Chrzanow:

The Life and Destruction of a Jewish Shtetl

Translation by Jonathan Boyarin
Copyeditor: Mary Smith
Editor: Solomon Gross

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of Chrzanower Young Men's Association.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 89-83411

Published by Solomon Gross, Roslyn Harbor, New York under the auspices of the Chrzanower Young Men's Association

Printed and bound in the United States of America by Cushing-Malloy, Inc.

My undertaking is finished now. At this point I would like to share with you my thoughts and feelings about this project.

The committee of the Chrzanower Association and all my friends have constantly given me encouragement and praise, for which I am naturally grateful. I would, however, like everyone to know that I consider myself very privileged indeed to have had the opportunity to do this work and to reawaken the memories of our friends and neighbors who have not been as lucky as we are.

More important yet is my hope that this book will reach future generations in general and especially those whose origin happens to be Chrzanow. Some might make their first acquaintance with grandparents, uncles or aunts they never knew. Let them learn and reflect about their yearnings, ambitions and behavior. Let them compare these with those of the youth of today: The past often hides answers for the future. It is very sad that this is all we can offer to show those lost that they have not been completely forgotten and that their sacrifice will contribute greatly to prevent a tragedy of this magnitude from happening again.

Among the hundreds of cities and towns in Poland where Jews once lived, our town of Chrzanow was one of the important centers of Jewish life. Its Jewish population was saturated with culture and learning, rich in folklore, deeply interspersed in religious life. The German occupation of Poland, and the complete, disastrous destruction of Polish Jewry that followed, has laid waste the Jewish population of Chrzanow. The scant number of survivors no longer have a home, nor even a grave or marker at which to shed their tears of bitterness and suffering. But Hitler's demonic plan to erase the Jewish folk from the face of the earth did not succeed. Even among the few survivors we found people with considerable talents.

The author of The Original Book of Chrzanow, Mr. Mordechei Bochner, was such a man. He undertook the difficult task of commemorating our town, Chrzanow - its people, its lifestyle, its joys and sorrows, its pleasures and pain, its devotion to religion and to God, its respect for fellow men, its exuberance and its sadness. In dire circumstances at the war's end, with the pain fresh and the ashes still smoldering, he wrote this book, thus erecting a lasting monument to be handed down through generations to come. For half a century we, the survivors, read and reread the book until its pages crumbled, worn by use and time.

A new generation of Chrzanower descendants has grown up, and we, the survivors, were burdened with the obligation to pass on our legacy. And again among us we found a man, Solomon (Shlamek) Gross, willing to undertake the enormous project of republishing the book. But Shlamek also decided to improve and perpetuate the legacy we are leaving behind. He had the book translated from the original Jewish into English, to make it accessible to a wider readership. He also added previously unavailable pictures, wrote appropriate captions, revived long forgotten names.

Only a man of Shlamek's ability and perseverance could cope with such a tremendous undertaking. He sent out mailings to Chrzanower all over the world, wherever they could be found, to assemble original pictures. He kept strict, systematic files of the pictures, properly indexed to assure their return to the owners. He worked diligently with translators, copyeditors, photographers, designers, and printers. He spent hours, days and months arranging pictures and words, seeking the best way to convey expressions almost impossible to translate into English. He conferred with professionals and friends repeatedly reading and correcting proofs, all at his own expense.

He marveled at and was swept up in that labor of love for which he had volunteered, and we are all deeply indebted to him. The most important reward that Shlamek will receive will be the knowledge that he was instrumental in and singlehandedly responsible for making the republication of The Book of Chrzanow possible, and leaving this fine legacy to our future generations.

