The beginning of Jewish settlement in Gliwice is not well documented. The first Jews probably already lived in the town in the Middle Ages, which is indirectly evidenced by the existence of a street called Judengasse (later Judenstrasse) at that time; it was located in the area of the Potato Market (Kartoffelmarkt)[1.1]. They undoubtedly had to leave Gliwice after the announcement of the de non tolerandis Judaeis privilege for the city in 1587. This privilege was connected with the confirmation of earlier important imperial edicts by Emperor Rudolf II in the years 1582–1584, which had forced Jews to leave the Habsburg hereditary lands, except for specially designated enclaves. However, it is not known for how long this privilege of intolerance was in force in Gliwice.

As a result of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), many Silesian towns were depopulated. Aiming to improve the condition of state finances, Emperor Ferdinand mitigated the policy regarding Jews in 1627 and issued an edict allowing them to resettle after paying a special contribution of 40,000 guilders. The imperial edict allowed Jews to engage in trade and craft under certain conditions, with only one group of Jews entitled to do so – the so-called court Jews (German: Hofjuden). The Emperor also allowed them to lease the collection of duties and taxes. They could also buy and own houses[1.2]. According to the Peace of Westphalia that ended the Thirty Years' War (concluded on 24.10.1648) landowners could decide whether to permit Jewish settlement. The Peace also affected the lands of Upper Silesia[1.3]. A certain Jew probably used this privilege to lease a city tavern in Gliwice in mid-17^th century[1.4].

The earliest recorded mentions of the presence of Jews in Gliwice date back to 1698. On 01 May 1698 the local priest, Fröhlich, baptised an 18-year-old Jewish girl and gave her the following names: Anna Maria Renata. She was a daughter of the lessee of the city tavern – Enoch – and his wife Magdalena. Her godfather was Baron Bernhard von Welczeck[1.5].

In May 1713 Emperor Charles VI issued the edict of toleration (German: Toleranzpatent), which allowed Jews to settle in Silesia after paying a special tolerance tax[1.6]. In 1715 Jews were granted the privilege to run inns in Gliwice. Solomon Loebel came to the city in 1715 or 1717 and leased the city inn with the consent of Baron Welczecka. Solomon lived in a house that was exempt from municipal taxes. In 1721 Joseph Hirschel, born in Rybnik, was allowed to lease a stall[1.7].

In October 1726 the Silesian Superior Authority introduced the “Wegen der Juden” patent, which prevented Jews from settling in towns and houses in which they had not lived before. This way, new Jews (so-called aliens) were forbidden to settle in Silesia. The patent also introduced the so-called “inkolat rule”: in every Jewish family, only one son was given permission to marry and retain the right to settle (Latin: incolae). Other sons were considered aliens and had to leave the country after coming of age[refr:|Rabin I., vom Rechtskampf der Juden in Schlesien (1582–1713), [in] Jahresbericht der judisch-teologischen seminars fur das Jahr 1926, Breslau 1927, pp. 50–51; Walerjański D., “Z dziejów Żydów na Górnym Śląsku do 1812 roku,” Pismo Muzealno-Humanistyczne Orbis 2005, vol. 5, p. 34.]]. 

The following Jews were tolerated in Gliwice in 1739: Solomon Löbel with his wife Chana and sons Samuel, Dawid, Mojeses, Jakub and daughter Magdalena (they leased the city inn and were allowed to have their private distiller and tutor for children), Jacob Löbel with his wife Eva, sons Isaac and Samuel, and daughter Ludischa (they leased an inn and had their own maid – Jacob was Solomon Löbel’s son-in-law), as well as Joseph Hirschel and his wife Rosina, sons Feitel, Samuel and Mayer, and daughters Machel, Zartel and Rachel (they owned a small stall and were allowed to have their own private tutor). In 1742 Salomon Löbel became the first Jewish house owner in Gliwice (he purchased a property from Baron Welczeck)[1.8].

During the First Silesian War in 1742 most of Silesia came under the rule of the Kingdom of Prussia. Silesian Jews welcomed the Prussian rule with great hope for a better life[1.9]. Probably during the marches of armies through Gliwice, Solomon Löbel was robbed and had to temporarily cancel the lease. The war also forced Jacob Löbel to close the inn, whereas Hirschel became a poor man. However, despite these temporary problems, they were able to quickly restore their businesses, and in 1743 Solomon Löbel was already leasing a distillery and an inn, while his son Samuel, who became independent, rented a house and ran an inn. Jacob Löbel was a house owner and ran an inn. Hirschel also re-opened his stall with spice and wool goods. In addition, he purchased a house. The following people moved to Gliwice: Samuel Moyses (leased vodka), Hirschel Löbel (ran an inn at the house of Baron Welczeck) and Levek Wolff (traded in leather and grease)[1.10]. In 1743 there were four Jewish families (28 people in total) in Gliwice. They paid tolerance fees (German: Toleranzgeld) for the right to live in Silesia to the state treasury in Koźle in two semi-annual instalments[1.11].

In 1747 Loebel Samuel moved in to the village of Zdzierdz (currently Rzeczyce). In 1748 Salomon Moyses from Kozłowo settled in Ligota, where he made a living as a lessee. In 1751 Salomon Loebel was a lessee in Żerniki[1.12].

In 1753-1795 stall keepers and merchants from Gliwice made unsuccessful requests to the city authorities to introduce the de non tolerandis Judaeis privilege in the town. This would make it possible to restrict the Jewish settlement in the city, including the indication of the so-called “untouchable Jews,” who would be allowed to reside in the city until death. In 1755 a new tax system was introduced and divided Jews into landowners and those without property. Depending on the size of the owned estate, the former paid a tax of 10 to 30 thalers[1.13].

After 1750, a Jewish community was established in Gliwice, after the town had met the condition of having at least ten adult males necessary for conducting prayers[1.14]. The first services were held in a private house at Pfarrgasse (currently Plebańska Street)[1.15]. On 29 October 1753 Salomon Loebel (lessee of an inn and spirits) demanded that the city authorities of Gliwice address the War and Dominion Chamber in order to prevent other Jews from settling in the city. The relevant decision in this regard was issued on 27 March 1755. It stated that the Jews who already had their homes in Gliwice could stay in the city for life. However, their heirs had to sell their property to Christians and leave Gliwice. At the same time, the Municipal Council was given the right to collect a special land tax from Jews (German: Grundzins). Besides, they were obliged to pay the tolerance tax (German: Toleranzsteuer) and personal excise tax (German: Personal-Accise). In 1757 there were seven Jewish families (41 people in total) in Gliwice.

