Sierpc, Poland - Yizkor Book

Proposal
Sierpc, Poland Yizkor Book

Project Name. The Communirty of Sierpc; Memorial Book, Kehilat Sierpc; Sefer zikaron

JewishGen Yizkor Book Project Manager: Lance Ackerfeld

Project Synopsis

This project is being undertaken to fund the completion of the translation into English of the 603 page Yizkor Book of Sierpc (Poland), published in 1959. The goal is to produce a complete translation of this book for JewishGen. Translation of several sections of the book, including captions of photographs, have been completed and are available online at http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/Sierpc/Sierpc.html.

Key Audiences

Those seeking to trace their roots to Sierpc and its region constitute the primary audience for the material. Moreover, the book has the potential to be of broader appeal to scholars, students, and others interested in the region or specializing in Jewish history and society.

Project Importance

Yizkor books are unique sources of information about once vibrant towns, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, whose Jewish populations were annihilated in the Holocaust. This Yizkor book contains narratives of the history of Sierpc, details of daily life, religious and political figures and movements, religious and secular education, and gripping stories of the major intellectual and Zionist movements of the early 20th century. The necrologies and lists of residents are of tremendous historical and intellectual value.

Prior to the outbreak of WWII, Sierpc had a thriving Jewish community. The Jewish community was wiped out and was not reconstituted after the war. Survivors, descendants of survivors, as well as descendants of those who emigrated from Sierpc prior to the war are known to live in the United States, Israel, Canada, Australia, and other locations. The Yizkor book is the major formal source of documentary history of the town and will result in the creation of the primary English language source of information for individuals and groups doing research on the town and its Jewish community.

Project Description

Alex Weingarten has provided the sections presently translated as a donation to the project and will donate addtional time to translate selected sections. Translators will be identified to work on sections to complete the Sierpc Yizkor Book Project.

Project Management

Dorothy Lipsky will serve as project coordinator. She will work with the translator, including proof reading, editing, and preparing the work for submission to JewishGen Yizkor Book Project. Sandra Krisch, who contributed editorial review of the currently translated material, will continue her support of the project.

Estimated Cost

Completion of the translation of the remaining text is estimated to cost approximately $10,000. The estimate will be revised and refined as the project progresses.

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