First Jews began to settle in Nowy Korczyn in the mid-16^th century. The census of 1564 showed the presence of several Jewish families in the town. They paid taxes to the Treasury in kind, namely in pepper. According to documents dating back to 1569, a synagogue existed in Nowy Korczyn.

In the 16^th century, the town was inhabited by several noble families and Jewish families. “Sources from 1557 mention Abraham, a Jew from Nowe Miasto Korczyn, merchant and moneylender, and from 1558 – Anna Jakubowska, another moneylender. The 1564 census recorded several Jewish innkeepers in the town […]. The 1569 census showed further growth of the Jewish population and the existence of a Jewish synagogue in the town.”[1.1] In the years 1566–1569, Jews were granted the right to own four houses in the town, not including the settlement in Podzamcze. The Polish burghers were rather hostile towards the Jewish population, especially after Jews had been granted lease of the local mills. In 1606, the town was plundered by Zebrzydowski’s rebels. A year later, it suffered major destruction in a fire. Further devastation was brought by the Swedish Wars.[1.2]

On 28 May 1659, King John Casimir issued an edict regulating the operation of the Jewish community of Nowy Korczyn. The same document permitted the Jews to erect a synagogue and establish a cemetery and granted the community various economic freedoms. The Jewish quarter was situated within the jurydyka (private estate) owned by the starost. The synagogue was designed in the Classicist style. Stone and brick used in the construction were sourced from the pulled down royal castle. The synagogue had a barrel vault and a gable roof covered with tile.

In 1676, more than a hundred Jews from Nowy Korczyn were payers of the poll tax. In 1702, the local synagogue was destroyed by the Swedes. It was later rebuilt in 1724, with the stone vault replaced by a wooden ceiling.[1.3]

In view of the growing number of Jews living in Nowy Korczyn, in 1744 the townspeople pled to the king to banish the “descendants of Israel” from the town.[1.4] However, their efforts proved unsuccessful. In 1775, King Stanislaus Augustus granted the Jews protection from “the power and might” of the local district governor.[1.5] By the decision of the parliament of 1776, the ruins of the old castle in Nowy Korczyn were pulled down. The recovered construction material was used to build houses, a new seat of the magistrates’ office, and a synagogue. In 1777, King Stanislaus Augustus appointed a committee to resolve the dispute between the Jews of Nowy Korczyn and their creditors. Interestingly, in 1779 Jews complained to the king that nothing was being done to settle the community arrears and that the community and Rabbi Shaul were marred by constant executions of debt ordered by District Governor Mikołaj Rej.[1.6]

In 1787, 499 Jews lived in Nowy Korczyn and 66 in Stary Korczyn. The community owned a synagogue, a cheder, and a cemetery.[1.7]

In 1827, the Russian authorities introduced restrictions on Jewish settlement in Nowy Korczyn due to the town’s proximity to the border (the regulations remained in force until 1867). The census of 1827 showed that 1,232 Jews lived in Nowy Korczyn, constituting 51.4% of the population. In the 19^th century, the community had two cemeteries: the old cemetery, established at Grotnicka Street under a privilege granted by King John Casimir, and the new one, opened in Grotniki Duże in 1765.[1.8]. In 1885, the synagogue was destroyed in a fire. Its reconstruction dragged on for several years. The design of the building was changed, with a wooden vault built over the prayer hall and the women’s gallery. A vestibule was also added, decorated with a distinctive colonnade.

Over the course of centuries, numerous conflicts broke out between the local Polish and Jewish population. They were triggered by various factors, but they never escalated beyond the boundaries of civility. Poles would complain that the Polish women hired by Jews as servants and living in their houses would start speaking their language and adopt their customs. Jewish merchants were accused of promoting intemperance.

In the 19^th century, many residents of Nowy Korczyn, primarily of Jewish origin, traded in grain and agricultural products. The Monday market attracted numerous merchants and peasants from nearby villages. However, the town’s economic growth was partially hindered in 1869, when the Tsarist authorities deprived Nowy Korczyn of municipal rights.

The first general census in independent Poland, carried out in 1921, showed that 2,478 Jews lived in Nowy Korczyn, constituting 67.6% of the overall population. After the 1924 elections, the community board was composed of Wolf Cukierman, Abram Światowy, Rywen Hereberg, Abram Dorfman, Ajzel Helfgot, Chaim Cukier, Neoch Gancwajg.[1.9]

One of the earliest mentions of the Jews of Nowy Korczyn in sources from the interwar period dates back to 1925, when the community was audited by the Ministry and instructed to change its seal in accordance with the model set out in Circular No. 1716 of 1924.[1.10] All Hebrew inscriptions were to be changed to Polish. The community was also instructed to modify its budget to account for Rabbi Jochen Sylman’s salary, allotting for that purpose 1,000 złotys previously designated for the renovation of buildings and 300 złotys for unforeseen expenditure. The auditors claimed that the declared revenue from slaughter, amounting to 14,827 złotys, was understated. According to the Ministry, it should have amounted to 20,000 złotys. The slaughter fees were approved: 6 złotys for an ox or cow; 5 złotys for a heifer up to a year old; 2.50 złotys for a calf, goat, sheep; 60 groszy for a turkey; 35 groszy for a duck; 25 groszy for a hen; 20 groszy for a chicken; 10 groszy for a pigeon.