In 1763 there were ten Jewish families (51 people in total) in Gliwice. The first mention of a house of prayer in Gliwice comes from 1763. In 1765 Solomon Abraham (innkeeper) moved in to the city with his wife Hannele and five children. The census of 1766 mentions the community's ritual slaughterer – Samuel Loebel. At the time, the richest Jew in Gliwice was Baruch Salamon (owner of a leather factory), who was an informal head of the community. In 1770 Aron Abraham became the new house of prayer attendant.

The settlement regulations that were disadvantageous for Jews caused a gradual decrease of the number of Jewish families living in Gliwice. In 1773 there were six Jewish families (31 people in total) in the city[1.16]. Despite this fact, in 1776 the Gliwice Treasury received 1,268 thalers collected from the so-called “accepted-tolerated" Jews (German: Toleranzgelder)[1.17].

In 1776 the Prussian authorities ordered to resettle all the Jews living on the left side of the Oder to the right side of the river within a month. They were only allowed to settle in villages. After a few years, in September 1779 the Prussian authorities changed their mind and ordered all Jews to leave the villages and settle in towns. At that point Gliwice was indicated as the primary place of residence for Jews[1.18]. 

In 1780 the sacrificial butcher of the Gliwice community was Loebel Berel Moses, who in 1782 also started to work as the cantor. Despite the fact that Jews could not count on a warm welcome when settling in the town, Mendel Rafael and merchant Joachim Abraham of Leśnica came to Gliwice in 1780 and 1782, respectively. In 1783 there were eleven Jewish families (68 people in total) in the city. They had to pay tolerance fees (German: Toleranz- und Personal-Accise and Nahrungsgeld) to obtain a relevant certificate, the so-called tolerance note (German: Toleranzzettel)[1.19].

In 1787 the Prussian authorities cancelled the orders to resettle Jews to the designated target towns as the economies of their previous places of residence were largely weakened by their absence. 77 Jews lived in Gliwice in 1790. This group was characterised by the highest number of Jews referred to as die Stammjuden in whole Silesia[1.20].

In 1791, the Prussian authorities permitted Jews to establish their own craft guilds, but their efforts to do so were met with stiff opposition and protests from Christian craftsmen and merchants, who effectively blocked their Jewish competitors. In 1793 there were 16 Jewish families (62 people in total) in Gliwice. They all already had full names that were often taken from the place of birth – e.g. Birawer came from Bierawa and Hultschiner from Hulczyn. Sometimes the names were associated with their profession, for example Traugott served in the house of prayer. The census of inhabitants of Gliwice carried out in the period lists the following people: Joachim Abraham Loewenfeldt, Hirschel Wolff Hayne, Moses Wolff Gutmann, Moses Aron Loewenstein, Itzig Meckel Birawer, Loebel Berel Traugott (cantor and community's butcher), Valentin Seeligmann Pappenhaymer, Aaron Jacob Hultschiner, Israel Loebel Landsberger, Alex Moises Lichwitz and Moses Jacob Bartenstein. On 27 August 1796 three Jews (Joachim Abraham Loewinfeldt, Hirschel Wolff Hayn and Moses Wolff Guttmann) made a request to the Municipal Council on behalf of the community to designate their head, who would help organise the Jewish population. The Municipal Council agreed and Moses Guttmann became the first official head of the Jewish community in Gliwice. Whoever did not follow to his commands could be punished by a fine of 5 thalers or 8 days in jail.

In 1803 there were already 33 Jewish families (109 people in total) in Gliwice. The Jewish community of Gliwice was represented by more and more diverse professions: Joachim Loewenfeld (trader), Moses Guttmann (lessee, brewer), Moses Loewenstein (trader), Abraham Handler (leather manufacturer), Daniel Schiffer (innkeeper), Aron Hultschiner (broker), Israel Landsberger and David Steiner (lessees), Simon Goldstein (goldsmith), Hirschel Ehrlich, Baruch Brendel, Jonas Eger, Isaac Reich, Isaac Neisser, Isaac Fleischer, Victor Joseph Erb and Loebel Hamburger (landlords), Meyer Friedman (cattle trader) and others[1.21]. 

In 1803 local Jews asked the municipal authorities for permission to build a synagogue in Gliwice. It was to be erected in the square next to the brewery. The authorities, however, refused to concede to the community’s request. In 1805 Jew Gittel Baruch Plessner, who had the General Privilegirte, once again asked the municipal authorities to issue the permission. This time also to no avail[1.22]. On 25 July 1806 shoemaker Josef Blumenrich became the first Jewish member of the craftsmen guild in Gliwice. This way he obtained the right to practice his profession and the right to own a stall. He purchased shoemaker's bench no. 20 from a Christian shoemaker Johann Leikert for 186 thalers. In 1807 Wolf Guttmann Moses was the richest Jew in Gliwice and paid an annual rent of 1,200 thalers[1.23].

In February 1808 the Prussian authorities revoked all the feudal privileges of guilds and towns, including the de non tolerandis Judaeis privilege. From now on, with the permission of their respective authorities, Jews could settle in all Silesian towns and freely purchase property. In 1809 they were owners of 20 houses in Gliwice. At that point, the municipal authorities decided that too many Jews had houses in the city, and on 30 August 1809 they forbade them to acquire new properties. The city charter allowed Jews to own only 18 houses in the centre. The first joint house of prayer for the Jews of Gliwice was set up in the years 1808–1809. It was established in the private house of merchant Schlesinger, in a parish alley near the All Saints’ Church[1.24]. 170 Jews lived in the city in 1811. The head of the Jewish community was merchant Joachim Loewenfeld, and then Moses Loewenstein[1.25]. In 1811 the municipal authorities allowed to build a synagogue on the square which had probably been the former location of a castle. On 08 July 1811 the Jewish community bought a plot of land from Police Mayor Schwürtz's widow[1.1.15]. The oldest document that mentions the name of the rabbi of Gliwice dates back to 18 July 1811 and refers to the purchase of the building no. 155 for the purpose of founding a synagogue in Gliwice. There are 20 signatures on the document, including the name “Samuel Hirschel Rabiner.” Bożena Kubit indicates that Rabbi Samuel Hirschel and teacher Samuel Biedermann, who came to Gliwice with his wife Theresie in 1803 or 1804, were probably the same person. He was a teacher of Talmud and Torah. In July 1812 he changed his name to Morgenstern, under which he appeared in subsequent documents[1.26].

