Jews started to settle in Pacanów in the 16th century. Similarly to other Jewish communities in Poland, Pacanów Jews were negatively affected by the Swedish wars of the mid-17th century[1.1]. The local synagogue was built in 1748. The Jewish cemetery was located by the road to Stopnica[1.2].

In the mid-19th century, the town had a synagogue, a mikveh, and two cheders. Between 1859 and 1861, the subrabbi of the community was Simcha Salomon Spira. He was succeed by Lewi Gutman, a well-known and respectable man.

In 1914, the area of Pacanów became a site of military operations, with the Polish Legions (Legiony Polskie) providing cover to the Austrian army from the attacks of the Russians. When the town was seized by Austrians in 1915, the army initiated the construction of the dirt road to Szczucin, which outstandingly improved the transport of commodities. Unfortunately, a fire broke out in the town in 1916, destroying most of its buildings. Many Jews lost their homes, and some of them moved to other localities.

According to the 1921 census, the town had 4,000 inhabitants. In 1930, the following Jews owned businesses in Pacanów: W. Fiszer, J. Najman (hairdressers and barbers); M. Eljasz (a wheelwright); S. Chajek, Ch. Frymer, S. Maudzdorf, S. Stopnicka (tailors and dressmakers); M. Hercberg, M. Listgarten (oilmakers); Ł. Hercberg, B. Herszkowicz, S. Herszkowicz, F. Kaufman, N. Stopnicki (bakers); Ch. Mandzdorf (a glazier); and many others.

The local Jewish merchants were: D. Focher (underwear); Ch. Dajtelcwajg, N. Działoszycki, Ch. Fryd, G. Gecel, G. Stopnicki, J. Taubenblat, A. Wagner, Jankiel Wircberg, Josek Wircberg (silk); A. and M. Szternzis (cattle); A. Perla (wood); A. and G. Listgarten (haberdashery); J. Nugiel (dairy products); M. Adelman, R. Pfefer (beer); J. Ajzenwasser (miscellanea); N. Lustgarten, M. Eircberg (leather); M. Ajzenwasser, J. Cukier, H. Frydman, K. Frydman, A. Lewiński, I. Nugiel, S. Rotenberg, I. Rozenholc, S. Stopnicka, J. Sztajn (groceries); M. Frymer, Ch. Zylbersztejn (clothes); M. Manzdorf, J. Wajchman, P. Zyngier (cereal); C. Fajner, J. Kopel, E. Najberg and E. Urbajtel (iron)[1.3].

The town centre consisted of a small market square and narrow adjacent streets. One of them, Słupecka Street, ran from the south-eastern corner of the square to the village of Słupia, where Maciej Radziwiłł’s mill was situated. Stanisław Pytko described the street as follows: “The seat of the Municipality Office and the post office were located at the street. It also housed the dwellings of the chairman of the Common School, the rabbi, and the fire department chief. There were two Jewish shops where one could purchase most items for everyday needs. The goods were weighed on two-platter scales, while liquids were measured in burettes. There was also a special pump for kerosene used in paraffin lamps, which siphoned it from a barrel with a measuring container”[1.4].

In the interwar period, the Jewish community in Pacanów owned a synagogue, house of prayer, cheder, mikveh, and cemetery. The Board elected in 1924 included Mordka Warman, Wigdor Urbajtel, Moszek Zylberberg, and Zemel Brukier[1.5].

The same year, a serious argument arose between the Board of the community and the local government in Stopnica. The authorities claimed that the budget of the community in Pacanów had not been properly drawn up since 1922[1.6], which was deemed unacceptable.

The preserved records show that in 1925, the Board was ordered to raise the salary of Rabbi Josek Ungier to 4,000 zł (zlotys). The difference was to be covered with the money obtained from shechita. The yearly income from ritual slaughter was estimated at 11,900 zł, which was recognised by the Ministry of Religion as the minimal income[1.7]. Therefore, it was ordered to raise the slaughter tax. To avoid the higher rate, the Board argued that the community was too poor.

In 1933, Pacanów was inhabited by 1,902 Jews. The estimated income in the yearly budget amounted to 31,944.90 zł, including income from slaughter – 19,000 zł, from the membership fees – 13,544.90 zł, and from other sources – 440 zł. The high membership fees seem rather surprising. Most likely, the number provided in the budget also included outstanding fees from the preceding years. The rabbi’s salary was set at the level of 3,600 zł, other employees’ salaries – at 21,300 zł, other costs – at 380 zł, investments – at 5,391.58 zł, remaining expenses – at 1,323.32 zł[1.8].

In 1937, the Jewish population in Pacanów comprised 1,834 people; 210 families were obliged to pay the membership fee. The value of the moveable assets of the community was estimated at 4,772 zł, real estate – at 77,000 zł, liabilities – at 6,603.14 zł. The Board was dominated by Orthodox Jews – 62.5% of the income, the rest came from Zionists.

In 1939, Pacanów had 5,200 citizens, including 2,000 Jews. The town was seized by Germany, but the situation remained rather stable even during occupation, which resulted in an influx of large numbers of Jewish refugees[1.9]. The nearest post of German gendarmerie was located as far as Busko-Zdrój. The local Judenrat was ordered to send a defined number of Jews to forced labour. They mostly worked in agriculture, for example picking strawberries. The Pacanów Ghetto boasted a self-aid organisation which ran a folk kitchen. A Jewish hospital was established to help fight with the spreading typhus epidemic. In May 1941, the town had 2,645 Jewish inhabitants, many of whom had been resettled from other localities (including Radom, Łódź, Kraków, Warszawa, Płock).

Most of them lived in sheds or summer houses. The ghetto in Pacanów was established in April 1942 and comprised 125 houses. The total number of its inhabitants, including the resettled Jews, amounted to nearly 3,000 people (12–13 people for a single room). A group of 2,000 young Jews was sent to the HASAG labour camp in Skrażysko-Kamienna (the Germans promised them that by working they would provide safety to their families). The rest of the population was transported to Treblinka extermination camp in early October 1942.

Bibliography

• Kraemer J., “Pacanów,” [in] Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1939-1945, vol. II, Ghettos in German-Occupied Eastern Europe, Part A, eds. P. Megargee, M. Dean, Bloomington 2012, p. 274.
• “Pacanow,” [in] Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, vol. II, ed. Sh. Spector, New York 2001, p. 960.
• Penkalla A., Żydowskie ślady w województwie kieleckim i radomskim, Radom 1992, p. 71.