For the Chrzanower Young Men's Association
Irving Wiener, President
Simon Feinsilber, Vice President
Helen Sendyk Stapler, Financial Secretaries
Nelly and Ely Blumner, Corresponding Secretaries
Salo Tauber, Treasurer

Aichner	Shloyme, Zalman, Brandl-born Siegel
Ashkenazi	Abraham, Nechama
Bachner	Moyshe, Chana, Nachman, David, Nachale, Surcia, Esther, Shayndl, Rifcia
Bagler	Noach
Barber	Aharon, Genendl, Abraham, Bayla, Leah, Eliezer
Barber	Benyomin, Gitl, Miriam, Bayla
Barber	Fayvish, Kalman, Mordechai
Bester	Josef, Esther, Malka
Bochner	Hilel, Rifka, Hela
Bochner	Leah
Bochner	David, Henia-born Shuldenfrei
Bochner	Josef-David, Gitl, Chaim-Zvi, Moyshe, Malka, Meir
Bochner	Yecheskel, Chaim Josef
Bornstein	Akiva, Rachel-born Schenberg, David, Tamar
Brener	Malka, Meir
Brener	Rozia-born Orenstein
Bromberger	Josef-Laib, Rachel, Zvi
Bromberger	Pinchas, Esther, Shaul, Chaim, Gucia
Bromberger	Itzchak, Symche, Mordechai, Fanny, Chaim
Buchbinder	Abraham-Zvi, Gele, Dvora-born Naiger, Hendl-married Berger
Buchsbaum	Moyshe, Zlate
Cuker	Raizl-born Heuberger
Cyzner	Josef, Malka, Moyshe, Shloyme
Edelman	Shmuel, Pesl-born Rata
Engelbschrag	Aharon-David, Mindl, Yacob-Itzchak
Enoch	Akiva, Raizl-born Schenberg
Erenst	Sarah, Israel-Shymon, Mordechai-Josef, Mindl, Fradl-Lea, Esther
Feldsher	Doba, Yehuda, Mordechai, Rachel
Feldman	Mordechai-Shmuel, Golda-born Zshulti
Finder-	Brayndl-born Rata
Finkelstein	Yehoshua, Faigl-born Orenstein
Fishgrund	Cirl-born Kurtz

Fishler	Menashe, Faigush, Shmuel, Itzchak
Fleisher	Berish, Necha-born Siegel, Josef, Etl
Freifeld	Faigl, Gutka, ZanvI
Frisher	Josef, Fraigl, Laib, Chaim
Fuksbrumer	Abraham-Shmuel, Mindl-born Tauber
Ganger	Israel-Laib, Rachel, Shmuel-Elimelech, Zeev-Yehoshua, Shloyme
Geldvert	Shmuel, Lipa, FaigI
Glazer	David, Rachel-born Siegel
Glass	Yacob
Glass	Moyshe, Chai David
Gnat	Eliezer, Nechama
Goldberg	Shmuel, Chana-Tamar
Grajover	Shloyme-Alter, Symche, Elimelech, Aharon, Yoel
Grajover	Baruch, Miriam-born Cyzner, David, Yoel, Shmuel
Grajover	Zelig, Ruzia, Aharon, Ruzia-born Mandelbaum, Yoel, Rachel Mindl - born Goldstein, Abraham, Chana-Faigl-born Gross, Tushka
Gross	Abraham
Gross	Chana-born Heuberger
Grubner	Chaim, Dvora
Grubner	Itzchak, Frumet-born Mandelbaum
Guter	Shymon, Hudzia
Gutman	Rachel
Gutman	Esther-born Singer
Helfer	Malka, David, Chana
Helfer	David, Yehuda, Zvi, Benjamin
Hennenberg	Meir, Itzchak, Chashe-Cerke, Shalom-Schachne, Shmuel, Bayle-born Siles, Chaim, Braindl-born Friedlich, Dvora-born Holander, Yehoshua-Heshel, Faigele-married Richter, Liebe-Toube-married Rosenfeld
Heuberger	Aaron, Frieda, Abraham Joseph, Rachel, Esther
Hirschberg	Israel-Laib, Sarah-born Posner, Zeev-Wolf
Hirschberg	Abraham, Shayndl
Hirschtal	Yechezkiel, Esther-born Barber
Hochberger	Aharon, Fradl, Abraham-Josef, Rachel, Esther
Holander	Itzchak-Hakohen, Nisl, Asher, Pinchas, Rachel-born Penichl, Chana.
Holander	Moyshe-Laib, Sheva-born Herbst, Baruch, Bayle, Abraham, Sarah, Pearl
Holander	Elisha, Mirl, Blima, Faigl, Mordechai, David, Faiga-Rifka-born Kuperman
Horowitz	Jocob, Aydl
Ibersfeld	Abraham, Perele, Baruch, Shayndl, Hese
Ingber	Moyshe, Jocob, Roche, Miriam, Laibish, Sarah-married Urbach
Kirschner	Chaim, Bayla, Yehuda, Moyshe, Shymon, Abraham