In 1812[[refr:|This year was important for the Jews of Silesia, as on 11 March 1812 King Frederick William issued the Edict of Civic Relations (German: Edikt die Bürgerlichen Berhaltnisse der Juden), commonly known as the Edict of Emancipation. Information from: Stern S., Der preusische und die Juden, Erste Abteilung Darstellung, Tubingen 1971.]] there were 46 Jewish families (174 people in total) in Gliwice. They were members of the following families: Loewenfeld, Bendel, Fraenkel, Lichtwitz, Hultschiner, Goldstein, Eger, Hamburger, Blumenreich, Landsberger, Tropplowitz, Neulander, Fleischer, Neusser, Kohn, Schiffer, Guttmann, Steiner, Loewi, Tworoger and Kessler[1.27]. The same year, a synagogue was built in Gliwice (currently the building is used as police headquarters). The consecration of the synagogue was held on 04 September 1812. The following were present during the ceremony: Prince von Anhalt-Köthen, officers of the local garrison, the members of the Municipal Council, local councillors, Evangelical pastor Ansorge, two Catholic parish priests and members of the bourgeois guard (German: Bürgergarde)[1.28]. At that time, Rabbi Samuel Biedermann (born 1768 in Oleśno) was hired by the community, which paid him 67 thalers and 6 silver pennies per year[1.29]. At the same time, the first private Jewish school was established in Gliwice, and its teacher was Izaak Sander of Nysa. He taught 48 children Talmud and reading and spelling in German. Some time later, Lazarus Silber became a teacher at the school[1.30].

The meeting of Jewish communities of Upper Silesia was held in Gliwice in 1814. It was chaired by a member of the Town Council in Pszczyna, Abraham Muhr (1780-1874). The meeting adopted a resolution on the unification of the Jewish communities in religious activity and mutual assistance[1.31].

In 1814–1815 Rabbi Benjamin Wolff appeared in Gliwice, but there is hardly any information about him. In 1814 or 1815 Rabbi Nachman Wolff Wischnitz came to Gliwice from Wrocław[1.32]. A Jewish cemetery was established in Piasek, a suburb of Gliwice, in 1815. Before that the deceased had been buried in nearby Wielowieś and Mikołów.

In 1820, the lack of legal regulations regarding Jewish education led to a decision issued by the education authorities in Opole to transfer Jewish children to the Catholic public school in Gliwice. Despite this fact, teachers Izaak Sander, Mojżesz Brenner, Hirsch Jacobson and Marcus Lichtwitz continued to provide private education to Jewish children[1.33].

In July 1821 the Prussian authorities forbade Jews to sign documents in Hebrew. From that moment, only German could be used in all formal issues.

In 1822, 19-year-old girl Libetta Landsberger was converted to Evangelicalism. She was baptised and named Mathilde Constanze. Because of her misconduct, on 17 July 1822 she was publicly humiliated by her brother, who tried to take her to the family home by force in front of crowds gathered in the street. He was then arrested with two other Jews. Pauline Loebel was converted into Catholicism and took the name of Gleiwitzer.

In 1823 there were already 84 Jewish families (430 people in total) in the city. They were engaged in the following professions: 7 merchants, 7 shopkeepers, 1 peddler, 3 vodka traders, 1 food traders, 1 trade assistant, 6 distillers, 3 confectioners, 8 tavern keepers, 2 innkeepers, 6 wine tavern owners, 4 bakers, 3 butchers, 3 brewers, 4 distillery owners, 2 goldsmiths, 1 tanner, 1 shoemaker, 1 tinsmith, 1 Kłodnicki Channel ferryman, 1 miller, 2 soap-makers, 1 rabbi, 1 cantor, 3 synagogue attendants and 3 private teachers[1.34]. In January 1823, the Rabbi of Gliwice – Wolff Wischnitz – went to Żory to circumcise the son of merchant Adolph Loew and died there as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. He was succeeded by Rabbi Hirsch Jakob Zuckermann (born ca. 1780 in Wrocław), who came to the city from Wrocław on 06 June 1823. He held his office during the difficult time of debate on the essence of Judaism in the modern world and the need for reforms. So it is understandable that some statements made by the rabbi caused controversy[1.35]. At that time, the function of the ritual slaughterer and the cantor was held by Bernhard Cohn, who moved to Żory in 2827.

In 1828 there were 1,464 Jews in Gliwice District, which represented 3.2% of the total population[1.36]. In 1829 the Board of the Jewish community was composed of J. Hendler, S. Troplowitz and M. Deutsch[1.37].

In 1829 Josef Blumenreich leased the closed glassworks in the nearby village of Wesoła from the Prince of Pless. It was the beginning of the involvement of the Jews of Gliwice in the industrial development of the city. The very same year, the first Jewish doctor, Sigismund Loewe, moved to Gliwice. He married Henriette Itzig. In 1836 he moved out to Berlin[1.38]. 463 Jews lived in Gliwice in 1830. In 1832, merchants Jonas Eger and M. Boehm were the heads of the Jewish community. Joseph Kirschner from Wielowieś was the ritual slaughterer and cantor (in 1828 he moved from Mikołów to Gliwice). Another slaughterer was Moses Kessler (who came from Jarząbkowice near Pszczyna)[1.39].

In 1833 a second Jewish elementary school was established in Gliwice. It was managed by Adolf Bial, with Arnold Hoffmann acting as a substitute teacher. Teachers were paid by the community and had to be approved by the relevant German education authorities. 117 children attended the school[1.40].

652 Jews lived in Gliwice in 1836, 81 of whom owned the so-called citizenship certificates[1.41]. In 1836, two Jewish doctors – Salamon Stroheim and Jacob Preiss (in 1837 he moved to Prudnik) – moved in to the city, while doctor of medicine Ludwig Preiss moved in 1839. In 1841, bookseller Sigismund Landsberger arrived to the city[1.42].

