First Jews started to settle in Otwock at the end of the 19th century. At the time Otwock was thriving as a health resort and holiday destination for the residents of nearby Warsaw. It was an outcome of opening in 1877 a railway line connecting Warsaw, via Lublin and Chełm, with Kovel which traversed pine woods along the right bank of the Vistula. Nota bene, concession for construction of the Iron Road by the Vistula was obtained in 1874 by Leopold Kronenberg, a Jewish entrepreneur and a banker. Sandy areas of pine forests with aromatic and dry air, located along the railway route in the close vicinity of Warsaw, were perfect for leisure for the capital's residents. In a short time a network of holiday homes emerged. They could be accessed via a narrow-gauge Jabłonna – Karczew railway, running close to the Vistula bank. The health resort also became very popular with Warsaw Jews.

In 1880, Michał Elwiro Andriolli (1836–1893), a talented drawer, painter and illustrator, the author of, among others, illustrations to Pan Tadeusz and Meir Ezofowicz, acquired a part of the Anielin farm, belonging to the property of Otwock Wielki. He called the property Brzegi and decided to set up a profitable summer accommodation for the inhabitants of Warsaw. In 1885 he moved four wooden, richly ornamented pavilions from the industrial and farming exhibition of Warsaw. Another summer accommodation designed by him entranced people with the richness of form and decorations cut in wood. It was the birth of the so-called "Świdermajer" style. Following Andriolli's death, 14 summer cottages were erected and the colony was called Świder (today it is one of Otwock's district).

Due to the fact that no limitations as to purchasing land property nor settling of the Jews in the town were introduced, they started to come to Otwock in great numbers. They were mostly Litvaks – Jews from the western guberniya of Russia who after 1881 fled from pogroms. Soon on the east side of the tracks a district of Jewish pension houses, restaurants and residential houses emerged. In 1890 the first brick synagogue was erected. The Tzadik of Warka, Symcha Bunem Kalisz (1851–1907), came to live here. On his own initiative in 1890 a house of religious studies was constructed. Among the first Jewish owners of the estate was Józef Przygoda and a banker, Stanisław Lesser.

This is how Izaak Bashevis Singer described Otwock:

There is a small town of Otwock located a dozen or so kilometres from Warsaw. It was famous all over Poland for its crystal clear air and sanitariums for those suffering from lung illnesses. (…) Kilometres of pine woods, air filled with the smell of resin; this was the place where Jews constructed their houses also called villas. They were wooden, painted brown, had to have a veranda; almost all of them looked the same. (…) In the summer Otwock and neighbouring villages were destinations of thousand families. (…) It is hard to imagine that there are no Jews anymore. The only thing left is sand where we constructed…[1.1].

The Jewish Otwock was divided into two parts: villas and health resort where wealthy, assimilated Jews lived (the left side of the tracks) and the surroundings of the bazaar where poor Jews lived in small wooden houses. The town was a very popular summer resort for Jews from Warsaw who constituted 3/4 of health resort patients.

Otwock with its local microclimate was conducive to treatment of tuberculosis which, at the time, was a very dangerous illness. In 1893 the Warsaw doctor, Józef Geisler, set up the first clinic for people suffering from tuberculosis. In 1895, in wooden buildings preserved until today, at 5 Warszawska Street, the first Jewish sanitarium was opened. It was run by the Przygoda family until the outbreak of the Second World War.

At the beginning of the 20th century "Briyut” ("Health”) sanitarium was set up, including a preventorium for the youth, "Dav til" tuberculosis clinic and pneumothorax centre, as well as "Marpe” tuberculosis clinic – all belonged to the Warsaw Jewish community. Many Jews opened private pension houses and kosher restaurants. In 1908 Association for Supporting Mentally Ill Jews set up "Zofiówka" sanitarium with accommodation for 40 women and 40 men. In 1945 the institution had as many as 275 beds. In 1919 in a private villa "Briyut” Association set up a second sanitarium under the name of "Hashehefet” ("Health resort”), run by Maksymilian Augarten.

