http://hdl.handle.net/11320/4317 2026-06-01T16:12:32Z 2026-06-01T16:12:32Z Szerszunowicz, Wacław http://hdl.handle.net/11320/4349 2022-06-23T07:50:51Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Tytuł: Symbolika na cmentarzach żydowskich w białostockiem Autorzy: Szerszunowicz, Wacław Abstrakt: Tombs on Jewish cemetaries are decorated with the ornament of a hexagonal star (shield or star of David), serving first of all as a religious sign. Basic set of inscriptions was written in Hebrew, but also other languages were used: Yiddish, Polish, Russian, German, or even versions with mixed languages appeared. The most frequent motif placed on the tombs is that of a hand. The hand is usually supplied with additional attributes, or performs ritual gestures which symbolize the deceased's public functions or accomplishments. Hence, for example, hands joined in supplication can be found on the tombs of rabbis. A treasurer, or a person involved with charity, would have his tomb decorated with a collection box and, above it, a hand at the moment of throwing in a coin. Among the images of animals the most frequent ones are those representing a lion, a tiger, a bear or a deer - containing allusions to the qualities and merits of the dead, or his name as well. Also images of beasts, griffons and leviathans occur. A number of symbols is made up of images of birds, amcmg which the most popular ones are those of a pigeon, an eagle and a phoenix. The end of earthly existence is symbolized by images of broken trees or dying flame - for men, and broken candles - for women (they were responsible for caring for Sabbath candles). The image of a snake swallowing its own tail or a sand-glass represents the attitude towards continual transition of time, also symbolizing eternity. The tomb ornaments frequently represent motifs drawn from the stories in the Bible. Opis: 500 lat osadnictwa żydowskiego na Podlasiu. Materiały z konferencji międzynarodowej, Białystok, 14 - 17 września 1987 r.; 500 Years of the Jewish Settlement in Podlasie. Popers From the International Conference, Białystok, September 14 - 17, 1987.

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Wiśniewski, Tomasz http://hdl.handle.net/11320/4348 2022-06-22T10:34:16Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Tytuł: Cmentarze żydowskie w Białymstoku Autorzy: Wiśniewski, Tomasz Abstrakt: It appears that six cemetaries were used throughaut centuries by the Jewish community in Białystok. The first one, from the second half of the 16th century, was probably located at the southern frontage of the Kościuszko Market (at the mouth of present Sienkiewicza Street), but neither its existence nor its absence can be confirmed with sufficient proof. The second, at the so called „Suraż suburb", carne from the 18th century. The oldest tomb here dated from 1764. This cemetary was situated on Kalinowskiego Street, more or less at the location of the present Park Centralny. It was divided into sections and had alleys marked out. It had functioned till about 1890. Next was the so called „cholera" cemetary situated at Bema Street (at about the present market site). It was established in 1840 with the aim to contain graves of contagious disseases victims (among them those who died in the epidemics of cholera in the 1830s and 1840s). Also bodies of less well-off were buried here. The cemetary was closed in 1892. Two years earlier, at the area of previous village Bagnówka (now Wschodnia Street) fourth cemetary was located, near orthodox and catholic cemetaries. Centrary to previously mentioned Jewish cemetaries, it still exists. The last burial took place in 1969. It is one of the largest Jewish cemetaries in Poland (its area measures about 12,5 h). Among monuments it contains the obelisk to the victims of pogroms of 14th, 15th and 16th June 1906. The most recent Jewish necropolis was the cemetary which, as the only one in the occupied Europe, was established at the area of the Ghetto (at Żabia Street) on August 1, 1941. The bodies of 3 500 victilns were buried here, among them fighters of the Ghetto Uprising. The Burial Society (Chewra Kadisza) functioned here till the Ghetto was destroyed in August 1943 The graves were simple, either for one person or common. In the years 1944-49 the cemetary was tidied up and enlarged (through buying out private plots of ground). The families of the dead and the murdered put up new tombs, frequently symbolic when the location of the body was not known. The cemetary became the location of the obelisk to the victims of the Ghetto, the obelisk to the fighters of the Uprising and ohel (a tent-mausoleum) to commemorate the fighters of the Uprising and Jewish partisans. At the beginning of the 70s, despite numerous protests, the city authorities decided to close down this unique cemetary. The remains of the victims were exhumed and put into a common grave. The tombs, the monuments and the mausoleum disappeared. Today the only evidence of the cemetary is a commemorative plaque erected in 1971. Opis: 500 lat osadnictwa żydowskiego na Podlasiu. Materiały z konferencji międzynarodowej, Białystok, 14 - 17 września 1987 r.; 500 Years of the Jewish Settlement in Podlasie. Popers From the International Conference, Białystok, September 14 - 17, 1987.