Elections of 15 representatives to the community in Gliwice were held on 19 October 1840. The choice was made by five so-called walmans, who had been previously elected by all eligible members of the community. As a result of the election, Salomon Troplowitz became the first head of the community, J.S. Nothmann – the second head and accountant, and Ludwig Schlesinger – the deputy head. They held their offices for 2 years[1.43]. In 1842 Samuel Troplowitz and Emanuel Fränkel became the heads of the community[[refr:|Both had to take the following official oath: “I [...] vow and swear to Adonai, God of Israel, that I shall be devoted, loyal and obedient to His Majesty the King of Prussia, my most gracious Lord, and I shall gladly follow the instructions of my superiors, diligently perform my duties as a citizen, and I shall work for the sake of the state and the community to which I belong, with all my strength. So help me God. Amen.” Cited from: Nadolski P., Życie religijne, społeczne, organizacje kulturalne Żydów gliwickich w XIX i pierwszych dziesięcioleciach XX wieku, [in] Żydzi gliwiccy, ed. B. Kubit, Gliwice 2006, p. 81.]]. In 1843 the Jewish community in Gliwice had its own synagogue, mikveh, 3-grade school, and cemetery with the building containing the morgue and the gravedigger's apartment. At the time, 5 to 10 thalers were paid for a seat in the synagogue. A ritual bath in the mikveh for women cost 12 silver pennies. The community paid housing allowances for the rabbi, the cantor and the shammes. In 1844 the members of the community who were unhappy with the rabbi led to the removal of Rabbi Hirsch Jakob Zuckermann from the office – he went to Wrocław. Therefore, Gliwice became the first community in Upper Silesia that removed a rabbi standing against Judaism reforms from the office[1.44]. In 1844, G. Hahn became the head of the community, and Loebel Wollner was his deputy. In 1846, the head was Loebel Wollner, and his deputy – Emanuel Fränkel[1.45].

The first Jewish choir was established in Gliwice in 1845. It was probably the first choir active in the town. It was managed by Willy Fleischer for over 25 years[1.46].

In the years 1844–1848, Gliwice did not have its own rabbi. During this period, some of religious services in the town were performed by rabbis from Bytom, Pyskowice, Rybnik, Mikołów, Biała, and Żory. Meanwhile, the discussion on who should become the new rabbi continued in Gliwice. Abraham Deutscher was a temporary rabbinical assessor. In 1845, in the midst of the debate, Henrich Graetz, a professor at the University of Wrocław, came to Gliwice. During his stay in the city he gave a lecture on the advantages of being an Orthodox Jew. The lecture aroused much controversy and was not too well received by the Jews of Gliwice[1.1.41]. In 1846, M. Goldstein from Wrocław was a serious candidate for the post of the rabbi, but he himself decided not to come to Gliwice. The position was then offered to Abraham Neuda from Moravia. He was a Reformed rabbi with progressive views, but the Prussian authorities refused to give him permission to come to Upper Silesia, who justified the decision by claiming that there were already enough educated rabbis in Prussia[1.47].

Nine representatives of the Jewish community in Gliwice were elected on 08 October 1847. Emanuel Fränkel and Moritz Panofsky became, respectively, the head and the deputy head of the community. At the time, the Jewish community in Gliwice had jurisdiction over the following nearby villages: Nieborowice, Pilchowice, Żerniki, Zabrze, Makoszowy, Ligota Zabrska, Przyszowice, Szobiszowice, Czekanów, Trynek, Wójtowa Wieś, Ostropa, Szałsza, Szywałd and Żernica[1.48].

In November 1847, King Frederick William IV issued an act that gave the Jewish population political and civil rights equal to those enjoyed by Christians. Despite all these state regulations, anti-Semitic riots took place in Gliwice in May 1848. They were caused by a rumour blaming Jews for triggering the typhoid epidemic raging in Upper Silesia. Meanwhile, a discussion on the emancipation of Jews was carried out with the epidemic in the background. But the direct reason for the riots in the town was the publication of an article on the emancipation of Jews in Der Oberschlesische Wanderer by Dr. Max Ring. As a response, a libellous pamphlet entitled Nur keine Judenemancipation (German: Anything but emancipation of Jews) was released in Gliwice. Having read the pamphlet, Dr. Ring prepared another article, which was to appear in the newspaper Gegenwart on 2 May 1848. However, on the evening of 1 May, a group of 21 residents of Gliwice demanded that the mayor punish Dr. Ring. Then the crowd of townspeople initiated riots in the city. Windows were broken in Jewish homes and Jewish property was looted. Fearing being lynched, Dr. Ring secretly moved from Gliwice to Wrocław. On the next day, the riots were suppressed by the civil guard and the military. At the same time, the wave of events during the so-called Spring of Nations of 1848 had a positive impact on the Jewish community of Gliwice. In 1848 Salomon Troplowitz (wine trader) became the first Jewish town councillor[1.49]. From then on, Jews began to play an increasingly important role in the socio-economic life of Gliwice. In 1848, Robert Caro founded the “Hermina” steelworks in ‎Łabędy together with metallurgical inspector Kirstein from Rudy.

In July 1848 Dr. Hirsch Hirschfeld became the new rabbi of Gliwice. It was the first local rabbi with an academic degree. He was actively involved in the development of the Jewish education in the city[1.50].

In 1850 the Prussian parliament adopted a new constitution, which finally confirmed the civil rights granted to Jews[1.51]. In the 1850s, Jewish businessman Emanuel Friedlaender established a shipping company in Gliwice to export coal (in 1872 he acquired the first mining charter in the district of Rybnik)[1.52].

On 08 August 1853, the liberal Jewish community of Gliwice was officially established under the decree of the king's representative. It had jurisdiction over Jews from Łabędy, Toszka and Wielowieś. On 20 October 1854, the community in Gliwice received a charter which legally regulated every detail of its operation. The community had a legal personality and its assets could be used only for the benefit of the community. The members of the community were required to pay fees, with the amount determined by their wealth and income. The community was managed by Emanuel Fränkel, Loebel Wollner, W. Blumenreich, L. Hahn and J.S. Nothmann[1.53].