There also were private initiatives, both charitable and for profit. In 1907 Abraham Grycman bought a villa on Świderska Street where a canteen for the poor and the ill was opened. The partnership of Krukowski, Wizel and Higier built a private brick clinic called "Martów”. People with cardiovascular and metabolism diseases were admitted there. There were devices for electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, quartz lamps; people could enjoy a bath in conifer needles or salt water. It was an institution for the wealthy, equipped with dining rooms and living rooms. The building was located on Słowackiego Street; it now holds a high school. At today's 19a Samorządowa Street there is a building of former Wachtmann guesthouse where during the Second World War the hospital for infectious diseases was located. The "Nowość" villa on today's Kościuszki Street belonged to the chairman of the board of the Jewish community, Pinkas Kacenelbogen. The Health resort of Abram and Szymon Gurewicz, at today's 8 Armii Krajowej Street, was also famous. A large, wooden building in świdermajer style was erected in 1906-1921 and at its heyday could accommodate 80 guests. There was a reading room, drawing room, a concert hall with a piano and an English landscape garden. The building was equipped with running water, sewage system and telephone. In November 2014 the building was bought by the new owners who wished to set up a clinic there and promised to allocate one wing for the purposes of the local community.

In 1916 Otwock was granted town privileges and given its current name. At the time an independent Jewish community was set up; before that the Jews from Otwock belonged to the Karczewo community. At the beginning of the 20th century Reinford synagogue, located at 6 Górna Street, was constructed. In the "Róża" villa at the same time a small synagogue for orthodox Jews from Lithuania was set up. Places of worship could no longer hold the worshippers. Thus, a brick neoclassical synagogue, designed by Eugenia Jabłońska, was constructed in 1927 on the plot owned by Szlama and Chawa Goldberg. Next to the synagogue a prayer house for 10 skilful students of Lithuanian yeshivas and a library were also erected. In 1928 another synagogue was built: a large, two-storey, modernistic building designed by Marcin Weinfeld. It was divided into the "summer" and "winter" synagogue. One year later another synagogue at 30 Wąska Street was constructed. The tzadiks of Parysów, Mszczonów, Dęblina and Kozienice resided in Otwock. In 1938 in the town there were 20 private prayer houses, 18 of which operated without a permission.

Jewish social and political live thrived in Otwock. The community had its own weekly supplement to Życie Otwockie. Zionist influences were especially strong. All Zionist parties operated in Otwock, as well as women organization of WIZO. In 1921 "Kadima" Zionist Association was set up. Numerous Jewish charity organizations, such as: traditional Bikur Cholim, religious "Tomchei Cholim” - Association of Supporting the Poor and Ill, Association for Protection of Health running an orphanage and a clinic, "Fifert Izrael” Association for Supporting Rabbis of Chief Rabbi Modrzycki, "Chim Shel Tayro” Association for Supporting Poor Jews Suffering from Tuberculosis and others operated in the town. Cultural and education organizations run several religious schools, among others Tarbut association's school.

Cultural life also thrived in Otwock. The People’s Home, where lectures, amateur shows, courses of Hebrew, English and Polish organized by the Tabrut association, was operating in the town. There also were: the Jewish Association of Jewish Culture in Otwock, Association of United Jewish Schools, Union of Jewish Parents and Association of Supporting Construction of Public Schools operating at two Jewish public schools in the town. The first school, no. 2, was opened in 1919 on Karczewska Street in the building leased from the Borenstein family. The second, no. 4, was located on Staszica Street and from 1937 in a new building on Szkolna Street. After completing primary school Jewish children could continue their education in Coeducational Grammar School on Warszawska Street.

There also were sports clubs: Hapoel, Wulkan Sports Club and Nordiya Jewish Sports Club. Also professional associations, guilds and Jewish Craftsmen Cooperation were functioning in Otwock. Moreover, there also was Union of Sanitarium and Guesthouse Owners.

After Poland regained its independence an agreement on governing the town was signed in Otwock. Under the agreement the town had 13 Christian council members and 11 Jewish ones (despite the fact that Jews constituted the majority of residents). The mayor of the town was to be a Christian and vice mayor – a Jew. The Town Council of Otwock comprised of were Jewish doctors, merchants and guesthouse owners.

During the interwar period Otwock developed rapidly and the local Jews played a major role in expansion of the town. In 1917 85% of trade belonged to the Jews. In 1939 80% of shops and workshops were owned by the Jews. They were dominant in such professions as: shoemakers, tailors, hairdressers, photographers, watchmakers, printers, leather-stitchers, upholsterers, saddlers and hat makers. They also owned over a half of real estates in the territory of Otwock. The centre of local trade were fairs held every Friday.

