The beginnings of Jewish settlement in Seroczyn date back to the incorporation of the city in the second half of the 16th century. Pursuant to a document dated 26th November 1704, the Jews Marek Ajzykowicz and his father Ajzyk Wolfowicz leased the city of Seroczyn and neighbouring villages for a year [Materiały źródłowe do dziejów Żydów w księgach grodzkich lubelskich z doby panowania Augusta II Sasa 1697-1733, vol. 1, H. Gmiterek (ed.), Lublin (2001), p. 119.]. In 1778, 58 Jewish residents of the town contributed 174 Polish zlotys in tax. At the same time, Kołodziąż had 3 Jewish residents and contributed 9 zlotys, Borki Seroczyńskie (currently Borki Serockie) had 4 Jewish residents and contributed 12 zlotys, Łomnica, with 3 Jewish residents, contributed 9 zlotys, similarly Jedlina – 3 Jews and 9 zlotys, while Kulek (Kulak) had 5 Jews and contributed 15 zlotys.

The Jewish residents lived in the centre of the town. Jews were engaged in trade and crafts, runing businesses such as bakeries and oil mills and providing services as shoemakers, tailors and blacksmiths. Jewish children attended the local public school. At the turn of the 20th century, many Jews emigrated.

In 1921 the city had a Jewish population of 179. In the interwar period, Seroczyn had a synagogue and a house owned by the municipal authorities. The latter was a two-storey building with a shingle roof located in the current ull Siedlecka. Until 1928, it housed the Jewish Community Council, whose jurisdiction extended to all localities in the Wodynie Municipality in addition to Ozorów (Żeliszew Municipality), Rudnik (Prawda Municipality), Żebraczka (Iwowe Municipality, Mińsk Mazowiecki County) [D. Mączka, Powiat siedlecki w latach 1918–1939, Siedlce (2008), p. 42.]. Its territory was inhabited by 600 Jews.

Here, as elsewhere, the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 started an ordeal for the local Jews. Several were killed in summary executions. The remaining Jews were relocated to Stoczek Łukowski, then transported by train to Parysów, and from there to the Nazi death camp in Treblinka. Very few managed to survive the war.

 

References

  • Materiały źródłowe do dziejów Żydów w księgach grodzkich lubelskich z doby panowania Augusta II Sasa 1697-1733, t. 1, red. H. Gmiterek, Lublin 2001
  • Mączka D., Powiat siedlecki w latach 1918–1939,  Siedlce 2008
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