Memorial book of
Suchowola Yizkor Book 

Project Synopsis

This project is being initiated in order to fund the translation of the 308 page Yizkor Book. The goal is to eventually provide a complete translation of this book to JewishGen. A translation of some portions of the book (table of contents, a martyr list and other individual sections) already exists on JewishGen.

Key Audiences

Jewish genealogists seeking to trace their roots to Suchowola and its region constitute the primary audience for the material. However, the material has the potential to be of broader appeal to scholars interested in the region or specializing in Jewish history and society.  In particular, as has been the case with other such books, Polish gentiles with an interest in the Jewish community of Suchowola or the general history of Suchowola will likely take interest in the book.

Project Importance

Yizkor books are unique sources of information on once vibrant towns, primarily in central and Eastern Europe, whose Jewish populations were destroyed in the Holocaust. Written after World War II by émigrés and Holocaust survivors, YIzkor books contain narratives of the history of the town, 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 20th century. The necrologies and lists of residents are of tremendous genealogical value, as often the names of individuals who were taken to extermination camps or died in the forests are not recorded elsewhere.

Suchowola is located about 50 km north of Bialystok. The Jewish population of Suchowola estimated at 1,500 people was eradicated by Nazi Germans during the Holocaust.

Survivors, descendants of survivors, as well as descendants of those who emigrated from Suchowola prior to the war are known to exist in the United States, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Australia and other countries. This Yizkor book is a major source for documented history of the town and its Jewish population, and will result in the creation of a primary English language source.

Project Description

As funds become available, Hebrew and Yiddish pages will be translated into English by a professional translator.

The project coordinator will select the order in which the chapters will be translated and will work closely with the translator to ensure a grammatically correct and idiomatic translation. Those donating funds to the project will be given the opportunity to select the chapters of interest for priority in translation.

Estimated Cost

A full translation is currently estimated to cost $15,000. This estimate will be revised and refined as the project progresses.

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Updated 29 Aug 2016 by LA