In 1856, the Jewish elementary school in Gliwice was transformed into a 5-grade school. 313 pupils attended the school at the time, and were taught by seven male teachers and one female teacher[1.54]. In 1857, the Jewish community was managed by: Loebel Wollner, Lazarus Hahn, W. Blumenreich, M. Silbergleit, and S. Staub. The President of the Board was Emanuel Fränkel and the President of the Body of Representatives was B. Mokrauer[1.55]. The first conference of Jewish teachers in Gliwice was held in 21 March 1859[1.56].

A new synagogue was built in 1859–1861. The consecration took place on 29 August 1861. It was located next to the old synagogue and at the time was one of the largest and most beautiful synagogues in Upper Silesia. At the same time, the old synagogue was demolished, and a large Jewish old people's home was built instead[1.57].

In the second half of the 19^th century many of the Jews of Gliwice were respected officials in the municipal authorities. Some of them were active in cultural organisations and trade unions, while others established their own industrial enterprises. In 1865, Josef Kleczewski founded the Gliwice Loan Association. In 1866, Jewish businessman Heinrich Kern and his brother-in-law Robert Caro established a wire factory under the name “Heinrich Kern & Co” in Gliwice. In 1867, S. Huldschinsky established the first pipe manufacturing plant in the whole Upper Silesia – “Hahn & Huldschinsky.” After a few years, the plant changed the name into “S. Huldschinski u. Söhne” (currently the Gliwice Steelworks). At the same time, Emanuel Friedlaender and Frederick Grudman founded the Chamber of Commerce in Gliwice.

The Upper Silesian Association of Synagogue Communities (German: Oberschlesische Synagogen-Gemeinden) was established in 1872 and included the Jewish community in Gliwice. The same year, Josef Kleczewski opened a paper factory in Gliwice, which specialised in manufacturing of cardboard. In December 1881, it was destroyed by a great fire. However, it was then rebuilt and the production was restored[1.58]. In 1876, manufacturer Heinrich Kern became the head of the Jewish community. At the time, the community in Gliwice had jurisdiction over the following villages: Nowa Wieś, Trynek, Szobiszowice, Gierałtowice, Czekanów, Szałsza, Łabędy, Brzezinka, Ligota Zabrska, Przyszowice and Żerniki.

In 1877, the Gliwice Town Council decided to abolish all religious education in the city. The Jewish elementary school was replaced by a multi-faith school, and the Jewish Girls' School was created for girls from three last grades. The educational reform was completed in 1892[1.59].

In the years 1878–1888 the owner of the “S. Huldschinski u. Söhne” factory was Oskar Huldschinsky. In 1883 Oscar Caro, a Jewish entrepreneur from Gliwice, and his brother Georg became the owners of the “Julia” glassworks in Bobrek. In 1887, the enterprise was merged with the “Hermina” steelworks (in Łabędy), “Heinrich Kern & Co.” (wire factory) and “Baildon” steelworks (Katowice), thus forming a conglomerate called Oberschlesische Eisenindustrie A.G. für Bergbau und Hüttenbetrieb. It was later joined by the “Silesia” steelworks in Rybnik[1.60]. In 1882, the members of the Jewish community in Gliwice accumulated 3,780 marks, which were allocated for aid to the refugees fleeing the pogroms in Russia. Also in 1882, Rabbi Dr. Hirsch Hirschfeld suffered a stroke, which forced him to retire on 01 April 1884. On 01 July 1884 Dr. Wilhelm Münz (b. 04 April 1856 in Tarnów) became the new rabbi. He gave beautiful, zealous speeches which quickly brought him fame not only in Gliwice, but also outside Upper Silesia[1.61].

In October 1884, a Masonic lodge called “Die Humanitas” was established as a part of the B'nei B'rith organisation. Isydor Badrian became its first chairman.

The following were active in Gliwice in 1885: the Nursing Care Association (German: Kranken Pflegeverein), the Funeral Association (German: Beerdigungsverein), the Association for the Support of Orphans and Crafts (German: Wohltätigkeitsverein) and the Women's Association for Supporting Poor Brides and Women in Labour (German: Frauenverein zur Unterstützung armer Bräute und Wöchnerinnen). The Board of the synagogue at the time consisted of: Samuel G. Hahn, Meyer Staub, Adolf Schlesinger, Dr. Salomon Hauptmann and Louis Lichtenberg. The municipal records of Gliwice from 1887 mention the presence of a Jewish judge, Dr. Moritz Berwin. A lawyer, Eugen Lustig, also lived in the city.

The convention of delegates of the Upper Silesian Association of Synagogue Communities was held in the Schüers Hotel in Gliwice on 23 October 1888. After a heated discussion, the Association was transformed into the Association of Synagogue Communities in Opole Regency (German: Synagogen-Gemeinde Verband des Regierungsbezirks Oppeln). Its main tasks included the fight against anti-Semitism, emphasis on education of Silesian Jews, and construction of Jewish orphanages. In May 1889, Dr Simon Jeschijahu Freund from Gliwice (1823–1896) became the chairman of the Association[1.62].

In 1890 C. Goldstein opened the first restaurant serving kosher cuisine in the Prinz ven Preussen Hotel in Gliwice. The hotel was later renamed to Bahnhofshotel. On 07 January 1892, the municipal authorities gave the title of honorary citizen of Gliwice to a Jew for the first time in the town’s history. It was Simon Freund – a doctor and health adviser (1823 – October 1896, Gliwice). In 1893, Jews expanded their professional activity, as proven by hoteliers Max Weiss, Fedor Friedländer and Wilhelm Schäfer, judge Dr. Max Hirschel, dentist Salo Kaiser and engineer Hermann Königsfeld[1.63].