The local community reminisces the legendary Władysław Wajdenfeld, a school doctor working at the local grammar school. In 1936 he bought a mansion where in 1915 Józef Piłsudzki lived. Wajdenfeld turned over a part of the mansion to the Town Council who build there an obelisk to commemorate the Chief of State[[ref: |Żydzi otwoccy. Dzieje żydowskiej społeczności Otwocka, "Otwockie zeszyty muzealne” 2008, no. 2, p. 9.]]. The obelisk is now standing at the junction of Kościuszki and Chopina Streets. Irena Sendlerowa, a later activist of "Żegota", the Polish Council to Aid Jews, who saved Jewish children, grew up in the Jewish community of Otwock. Her father, doctor Krzyżanowski, often treated Jews from Otwock for free. After his death the Jewish community offered financial help for little Irena.

In 1927 the town's population was 11,350 and as many as 16,177 people visited the health resort as patients. In 1929 over 76% of summer tourists of 14,813 who came to Otwock, were Jews.. In 1939 the town was inhabited by about 10 thousand Jews, who constituted 55% of the overall population.

On 1st September 1939 Otwock was bombarded by the Germans. The bomb hit, among others, the building of "Centos" health centre at Gliniecka, where 180 children were staying. Seven of them died, 32 were heavily injured.

From the beginning of the German occupation the Jews were persecuted by the Germans who cut their beards, stole their property, robbed their shops and beat them. Some part of the Jews was forced to work at the barracks. In October 1939 the Germans burnt the synagogues in Otwock. From November 1939 the Jews had to wear bands with the Star of David and mark their shops. From March 1940 their possessions were subject to control exercised by the German authorities. From 1940 the Jews were not allowed to use railway, suburban railway and public means of transport. The same year in the entire General Governorate Jewish associations were dissolved except from care institutions.

On 31st December 1939 Judenrat was set up in Otwock. In the summer of 1940 several dozens or so young Jews were transported to Tyszowce forced labour camp in Lubelszczyzna; Judenrat had to supply the workers.

On 4th November 1940 the Germans established the Otwock ghetto, to which they confined nearly 12 thousand Jews. It comprised three districts: "town", "middle" and "health resort" (the area of "Briyut” sanitarium, "Zofiówka” clinic and the clinic of "Centos” association). The Jewish Otwock Ghetto Police was supervising the process of moving the Jews to the ghetto. Its police station was located at 9 Samorządowa Street. At first there were passes allowing to leave the ghetto but they were cancelled on 29 May 1941 under a pretext of typhus. During the German occupation the Jews lost their main source of income that is summer tourists and patients. They engaged themselves in selling out their property and smuggling food, which was often carried out by children. Judenrat set up the Department of Social Services which, among others, provided medical aid, legal services and handled collecting of donations and clothes.

At the end of 1941 hunger and illnesses in the ghetto increased. Thus, a health centre supported by public donations, was set up. It conducted, among others an injection campaign against typhoid fever and fed children. "Briyut” tuberculosis sanitarium and "Zofiówka” institution for mentally ill still functioned in the town and were the only specialist clinics for Jews in the entire General Governorate. Many Jewish intellectuals were staying there which, in turn, allowed to preserve cultural life. A literary group under the lead of Kalman Lis, the director of "Centos”, was set up. The Committee of Spreading Jewish Literature, which organized lectures, was also established. An amateur acting group was also operating.

In the ghetto, in constantly worsening conditions, over 2 thousand of Jews died of hunger and illnesses. On 19 August 1942 the Germans began liquidation of the Jewish district. Lorries with the Ukrainians entered the ghetto and it was announced via a megaphone that all people must come out of their houses or the district will be set on fire. Then all residents had to gather in the square on Górna Street, near railway tracks. The Jews were rushed to the square by the Germans shooting at them. 8 thousand people were gathered there. Some doctors from "Briyut” and "Zofiówka" committed suicide during liquidation. The remaining employees and the ill were rushed to the first pavilion in Zofiówka. The terminally ill were shot on site. The Germans crushed children's heads. In total 140 people died that day in the sanitarium. Children from "Centos" centre and its personnel were also murdered. In the afternoon 8 thousand Jews from Otwock were loaded into 50 freight wagons and transported to Treblinka German Nazi camp where they died on 20th or 21st August 1942. For several weeks all Jewish police officers, who were left on site, had to clean up the ghetto and help to pull out the remaining Jews from their hiding places. Those found were shot and buried in mass graves in the territory of the ghetto (the largest one is located on Reymonta Street, others between Górna and Staszica Streets, in the area of Zofiówka and near "Marpe" and "Centos" centres. In total 3-4 thousand people were murdered.

