KOLBUSZOWA The location privilege for Kolbuszowa from year 1700 mentions that only three Jewish families are allowed to live in the town. Due to very dynamic growth of this initially small settlement already in 1713 those restrictions were abolished and Jews were allowed to build houses by the town market. In 1712 they set up a synagogue and in 1736 a kehilla and the first cemetery already existed. In 1773 there were 91 Jewish families here (out of 186 families in Kolbuszowa). In 1889 there were 551 Jews and 727 Christians. At the end of 17th century a preacher of Kolbuszowa was Abraham Jehoszua Reszel who later on was a tzadik in Opatów. At the beginning of the 19th century a position of rabbi held Jakub, son of tzadik Naftal from Ropczyce. Since 1867 Jews constituted part of the town council and held function of deputy mayor. At the end of the 19th century there were three houses of prayer and the Jewish community included 2502 people. In years 1918 and 1919 anti-Semitic events took place in the town. Jewish shops were plundered, 8 Jews were murdered and about 100 wounded. In 1921 there were 1415 Jews in the town that constituted 48% of all inhabitants. Zionist Organization and Poalej Syjon party operated here as well as Jewish craftsman guild and merchants association. In 1942 ghetto was established in the town to which Jews from surrounding areas as well were moved. Most of the local Jews died in a death camp in Bełżec while about 1000 were murdered at a local cemetery. The ghetto finished its existence on the 14 th October 1942 . On this day the last tzadik of Kolbuszowa Jachiel Teitelbaum died. Some Jews who survived the war came back to the town. On the 24 th September 1946 a pogrom took place. Jewish cemetery in Kolbuszowa is situated in Krakowska street . It was set up in 1830 and fulfilled its duty till the period of Nazi occupation. Many matzevot made from granite and sandstone survived. The whole area is enclosed. |