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Monkiewicz, Waldemar Kowalczyk, Józef http://hdl.handle.net/11320/4347 2022-06-22T10:14:26Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Tytuł: Pomoc Żydom w regionie białostockim podczas II wojny światowej Autorzy: Monkiewicz, Waldemar; Kowalczyk, Józef Abstrakt: The attempts to help Jews in this region engaged representatives of all social groups, but the most efficient and widespread was the involvement of peasants. One of the forms of help to the inhabitants of the Ghetto was the supply of food. In Białystok, where the food was most difficult to obtain, partnerships were formed to smuggle food products into the Ghetto. Due to the illegal trading of food, in the Białystok Ghetto fewer cases of death by starvation and malnutrition occurred. Attempts to help Jews caused victims. There were cases of shooting by the Germans of people who supplied food to Ghettoes. Help in other way also had sometimes tragic consequences. Czesław Sawicki, from the Home Army document validation section which produced false documents for the hiding Jews, was arrested and shot, and with him 24 persons from his family. Jewish refugees from the Ghetto, both civilians and those who joined the partisan groups, received food supplies foom local people. Also Catholic clergy helped to provide shelter for Jews. The study concerning the extent of help was undertaken by the Regional Commission for Study of Nazi Crimes in Białystok in 1986. The research was limited to a few rural districts and only some towns. Only documented or proved cases were studied. Poles and Belorussians who extended help represented various social groups. There were different motifs. Illegal food trade with the Ghettoes was for producers and smugglers a source of significant income. The hiding of refugees from the Ghettoes and transports was usually quite unselfish, either based on previous acquintance, or resulting from humanitarian motifs. According to the still incomplete results of the research it appears that 35 Poles lost their lives for helping Jews. 420 persons were given shelter although not all cases of hiding ended happily. 281 facts of help have been established. Ususally this help concerned food supplies. These data are incomplete and require further research. Opis: 500 lat osadnictwa żydowskiego na Podlasiu. Materiały z konferencji międzynarodowej, Białystok, 14 - 17 września 1987 r.; 500 Years of the Jewish Settlement in Podlasie. Popers From the International Conference, Białystok, September 14 - 17, 1987.

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z Leszczak, Mirosław http://hdl.handle.net/11320/4346 2022-06-22T10:12:23Z 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z

Tytuł: Zagłada ludności żydowskiej w Siemiatyczach Autorzy: Leszczak, Mirosław Abstrakt: First Jews settled here in 1582. Soon before the outbreak of the War, in 1939, slightly more than 4 300 Jews (52,9%) lived in Siemiatycze. After a short stay in September 1939 German forces entered the town for the second time in June 1941, after the outbreak of the German-Soviet War. Till July 1942 Jews in Siemiatycze lived in their own houses which, however, they had to mark with sings. In August 1942 the invader organized the Ghetto in which Jewish people were crowded into narrow area of 0,9 square meters per person. Upon larning of th plans to exterminate the Ghetto, a revolt took place on September 3, 1942 and about 300 Jews managed to escape from the Ghetto. The rest were displaced in a few stages and taken away, mostly to the camp in Treblinka. The refugees from the Ghetto or from transports were hiding in the area. An armed group under Herszel Szebes's command was organized, attempting to provide protection for larger groups of hiding Jews and dispensing justlce to those peasants who, after taking away their valuables, denounced Jews to Germans. On the other hand, however, many Jewish families were rescued by Boles. Several families in the area were executed for giving shelter to Jewish people. After the liberation of Siemiatycze in Juille 1944 the remaining Jews returned to the town. However, it was not a peaceful time for them. Herszel Szebes's group, provided with guns from the Soviet headquarters, started settling the wrongs in the area. In retaliation at night armed parties attackied Jewish homes and their inhabitants. There were victims on both sides. In this situation in 1945 the remaining Jews decided to leave the town. 107 persons, adults and children, left Siemiatycze emigrating to Palestine, USA and other countries. Opis: 500 lat osadnictwa żydowskiego na Podlasiu. Materiały z konferencji międzynarodowej, Białystok, 14 - 17 września 1987 r.; 500 Years of the Jewish Settlement in Podlasie. Popers From the International Conference, Białystok, September 14 - 17, 1987.

1989-01-01T00:00:00Z