International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies - Cemetery Project

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POLAND


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B - Bi - Bl - Br


THE CEMETERIES "A"

ADAMOW:   US Commission No. 000567
Other Names: [Polish: Adamów] [Yiddish: Yadimov]. Region of Poland: Siedleckie. Location: 51°44 22°16

ADELNAU: (German) see Odolanow

ALEKSANDROW:   US Commission No. 000656
Other Names: [Polish: Aleksandrów] [Yiddish: Aleksandrow]. Region of Poland: Lodzkie. Location: 51°49 19°18

ALEKSANDROW: See Aleksandrow
ALLENSTEIN: (German) see Olsztyn
ALTMARK: (German) see Stary Targ
AMSZINOW: (Yiddish) see Mszczonow
ANGERBURG: (German or Yiddish) see Wegorzewo

ANIELIN:
Region of Poland: More information required. Cemetery used by Otwock was established in the 19th century. About 200 remaining stones date from 1915. Source: Miriam Weiner

ANNOPOL I:   US Commission No. POCE000089
Other Names: [Yiddish: Rachow/Rachov-Annopol]. Region of Poland: Tarnobrzeskie. Location: 50°53 21°51. The US Commission needs to recheck this file.
ANNOPOL II:   US Commission No. POCE000090
The US Commission needs to recheck this file.
http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/Annopol/Annopol.html [October 2000].

APT: See Opatow
ARNSWALDE: (German) See Choszczno

AUGUSTOW I:   AS 101
Other Names: [Polish: Augustów]. Region of Poland: Suwalskie. Location: 53°50 22°59. 31 km from Suwalki and 91 km from Bialystok. Cemetery location: Augustow, ulica Warynskiego. Present town population is 25,000-100,000, with no Jews in residence.
     The earliest known Jewish community was about 1674. 1931 population was 2334. The isolated urban flat land has a sign in Polish. Reached by turning directly off a public road, a metal gauze fence with no gate surrounds it. Access is entirely closed. The size of the cemetery is about 0,04 hectares as before WWII. No gravestones or known mass graves are visible. The regional or national government agency owns the property now used only as a Jewish cemetery adjacent to residential properties. Jewish and non-Jewish private visitors and local residents visit rarely. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. In the late 1980's, the wall was fixed by Jewish individuals abroad. There is occasional clearing or cleaning by the authorities. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. There are no threats or drainage or vegetation problems.
     Dr. Janusz Mackiewicz, 16-400 Suwalki, ulica 1 Maja 27a/47, tel. d.[home] 663756, tel. sl. [office] 663741 completed survey on September 23, 1994.
AUGUSTOW II:   US Commission No. AS102
     See Augustow I for details of town and history. The Jewish cemetery was established in the early 19th century. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The suburban flat land, separate but near to other cemeteries, has signs in Polish and Hebrew mentioning Jews. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all, with no walls, fences, or gates. The pre- and post-WWII size is about 3 ha (7.4 acres). 1-20 gravestones, none in original positions with about 25% toppled or broken, date from the 19th and 20th centuries. The location of removed stones is unknown. The limestone and sandstone finely smoothed and inscribed stones, as well as flat stones with carved relief decorations have Hebrew inscriptions. There is a special memorial monument for Holocaust victims. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns the cemetery property now used for a park adjacent to recreational and residential properties, to a Roman Catholic cemetery, and to a War Cemetery of Soviet Soldiers. Jewish and non-Jewish private visitors and local residents visit rarely. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. In the late 1980's, stones were re-erected by Jewish individuals abroad. There is no care now. Within the limits of the cemetery is a pre-burial home used as a dwelling. Slight threat: weather erosion, moderate threat: vandalism, and serious threat: overgrowth of the forest.
     Dr. Janusz Mackiewicz, 16-400 Suwalki, ulica 1 Maja 27a/47, tel. d. [home] 663756, tel. sl. [office] 663741 completed survey on September 21, 1994.

AUGUSTOWO: also used cemetery at Bielsk Podlaski
Region of Poland: Bialostockie. Location: 52°47 23°08.

AUSCHWITZ: (German) see Oswiecim


THE CEMETERIES "B"

BAD POLZIN: (German) see Polczyn Zdroj
BAHN: See Banie
BALDENBURG: (German) see Bialy Bor

BAKALARZEWO:   AS 103
Region of Poland: Suwalskie. Location: 54°05 22°39. 20 km from Suwalki. (Shtetl Seeker shows 54°06' N.) Cemetery location: S edge of the village near the lake Sumowo. Present town population is under 1,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest Jewish community dates from the second half of the 18th century. In 1927, there were 212 Jews. The Jewish cemetery was established in the 4th quarter of 18th century. No other towns or villages used this cemetery, landmarked number: Nr rej.zabytkow regionsuwalskiego-741, decyzja K1.WK2 534/741/d/89 z, 27.11.1989 (November 11, 1989). The isolated rural site by water has no signs or markers. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no walls, fences, or gates. The pre- and post-WWII size is about 0. 9 hectares. 20-100 gravestones date from the 19th and 20th centuries with about 1-20 in original locations and less than 25% toppled or broken. The location of removed stones is unknown. The granite and sandstone finely smoothed and inscribed stones, flat stones with carved relief decorations, or sculpted monuments have Hebrew inscriptions. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The regional or national government agency owns the property used for animal grazing. Adjacent properties are agricultural and a lake. Occasionally, Jewish and non-Jewish private visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. There is no maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Moderate threat: vegetation.
     Dr. Janusz Mackiewicz, 16-400 Suwalki, ulica 1 Maja 27a/47, tel. [Home] 663756, tel.sl. [Office] 663741 completed survey on September 22, 1994.

BALIGROD:   US Commission No. POCE000715
Other Names: [Polish: Baligród], Region of Poland: Krosnienskie. Location: 49°20 22°17. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].
     UPDATE: Cemetery photos at http://www.kirkuty.xip.pl/baligrod.html [January 2006]
     UPDATE: Photos of the cemetery can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/60179646@N00/109913691. [March 2006]


BANIE:   US Commission No. POCE000193
Other Names: [German: Bahn], Region of Poland: Szczecinskie. Location: 53°06 14°39. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].

BANIEWICE: See: Banie.

BARANOW:   US Commission No. POCE000175
Other Names: [Polish: Baranów], Region of Poland: Lubelskie. Location: 51°34 22°09. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].

BARANOW SANDOMIERSKI:   US Commission No. POCE000249
Other Names: [Polish: Baranów Sandomierski], Region of Poland: Tarnobrzeskie. Location: 50°29 21°32. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].

BARCIN:   US Commission No. POCE000587
Other Names: [Yiddish: Bartschin], Region of Poland: Bydgoskie. Location: 52°52 17°58. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].

BARCZEWO:   US Commission No. POCE000267
See OLSZTYN. Other Names: [German: Wartenburg], Region of Poland: Olsztynskie. Location: 53°50 20°41. 10 km from Olsztyn. Cemetery location: ulica Warminska. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest Jewish community dates from 1825 with a few Jews to 1937 with 40 Jews. The Jewish cemetery was established in the mid-19th century with last known Orthodox or Progressive/ Reform Jewish burial in the late 1930's. The isolated surburban flat land has no signs or markers. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no walls, fences, or gates. The pre- and post-WWII size is about 0.10 hectares. No gravestones are visible. 1-20 surviving gravestones are stored in the museum at Barczewo. Less than 25% broken, the 19th and 20th century tombstones have Hebrew and German inscriptions. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns the property used only as a Jewish cemetery. Adjacent properties are agricultural and residential. Rarely, Jewish and non-Jewish private visitors and local residents visit. In 1990, local authorities cleared vegetation. Local authorities occasionally clear or clean the cemetery. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Slight threats: vandalism and existing incompatible development.
     Wiktor Knercer completed this survey in November 1991. He visited the site in 1991. Documentation: Frederichs. Deutsches Staedtebuch...Stuttgurt 1939.
    See Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992. page 73

BARLINEK:   US Commission No. POCE000349
Region of Poland: Gorzowskie. Location: 52°59 15°12. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].

