Tarnowskie Góry

Taking part in the program was a chance to fill in the gaps. The educators from the Forum for Dialogue told the students about the lively Jewish community in the 19th century: about the Healthcare Society, the Burial Society Hevra kadishah, the Jewish Sport Society Makabi and the Zionist Organization. About the assimilation to the German culture, emigration to the West in the twenties of the 20th century. And finally about the dramatic events of the war: the burning down of the synagogue in 1939, confiscation of the Jewish property a year later, deportation to the ghettos in Będzin, Częstochowa, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Kraków, Sosnowiec and Zawiercie and finally transport to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942.

During the last workshop of the School of Dialogue the students welcomed Mr. Krzysztof Gwoźdź, the author of various publications on the history of Tarnowskie Góry, who provided them with interesting knowledge on the local Jewish community. He said that there was no women’s section in the synagogue and women prayed with men in the main hall, even though it was against tradition. The mikveh served the local community also as a public bath. Lutherans were also buried at the Jewish cemetery.

As a part of preparation of an independently carried out project, the students went to Żarki to see one of the preserved Jewish cemeteries.

Ms. Katarzyna Kulińska, a representative of the Town Hall and the Commune of Żarki came to tell the students the story of the cemetery.

Before the tour planned for the 2nd June in the footsteps of the Jews of the Tarnowskie Góry, the students printed invitations, baked the hamantaschen, got challahs from a local bakery and invited the media. Finally the big day came. It was stressful and tiring, but also filled the students with lots of satisfaction and pride. At 5:30 p.m. the students invite their guests to visit the local Jewish cemetery, the place which is usually inaccessible to the inhabitants. Kamil recites the traditional “Orphan Kadish: “Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which he has created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire house of Israel, speedily and soon”. Next to the cemetery gate a red brick building with stained glass still stands. This was the seat of Hevra Kadisha, explain the students. At the market place they can only show the memorial and the synagogue in the photos. Then follows the Zamkowa Street. It used to belong almost entirely to the Panofscy family. On one of the grills on the gate you can still see the A.P. initials – Albert Panofski.

The Krakowska Street also used to be a Jewish street. There was a drugstore “Eskulap” run by Panofski, Adolph’s bookshop, a hardware shop of Schafler, says one of the students. Kamil tells the surprised audience about the Ladies Union and the Men Committee. Finally, the group reaches the school playground. This is not the end, but the continuation of program.

There is a Haman’s ears sale, a screening of a film about the pre-war Tarnowskie Góry, presentation of animation of former Jewish buildings, a lesson of the Yiddish and Hebrew languages and Jewish dances. The students shared the following reflection from the whole event: “By working on this project, we were able not only to understand but also to feel, that the world is not homogeneous and that it does not speak one language. Various voices can be heard around us and it is up to us to let them become a part of our existence. Silesia was and still is a region which is tolerant to others, the foreigners the neighbors. Unfortunately, history disrupted this state of symbiosis between nations, destroying the understanding which was developed through centuries. All we have left after the Jews from Silesia are 60 cemeteries, tenant houses and a few synagogues. That is why it is worth to cherish what we have. Foremost the memory”.

To read more about Tarnowskie Góry visit Virtual Shtetl:

School of Dialogue program in Tarnowskie Góry was made possible by the support from LINDA and JEROME SPITZER.

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