Klagsbrun	Beirish, Sarah-Rifka, Dina-born Hennenberg
Klagsbrun	Taybl, Shymon-Laib, Gele
Klapholtz	Eli Chana
Klein	Reuven, Bayla
Kleinberger	Gershon, Dvora-born Urbach
Kling	Faigl, Yehuda, Josef
Kluger	Abraham
Kleinman	Israel, Dvora
Kohane	David, Rachel, Itzchak, Baruch, Israel
Koniecpolski	David N
Kornblum	Frayde-born Laufer
Korngold	Libe, Faigele
Kurtz	Beirish, Yentl, Josef, Golda, Gitl
Kurtz	Nechemia
Kurtz	Frania, Israel, Josef, Laib
Langer	Chaim-Shmuel, Dvora, Shymon, Chana
Lauber	Itzchak, Pearl, Moyshe
Lauber	Pinchas, Reuven, Baruch, Dvora, Mindl
Lauber	Esther-born Shifer
Lauber	Chaim-Zev, Gele-born. Berkovitz
Laufer	Josef Chai, Sarah, Shloyme, Mina-born Hayman, Shmuel, Rachel-born Einhom, David, Dvora, Mindl, Balke
Laufer	Chaya
Laufer	Shmuel
Lednitzer	Josef, Bracha, Zvi-Hirsh, Eliezer
Levi	Zeev-Wolf, Chana, Brandl, Esther, Itzchak
Levi	Yechezkel, Sarah, Chaim, Chana, David, Josef
Lieblich	Cutl, Shprinca, Faigl, Shayndl, Berl, Chana
Lieblich	Shmuel, Esther, Itzchak, Chaim
Lipshitz	Moyshe, Gele, Chaim, Rifka-born Shenberg, Shaul, Raizie, Saly, Jacob-Shalom
Luftig	Blima
Mandelbaum	Jacob, Abraham, Chana-born Wechsler, Moyshe-Laib, Ruzia-born Weingarten
Mandelbaum	Chaim, Mirl, Jacob
Mandelbaum	Jacob, Rachel-born Singer
Mandelbaum	Rachcia, Berish, Laib
Mandelbaum	Jacob, Liba-born Kurtz
Mandelbaum	Moyshe-David, Raizl-born Schwartz, Josef
Maringer	Jacob, Kaila
Markowitz	Moyshe, Frumet
Mehler	Chaim, Sarah
Melcer	Manes, Rachel-born Urbach
Morgenstern	David, RaizI, Fradl

