ŚWIDNICA The beginnings of Jewish presence in Świdnica date back to the 13th century when considerable number of people of Moses confession lived here. In 1286 the first protective document for Jews was proclaimed by prince Henry Probus the Fourth. First privileges were given in 1295 by Bolko Świdnicki the First and then confirmed in 1328 by Bolko the Second. In the medieval ages Jews constituted quite significant social group. On the 21st of March 1370 princess Anna proclaimed a protective document for its inhabitants of Jewish descent. According to this document Świdnica was capital city of Jewish community in the whole Świdnica duchy and cemetery located here was taken under personal care of princess as the only one Jewish necropolis in the duchy. Around 1380 there was already a synagogue here (patterned on a synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic) and Talmud school. Local Jews used to lend money to princes of Świdnica - prince Bolko the Second mortgaged towns Świdnica and Lwówek and prince Bolko Brzeski the Third mortgaged town Niemcza. In those days Jews lived in two areas: close to Zakonnic (present Siostrzana) and Bednarska (present Teatralna) streets and the other area was in the neighborhood of Garncarska or Żydowska (present Budowlana) street. The end of the first period of Jewish presence in Świdnica fell on years 1453 and 1454. Activity of Jan Kapistran resulted in Jew-hunt. 17 Jews (including 7 women) were burnt alive while the other were expelled from town and their goods were taken away. The synagogue was converted into a church of Corpus Christi and community was dissolved on the 7th of March 1454 . In 1457 Świdnica got privilege that banned Jews from settling down in the town. Until 1799 no man of Jewish descent settled down here although in the 1 th century Jewish merchants took part in markets organized here. In 1799 population census in Świdnica revealed one Jew. In 1812 emancipation edict proclaimed in Prussia gave Jews the same city rights as Catholics had. That was the beginning of Jewish return to Świdnica. In 1815 they bought area for a new cemetery on the top of a hill by the crossroad of Esperantystów and Bogusza Stęczyńskiego streets. Twenty four years later there were 174 Jews in Świdnica. At the Main Market Square no 8 (it's so called "Under Gold Man" house) they had their house of prayer and own internal organization that in 1853 was approved as Jewish community. In 1871 there were 257 Jewish inhabitants here. Thanks to a raffle organized in 1874 and an idea of self-tax Jews managed to gather enough money for a new synagogue. It was located at Emperor Wilhelm street (present Niepodległości) and was formally opened on the 26 th of August 1877 . Designer Edwin Oppler (who designed also Neue Tempel in Wrocław ) chose the Neo-Romanism style. It had organ and enough room for 250 people. Community grew up very dynamically; in 1885 the area of cemetery was enlarged and a burial house was built. Five years later there were 339 members of community. They had their own rabbi, ritual butcher and teacher; Hebrew Association for Women and Funeral Company operated. Jews were very active in political, economic and cultural life of town. In 1905 there were still 164 Jews in Świdnica. Unfortunately in the twenties of the 20th century anti-Semitism appeared also here. It resulted in anti-Jews actions and finally in their gradual emigration. In 1925 there were 130 Jews in Świdnica, in 1933 - 114 and in 1937 only 49. Climax of anti-Jews action took place during the Crystal Night (9/10 of November 1938). Nobody knows how many Jews out of 47 living then in Świdnica were arrested during that night and on the following morning. But we know that synagogue was burnt out, cemetery was desecrated and devastated and Jewish shops were plundered. The remains of synagogue were taken apart in 1938 and 1939 and damaged gravestones were used for building streets in 1941 and 1942. On the day of outbreak of the WW II there were still 25 people of Moses confession in Świdnica. In 1940 they were placed in the house at the Main Market Square no 27 that belonged to Erich Kohn - the last chairman of Jewish community. At the end of 1942 they were transported to temporary camp in Wrocław and then to some death camp. During the war there was only one Jew in Świdnica. His name was Ernst Meyer. He was a doctor and husband of pastor daughter who converted into Lutheranism. He left town in February 1945 at the age of 82 and one year later died in Berlin . In the last days of war and later Jews from East began to arrive to Świdnica just like to other cities in the Lower Silesia . In August 1945 there were twenty or so Jews living her but in June 1946 already more then 2400. However they didn't consider Świdnica as the place to settle down. Usually it was just a step on the way to