Huldschinsky's pipe manufacturing plan was expanding with the development of the Jewish community and a growing involvement of Jews in the economic and social life of the city. In 1889-1890 the first open-hearth furnaces and a steam-hydraulic press were constructed in the factory. In 1892, Huldschinsky built a housing estate consisting of 55 two-family houses for people working at his plant. A church was built near the estate; it became known as “Huldschinsky's chapel.” In 1894, the plant was transformed into a company under the name of A.G. Huldschinsky'sche Hüttenwerke, with capital of 3 million marks. In 1905, the company merged with Oberschlesische Eisenbahnbedarfs A.G. and adopted the name “Abteilung Stahlwerk.” This way, the company's capital increased to 20 million marks. In 1890, Bendix Meyer established Oberschlesische Kesselwerke B. Meyer G.m.b.H. – a boiler factory[1.64]. Other major companies active at the time were Oberschlesische Kokswerke und Chemische Fabriken or Oberbedarsgesellschaft. A. Blumenreich owned a glassworks in the town, while Moritz Rahner had a soap factory, and Josef Schindler – a cigar factory. Danziger, Münzer, Neufeld and Rappaport opened their steam mills. Emanuel Fränkel founded a private bank, and Abraham Perls established a bill of exchange bureau. The Troplowitzs were one of the most prominent families in the town; Solomon Troplowitz was the first Jewish town councillor, Louis Troplowitz built a synagogue in Gliwice, and Dr. Oscar Troplowitz invented the popular “Nivea” tooth paste and cream.

In 1896, the favourite meeting place of the Jewish intelligentsia in Gliwice and the place where most religious ceremonies took place was the Sansoussi Hotel, founded in the 1870s by F. Friedlander and sold to Eilhelm and Fanny Neumarkt in 1896. The hotel was famous for its kosher cuisine[1.1.62].

Widow Lina Lusting, née Schlesinger, died in Leipzig on 7 January 1896. She left an inheritance of 100,000 marks. In accordance with her last will, a three-person social services agency was established in 1897 to manage the foundation that received half of the inheritance. The interest on the amount was allocated to aid poor Jews of good reputation who were 50 years old or older, unable to work and came from Gliwice. The community's documents of 1902 indicate a number of new professions which Jews were engaged in. They were the following: mill owners Max and Eduard Danziger, chemist Dr. Richard Glogauer, quarry owner Moritz Jacobowitz, senior engineer Dr. Moritz Neumark, pharmacist Leopold Ritter and chemist Salo Tworoger.

In 1906, the Jewish community was managed by: Louis Lichtenberg, Siegmund Schüller, Dr. Bermann, Fritz Kochmann and Max Gassmann. The elections to the community authorities in 1911 were held in the meeting room of the town council in the Town Hall. The list of members of the community includes: judges Paul Görke and Siegfried Rosenthal, lawyers Leopold Brieger, Bernhard Cohn, Dr. Erwin Fröhlich, and Dr. Emil Loewenstein, assistant judge Dr. Rudolf Freund, legal counsel Felix Haussmann, bank manager Arnold Böhm, brickyard owner Fritz Bial, building contractor William Timendorfer, photographer Max Wolff, machinist Siegmund Cohn, and master builder Martin Fabian[1.65].

At the beginning of 1916, Rabbi Dr. Wilhelm Münz became seriously ill. Not being able to perform all his standard duties, he selected his deputy, Rabbi Dr. Samuel Moses Ochs (1886, Zborów – 1942, London), to replace him. After the death of Münz, he took over the office of the rabbi of Gliwice in January 1917. Rabbi Ochs very quickly began to help the widows of the fallen Jewish soldiers who served in the German army. He also performed spiritual ministry for the wounded Jewish soldiers residing in the field hospitals in the area of Gliwice[1.66].

In 1917, the municipal authorities granted honorary citizenship to Eugen Lustigow (b. 08 October 1856 in Gliwice). Other honorary citizens of the city were: lawyer Arthur Kochmann (1864–1943), Doctor Simon Freund (1823–1896) and town councillor Josef Kleczewski (1839–1922).

On 28 June 1917, striking workers from factories in Gliwice took to the streets in a large demonstration. It resulted in the so-called “Gliwice events,” during which ca. 10,000 desperate and hungry workers demolished and looted large stores in the town, among them the Jewish shops belonging to Walter Barasch, Hamburger and Neumann[1.67].

In 1918, brilliant pianist Ruscha Kohn founded the Music School in Gliwice (at the current 28 Zwycięstwa Street). However, because of the outbreak of the Silesian Uprisings and a deep economic crisis, the school started its activity as late as 1922. It was later renamed to the Music Conservatoryi[1.68].

At the end of World War I, because of the change of borders and the rebirth of the Polish state, many of the German Jews in Gliwice decided to emigrate, mostly to large urban centres in Germany.

On 20 March 1921, when the plebiscite in Upper Silesia was carried out, Rabbi Samuel Ochs from Gliwice became strongly involved in the movement fighting against the division of Upper Silesia. He called upon Jewish people to vote for leaving Silesia in Germany[1.69]. This is how most of the Jewish community voted in the plebiscite. 32,029 (78.7%) people in Gliwice voted for the city to remain in Germany, as compared to 8,558 votes for it to be annexed to Poland (21%). As a result of the plebiscite, the city remained in Germany, but it was necessary to change the territorial scope of the Jewish community in Gliwice. According to the decision of 21 February 1923, Sośnica came under its jurisdiction (it previously belonged to the Zabrze community).

In 1921, the community had its synagogue, mikveh, school and library. The Board of the community consisted of: A. Kochmann, H. Guttmann, Dr. Bermann, E. Grätzer and E. Kuschnitzky. In December of the same year, cantor Daniel Holzapfel moved to Gliwice from Bydgoszcz. He was a senior cantor in the community. In addition, the community had one teacher of religion and, from 1927, cantor Solomon Klamek, who conducted the prayers, and was a slaughterer and shammes[1.70].

In the years 1920–1930, Jews took an active part in the establishment of medium-size trade and services in Gliwice. The following were founded in the city centre: Paul Rosenberg’s furniture manufacturing and selling company, A. Schlesinger’s furniture shipping company, Max Wolff’s photographer's shop and Max Levy’s store with electrical equipment and lighting[1.71]. In mid-1920s, two Jewish sports associations were created in Gliwice: HaKoach and “Schild.” Their members were Jewish young people engaged in various fields of sport, in particular gymnastics and athletics. Competitions were organised with other Jewish clubs from Zabrze and Bytom, but also from Królewska Huta, Wrocław and Vienna. Competitions in Gliwice were usually held in the sports field in the Chrobrego Park.

In 1926, a Jewish home for the elderly (German: Jüdisches Altersheim in der Synagogengemeinde Gleiwitz) was established at the current Kościelna Street, at the synagogue.