Only few Jews from Otwock survived thanks to the Polish help but there also were cases of denouncing Jews to the Germans by the Poles.

Jewish children from Otwock were given to nuns. Sisters Ludwika Małkiewicz and Krystyna Bykowska saved Ruth Noy and then gave her back to her parents who managed to survive in Warsaw; they were awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Krystyna Dańko received a medal for helping her schoolmate Lusia Kokoszko and her family who managed to find shelter in Warsaw and survive the war. Lech and Halina Witting helped their Jewish neighbours survive. Romana and Stanisław Rekrajtis hid some members of the Błędowski family. Emma Fiebig, a nurse from "Zofiówka”, helped doctor Sierpiński, who worked there, to escape from the ghetto. He stayed with her for a month and then joined the People's Guard. The Słonimscy arranged Aryan documents and gave shelter to many Jewish families in their villas in Otwock.

Aleksandra Szpakowska saved a little girl, Marysia Osowiecka, who she had found at the police station. The Zduński family hid the Brzostek family. Zygmunt Buszmic received the support of Jan Jańczak, a waiter at his parents' restaurant and his brother Stanisław. Both brothers were awarded the Righteous Among the Nations medal. Maria Kukulska with her daughter Anna hid many Jews, among others in rented flats in Świder and Otwock. When she was denounced, she had to pay a bribe for the arrested Jews. The Dębicki family hired a maid, Blima Fryd, with Aryan documents. Albin Szerepko hid the children of his driver. Bronisław Marchlewicz, the head of the police office in Otwock, was at the same time the officer of the AK (Home Army). He freed the Jews brought to the station, did not punish the Jews for crossing the ghetto's borders and he protected them against being arrested. During the reigns of Stalin he was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He allowed Marysia Osowiecka to be taken from the police station. He was awarded posthumously by the Yad Vashem Institute. Marceli and Janina Górscy saved their partners by sharing their money with them and providing them a hiding place. The Filejek family hid five Jewish immigrants at their home in Otwock. Despite the fact that the husband ordered the Jews to leave, his wife, later awarded the Righteous Among the Nations honorary title, managed to persuade him to provide shelter for them.

After the end of military actions a Jewish Committee was established in Otwock. The members of its Management Board were, among others: H. Hakien (chairman), J. Cwajgbaum, Cynamon, Ch. Lejbman. On 2 October 1946 there were 391 people registered in the Committee. Further whereabouts of the Jews from Otwock are not well known. It can be assumed that in subsequent years the majority of the survivors left Poland.

Reinford synagogue was adapted into a local bath (two remaining synagogues were not rebuilt after the war); a nearby mikveh was also preserved. In 1999 both buildings were handed over to Warsaw Jewish Religious Community. Soon after that the buildings were demolished and "Galeria Otwock" buildings were erected there. In 2009, a commemorative plaque was placed in front of the building with the following inscription: "This is the place, at Górna 6, where a synagogue and mikveh were located. In 1939, the town had about 11 thousand Jewish inhabitants. In memory of the Jewish inhabitants of Otwock".

Bibliography

• Yisker-bukh; Otwock-Karczew, ed. Sh. Kanc, Tel Aviv 1968.
• Perechodnik C., Spowiedź (Confession), Warszawa 2011.
• Rakowski S., Aby ślad nie pozostał... Żydzi Otwoccy – zagłada i pamięć (No Trace Should Remain... Jews of Otwock - Genocide and Memory), Otwock 2012.
• "Żydzi otwoccy. Dzieje żydowskiej społeczności Otwocka" (Jews of Otwock. History of the Jewish Community of Otwock), Otwockie zeszyty muzealne 2008, no. 2. 
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