Jewish Life in Poland

May 18, 2017 by Irv Kempner

The history of the Jews in Poland dates back over 1000 years. For centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Jewish community in the world. Browse this presentation of a documentary pictorial history of Jewish life in pre-war Poland.

Image of Wysock, a tiny village in Volhynia, 1937. — Wysock, a tiny village in Volhynia, 1937.

Image of A well in a rural area of Volhynia — A well in a rural area of Volhynia

Image of Mountain Jews in Rosachacz, a village in the Eastern Beskid range of the Carpathian mountains. — Mountain Jews in Rosachacz, a village in the Eastern Beskid range of the Carpathian mountains.

Image of Mountain Jews in Rosachacz, a village in the Eastern Beskid range of the Carpathian mountains. — Mountain Jews in Rosachacz, a village in the Eastern Beskid range of the Carpathian mountains.

Image of Jew and peasants in a village in the Carpathian mountains, 1921. — Jew and peasants in a village in the Carpathian mountains, 1921.

Image of An elderly wanderer and his grandson en route between Warsaw and Otwock — An elderly wanderer and his grandson en route between Warsaw and Otwock

Image of Wooden foot bridge in Maciejowice, one of the oldest Jewish settlements in Lublin province. — Wooden foot bridge in Maciejowice, one of the oldest Jewish settlements in Lublin province.

Image of The store and home of Yankev and Perl Rebejkow on a street in Jeziory, ca. 1900. — The store and home of Yankev and Perl Rebejkow on a street in Jeziory, ca. 1900.

Image of The store and home of Yankev and Perl Rebejkow on a street in Jeziory, ca. 1900. — The store and home of Yankev and Perl Rebejkow on a street in Jeziory, ca. 1900.

Image of The store and home of Yankev and Perl Rebejkow on a street in Jeziory, ca. 1900. — The store and home of Yankev and Perl Rebejkow on a street in Jeziory, ca. 1900.

Image of Zablludow, 1916. A town famous for its seventeenth-century wooden synagogue. — Zablludow, 1916. A town famous for its seventeenth-century wooden synagogue.

Image of Market day in Hrubiesz, 1925. — Market day in Hrubiesz, 1925.

Image of Water pump in the fish market in Otwock, twenty-eight kilometers southeast of Warsaw. — Water pump in the fish market in Otwock, twenty-eight kilometers southeast of Warsaw.

Image of Entrance to the Jewish quarter in Cracow, 1938. — Entrance to the Jewish quarter in Cracow, 1938.

Image of Jatkowa (Meatmarket) Street in the old Jewish quarter of Vilna. — Jatkowa (Meatmarket) Street in the old Jewish quarter of Vilna.

Image of The Jewish quarter in the old section of Lublin, 1938. — The Jewish quarter in the old section of Lublin, 1938.

Image of Market day in Kremieniec, 1925. One of the oldest settlements in eastern Poland. — Market day in Kremieniec, 1925. One of the oldest settlements in eastern Poland.

Image of Sale of clothing at the market in Krazimierz nad Wisła (Yiddish: Kuzmir), ca. 1920. — Sale of clothing at the market in Krazimierz nad Wisła (Yiddish: Kuzmir), ca. 1920.

Image of Jews praying at the tombstone of REMA (Rabbi Moses Isserles) o Lag ba'Omer, the anniversary of his death. — Jews praying at the tombstone of REMA (Rabbi Moses Isserles) o Lag ba’Omer, the anniversary of his death.

Image of The tomb of Elijah (1720-1797), the Bilna Gaon. — The tomb of Elijah (1720-1797), the Bilna Gaon.

Image of Tombstone of Jacob Meshullam ben Mordecai Ze'ev Ornstein (1775-1839) — Tombstone of Jacob Meshullam ben Mordecai Ze’ev Ornstein (1775-1839)

Image of Tombstones in the old Jewish cemetery in Stryj. — Tombstones in the old Jewish cemetery in Stryj.

Image of Family gathered at a tombstone in the Wloszczowa — Family gathered at a tombstone in the Wloszczowa

Image of Professional Mourners (klogerins) in the cemetery in Brody. — Professional Mourners (klogerins) in the cemetery in Brody.