The growing Jewish community in Gliwice showed increasing activity in the cultural life of the city. It invited bands and soloists for guest performances. On 12 November 1926, the ensemble of the Katowice Opera House performed J. Havely's opera entitled Jewess. The performance was very well received by the audience[1.72].

In 1927, the Jewish community was managed by: Arthur Kochmann, Hermann Guttmann, Dr. Bermann, Eugen Grätzer and Benno Markus[1.73]. Soloist Josma Selim performed in Gliwice on 17 May 1928 on the invitation of the local Jewish community,. The performance was held in the concert hall at Klasztorna Street. Other soloists performing in Gliwice were Ralph Benatzky and cantor Magnus Davidsohn. Numerous concerts were also held in the synagogue, including the performance of the artists from Wrocław led by the director of the Wrocław Municipal Theatre, Hans Baron[1.74].

In 1930, the election of the Board of the Jewish community was held in the secondary school auditorium at Eberstrasse (current Strzody Street)[1.75].

A great cultural event in the life of Gliwice was the performance of the actors from the Hebrew Theatre “Habima” from Moscow in October 1930. They staged The Dybbuk. The performances organised by the Jewish community included: Nathan der Weise, Othello, The Marriage of Figaro, Die Wildente, Hoffmanns Erzählungen, Palästina wie ich es erlebt, La Traviata, Zigeunerbaron, Week-end and Die Jüdin[1.76]. Men's choir conducted by music teacher Fleischer and cantor Freysinger was active at the synagogue in the years 1931–1938.

The beginning of the 20^th century was characterised by the growth in Jewish emigration from Gliwice towards the West. For this reason, the number of Jews living in the city dropped to 1,300 in 1932.

On 06 May 1932 a group of Jewish athletes from Gliwice participated in a big rally of groups of Jewish youth from Upper Silesia, held in Taciszów. The rally was attended by the groups from: Gliwice, Strzelce Opolskie, Bytom, Opole, Koźle, Zabrze and Racibórz. Ca. 250 people participated in the event. The culmination point of the rally was the speech of the Gliwice Rabbi Dr. Ochs, who discussed the deteriorating situation of the Jewish youth in Germany. He urged young people not to give up on their efforts and to attempt to overcome all difficulties. During the rally, “Long live!” was chanted three times to honour the German homeland. The rally ended with the singing of the German national anthem: Deutschland, Deutschland über alles...[1.77].

After Hitler came to power (30 January 1933), the anti-Jewish boycott campaign was carried out in Gliwice (as in entire Germany) on 01 April 1933. Posts of uniformed SA (Die Sturmabteilungen der NSDAP, Assault Division of the NSDAP) officers were placed in front of Jewish shops, offices of Jewish lawyers and waiting rooms of Jewish doctors. Their presence acted as a deterrent to the majority of customers who had been using Jewish shops and services of Jewish doctors and lawyers. Young militants of the Nazi Hitlerjugend beat up the Gliwice Rabbi Dr. Ochs. On Monday, 03 April 1933, the NSDAP leaders yielded under international pressure and stopped the anti-Jewish boycott campaign. The operation of marking Jewish stores scheduled for 5 April was cancelled and the local SA militias were ordered to postpone it.

In April 1933 the representatives of the NSDAP began to restrict the rights of Jewish people in Germany. Their actions led to removal of Jewish doctors and lawyers, whose ability to exercise their profession was limited. The new rule was introduced – no more than two Jewish lawyers per town could stay in Upper Silesia. The remaining lawyers in Gliwice were: Dr. Lustig and Dr. Ernst Kohn. This meant that 14 Jewish lawyers from Gliwice were deprived of the ability to earn money. Jewish judges were affected by similar anti-Semitic repressions. Since they were appointed, they could not be removed from their offices. Therefore, the NSDAP made those judges go on leave for indefinite period or retire. In Gliwice, this affected district court adviser Dr. Brauer and national court advisers Dr. Siednera and Dr. Danziger, as well as Tichauer – the assessor of the District Court. The Nazi Party's first step in the medical environment was the change of the management of the Upper Silesian Doctors' Union, which had been managed by Dr. Haase from Gliwice. At the same time, the German health insurance funds and general insurance companies terminated fixed contracts with Jewish doctors. From now on they could only provide private services[1.78]. 

Earlier, on 31 March 1933, Jewish worker Franz Bernheim was dismissed from his work at the department store (German: Deutsches Familien Kaufhaus) in Gliwice. On 12 May 1933, he appealed to the Council of the League of Nations in Geneva, which appointed a special committee to review the case. Its decision gave the Jewish minority in Upper Silesia legal protection until the expiration of the Polish-German Convention of 1922 (it expired on 15 July 1937). On 6 June 1933 the representative of the German government at the League of Nations, August von Keller, committed in the name of Germany to restore the legal status of Upper Silesia to the one in force until 1 April 1933. This way, German Jews living in Upper Silesia enjoyed all the civil liberties and civil rights until 1937. Unfortunately, it was impossible to apply the same rules to other German Jews[1.79].

In 1934 Dr. Arthur Kochmann became the Chairman of the Union of Jewish Communities based in Gliwice. Along with G. Weissmann and Dr. Lustig, he took up the fight for the rights of Jews. They very often had to act to defend the rights of Jews dismissed from jobs because of their ethnicity. Thanks to all these efforts, the Jews in Gliwice could continue to participate in normal cultural life of the city. In January 1935, famous singer Dela Lipinska performed in the concert hall at Klasztorna Street. Concerts were also organised in the “Viktoria-Theater” at Wilhelmstrasse 28 and in the hall of the Evangelical Society at the current Moniuszki Street.

On 15 July 1937, Poland and Germany did not extend the convention for the protection of national minorities in Upper Silesia. This meant that the anti-Semitic laws of the Third Reich would also apply in the German Upper Silesia. Despite this, even in 1937 the Jewish community in Gliwice performed F. Molnar's (a Hungarian Jew) play Spiel im Schloss and comedy Grosse Liebe. However, these were the last signs of normal cultural life of the Jews in Gliwice. At the end of 1937, the German secret police in Gliwice issued a secret letter to suspend the performance of Jewish plays and forbade renting halls to Jews. Unaware of the horror of the upcoming events, the rabbi protested and even threatened to recourse to the courts[1.80].