BARTENSTEIN: See Bartoszyce

BARTOSZYCE:   US Commission No. POCE000266
Region of Poland: Gorzowskie. Location: 52°59 15°12. Alternate German name: Bartenstein. Bartoszyce is located in Olsztyn region at 54°15 20°48, 88km from Olsztyn. The cemetery is located at ulica J. Bema. The town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.
     Earliest known Jewish community dates from 1737-1753. 1921 Jewish population (census) was 61. The unlandmarked Jewish cemetery was established about 1820. The last known Orthodox or Progressive Jewish burial was in 1939. The isolated suburban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road and crossing private property, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. The pre- and post-WWII size is 0.15 hectares. There are no surviving gravestones, structures, maintenance, or known mass graves. Municipality owns site used for recreational, industrial, or commercial use. Properties adjacent are residential. The boundaries are smaller than in 1939 because of housing development. The cemetery is visited rarely. The cemetery was not vandalized within the past ten years. Security and vandalism are very serious threats.
     Wiktor Knercer, ulica Bema 33m16, 10-684 Olsztyn visited site and completed this survey in January 1992, Tel: 33-86-07 with no additional documentation. No interviews were conducted.

BARTSCHIN: See Barcin
BARWALDE: (German) see Barwice

BARWICE:   US Commission No. POCE000328
Other Names: [German: Barwalde], Region of Poland: Koszalinskie. Location: 53°45 16°21. 20 km from Szczecinek. Cemetery location: close to the communal cemetery. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest Jewish community dates from the 18th century. The Jewish community was Progressive/Reform. The unlandmarked urban flat land, part of a municipal cemetery, has are no signs or markers. Reached by crossing the communal cemetery, access is via no walls, fences or gates. The pre- and post-WWII size is 0.12 hectares. No gravestones are visible. The location of removed stones is unknown. There are no known mass graves. The municipality owns the property, now a reserve area of the communal cemetery. Adjacent properties are agricultural, residential, and communal cemetery. Frequently, organized Jewish group tours or pilgrimage groups visit. The cemetery was vandalized prior to World War II. There is no maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Moderate threat: planned or proposed incompatible development. inz. Henryk Grecki, 70-534 Szczecin, ulica Soltysia 3/13. tel. 377-41 completed survey on August 30, 1991.

BEDKOW:   US Commission No. POCE000659
Other Names: [Polish: Bedków], Region of Poland: Piotrkowskie. Location: 51°35 19°45. 23 km from Piotrkow; 22 km from Tomaszow. The cemetery is located SE of town in a forest. Present town population is under 1,000 with no Jews.
     1921 Jewish population was 228 or 32.8%. The Orthodox Jewish cemetery was established in probably 2nd half of 19th century. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked isolated wooded flat land with no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. A broken masonry wall with no gate surrounds the cemetery. The pre- and post-WWII size is 0.15 ha hectares. There are no stones, structures, or known mass graves. Municipality owns site. Properties adjacent are forest. The cemetery boundaries are unchanged since 1939. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. No maintenance. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access. Jan Pawet Woronczak, Sandomierska Str. 21m.1, 02-567 Warszawa, tel. 49-54-62 completed survey on 9 Nov 1991. Site not visited.

BEDZIN:
Alternate name Bendin, Bendzin, Bendsburg. Region of Poland: Katowickie. Location: 50°19 19°09.
     See http://www.wcss.wroc.pl/wroclaw/religia/cmen/cmz_be_e.htm Jewish cemetery was established in the 18th century, photos by Stanislaw Gadomski from guide "Macewy bedzinskie"
     Source: They Lived Among Us: Polish Judaica , a travel brochure: Arline Sachs, sachs@nova.org extracted names of townstaht supposedly having Jewish cemeteries. These generally have names only; sometimes a description of famous people who lived there, but no page number.)
     Source: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992. p 73.
     UPDATE:

BEITCH:
Region of Poland. "There was only a small memorial structure built from gravestones." Source: Cohen, Chester G. "Jewish Cemeteries in Southern Poland" from `An Epilogue' in Shtetl Finder . 1980.

BELCHATOW:   US Commission No. POCE000660
ShtetLink: http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Belchatow
Nearby towns and villages include: Grocholice, Kamiensk, Lask, Pabience, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Radomsko, Rozprza, Sulmierzyce, Szercow, Tuszyn, and Widawa. [February 2001]

Other Names: [Polish: Belchatów], Region of Poland: Piotrkowskie. Location: 51°22 19°22. 24 km from Piotrkow and 52 km S of Lodz. Cemetery: Lipowa St. Present town population is 25,000-100,000 with no Jews. The earliest known Jewish community was beginning of 19th century. 1921 Jewish population was 3688. The unlandmarked Orthodox Jewish cemetery was established probably at end of 19th/beginning of 20th century. The isolated suburban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, gate, or fence. The pre- and post-WWII size is 1.6 ha. There are no stones or known mass graves. Municipality owns property now used for recreation (park, playground, and sports field). Properties adjacent are recreational and residential. Frequently, local residents visit as a park. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. No maintenance. Jan Pawet Woronczak, Sandomierska Str. 21m.1, 02-567 Warszawa; tel. 49-54-62 completed survey on 29 Dec 1991. The site was not visited.
BELCHATOW II:   US Commission No. POCE000661 The cemetery is located at Kempfinowka Str. The cemetery was probably established in the first half of the 19th century. The isolated urban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. There are no stones and no known mass graves. Within the limits of the cemetery is a 1987 apartment building. Municipality owns property now used for industrial or commercial use. Properties adjacent are residential. Frequently, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. No maintenance. Jan Pawet Woronczak, Sandomierska Str. 21m.1, 02-567 Warszawa; tel. 49-54-62 completed survey. Site not visited.

BELGARD: (German) see Bialogard
BELZHITS: (Yiddish) see Belzyce I nad II

BELZEC:
Other Names: [Polish: Be³¿ec], Region of Poland: Zamojskie. Location: 50°23 23°26. See p 38-39: Source: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992.

