First Jewish families arrived to Końskowola in the mid-16^th century. A Jewish printing house owned by Chaim, son of Isaac, operated here in the years 1561–1562. After 1640, Grand Chancellor of the Crown Tomasz Zamoyski granted several properties to the Jewish inhabitants of the town. In 1661, Końskowola had 34 Jewish inhabitants, constituting 6.5% of the population. In 1712, Elżbieta Helena née Lubomirska granted Jews a privilege allowing for their settlement in Końskowola.

In 1787, Końskowola had 900 residents, including 461 Jews (51%). By 1821, these numbers had risen to 1,467 and 693 (47%), respectively. Before 1830, Jews owned six local vodka distilleries.

An independent Jewish community was formed in the town towards the end of the 18^th century. It owned a synagogue and a Jewish cemetery. Initially, most local Jews made a living from trade and crafts as well as lease holding. In the 18^th century, they started to acquire houses, squares, and gardens. Even later on, many families made money by provisioning the local Russian garrison.

At the turn of the 19^th century, Jews made up a half of the population of the town. They owned many brick houses in the market place and its immediate surroundings, for example at Kurowska (today: Lubelska) Street. Jewish leaseholders managed shops and taverns situated in the Town Hall building, as well as most of the local breweries, distilleries, mills, and roadside inns. Jewish craftsmen held a dominant position in tannery, tailoring, and furriery. Several large-scale Jewish enterprises, including tile factories, were founded in Końskowola towards the end of the 19^th century. Around the same time, Jews became actively involved in the public life of the town. The local branch of the Bund was founded sometime before World War I.

In 1882, Końskowola had a population of 2,776, including 1,535 Jews (55%). There were two elementary schools in the town. One of them was attended by ca. 20 Jewish children. Both Jews and Poles paid a school maintenance contribution in the amount of 49 roubles and 56 kopeks.

Prior to World War I, in 1908, Końskowola had 4,943 inhabitants, including 2,930 Jews (59%). In the years 1909–1910, local businessman Chaim Baer tried to set up a modern textile factory in Końskowola. However, the plant was never opened due to technical issues discovered by factory inspection.

In the interwar period, Końskowola was a farming settlement and a small centre of artisan production. There was an engine mill in the town, originally owned by a Jew called Mordko Finkielsztejn and then taken over by the “J. Ulik i ska” company. In 1921, Końskowola had a population of 1,633, including 876 Jews (53%).

In the interwar period, the situation of Jewish people living in Końskowola was very difficult due to the growing economic crisis, which resulted in gradual deterioration of their living conditions. At the beginning of the 1920s, Jews made up a half of the local population. The local kehilla owned a brick synagogue, called the “Great Synagogue.” It was destroyed in warfare during WWI and rebuilt in 1921. There was also another, smaller synagogue (or beth midrash) in the town, as well as a mikveh, a ritual slaughterhouse, and a cemetery.[1.1].

Most local shops and service businesses were owned by Jewish merchants and craftsmen. The Jewish political life of Końskowola flourished, with branches of many Jewish parties and organisations active in the town. These included various Zionist parties, Agudath Israel, and the Bund. In 1939, members of the local kehilla ran in the election to the municipal authorities. Due to the exacerbating economic crisis and the surge of anti-Semitic sentiments, the mid-1930s saw a number of anti-Jewish incidents in Końskowola. Before 1939, the town had 2,500 inhabitants, including 1,100 Jews (44%).

In September–October 1939, the environs of Lublin came under German occupation. Towards the end of 1940, a ghetto was formed in Końskowola. Apart from local residents, its population also included escapees from other localities – ca. 2,000 people in total. The number of ghetto prisoners soon grew to 2,350 people. On 8 May 1942, ca. 1,600 people were transported to the Nazi German extermination camp in Sobibór. Still in May, ca. 3,500 Jews from Slovakia were brought to Końskowola and transported to Sobibór within a month. All Jews fit for work were directed to labour camps operating in Końskowola.

In October 1942, a group of ca. 800–1,100 people, mostly women and children, were shot to death near the new Jewish cemetery (at the so-called Brzezinki). The rest of unemployed ghetto inhabitants were deported to the Sobibór extermination camp. In May 1943, all labour camps in Końskowola were dissolved and their former Jewish employees were relocated to other camps.

Bibliography

• Dąbrowski R., Mniejszości narodowe na Lubelszczyźnie w latach 1918–1939, Kielce 2007.
• Dzieje Końskowoli, ed. R. Szczygieł, Lublin 1988.
• “Konskowola,” [in:] Encyclopedia Judaica, eds. F. Skolnik, M. Berenbaum, vol. 12, Detroit–New York–San Francisco–New Haven–Waterville–London 2007, p. 654.
• “Konskowola,” [in:] The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, eds. S. Spector, G. Wigoder, vol. 2, New York 2001, p. 654.
• Wiśniewski S., “Pod rządami zaborców 1795–1918,” [in:] Dzieje Końskowoli, ed. R. Szczygieł, Lublin 1988
• Zaporowski Z, “W czasach najnowszych,” [in:] Dzieje Końskowoli, ed. R. Szczygieł, Lublin 1988