In 1937, the Jewish community in Gliwice began to organise foreign language courses for its members who decided to emigrate outside Germany. The local Jews usually left for South Africa, Brazil and Argentina. In October 1938, the Nazis forced 33 families of Polish Jews to leave Gliwice and go to Poland[1.81].

During the Kristallnacht (9/10 November 1938), the Nazis set the synagogue on fire and vandalised all Jewish shops. By the order of the industrial district police chief, Dr. Palten, the burned down synagogue building was blown up. Many cases of beatings occurred during those events, including the battery of Dr. Samuel Ochs. Ca. 230 Jews – men aged 18 to 60 years – were arrested in Gliwice. They were placed in temporary custody arranged in a club belonging to the local Jewish community. On the second day they were deported to the German Nazi concentration camp in Buchenwald. After a few months they returned to their homes, but had no more illusions about the ability to continue living in the Nazi Germany[1.82].

In the second half of November 1938, the Nazis focused their attention on economic issues. By order of Herman Göringa, the so-called Aryanisation was carried out to deprive Jews of their property, which in turn led to their removal from the city centre and deprived them of earning opportunities. There were some cases of Jewish property being taken by the Gliwice police. This was contrary to the applicable laws and raised objections of the SS in Berlin.

In the autumn of 1938 there were still 1,186 German Jews as well as 30 Jews of foreign citizenship in Gliwice. Many of them decided to emigrate. After the departure of Rabbi Dr. Ochs to the UK, Egon Löwenstein (02.10.1912, Berlin –1976, Chile) became the new rabbi of Gliwice on 21 April 1939[1.83]. Further regulations introduced in late 1938 and early 1939 prohibited Jews from entering cinemas, theatres, city parks and swimming pools. They also could not use sleepers on trains and were not allowed to have radios. They were employed only to do the worst jobs such as street cleaning and at sewage treatment plants.

In May 1939, before the outbreak of World War II, there were still 902 Jews in Gliwice. In the middle of the year, Rabbi Löwenstein decided to emigrate to Chile. There were also failed attempts to rescue Jewish children through emigration to the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. These operations were directed by pharmacist Kunz. During the celebration of Rosh Hashanah in September 1939, Rabbi Ksinski of Charlottenburg acted as the rabbi of Gliwice. In October of 1939 Adalbert Saretzki (27 December 1911, Szczytno – 1942, Auschwitz-Birkenau) became the rabbi of Gliwice[1.84].

In May 1942, Germans began the deportation of Jews from Gliwice to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In the subsequent transports (16, 20, 28 May and 8, 15, 23, 29 June), 586 Jews were deported from the city. The remaining Jews were deported in February 1943. Only the Jews in mixed marriages stayed in Gliwice – 40 people in total.

In the first half of 1944, forced labour camps were created at various factories in Gliwice. A total of four camps were established as branches of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Documents referred to them as to Arbeitslager (AL) with the subsequent numbers: AL Gleiwitz I|http://www.sztetl.org.pl/pl/article/gliwice/13,miejsca-martyrologii/10771,tablica-pamiatkowa-arbeitslager-gleiwitz-i-ul-przewozowa-32-/]], [[urle:AL Gleiwitz II|http://www.sztetl.org.pl/pl/article/gliwice/13,miejsca-martyrologii/11361,pomnik-arbeitslager-gleiwitz-ii-ul-pszczynska-/]], [[urle:AL Gleiwitz III|http://www.sztetl.org.pl/pl/article/gliwice/13,miejsca-martyrologii/10770,pomnik-arbeitslager-gleiwitz-iii-ul-robotnicza-4-/]] oraz [[urle:AL Gleiwitz IV. Prisoners were brought to the camps from Auschwitz-Birkenau III Monowitz. Their liquidation began on 18 January 1945.

In January 1945 the first prisoners evacuated in Gliwice were those in the four Auschwitz sub-camps. Prisoners arriving at the city in columns from Auschwitz were sent to abandoned barracks. It was a true “march of death.” The SS soldiers guarding the walking columns of prisoners (each column consisting of 500 people) on foot killed the weak and exhausted prisoners who could not keep up with the others. Sometimes prisoners were killed only because they stopped to answer the call of nature or adjust their shoes. In order not to disturb the locals with sounds of gunfire, the SS killed their victims by hitting their heads with rifle butts. The columns of prisoners were followed by the so-called execution commandos, which were finishing off the prisoners who were still alive. After arriving at Gliwice, the columns of prisoners passed through the following streets: Wyszyńskiego, Powstańców Warszawy, Wrocławska, Daszyńskiego, Rybnicka, Jagiellońska and Franciszkańska. In Gliwice, the marching columns were reorganised and loaded into open freight cars, which transported prisoners west. It is estimated that more than 70 Auschwitz prisoners were executed in Gliwice. 75-80 prisoners killed in Gliwice and in the suburbs were buried at the Jewish cemetery at Poniatowskiego Street. In the spring of 1945, the corpses of murdered prisoners were brought to Gliwice from the entire region. Some of them were buried in the municipal Central Cemetery. After 1948, a series of exhumations was carried out, with the corpses of executed prisoners moved from the makeshift graves to Gliwice. As many as 288 corpses were moved from Rzędówka[1.85].

25 Jews from mixed marriages survived the war in Gliwice. They were joined by large numbers of Jewish migrants coming from the USSR due to repatriation. On 17 May 1945, the Jewish community was established; Zygmunt Freifeld was its leader between 1945 and 1948. The community had its own school, mikveh, ritual slaughterhouse, kitchen and dormitory. There is information that in 1945 Israel Leitner was the rabbi in Gliwice, but went abroad in the spring of 1946[1.86]. In 1946, there were about 1,000 Jews living in Gliwice[1.87]. Most of them gradually emigrated to the West and to Israel. In the years 1946–1950, Kiwa Gross was the rabbi in Gliwice, and then emigrated to Israel[1.88]. In 1950, there were still about 200 Polish Jews living in Gliwice. Between 1968 and 1969, the anti-Zionist campaign drove some of them out of Poland.

At present, there are ca. 25 Jews living in Gliwice.