BELZYCE I:   US Commission No. POCE000637
Other Names: [Yiddish: Belzhits], Region of Poland: Lubelskie. Location: 51°11 22°17. About 25 km SW of Lublin. Alternate Yiddish: Belzhits. Cemetery location: "The New Cemetery" is about 500 meters S of the market square by Przemystowa Street. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with fewer than 10 Jews.
     The earliest Jewish community dates from the 16th century. 1921 Jewish population was 1,882 Jews or 51%. The unlandmarked "New" Jewish cemetery was established in 1825. Yacov of Belzyce lived in the community in the 4th quarter of the 15th century. (He was buried in the "Old Cemetery" in Belzyce.) The last known Orthodox Jewish burial in the "New Cemetery" was 1943. The isolated suburban flat land has signs or markers in Polish, Yiddish and Hebrew and Hebrew inscriptions on the gate or wall mentioning Jews, the Holocaust, the Jewish community, and a family. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open with permission via a continuous masonry wall and locking gate. Prior to World War II, the size of the cemetery was about 0.8 hectares. The current size is about 0.75 hectares. 1-20 gravestones, none in original positions with less than 25% toppled or broken, date from the 19th and 20th century. The location of removed stones is unknown. There was an area for Jewish soldiers of World War I. The sandstone flat stones with carved relief decoration have Hebrew inscriptions. The cemetery contains special monuments to Holocaust victims and unmarked mass graves. The municipality owns the cemetery property used only as a Jewish cemetery. Adjacent properties are commercial, industrial, and residential properties. Compared to 1939, the cemetery boundaries enclose a smaller area due to commercial or industrial development. Organized Jewish group tours or pilgrimage groups and Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors stop occasionally. The cemetery has not been vandalized in the last 10 years. In October 1990, Jewish individuals abroad cleared vegetation and fixed the wall and gate. Now occasionally, authorities clean or clear. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Slight threats: security, weather erosion, vandalism, and existing and proposed incompatible development. There are moderate threats from pollution and vegetation. In December 1993, Pawel Sygowski, ulica Kalinowszczyzna 64/59, 20-201 Lublin, tel. 77-20-78 completed survey. He visited the site in 1992 and conducted interviews. Other documentation is a "documentation card."

BELZYCE II:   US Commission No. POCE000638
Cemetery location: "The Old Cemetery" by the synagogue about 50 meters S of the market square. The unlandmarked Orthodox "Old" Jewish cemetery was established in the 4th quarter of the 16th century with last known Jewish burial in the first quarter of the 19th century. The isolated urban flat land has no signs or markers. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is [sic] with no walls, fences or gates. The pre- and post-WWII size is 0.04 hectares. No gravestones are visible. The location of removed stones is unknown. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims and no known mass graves. The municipality owns the property now used for recreation. Adjacent properties are commercial, industrial, and residential. Organized Jewish group tours or pilgrimage groups and Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors stop rarely. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. There is no maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery is a structure "Dom Kultury." Slight threats: weather erosion and vandalism. Moderate threat: existing and proposed incompatible development. In December 1993, Pawel Sygowski, ulica Kalinowsczyzna 64/59, 20-201 Lublin, tel. 77-20-78 completed survey. He visited site in 1992 and conducted interviews. Other documentation is a documentation card.
     UPDATE: Cemetery photos at http://www.kirkuty.xip.pl/belzyce.html [January 2006]

BERENT: (German) See Koscierzyna
BERLINCHEN: See Barlinek
BERNSTEIN: (German) see Pelczyce
BERZNIKI: see Berzniki Folwark

BERZNIKI FOLWARK: (Berzniki) AS 104
Alternate Polish name: Berzniki. Region of Poland: Suwalskie. Location: 54°05 23°28. 11 km from Sejny. Cemetery location: approximately 0.3 km (0.2 miles) N of the road from Berzniki to Giby, E of the farm buildings Berzniki-Folwark in lot number 10. Present town population is under 1,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest Jewish community dates from the second half of the 18th century. In 1765, there were 8 Jewish families, and in 1798, 38 Jews. The Jewish cemetery was established in the 18th century. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked isolated rural flat land with no signs or markers. Reached by crossing private property, access is open to all with no walls, fences, or gates. The pre- and post-WWII size is 0.3 ha (0.75 acres). No gravestones are visible. The location of removed stones is unknown. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The cemetery is now used for agriculture. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II, but not in the last 10 years. There is no maintenance or structures. Slight threat: vandalism. Moderate threat: vegetation, a constant problem disturbing the graves. On September 29, 1994, Dr. Janusz Mackiewicz, 16-400 Suwalki, ulica 1 Maja 27a/47, tel.d. (home) 663756, tel.sl. (work) 663741 completed survey.

BETSCHE: See: Pszczew.
Other Names: [German: Betsche],

BEUTHEN: See Bytom

BEZIN (III):   US Commission No. POCE000551
see Bedzin (I and II)??? The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].

Bi

BIALA:   US Commission No. POCE000059
Other Names: [Polish: Bia³a], [German: Zulz/Zuelz] Region of Poland: Opolskie. Location: 50°23 17°39. 43 km from Opole and 88 km from Wroclaw. Present town population: 1000-5000 with no Jews.
     Date of earliest known Jewish community was end of 16th century. 1925 Jewish population was 14. Expulsion of Jews from all Silesia except from Biala (Zuelz) and Glogow (Gross) Glogau was in 16th century. After that, Biala was an important Jewish center until the 1830's. The Jewish cemetery was established before 1622 with last known Orthodox Jewish burial in 1938. Prudnik (Neustadt), 12 km. away, in the first half of the 19th century and Kozle Cosel/Kosel), 50 km. away, until 1814 used this cemetery. The cemetery is landmarked, but no details were given. The isolated suburban hillside has Hebrew inscriptions on gate or wall. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall or fence but a non-locking gate. Size of cemetery before and after WWII: about 0.6 hectares. 500-5000 gravestones, with 20-100 not in original locations and less than 25% toppled or broken, date from the 17th to 20th centuries. The oldest known gravestone is 1621/22. The marble, (1) granite, limestone, and sandstone finely smoothed and inscribed stones or multi-stone monuments, some with damaged metal fences around graves, are inscribed in Hebrew and/or German. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. Within the limits of the cemetery is a pre-burial house ruin. The property, now a closed Jewish cemetery, is owned by the municipality. Properties adjacent are agricultural and residential. Rarely, local residents visit for varying purposes. The cemetery was not vandalized in the last ten years. Local/municipal authorities cleared vegetation in Spring 1991. The hillside is eroding with no current care. Security is a slight threat. Weather erosion is a serious threat. Vegetation is a very serious threat because massive growth of trees damaging graves and gravestones.
     Jan Pawel Woronzcak, Sandomierska 21m1, 02-567 Warsawa, tel. 49-54-62 completed survey on 6 September 1991 using an unpublished complete documentation of cemetery by Jerzy Woronczak. The site was visited for the survey in 1981, '82, '83, '84 and 1991.
See: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992. P. 74
http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Kolbuszowa (Shtetlink) [November 2002]
     UPDATE: Cemetery photos at http://www.kirkuty.xip.pl/biala.htm [January 2006]

BIALA:   AS 214
See: Dobrzany. Other Names: [Polish: Bia³a], Notes: Gmina Dobrzany. Located in Bielsko. In 1996-1997, the cemetery was exhumed and transferred to the Jewish cemetery in Bielsko at 92 Cieszynska St. The cemetery site is now a plant for sports equipment. Approximately 200 persons were exhumed separately. Their graves are visible and can be identified. 400 others are buried in a common grave because they were hard to identify. 156 gravestones are preserved. The oldest one dates to 1866 (Karl Midelburg). Buried in the cemetery include Dr. Rabin Glaser, Dr. Chaim Halberstamm, Dr. Abraham Plessner, Dr. Samuel Reich, Dr. Josef Schmetterling, and Dr. Berisch J. Schnitzer. The last known Conservative or Progressive/Reform Jewish burial before exumation was in 1954. The marble and granite tombstones date from the 19th and 20th centuries. Inscriptions are Hebrew, Yiddish, Polish and German. Jacek Proszyk, 68 Poczt St. 43- 430 Skoczow, completed this survey on April 6, 1995. The documents concerning exhumation are in the archives of the Jewish Community of Bielsko-Biala.

