CHRZANÓW Jewish cemetery in Chrzanów at Borowcowa Street was set up in 1763 . The necropolis consists of two parts called big and small cemetery. "Big one" survived till present day although partly destroyed. "Small one" was situated where nowadays a gas station and part of Podwale street have their place. During the WW II the Nazis destroyed "small" cemetery and stone matzevas were used to build new roads. Both cemeteries can be seen on city maps of Chrzanów from 1842, 1843 and 1848. At the area of approximately 1,6 ha around 1500 gravestones still exist among which the oldest one dates back to the 15 th of November 1802 (the 20 th of Marcheshvan 5563). Thanks to cataloguing works a list of all gravestones was created which is available on site www.gidonim.com. Important place at this cemetery constitute two restored ohels which till present are pilgrimages destination for Jews from all over the world. In the first one there are remains of Szlomo Bochner, son of Mojżesz, who died in 1828. He was a pupil of famous Samuel Szmelke from Nikolsburg (Mikulov) and since 1796 tzadik in Chrzanów. In the second ohel there are remains of local tzadiks from Halberstam family : - Dawid Halberstam , son of Chaim Halberstam from Nowy Sącz, who died in 1894 and was a founder of tzadik dynasty in Chrzanów. On his matzeva there is an inscription: " Dawid was successful in all his undertakings and God was with him. The Crown of Law. He is a master, gaon and the holiest among all who left in a great assembly, powerful man, the Prince of Law and god-fearing, light of exile, holy man, religious and prominent, God's man, holy and clean ", - Józef Zeew Halberstam , son of Dawid, who died in 1902, since 1894 tzadik in Chrzanów. Here there is translated extract form his epitaph: " Man great in law and god-fearing, religious and humble, hidden in his justice and virtues. And knowledge is in our hands thanks to his learning. Master, holy gaon, leader of all sons of exile from Sącz (may the memory of just be blessed) said about him that he was the only one in generation with harmony virtue", - Naftali Halberstam , son of Dawid (who died in 1927), successor of tzadik dynasty in Chrzanów, - Mojżesz, son of Dawid Halberstam, who died in 1915 and about whom descendants wrote on his gravestone: "Man of great light, religious and outstanding. God-fearing was his treasure. Modest and humble who loved justice and piety, honourable, holy and laudable is his name", - Józef Elimelech Halberstam, son of Mojżesz, the chairman of rabbi's court in Chrzanów who "died in purity at down on Tuesday on the 8 th tewet 667 according to the shortened calculus (the 25 th December 1906), - Baruch Halberstam, son of Mojżesz, who died on the 7 th October 1916. There is also a mass grave at the cemetery that contains remains of 37 people shoot by the Nazis in 1939. In a local museum one can get address of person who keeps key to the cemetery gate. Text: Artur Cyruk, K. Bielawski |