Radzymin

In autumn 1940 the Germans established a ghetto at the intersection of Reymonta and Weteranów Streets, and gathered in it approx. 2,500 Jews. In October 1942 they were all transported to the death camp in Treblinka.

Despite the lack of material traces of Radzymin’s former inhabitants, the students were very enthusiastic in following the School of Dialogue program. “Initially everything was new to me, but the workshops’ atmosphere prevented me from staying indifferent,” said Joanna, one of the workshops participant, thus proving that the students’ participation in the program was a unique experience. The high schoolers eagerly picked up the idea of sharing the newly-discovered knowledge about Judaism as well as the history and culture of Polish Jews with others. Like detectives, they studied historical sources about the pre-war community of their town, and eventually they undertook numerous activities that made them feel they have an actual influence on the awareness of the contemporary inhabitants of their town.

Their activities resulted in the creation of the tour “Following the Footsteps of Jews of Radzymin”: an exhibition of pre-war photographs of Radzymin, a stage play based on Singer’s novel “The Magician of Lublin”, as well as a popular science session entitled “The Unique World of Isaac Bashevis Singer” attended by Mr Jakub Weitzner, Ph.D., a lecturer from the University of Warsaw who co-operates with the Jewish Theatre in Warsaw, as well as the local historian, Mr Władysław Kolatorski. The students also recorded a moving soundtrack to the presentation about Jews of Radzymin (vocals and piano performed and played by Karol Bąk, a pupil from the local high school) and organised a contest for friends from their school and junior high schools from Wołomiński county. Interestingly, the high schoolers also tabled a motion during the Commune Council’s session to erect a plaque commemorating the Jewish cemetery in Radzymin.

The walking tour itinerary passed by the places where the old cheder and the Jewish cemetery used to be (now existing only on the photographs included in the exhibition), as well as the surviving house of the Wagmans, the pre-war owners of a construction materials’ depot. During the walk, the participants also had the opportunity to see the old photographs of the so-called “Okrąglak” (rotunda), or a cluster of Jewish houses and shops in the vicinity of the Old Town Square, and both of the no-longer-existing synagogues: the Hassidic and the traditional one.

The final stop was the house of Isaac Bashevis Singer that has survived to this day. The young detectives stressed that traces of the old, Jewish Radzymin can be found in Singer’s novel “In My Father’s Court” in which he writes: “Radzymin had become the vortex of a new rabbinical dynasty founded by Reb Yekele, a miracle worker, formerly connected with the Hasidic courts of Przyscha and Kotzk. To the women who visited him, he would present charmed coins and pieces of amber that cured illness.”

With some difficulty the students put the borders of Radzymin’s ghetto on the tour’s map and stressed the tragic fact only 40 people from the sizable community of Jews of Radzymin survived the German occupation.

It can be said that the students have partially managed to restore the charm of old Radzymin as it is presented in Singer’s novels, with the endearing narrow streets, tenements, and shops. “We were trying to give this world a new life, to discover the past, and to kindle the inhabitants’ interest,” the students said. They succeeded thanks to, among other things, the support of the Forum for Dialogue educators, Beata Godlewska and Anna Bakuła, the co-operation with the Association of Radzymin’s Friends, the Culture and Sport Centre in Radzymin, and the Public Library in Radzymin, as well as thanks to the favour of the commune and county authorities.

To read more about Radzymin visit Virtual Shtetl:

In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this educational program. Through recovering the assets of the victims of the Holocaust, the Claims Conference enables organizations around the world to provide education about the Shoah and to preserve the memory of those who perished.

Project co-financed from the funds granted by The Pratt Foundation.

In appreciation to Friends of the Forum for supporting the School of Dialogue educational program.