BIALA D'LITA: See Biala-Podlaska
BIALA, GM DOBRZANY: see Dobrzany

BIALA RAWSKA:   US Commission No. POCE000214
Region of Poland: Skierniewickie. Location: 51°48 20°29. About 68 km from Lodz and 60 km from Warsaw. Present town population is 1000-5000 with no Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community is 1765. 1921 Jewish population (census) was 1429. The Jewish cemetery was established about 1800 with last known Orthodox or Conservative Jewish burial in 1939-1945. The cemetery is landmarked by Rejestr Cmentarzy Zydowskich Urzedu ds. Wyznan 1981. The isolated suburban hillside has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate, but possibly a dike. The size is and was 1.35 hectares. 20 to 100 gravestones, 1 to 20 not in their original position and less than 25% broken, date from the 18th-20th centuries. The location of removed stones is unknown. The oldest known gravestone dates from 1791. The sandstone smoothed and inscribed or flat stones with carved relief decoration have Hebrew inscriptions. There are no known mass graves. Municipality owns site. The property is currently unused. Properties adjacent are agricultural and residential. Occasionally, organized tours and local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II and occasionally since. There are no structures or maintenance. Security and weather erosion are slight threats. Moderate threat: vegetation. Serious threat: vandalism. Open graves and smashed graves are visible. Pawet Fijatkowski, 96-800, Sochacren, Ziemowita 11 visited site and completed survey on July 15, 1991. No interviews. Documents from the private collection of Pawet Fijatkowski were used to complete the survey.

BIALA-PODLASKA:   US Commission No. POCE000401
Other Names: [Polish: Bia³a Podlaska], Alternate Yiddish name: Biala d'Lita. Region of Poland: Bialskopodlaskie. Location: 52°02 23°08. 101km NNE of Lublin. The cemetery is located at Nowa St. Present population is 25,000-100,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community was 1621. The Jewish population (census) before World War II was 8500. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery is located on flat suburban land, separate but near other cemeteries, with a sign in Polish and in Hebrew mentioning the Holocaust and Jewish symbols on the gate and walls. Reached by turning directly off a public road (ulica Nowa), access is open to all via a continuous fence and a non-locking gate. The present size of cemetery is 2.71 hectares. No gravestones are visible. Vegetation overgowth is a seasonal problem preventing access. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims. Municipality owns currently unused site. Properties adjacent to the cemetery include a Catholic cemetery. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. Local/municipal authorities fixed the wall and gate in 1988 but vandals again damaged the monument. Municipal authorities also occasionally clear or clean the cemetery. Michal Witwicki, ulica Dembowskiego 12/53, 02-784 Warszawa, Tel: 6418345 completed survey on 20/08/1991.

BIALOBRZEGI:   US Commission No. POCE0000077
Other Names: [Polish: Bia³obrzegi], Region of Poland: Rzeszowskie. Location: 50°06 22°21. 70 km. from Warsaw. The cemetery is location on Rzemieslnicza Str. in Radomskie region at 51°39N 20°58 E, Present town population: 5000-25000 with no Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community was 18th century, possibly 1750-1770. 1921 Jewish population was 1,418 (58.6%). The unlandmarked cemetery was established in 1857 with last known Orthodox burial in 1942. The isolated urban flat land has no sign. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence or gate. No stones are visible. The property, owned by a regional or national governmental agency, is used for agricultural and residential purposes. Properties adjacent are residential. Rarely, private visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized prior to and during WWII but not in the last ten years. No maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Security and incompatible development are slight threats. Weather erosion, pollution, vegetation, and vandalism are moderate threats. Adam Penkalla, ulica Gagarina 9, m.24, 26-600 Radom, tel. 48 - 366 35 34 completed survey on 11 August 1991 using his own documentation. He visited the site on 26 July 1991.
      http://www.cs.appstate.edu/~sjg/jewishgen.htm [October 2000]

BIALOGARD:   US Commission No. POCE000329
Other Names: [German: Belgard], Region of Poland: Koszalinskie. Location: 54°00 15°59. About 22 km from Koszalin. Cemetery location: ulica Polczynska. Present town population is 5000-25,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest Jewish community dates from the 18th century. The unlandmarked, isolated, suburban flat land has no signs or markers. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open with no walls, fences or gates. The size of the Progressive/Reform cemetery was and is about 0.28 hectares. No gravestones are visible. The location of removed stones is unknown. There are no known mass graves. The municipality owns the cemetery property used as a Jewish cemetery. Adjacent properties are agricultural and residential properties. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized prior to World War II. There is no maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. inz. Henryk Grecki, 70-534 Szczecin, ulica Soltysia 3/13. tel. 377-41 completed survey on August 30, 1991.

BIALOWIEZA: see Narewka
Other Names: [Polish: Bia³owieza],

BIALYBOR:   US Commission No. POCE000323
Other Names: [Polish: Bia³y Bór], [German: Baldenburg] Region of Poland: Koszalinskie. Location: 53°54 16°51 (but Shtetl Seeker shows location as 53°53' N °16°50' E), about 20 km from Szczecinek. Cemetery location: ulica Koszalinska. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest Jewish community dates from 18th century. The isolated urban flat land has no signs or markers. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open with no walls, fences or gates. The size of the unlandmarked Progressive/Reform cemetery was and is about 0,08 hectares. 1-20 gravestones in the cemetery, none in original positions and less than 25% toppled or broken, date from the 19th century. The location of removed stones is unknown.
The sandstone flat shaped stones have Hebrew and German inscriptions. There are no special monuments or known mass graves. The regional or national government agency owns the property used only as a Jewish cemetery. Adjacent properties are agricultural and residential. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized prior to World War II. There is no maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. No threats.
     ing. Henryk Grecki, 70-534 Szczecin, ulica Soltysia 3/13. tel. 377-41 completed survey on August 30, 1991.

BIALYSTOK:
Other Names: [Polish: Bia³ystok] Region of Poland: Bialostockie. Location: 53°08 23°09   "The Bialystok Jewish Cemetery at Zabia and Proletariacks Streets is a public park; graves have been desecrated or simply covered over." Source: Freedman, Warren. World Guide for the Jewish Traveler . NY: E.P. Dutton Inc, 1984. Extracted by Bernard Kouchel, koosh@att.net
BOOKS:      WEBSITE: http://www.city.bialystok.pl/eng/index.html [August 2005]
     Bialowieza District pre-WWII towns with Jewish population in Bialystok region in 1921: Chwalowo, Cichawola, Kolonia Hlubieniec, Izbice, Krynica, Krzyze, Masiewo, Panansiuki, Pieniazki, Popielewo, Rowbick, Suchowola, and Zastawa
     Bialystok District pre-WWII towns with Jewish population in Bialystok region in 1921: Jakubiewo, Kamienny Brod, Laskowiec, Mieleszki, Zubole
{10104}
     From The Bialystoker Memorial Book NY 1982: Bialystok Martyrs of the 1906 Pogrom-Bagnowke Jewish Cemetery in Bialystok "All victims of this pogrom were buried in a mass grave, in a prestigious place within the the old Jewish cemetery in Bialystok. Above this grave, a tall monument was erected, inscribed with a special epitaph in Hebrew, by the well-known poet Zalman Sznejur. The large monument near the mass grave of the pogrom victims stood for decades in the Bagnowke Jewish Cemetery in Bialystok. It reminded many of three horrible days for Jews in Bialystok in early June 1." Listing information from the book 906 [sic]. After World War II, the Poles vandalized this stately headstone, cutting it into three pieces and discarding it near the outskirts of the cemetery. Listing of names and ages available under Bagnowke Jewish Cemetery. The Bialystok Jewish Cemetery at Zabia and Proletariacka Streets is a public park; graves have been desecrated or simply covered over." [Source?]
    UPDATE: http://www.bagnowka.com/?m=cm&g=show_pod&idg=2107 has photos of the Jewish cemetery. [March 2007]