Image of Interior of the Old Synagogue of Kazimierz (Cracow). — Interior of the Old Synagogue of Kazimierz (Cracow).

Image of The synagogue in Orla. Originally a Calvinist church, the building was sold to the Jews of Orla in 1732. — The synagogue in Orla. Originally a Calvinist church, the building was sold to the Jews of Orla in 1732.

Image of The Tlomackie Synagogue in Warsaw. — The Tlomackie Synagogue in Warsaw.

Image of Jewish Life in Poland — Jewish Life in Poland

Image of Worshipers leaving the Altshtot (Old City) Synagogue on Wolborska Street, Lodz, 1937. — Worshipers leaving the Altshtot (Old City) Synagogue on Wolborska Street, Lodz, 1937.

Image of Exterior of the famed eighteenth-century wooden synagogue in Wolpa. — Exterior of the famed eighteenth-century wooden synagogue in Wolpa.

Image of Interior of the magnificent seventeenth-century wooden synagogue in Zabludow — Interior of the magnificent seventeenth-century wooden synagogue in Zabludow

Image of Exterior of the Eighteenth-century wooden synagogue in Jeziory. — Exterior of the Eighteenth-century wooden synagogue in Jeziory.

Image of Moyshe Pinczuch, a shames (sexton) for forty years. Wysokie Litewskie, 1924 — Moyshe Pinczuch, a shames (sexton) for forty years. Wysokie Litewskie, 1924

Image of Jewish Life in Poland — Jewish Life in Poland

Image of Dovid Elye, the soyfer (scribe). Annopol, ca. 1912. — Dovid Elye, the soyfer (scribe). Annopol, ca. 1912.

Image of The Gerer rebe Abraham Mordecal Alter (d. 1948) — The Gerer rebe Abraham Mordecal Alter (d. 1948)

Image of Hasidim outside a house of prayer on Saturday. Cracow, 1938. — Hasidim outside a house of prayer on Saturday. Cracow, 1938.

Image of Hasidim and others at Krynica-Zdroj, the most famous spa in Poland, in the 1930s. — Hasidim and others at Krynica-Zdroj, the most famous spa in Poland, in the 1930s.

Image of Sholem David Unger (d. 1923), the Zhabner Rebbe, of Zabno. — Sholem David Unger (d. 1923), the Zhabner Rebbe, of Zabno.

Image of Yitskhok Erlich, the belfer (helper of the melamed), carries youngsters to kheyder in Staszow. — Yitskhok Erlich, the belfer (helper of the melamed), carries youngsters to kheyder in Staszow.

Image of Galician Jew. — Galician Jew.

Image of Kheder boy. Warsaw, 1938. — Kheder boy. Warsaw, 1938.

Image of Boys' kheder. Lublin, 1924. — Boys’ kheder. Lublin, 1924.

Image of Girls' Kheyder in Laskarzew. — Girls’ Kheyder in Laskarzew.

Image of Yeshivah students on Nalewki Street. Warsaw, 1928. — Yeshivah students on Nalewki Street. Warsaw, 1928.

Image of Men studying the Talmud in the bethmedresh of a home for the aged at 17 Portowa Street, Vilna, 1937. — Men studying the Talmud in the bethmedresh of a home for the aged at 17 Portowa Street, Vilna, 1937.

Image of Women's executive board of the Orla Talmud Torah, 1930s. — Women’s executive board of the Orla Talmud Torah, 1930s.

Image of "Very good and beautiful hallahs for the Sabbath. Egg hallahs also." Cracow, 1938. — “Very good and beautiful hallahs for the Sabbath. Egg hallahs also.” Cracow, 1938.

Image of Housewives in Bialystok carry "tsholnt", a dish of meat, potatoes, and beans, to the baker's oven on Friday afternoon. — Housewives in Bialystok carry “tsholnt”, a dish of meat, potatoes, and beans, to the baker’s oven on Friday afternoon.

Image of Ezrielke the shames (sexton) was also athe shabes-klaper. — Ezrielke the shames (sexton) was also athe shabes-klaper.

Image of The interior of the old mikve (ritual bath) in Zaleszczyki. — The interior of the old mikve (ritual bath) in Zaleszczyki.