The preserved budget of the Jewish community from 1926 shows that the board expected revenue in the amount of 26,885 złotys. It was not a significant sum, which is why the officials tried to reduce the rabbi’s salary to 3,850 złotys per year. However, the state authorities rejected the changes and ordered the community to pay the rabbi 4,250 złotys.[1.11] The scribe’s salary was also raised, from 460 złotys to 1,000 złotys. In 1927, the board was composed of the following members: Rabbi Jochen Sylman (holding the same position since 1902), receiving a yearly salary of 4,500 złotys; Szmul Blumenfeld, ritual slaughter superintendent – 3,013 złotys; Moszek Feldsztajn, shochet – 2,750 złotys; Pikus Borowski, shochet – 2,750 złotys; Hamer, shochet – 2,750 złotys; Harmacz, community secretary – 980 złotys.

In 1926, W. Cukierman resigned from the position of Chairman of the Board and was replaced by A. Światowy. The case was complicated as the latter was accused by the county office of a minor forgery committed in 1916. This bears testament to the extent to which the authorities were interested in the operation of Jewish communities. According to the report from an inspection carried out by the county office, the buildings belonging to the community “[…] were a true eyesore.” The community administration was deemed overblown, since as much as ⅔ of the budget was allocated to it. The community financed a Talmud-Torah school (the county governor ordered to allocate 1,800 złotys for its swift renovation) and partially funded the Burial Society.

In 1931, the Jewish community had 2,820 members. Contributions were imposed on 324 people, but the community struggled with the execution of payments. Therefore, the board’s budget relied mainly on the proceeds from ritual slaughter. The fees were as follows: 6 złotys for an ox or a cow, 2.50 złotys for a calf, 60 złotys for a goose. The rate for slaughtering bulls and cows was 2 złotys lower than in the neighbouring communities. In addition, the community struggled with grievances voiced by the shochetim. In 1931, slaughterers M. Feldsztajn and P. Borowski submitted an official complaint to the authorities, claiming that they were earning only 3,450 złotys per year, which was extremely low considered that their work rendered yearly revenue of some 22,000–24,000 złotys. In 1931, not counting poultry, 84 bulls, 1,102 cows, 1,509 calves, 43 sheep, 8 goats were slaughtered.[1.12] The community was marred by quarrels about the rate of contributions imposed on selected members. In 1929, the contributions were to be paid by 305 people, with the board expecting a total revenue of 2,960 złotys; in 1931, 324 members were expected to pay a total of 3,251 złotys; in 1932 – 286 people with a total of 3,819 złotys.[1.1.12] The community owned a synagogue, the rabbi’s house, two houses of prayer, slaughterhouses, two cemeteries, and a funeral home.[1.13]

Despite various objections, Abram Światowy was appointed Chairman of the Community Board in 1931. The board members were Izrael Wachter, Aron Gutman, Kalman Charmacz. The post of the rabbi was still held by J. Sylman. The shochetim were Michel Felsztajn and Pinkus Borowski, and the collector at the slaughterhouse was Izrael Zygmund.[1.1.11]

According to data from the county office, the Jewish community of Nowy Korczyn had 2,463 members in 1933. The board expected that ritual slaughter would render 24,000 złotys in revenue, member contributions – 3,120 złotys, other sources – 2,605 złotys, which would fuel the budget with a total of 30,000 złotys. The expenditures included: remuneration for the rabbi –4,600 złotys per year, community administration – 15,231 złotys, investments – 3,500 złotys, subsidies for community institutions – 760 złotys, charity – 450 złotys, other expenses – 2,471.99 złotys.

In 1936, the community board was fully dominated by Orthodox Jews and non-affiliated members. A detailed inventory of community assets was drawn up that year, showing that the kehilla owned a synagogue, two schools, a poorhouse, a bathhouse, and a cemetery.[1.14] However, it was still dealing with some unfinished mortgage proceedings.

In 1937, the board assessed the number of community members at 2,530. Contributions were only imposed on 131 families. The value of the community’s movable property was estimated at 1,153 złotys, immovable property – at 114,000 złotys, debt – at 5,132 złotys.

In the years 1918–1939, two associations were registered in Nowy Korczyn. The Sz. I. Abramowicz Association of Jewish Libraries was established on 1 October 1929 and the Gemilut Chesed Charitable Association – on 14 January 1937.[1.15]

During World War II, in the spring of 1941, the Germans established an open ghetto in the town. Its population comprised over 4,000 Jews. In November 1942, the ghetto prisoners were assembled in the market square and subsequently deported to the extermination camp at Bełżec via the train station in Szczucin, where they were joined by a group of Jews from Pacanów. Some 60–70 Jews remained in Nowy Korczyn, including members of the Judenrat, the Jewish police, and some of their family members. They were joined by ca. 200–300 people who had come out of hiding after the deportation. Some of them were sent to work in the HASAG factory in Skarżysko-Kamienna. The ghetto was liquidated in May 1943. The elderly were shot and the younger ones were sent to work in Kielce. The family of the president of the Judenrat was informed of the planned liquidation and managed to find a hideout at the Maciągowskis, a Polish family. Apart from them, some 20 other Jews survived the Holocaust – some of them in labour camps, others hiding with the help of Poles, including the Piwowarczyk and Kukuczak families. A list of the Survivors is available at http://www.nowykorczyn.com/NKHome2.htm [Accessed: 28 Jun 2022].

Bibliography

• Burchard P., Pamiątki i zabytki kultury żydowskiej w Polsce, Warszawa 1990, pp. 141–142.
• Dziubiński A., Królewskie miasto Nowy Korczyn, Kielce 1999.
• Kaczmarkiewicz M., “Stowarzyszenia żydowskie w województwie kieleckim (1918–1939),” Biuletyn ŻIH 1994, no 1–3.
• Penkalla A., Żydowskie ślady w województwie kieleckim i radomskim, Radom 1992.
• Synagogi województwa świętokrzyskiego, Kielce 2000.