BIALYSTOK I   US Commission No. POCE00099
The cemetery is at ulica Wschodnia, Dzielnica Banowka in region Bialostok province at 53°08 23°09, 180 km. from Warsaw. Present town population: 270,000 with fewer than 10 Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community was 1692 or 1711; 1931 Jewish population was 39,165 (Polish needs translation) ["na raczna liczbe mieszk": 91, 207]. Noteworthy historical events: 1. Polowa 18th century-nadanie przywilejow dla zydow, przez Jana Klemensa Branickiego; 2. Koniec 19th cenetery, wplyw Koncepcsi syjonistycznych reprezentowanyck przez Rabina Szmuela Momilewera, Dr. Josifa Chazanowicza, poczatkujacy emigracje; and 3. pogrom in 1906. Living here were Ludwik Zamenhof, Dr. Josif Chazanowicz, Rabbi Szmuel Mohilewer, Chaim Zelig Slonimski, Abraham Samuel Herszberg, Jacob Szapiro, Icchak Szamir, Leon Pines. Rabbi Gedalij Rozenman, Ludwik Zamenhof, and Icchak Malmed are buried there. The Jewish cemetery was established officially in 1892 [Polish needs translation] rok najstarszy zlokalizowany nagrobek 1876. The last known Jewish burial was in 1969. The Jewish community was Chasydzi z Kocka, Slonimia, Stolina mieszkajacy w Bialymstoku and Sepharfic, Conservative, and Reform. Surrounding villages that used this cemetery: Suprasl, Wasilkow, Suraz, Lapy, and Starosielce, and Okoliczne Wsie, all 10 to 25 km. away. The cemetery is landmarked: "dokumentacja cmentarza znajduje sie w trakcie opracowania, czesc opracowana znajduje sio, w biurze badan i Dokumentacji Zabytkow w. B-stocki". The suburban flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign but has Jewish symbols on gate or wall. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all via a broken masonry wall and a locking gate. Size of cemetery before WWII was 125,000 square meter and is 100,000 square meters now. More than 5000 gravestones in cemetery, 500 in original locations and 50%-75% toppled or broken, date from 1876. The cemetery is divided into special sections (no details given). The marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, slate, and concrete rough stones/boulders, flat shaped stones, finely smoothed and inscribed stones, and sculpted monuments have Hebrew, Yiddish, Polish, German and Russian inscriptions. Some have traces of painting on their surfaces. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to pogrom victims. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures or known mass graves. The municipality now owns the property used for Jewish cemetery and recreation. Properties adjacent are residential and residential. The cemetery size is smaller than in 1941 because an anti-Semitic political campaign in 1968. Frequently, organized Jewish tour/pilgrimage groups, organized individual tours, private visitors, and local residents visit. The cemetery was not vandalized in the last ten years. Past maintenance: 1971 "zlikwidowano cmentarz. ustawiono skromy obelisk, ktory otaczny jest opieka" by local/municipal authorities in 1985, ogrodzenie zelazna balustradka. Care now is occasional clearing or cleaning by authorities and regular caretaker paid for by contributions from visitors. Vandalism is a slight threat. Vegetation overgrowth is a seasonal problem, preventing access. Tomasz Wisniewski visited site on 30 July 1991, using the following documentation: 1. Teczka Dotyczaca, Cmentarza Gettowego. ZiH Warszawa; and 2. Tomaz Wisniewski, Cmentarze Zydowskie w Bialymstoku w: Studia podlaskie Tom II-Bialystok 1989. He interviewed Dr. Anatol Leszcynski, W-WA ul Dantyszka 2/15 tel 252- 662, and other persons mentioned above.
     NOTE: According to Jewish Bialystok , Wisniewski [who completed these surveys] states that the Wschodnia Street cemetery is "the largest Jewish cemetery in Northern Poland." He also adds that the size is 12-hectare (about 30 acres) and that about 7,000 gravestones remain of the possibly 40,000 standing before "Germans removed them to build sidewalks, roads, and even buildings…" (p. 55) This contradicts the information he supplied above. Catholic and Russian Orthodox cemeteries adjoin. He notes the first burial as that of Fruma bat Jehuda Lejb in 1892 or 5652, again contradicting his survey that reports the first burial as 1876. He states that the last burial was 1969. He notes a conical roofed ohel covering the grave of Rabbi Chaim Herce Halpern, son of Rabbi Lipe Lepele, Chief Rabbi of Bialystok for over fifty years until 1919. This ohel donated by Bialystok Jews in New York was unreported in his survey above. He also mentions a black marble pillar commemorating the 1906 pogrom against Jews. See Bialystok yizkor for more information. http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor [ESR-September 2000]
    UPDATE: There is indeed an Ohel on the grave of Chaim Naftali Hertz Halperin that has been vandalized. Only the actual concrete building remains, but inside no gravestone. A faded inscription of the donation of the NY congregation can still be seen. The outline of his son-in-law's gravestone can be seen connected to the grave. Source: Ariel Fuss, Jerusalem, Isreal. afuss@012.net.il [August 2003]

BIALYSTOK II:   US Commission No. POCE000100
Location of cemetery: ulica Zabia.
     Noteworthy historical events: 1. Polowa 18th century-nadanie przywilejow dla zydow, przez Jana Klemensa Branickiego; 2. Zalozenie Getta Zydowskiego Przez Okupanta Niemieckiego 1 August 1941; and 3. Zaglada Getta 16 August 1943. Zginelo ok. 50,000 Zydow Bialostockich. The date Jewish cemetery was established August 1941. Buried in this cemetery are Dr. Aleksander Rajgrodzki (Vice President of the town), Pejsach Kaplan, and Abraham Samuel Herszberg. Date of the last known Progressive/Reform and zydi niepraktykujacy Jewish burial: 1948. Other towns and villages that used this cemetery: Jasionowka, Bransk, Zabludow, Krynki, Wasilkow, Suprasl, and Lapy, all 10 to 50 km away. The cemetery is land-marked: "jest wpisany do rejestru Pomnikow Walki i Meczenstwa". The isolated urban flat land has a sign in Polish mentioning Jews and the Holocaust. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. The cemetery has a broken masonry wall and no gate. Size of cemetery was 1 hectare (10,000 sq. meters.) in 1948 and 55 sq. meters in 1980. One 1941 obelisk is in the cemetery. The sandstone tombstone/memorial marker inscribed in Polish is a finely smoothed and inscribed stone with iron decoration or lettering and a metal fence. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims and Jewish soldiers. The cemetery contains marked mass graves. Within the limits of the cemetery is an ohel. The municipality owns the property, now used for Jewish cemetery only. Properties adjacent are residential and Catholic cemetery. The cemetery size is smaller than in 1939 because of a housing development. Occasionally, organized Jewish tour/pilgrimage groups, organized individual tours, private visitors, and local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized during WWII and occasionally now. Local/ municipal authorities and the Bialystoker Center in New York (USA) re-erected stones, patched broken stones, cleared vegetation, and fixed wall and gate from 1981-1991. Biaystoker Center New York, 228 E. Broadway, NY 10002, USA pays the caretaker. Vandalism is a moderate threat. Incompatible nearby development is a serious threat. Private property is taking over the cemetery property. Security and weather erosion are slight threats.
     Tomasz Wisniewski completed survey using the following documentation: 1. Karty evidencyjne Nagrobkow Zydowskich Cmentarza-Opracowala J. Tyszko, Tlumaczyl T. Fedorowicz, BBiDZ Bialystok; 2. Bialystok Cmentarz Zydowski, Studium Historyczne opr. B. Tomecka pk z B-stok 1985; 3. w. Tomacz Wisniewski, Cmentarze Zydowskie w Bialymstoku w: Studia podlaskie Tom II-Bialystok 1989; and 4. A.S. Herszberg, Pinkos Bialystok, New York 1949-50 TI/II. Wisniewski and Iwona Plichta-Wisniewska visited the site between 1984 and 1991.
     NOTE: In Jewish Bialystok , Wisniewski reports that a small park surrounded by an iron fence is a twelve-foot monument with Mogen David "commemorating the 3,000 leaders and fighters" [or 3,500] murdered in the Bialystok ghetto and tended by the Chevra Kadisha. He adds that "this Bialystok cemetery was the only ghetto cemetery in Europe." (p. 57) Also called the Ghetto cemetery, this site was used 1941-1971 having been restored by returning Jews after WWII with "a wall, several obelisks and a mausoleum..." (p. 58) In 1971, the cemetery was destroyed by vandals. All that remained was the small monument and a wall fragment. (p. 58) In 1993, the obelisk was dedicated. [ESR-September 2000]