Mushel	Aharon, Czama, RaizI, Rachel
Nagoshiner	Moyshe, Aharon, Shprinca
Oling	Laibish, Rachel, Sarah
Orenstein	Yehuda, Moyshe, Josef, Chaim
PerIschtein	Abish, Malka-born Schneider, Leach
Peterzeil	Moyshe, Golde Chai, RaizI, Mates
Posner	Yechezkel, Yachet, Jacob-Asher
Preis	Chai, Vita-born Lauber
Rabinowitz	Pinchas, Esther
Rat	Chana, Gitl, Naftali
Rat	David, Gitl, Naftali, Zisman
Rauchwerger	Moyshe-Laib, Mordechai
Rauchwerger	Jacob, Blimcia, Isaac
Rauchwerger	David, Guscia, Isaac
Rauchwerger	Eli, Rachel, Shimon
Reich	Chananya, Chana-Rachel, Cila, Zvi
Reifer	Laibele, Rachel-Faigl
Reifer	Itzchak, Rachel-born Kurtz
Reifer	Abraham, Rifka-born Yeret, Moyshe
Reifer	Hersh, Toube
Reinhald	Sarah, Perl, Lieber, Itzchak, Zalman
Rigler	Aharon Chai, Sarah
Rigler	Moyshe Chai
Rosenbaum	Abish, Matel-born Barber
Rosenbaum	Eli, Esther, Shloyme, Sarah, Jacob, Sarah-born Feldsher
Rosenfeld	Chaim-Shloyme, Esther, Abraham, Isachar, Faigl Leah-born Ganz, RaizI, Josef, Kalman
Ruff	Jacob, Chana, Hinda, Moyshe
Saks	Itzchak, Malka
Schainowitz	Mordechai, Czarna
Schifer	Chaim, Moyshe, Pearl, David
Schneider	Laibish, Baila, David, Hinda-married Zelenfreund
Schnitzer	Mendl, Malka-Rifka, Golda, Shymon, Israel
Schnitzer	Moyshe-Shmuel, Hinda, Israel-Laib, Shloyme, Josef, Chana, Zvia-married Nichtberger
Schoenberg	Jacob Tamari-born Grajover, Moyshe, Eliezer
Schoenberg	Hirsh-Melech, Golda, Shloyme
Schoenberg	Moyshe, Miriam, Abraham-Shloyme, Rachel-born Helman, Josef, Malka-born Kaufman
Schoenberg	Israel, Sarah-born Mushel
Schorenstein	Baruch, Leah, Eliezer, Yechezkel, Hinda, Chaim
Schternfeld	Josef
Schternfeld	Josef, Sarah-born Mandelbaum
Schtrasberg	Shloyme, Yocheved-born Ernest, Laibish

Schwartz	Laibish, David, Chana
Schwartz	Aharon Chai, Gitl, Chava, Eliezer, Ruzia
Schwartz	Shalom, Gitl
Siegel	Kalman
Siegel	Laib, Cirl, Esther-Malka
Silfen	Israel, Sarah-born Grajover, Tamar, Shmuel
Singer	Itzchak
Singer	Beirish, Kaile, Zalman, Itzchak, Rifka-born Zagorski, Faigl-married Wachsberg
Sonenschein	Symche-Bunim, Sarah, Moyshe-Laib
Staner	Chaim, Baile, Shalom
Stapler	Symche, Surcia, Blimcia-married Rauchwerger, Shloyme, Hirsh, Nacha, Golda, Abraham, Shaul
Stern	Faigl-born Zshulti
Timberg	Aharon, Zisl, David
Urbach	Abraham, Shloyme, Chai
Urbach	Itzchak, Gitl, Perez
Wachsman	Israel-David, Chana, Jacob-Asher, Shloyme
Waldner	Leah
Widawski	Raizl, Malka, Liba
Wiener	Jacob
Wischnitzer	Baila
Wolf	Shloyme
Wolf	Gitl-born Lauber
Yakubovitz	Sender, Leah
Zagorski	Moyshe, Golda, Jacob, Etl-born Urbach
Zaiftnan	ChaimRachel, Nuta, the last one hung in camp.
Zeltenreich	Rachel-Leah, Moyshe, Clava-married Shiff, RaizI
Zigman	Dov-Berish, Genendl-born Zaifman
Zigman	Gusta-born Laufer
Zimmer	Josef, Chana, Isaac, Abraham, David
Zimmer	Mendl, Rifka, Jacob-Asher, Baila
Zimnowodski	Aharon-Laib, Sarah-Rifka, Abraham, Itzchak, Faigl, Shmuel, RaizI, Chava, Miriam, Jacob-Israel, Moyshe-David, Ruzia
Zshulti	Josef, Sarah-Gitl, Jacob-Asher, Shymshon