Image of Blessing the Sabbath candles. — Blessing the Sabbath candles.

Image of Reading the Tsenerene, a Yiddish version of the Pentateuch. Vilna. — Reading the Tsenerene, a Yiddish version of the Pentateuch. Vilna.

Image of Returning from the synagogue. Chodorow, 1938. — Returning from the synagogue. Chodorow, 1938.

Image of Reform Jew wishes a Hasid a happy New Year. — Reform Jew wishes a Hasid a happy New Year.

Image of On Rosh Sashanah, Jews pray at a stream and, according to custom, empty the contents of their pockets into the water, symbolically casting away their sins. — On Rosh Sashanah, Jews pray at a stream and, according to custom, empty the contents of their pockets into the water, symbolically casting away their sins.

Image of Shlogn kapores- a rite performed on the day before Yom Kippur. — Shlogn kapores- a rite performed on the day before Yom Kippur.

Image of On Sukkot, Jews eat, sleep, and study in temporary dwellings. — On Sukkot, Jews eat, sleep, and study in temporary dwellings.

Image of Examining the etrog (citron) for imperfections. — Examining the etrog (citron) for imperfections.

Image of Buying flags for children to carry in the Torah procession on the eve of Simhat Tora — Buying flags for children to carry in the Torah procession on the eve of Simhat Tora

Image of Khanike- gelt -- coins are given to children on Hanukkah — Khanike- gelt — coins are given to children on Hanukkah

Image of Purim- shpiler in Szydlowiec, 1937. — Purim- shpiler in Szydlowiec, 1937.

Image of Airing the bedding and cleaning house for Passover. — Airing the bedding and cleaning house for Passover.

Image of Rabbi Binyomin Graubart, with teachers and students of the Mizrachi Talmud Torah on Lag ba'Omer, Staszow. — Rabbi Binyomin Graubart, with teachers and students of the Mizrachi Talmud Torah on Lag ba’Omer, Staszow.

Image of Naftole Grinband, a clockmaker. Gora Kalwaria (Yiddish: Ger), 1928. — Naftole Grinband, a clockmaker. Gora Kalwaria (Yiddish: Ger), 1928.

Image of Khone Szlaifer, 85-year-old grinder, umbrella maker, and folk doctor. Lomza, 1927. — Khone Szlaifer, 85-year-old grinder, umbrella maker, and folk doctor. Lomza, 1927.

Image of Yisroel Lustman, weaver of peasant linen in Wawolnica. — Yisroel Lustman, weaver of peasant linen in Wawolnica.

Image of Zelig, the tailor in Wolomin. — Zelig, the tailor in Wolomin.

Image of Shoemaker. Warsaw, 1927. — Shoemaker. Warsaw, 1927.

Image of Chairmender in Vilna. — Chairmender in Vilna.

Image of Watecarrier in Stoszow, ca. 1935. — Watecarrier in Stoszow, ca. 1935.

Image of Khayim, an old ferryman, on the Vistula River near Kaszimierz nad Wisla. — Khayim, an old ferryman, on the Vistula River near Kaszimierz nad Wisla.

Image of Sime Swieca, a feather plucker, in Kosow. — Sime Swieca, a feather plucker, in Kosow.

Image of Women spinning cord, 1938. — Women spinning cord, 1938.

Image of C. Nachumowski, the Jewish propietress of an inn. Lubcza, 1930s. — C. Nachumowski, the Jewish propietress of an inn. Lubcza, 1930s.

Image of Jews and peasant on market day in Otwock, 1937. — Jews and peasant on market day in Otwock, 1937.

Image of Zisl, the street musician. Staszow, 1930s. — Zisl, the street musician. Staszow, 1930s.

Image of Klezmorim - traditional musicians, most of them members of the Faust family. — Klezmorim – traditional musicians, most of them members of the Faust family.

Image of Berl Cyn, age 87, the oldest blacksmith in the town. Nowe Miasto, 1925. — Berl Cyn, age 87, the oldest blacksmith in the town. Nowe Miasto, 1925.

About Irv Kempner

Irv Kempner is the chair of MOTL New England. He is the CEO of the Kempner Family Foundation and serves on many nonprofit boards, including World Boston and American Jewish Committee of New England.