BIALYSTOK III:   US Commission No. POCE000140
     The cemetery was located in what is now in the central park on Kalinowsiego St. The cemetery does not exist. This cemetery was established around 1760 with the last burial around 1890 oraz 1941 (lipiec). Suprasl, Starosielce, and Lapy, up to 25 km away, used this cemetery. The cemetery was around 2.0 hectares before WWII. One gravestone has been dug up. The rest are covered with a layer of soil from which the park was established. Reportedly, the oldest gravestone was 1767. The cemetery was vandalized during WWII. Tomasz Wisniewski visited the site in 1990 and 1991 and completed the survey.
     Information, maps, and inscription translations about these cemeteries is available from State Agency for Protection of Monuments in Bialystok, 23 Dojlidy St. Bialystok. Telephone/FAX: 412332

BIECE: see reference to WWI cemetery in the book section

BIECZ:
Region of Poland: Krosnienskie. Location: 49°44 21°16.
     Cemetery: Kriegerfriedhof (War Cemetery) Nr.107. {10843} 3 Jewish burials from WWI; source: erich.fritsch@sol.at
     Source: They Lived Among Us: Polish Judaica , a travel brochure: Arline Sachs, sachs@nova.org extracted names of townstaht supposedly having Jewish cemeteries. These generally have names only; sometimes a description of famous people who lived there, but no page number.)
     See page 74: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992.
  US Commission No. POCE000716
     The cemetery is located at Tysiaclecia Street in Krosno region at 49°44 21°16. , 15 km. from Jasto and 13 km. from Gorlice. Present town population: 1000-5000 with no Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community was second half of the 19th century. 1921 Jewish population was 632. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery is isolated on a suburban hillside with no sign. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all via a continuous fence and a non-locking gate. Size of cemetery now: about 0.2 hectares. 1-20 gravestones, 1-20 in original locations and less than 25% toppled or broken, are concrete and sandstone finely smoothed and inscribed stones with Hebrew and/or Polish inscriptions. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims and marked and unmarked mass graves but no structures. The site now is used for closed Jewish cemetery only. Properties adjacent are agricultural. Rarely, private visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized during WWII. No maintenance or care. Weather erosion and vegetation are moderate threats. Vegetation overgrowth is a constant problem, disturbing stones. Piotr Antoniak, ulica Dobra 5 m 36, 05-800 Pruszkow who visited the site on 15 July 1992 completed survey.

BIELAWA (LANGENBIELAU): See Dzierzoniow

BIELSK PODLASKI: used cemetery at Bocki
Other Names: [Yiddish: Bielsk Podliask], Region of Poland: Bialostockie. Location: 52°46 23°12.      Bielsk District pre-WWII towns with Jewish population in Bialystok region in 1921: Annopol, Boratynie Lacki, Borysowszczyzna, Buzyska, Chrolowice, Czarna Wies, Czyze, Czyzyki, Dubiny, Dzaje Wolka, Falki Stare, Glinnik, Grabowiec, Granne, Grodzisk, Holowieski, Holynka, Hornowo, Kalejczyce, Kalnica, Krasna Wies, Kruszyniany, Makaraki, Malesze, Nadbuzna, Nurzec Stacja, Odrynki, Osbizki, Paszkowszczyznie, Pobikry, Polsze, Przybyszyn, Radzilowka, Rogacze, Rudka, Sasiny Ostrow, Sieniewice, Sobiatyn, Stary Kornin, Swirydy, Szczyty, Tolowin, Wierzchnicz, Zery Czubiki, Zurobice
  US Commission No. POCE000101
     Alternate Yiddish name: Bielsk Podlaski. In region Bialostok at 52°46 23°12, 45 km. from Bialegostoku. [51 km S on Highway 19] The cemetery is located in W part of town before the filling station on road to Bransk. 1993 town population: 26,286 with 1 Jew.
     The earliest known Jewish community was about 1487. 1921 Jewish population was 2,392. Noteworthy historical events: second half of the 16th century expulsion of Jews from Bielsk. Living here were Icchak Cwi Horowic, Efraim Mazi, and Rabbi Mosze Aron Bendas. The Jewish cemetery was established in 1807. Buried in cemetery: Jowel Landau. Last known Jewish burial was about 1941. The Jewish community was Orthodox, Conservative, and Progressive/Reform. Suraz and surrounding villages of Augustowo, Czyze, and Hajnowka, 10 to 25 km. away used this unlandmarked cemetery. The isolated suburban hillside has a sign in Polish. Reached by crossing private property, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. Size of cemetery before WWII was 2.5 to 3.0 hectares; now 1.5 hectares. 20-100 gravestones are in the cemetery, some in original location and less than 25% toppled or broken. The gravestone dates from 1850 to 20th century. The marble, sandstone, and concrete tombstones and memorial markers are rough stones/boulders, flat shaped stones, and double tombstones have Hebrew, Yiddish, and Polish inscriptions. Some have traces of painting on their surfaces. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims. The cemetery contains marked mass graves but no known mass graves. [sic] There are no structures within the cemetery. The municipality owns the property, now used for closed Jewish cemetery and waste dump. Properties adjacent are commercial or industrial and residential. The cemetery size is smaller than in 1939 because of commercial or industrial development. Occasionally, private visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized during WWII and now occasionally. No maintenance or care. Security is a serious threat. Development of a neighboring factory is a very serious threat. Weather erosion, pollution, and vegetation are moderate threats. Vegetation overgrowth is a constant problem, disturbing graves.
     Tomasz Wisniewski completed the survey on 7 October 1991. Documentation: "Opracowanie Wlasne Tomasza Wisniewskiego/Maszynopis." Wiesniewski visited the site ten times between 1985 and 1991.
     Unreported in the survey to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. Wisniewski added to the survey above in his book Jewish Bialystok , p. 64-5 that the Jewish community dated from 30 May 1487 when King Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk "made Jews the lease holders of custom duty in Bielsk." Jews were expelled in 1564 and not officially "allowed to settle again until between 1802 and 1803." The community reformed in 1807 under the Orla kahal. 1878 Jewish population was 3,968 out of 5,810 residents. 2,500 Jews lived in Bielsk between WWI and WWII. The last rabbi was Moshe Aron Bendas. The cemetery on Bransk road just behind the gas station has an obelisk dedicated to Nazi victims: "Polish citizens of Jewish nationality"…two tombstones erected by Jewish survivors. [ESR-September 2000]

