in town): Building where the 42 Jews were killed in the pogrom in Kielce. It is now a museum which we toured after hours.

Kielce (in town)

Chmielnik: The renovated synagogue.

Thinking of joining CRARG? Feel free to write to me (danielkazez@crarg.org) to ask if we have records for your family! —Daniel Kazez, CRARG President (a volunteer/unpaid position)

If you are ready to join CRARG, visit our Pre-Holocaust Database page.