Skala on the River Zbrucz

A History of the Former Jewish Community

Editors: Max Mermelstein and Tony Hausner
Published in 2009
Hard Cover with 417 pages,
With all images from the original Yizkor book plus new ones

This is the Memorial Book of Skala

(Skala-Podilska, Ukraine)

Translation of
Sefer Skala

Original Yizkor Book Editor: Max Mermelstein
Published in New York-Tel Aviv 1978,
in Hebrew,Yiddish and English 359 pages

In 1978, the Skala Benevolent Society (SBS) published a yizkor [memorial] book called Skala. The book was written by the town's (shtetl's) former Jewish residents who either had survived the Holocaust or had been born in Skala and previously had emigrated. Its purpose was to honor Skala's Jewish community, which had been annihilated by the Nazis and their cohorts. Most of the contributors to the original book were the survivors themselves, who felt a deep inner compulsion and moral obligation to those who perished, to tell the story of Jewish Skala and to share with their children and future generations their memories of suffering, struggle and loss. The yizkor book was written primarily in Yiddish and Hebrew and was largely inaccessible to many modern researchers, most of whose families came from this shtetl. Skala on the River Zbrucz, a translation of the entire yizkor book into English, now has been published by the Skala Research Group (whose members are investigating their roots in Skala) and the SBS.

Situated in eastern Galicia and once ruled by Austro-Hungary, the town of Skala was part of Poland during World War II. It now is called Skala Podil'ska and is part of Ukraine. The Skala yizkor book includes articles, photographs, and documents on the history of the town's Jews from the 15th century up to and including the Holocaust, when the Jewish community was completely destroyed. This material recalls a once vibrant shtetl, its people, the environment in which they lived, their hopes, dreams and struggles for survival. The yizkor book also describes the tragic events of the Holocaust, stories of those who survived and provides a list of Skala's Holocaust victims and survivors. The English translation contains a new chapter about the town's righteous gentiles who saved Jews during the Holocaust, as well as photographs showing Skala as it is today. It is a precious legacy that deserves to be preserved.

For more information about Skala, see https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/skalapodol

Books can be ordered for $30 (to US address) from the Skala Research Group Leader,

For shipping to other countries, contact


Other Nearby Towns and concentration camps included in the Skala Yizkor Book

Borszczow
Borki CC
Burdiakowce
Buczacz
Burszczow
Czernowce
Czortkow
Cygany
Dobraniowka
Germakowka
Glemboczek
Gluboczek
Gusztyn
Ivankow
Janowika CC
Jerierzany
Kaminenka CC
Kamionka
Kolomia
Kolomyja
Korolowka
Losiacz
Lublinpow
Lwow
Muszkatowka
Nivra
SS Patria
Podhajce
Stupki CC
Tluste
Trujce
Turylcze
Wolkowce
Zylince

CC: Concentration Camp ?


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