BIELSK PODLIASK: (Yiddish) see Bielsk Podlaski

BIELSKO-BIALA:
Other Names: [Polish: Bielsko Bia³a, Bielsko, Bielitz], Region of Poland: Bielskie. Location: 49°48 19°00.
The Lauder Foundation Genealogy Project has burial lists. reisner@plearn.edu.pl .
BIELSKO-BIALA:   AS 215
Located in Bielsko-Biala (capital of the Bielsko-Biala province) at 49°48 N 19°00 E, 100 km from Cracow, 320 km from Nieden and 350 km from Warszana. Cemetery: ulica 92 Cieszynska. Present town population is over 100,000 with 10-100 Jews.
     The first mention of Jews in Bielsko was 1653. In 1828, the branch of Cieszyn Kahal was established that became independent in 1865. Noteworthy historical events: The Tolerance Act issued by Maria Theresa in 1752; permission for the second market day on Wednesday (before it was only Saturday) issued by Kaiser Franz Joseph I in 1819; the Tolerance Act by Kaiser Joseph II issued in 1789; the Constitution of 1849 giving equal rights to all citizens of Austria. Living here were Dr. Lazar Frankfurter, Dr. Wolf Lesser, Dr. Adolf Kurrein, Dr. Saul Horowitz, Dr. Markus Steiner, Dr. Izrael Lewentow-Oraz, Salomon Salman Chaim Halberstam (1832-1900), Dr. Maurycy Aransohn, Dr. Prof. Michael Berkowitz, Architect Karol Korn, Hermann Zwi Guttman, Juliusz and Oskar Deutsch, Zygmunt Arzt, Jakub Grunstein, Henryk Luft-Lotar, and Zygmunt Glucksmann. Buried here were Dr. Lazar Frankfurter, Dr. Wolf Lesser, Dr. Siegmund Gross Oraz, Prof. Michael Berkowitz, Dr. Maurycy Aronsohn, Dr. Maurycy Heilpern, Dr. Edward Feuerstein, Zygmunt Arzt, Dr. Gustaw Baum, Dr. Leon Zitri, Dr. Edmund Kuhnberg, Salomon Wechsberg (President of the Chevra Kadisha), Ip Feiler, Adolf Wachtel, and Architect Karol Korn. The Jewish population before WW II was more than 5,000. The cemetery was established in 1849 with last known Conservative or Progressive/Reform Jewish burial in 1994. The towns of Ywiec, Jasienica, Jaworze, Aleksandrowice and Dziedzice used the landmarked cemetery: Register of Monuments NR A-582/88. The urban flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has a sign in Polish mentioning the Jewish Community. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all via a continuous masonry wall and a locked gate. Approximate size of cemetery is 2.39 hectares. 500-5000 gravestones in the cemetery, about 1100 in original location and 50%-75% toppled or broken, date from the 19th and 20th centuries. There are separate sections for children and soldiers. The oldest gravestone is from 1849 (Joseph son of Mordechai Neuman.) The marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, slate or iron flat shaped stones with carved relief decoration, double tombstones, sculpted monuments or multi- stone monuments have Hebrew, Yiddish, Polish and German inscriptions. Some tombstones have traces of painting on their surfaces, iron decorations or lettering and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains special memorial monuments to Holocaust victims and Jewish soldiers. There are no known mass graves. Remains exhumed from Biala are in Section G. Municipality owns site is used for Jewish cemetery only. Properties adjacent are residential. Frequently, organized individual tours, private visitors and local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized in WW II and not in the last ten years. The Jewish Community of Bielsko-Biala re-erected stones, patched broken stones, cleaned stones, cleared vegetation and fixed the wall. There is a regular unpaid caretaker. A pre-burial house has a polychrome ceiling. Vandalism is a moderate threat; security, weather erosion, pollution, vegetation, and incompatible nearby development are slight threats.
     Jacek Proszyk 68 Poczt St., 43-430 Skoczow visited site and completed the survey in 1995. Documentation: "Materialy Do Dziejow Zydow w Bielsku, Panstwie Bielskim (Do 1780 Roku)" by Janusz Spyra, and "Zydzi w Bielsku w Latach 1918-1939" by Wojciech Jaworski.
     UPDATE: http://www.polishjews.org/photos/bielskob.htm has synagogue photo. [August 2005]

BIERUN STARY:   US Commission No. POCE000536
Other Names: [Polish: Bieruñ Stary], Region of Poland: Katowickie. Location: 50°06 19°06. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file [2000].
     Source: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992. P. 74
     UPDATE: Cemetery photos at http://www.kirkuty.xip.pl/bierunstary.htm [May 2006]

BIERZWNIK: See Dobiegniew

BIEZUN:   US Commission No. POCE000382
Region of Poland: Ciechanowskie. Location: 52°58 19°55. Located on Lesna Str., 13 km. from Zuromin, 22 km. from Sierpc, and 23 km from Mlawa. Present town population: 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community was in 1767. 1921 Jewish population was 779. The unlandmarked Jewish cemetery was established in 19th century with last known Jewish burial in 1940. The Jewish community was Orthodox, Sephardic, Conservative, and Progressive/Reform. The isolated suburban hillside has no sign. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. Size of cemetery before WWII was 2.0 hectares, now 1.0 hectares. No stones are visible. Two stones taken from the cemetery are in the Muzeum Biezun; and one stone is in the private collection of Ignacy Koteczko, 09-320 Bezun, Lesna 30. The 19th-20th century granite and sandstone flat shaped stone, finely smooth and inscribed stone and flat stone with carved relief decoration have Hebrew and/or Yiddish inscriptions. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns the property used for closed Jewish cemetery and waste dump. Properties adjacent are agricultural and residential. The cemetery size is smaller than in 1939 because of new roads and housing development. Rarely, private visitors and local residents. The cemetery was destroyed during WWII. No maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. The cemetery's intersection with Lesna Street is a serious threat. The cemetery was destroyed during WWII.
     Wojciech Henrykowski, 06-200 Makow Mazowiecki, ulica Spoldzielcza 20 completed survey on 3 October 1991. Documentation: scientific documentation of Biezun and information on the Jewish cemeteries in the voievodship of Ciechanow, 1990. Henrykowski visited the site and conducted interviews with the employees of the communal office in Biezun on 3 October 1991.