the West Europe or to Israel via Italy . Till the mid of 1949 half of them already emigrated. On the 7 th of May 1946 Congregation of Moses Confession revived with Meilech Kahał as a chairman. There were approximately 1500 members of congregation. They had their own house of prayer at Bohaterów Getta street , kosher kitchen, ritual baths and later also rabbi, ritual butcher and teacher. Unfortunately policy of People's Republic of Poland resulted in mass emigration of Jews. At the beginning of the sixties of the 20 th century there were about 300 Jews in Świdnica and ten years later only 109. That caused loss of individual character of the group. Through the ages there were two Jewish cemeteries in Świdnica. The first one from the Medieval Ages (mentioned above in the document of princess Anna) was located close to way to Strzegom. It had to exist at the end of the 13 th century because the oldest preserved matzeva dates back to 1289. This necropolis survived till 1454. On the 7 th of March that year it was given to the town with all Jewish goods by king Jan Luksemburski. It is known that gravestones were used as a building material. Three of them were found after many years. Now they are in Town Hall of Świdnica in the Museum of Old Trade . Gravestone of Chana, Izaak daughter, who died on the 20 th of marcheszwan 5050 (the 5 th of November 1289). It was found in 1827 as a part of a pavement. During transport was damaged but inscription is known thanks to old descriptions and photos. Monument... of Miss Chana, Mister Izaak daughter, who died on the 20 th of marcheszwan 50 according to the calculus of the 6 th millennium. May her soul be bound in the knot of life. Gravestone of Druchna, Sabataj daughter, who died on the 12 th of elul 5122 (the 2 nd of September 1362). Matzeva was found in the mid of the seventies of the 20 th century on the bank at Wrocławska street . Woe is me and I cry on the death of my wife Miss Druchna, daughter of learned Mister Sabataj. Because the day of rest came, because in the week she gave birth to her four sons, On the 12 th of elul 122 according to the calculus of the 6 th millennium. May the deceased be honored. May her soul be bound in the knot of life. Amen. Sela. The gravestone of Izaak, Sabataj son, who died on the 17 th of elul 5142 (the 27 th of August 1382). The slab is broken in the upper part. It was found in 1988 close to the fountain at the corner of the Main Market Square and Pułaskiego street. Most likely it was used as a building material for fundaments of pillory. .faithful Mister Izaak, son of Mister Sabataj, who left for eternity n Wednesday on the 17 th of elul "with cry" [142] to join in the 6 th millennium. May his soul be bound in the knot of life. Amen. Amen. Amen. Sela. The second Jewish cemetery exists since 1815 and occupies area of 0,4 ha . It is situated at the crossroad of Esperantystów and Stęczyńskiego streets at the top of rather low hill. It is surrounded with a stone wall decorated with openwork but only pillars left as remains of wicket and gate. Also information board installed in the nineties of the 20 th century does not exist any more. Enclosure also is not original. It was installed in last few years. Just after entrance there is a long line of trees that leads inside. Actually forest stand is the best preserved element of the entire area. On left side there are post-war gravestones. Most of them are devastated, inscriptions are removed or damaged in the way that makes them very difficult to read. Following the path you can find remains of pre-war gravestones but their condition is even worse. Some of them have no inscriptions. There is one quite big gravestone with German - Hebrew inscription preserved but it is partly damaged so one cannot find out name and death date of person buried there. Along the main alley there is rather small memorial plaque with poorly visible inscription: "19.04.1943 ON THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE UPRISING IN WARSAW GHETTO. TO HONOR MEMORY OF FASCISM VICTIMS. ŚWIDNICA 19.04.1963" Continuing walk along main alley pre-war gravestones can be found. Among bushes and grass dozen or so tombstones can be seen. All damaged, almost all without any inscription. Very depressing view. At the end there is a very well preserved granite tombstone. Unfortunately painted, without inscription and partly dug out. The cemetery was tied up in September 2005 thanks to initiative of Foundation of Jewish Heritage Preservation by pupils from local grammar school. Unfortunately now results of that effort are hardly noticed. This beautifully situated cemetery with wonderful forest stand and amazing enclosure could not protect itself against vandalism and theft. Exterior view of the necropolis gives hope for even more impressive interior. But inside there are only shells of history.. |