BILGORAJ:
Other Names: [Polish: Bi³goraj], Region of Poland: Zamojskie. Location: 50°33 22°42.
     Here, we discovered a very small partially restored cemetery with perhaps 40-50 stones. This most unusual cemetery has tombstones mostly of Kohanim and their wives. Source: (Feb. 1998) Betty Provizer Starkman; BetteJoy@aol.com
     Source: They Lived Among Us: Polish Judaica , a travel brochure: Arline Sachs, sachs@nova.org extracted names of townstaht supposedly having Jewish cemeteries. These generally have names only; sometimes a description of famous people who lived there, but no page number.
     Source: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992. P 74

BIRCZA:   US Commission No. POCE000142
Region of Poland: Przemyskie. Location: 49°41 22°28. 24 km from Przemsyl. The cemetery is E of the town, N of the road to Rybotycze and a river. Present town population is 1000-5000 with no Jews.
     1921 Jewish population was 1038, 53.8%. The Orthodox Jewish cemetery was probably established about the end of the eighteenth or beginning of the 19th century and probably not used by other communities. The cemetery is landmarked (no further details were given). The isolated rural, agricultural hillside is reached by turning directly off a public road with access open to all via a wall and fence with no gate. 20 to 100 gravestones, some in original locations and 50-75% broken, date from 1804 to 20th century. The sandstone flat shaped stones, finely smoothed and inscribed stones, or flat stones with carved relief decoration have Hebrew inscriptions. The cemetery contains unmarked mass graves, but no structures. Municipality owns property used for agriculture (grass and animal grazing). Properties adjacent are agricultural. The cemetery boundaries are slightly smaller than in 1939 due to river erosion. The cemetery rarely is visited. The cemetery was not vandalized during the past ten years. There is no maintenance; grass is cut for agriculture. Security and erosion are moderate threats. Jan Pawel Woronczak, ulica Sandomierska 21m 1 02-567 Warszawa, telephone 49 54 62, completed survey on September 9, 1991. The site was visited in 1990 by Marcin Wodzinski and Robert Kaskow, and in 1991 by Jan Pawel Woronczak. No interviews were conducted.
     "Birtcha: mostly destroyed." Source: Cohen, Chester G. "Jewish Cemeteries in Southern Poland" from `An Epilogue' in Shtetl Finder . 1980. http://www.jewishgen.org/cgi-bin/disclaim.pl?url=http://go.to/bircza [October 2000]

BIRNBAUM: (German) see Miedzychod
BISCHOFSBURG: used cemetery at Biskupiec
Region of Poland: Olsztynskie. Location: 53°52 20°58.

BISCHOFSTEIN: see Bisztynek

BISKUPICE I:
Region of Poland: Lubelskie. Location: 51°09 22°57.
http://www.trawniki.hg.pl/traw/biskirk.html has cemetery photos.
     Source: They Lived Among Us: Polish Judaica , a travel brochure: Arline Sachs, sachs@nova.org extracted names of townstaht supposedly having Jewish cemeteries. These generally have names only; sometimes a description of famous people who lived there, but no page number.)
     Source: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe . New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1992. P 74
  US Commission No. POCE000176
     Located in Lublin province at 51°09 22°57, 35 km from Lublin, 37 km from Chelm, and 10 km from Piaski. The old cemetery, adjacent to the new one, is 300 m W of the market square and approached through ulica Mila. Present town population: 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community was 18th century. The 1921 Jewish population was 129 (14.6%.) The cemetery was established in the mid-18th century with last known Orthodox Jewish burial in 19th/20th century. The cemetery is land-marked: Official Register of Monuments A/1004 bv 1990. The suburban crown of a hill, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. Size of cemetery before and after WWII is 0.4 hectares. 21 matserot and their bases are in cemetery, all in original location with none toppled or broken. The 1792 to 19th century granite and dolomite tombstones and memorial markers are rough stones or boulders or flat stones have Hebrew inscriptions. Somehave traces of painting on their surfaces. The cemetery contains no known mass graves or structures. Now used for animal grazing, property ownership is unknown. Properties adjacent are agricultural. Rarely, organized private visitors visit. The cemetery was vandalized after WWII and now occasionally. No care or maintenance. Security is a serious threat; and vandalism is moderate (used as a children/youth playground). Probably town inhabitants steal matserot. Incompatible nearby development is a slight threat. Pawel Sygowski, ulica Kalinowszczyzna 64/59, 20-201 Lublin, tel. 77-20-78 completed survey. He and Andrzej Trzcinski visited the site in November 1991 and conducted no interviews.
BISKUPICE II:   US Commission No. POCE000177
     Location: adjacent to the old one (see above for other town and history information.) The new cemetery was established at the end of the 19th century or beginning of the 20th century. Once, there was an ohel of an unnamed rabbi in cemetery. Date of the last known Orthodox Jewish burial was 1942. The cemetery is land-marked: Official Register of Monuments a/1004 bv 1990. The suburban flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. Size of cemetery before and after WWII is 0.3 hectares. 2 matserot are in cemetery, the oldest from 1929. The sandstone flat stones with carved relief decoration have Hebrew inscriptions. No known mass graves. Within the limits of the cemetery is or was an ohel. Because the cemetery is not fenced and is plowed, the 1929 gravestone was knocked down. The sandstone matserot could be taken away [stolen]. The cemetery contains no mass graves. Now used for animal grazing, the owner is unknown. Properties adjacent are agricultural. Rarely, organized private visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized after WWII and now occasionally. No care. Security is a serious threat. Vandalism is a moderate threat. Pawel Sygowski, ulica Kalinowszczyzna 64/59, 20-201 Lublin, tel. 77-20-78 completed survey. He and Andrzej Trzcinski visited the site in November 1991.
     UPDATE: Cemetery photos at http://www.kirkuty.xip.pl/biskupice.html [January 2006]

BISKUPIEC:   US Commission No. POCE000265
Alternate German name: Bischofsburg. Region of Poland: Olsztynskie. Location: 53°52 20°57. 37 km. from Olsztyn. Cemetery location: by the road to Reszel, behind the railroad crossing/Dzierzynskiegs St. Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with no Jews.      The earliest known Jewish community was 19th century. In 1905, there possibly were 54 Orthodox (Hasidic) and Progressive/Reform Jews. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The last known burial was the late 1930s. The isolated suburban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall or fence or gate. The size before WWI and now is 0.10 hectares. No stones are left. It contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns the property used for residential and commercial/ industrial purposes. Rarely, local residents visit. It was vandalized during World War II. There is no maintenance or care. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Security is a moderate threat and vandalism only slight.
     Viktor Knerer, 10-685 Olsztyn, ulica Barcza 33m16, tel. 33-86-07 completed survey in September 1991 after visiting site in 1990. Documentation: Statistisches Handbuch fur die Provinz Ostprensen, 1938 and Frederichs Deutsches Stadthesbuch, Stuttgart, 1938. Staff of the municipality was interviewed for this survey.

BISZTYNEK:   US Commission No. POCE000264
[Alternate German name: Bischofstein] Region of Poland: Olsztynskie. Location: 54°05 20°54. 67 km. from Olsztyn. Cemetery: at the W edge of town, close to the pre-war one-family housing estate. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
     The earliest known Jewish community is 1812. In 1933, there were 16 Jews. The Progressive/Reform cemetery was established in 1821. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The last known burial was the late 1937. The isolated suburban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence or gate. Before WWII and now, size is about 0.10 ha, possibly reduced from pre-WWII by a housing development. No stones or known mass graves exist. The municipality owns the property used for recreation. Adjacent property is residential. Rarely, local residents visit. It was vandalized during World War II. There is no maintenance or care. No threats listed. Viktor Knerer, 10-685 Olsztyn, ulica Barcza 33m16, tel. 33-86-07 completed survey in Jan 1992 after a visit to the site.
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