Visit from Israel

For many years already I have been interested in the Polish - Jewish relationship, especially in those observed in the area of Staszów district (Kielce Land). In the result, with the cooperation of Jan Mazanka (the person responsible for foreign affairs in Staszów Districtrict Office) and the local youth we published a few articles in "Powiat Staszowski" [Staszów District] ISSN 1641-82-12.

To begin with 2006, the contacts have been established with different people of Jewish origin who are related to Kielce land, especially to Staszów district. In the result, in Staszów and in the area a visit was organized and a meeting of 150 pupils from Kibbutz Yiftah in Israel with Polish family from Czajków near Staszów was arranged. The ancestors of those Polish family during the Second World War rescued Gawriel Singer who was the 14-year-old boy at that time. A grand- daughter of a rescued Gabriel Singer who is already deceased, Ela Zemer meet Angelika and Anita, grand-daughters of Andrzej Tutak (also already deceased) who rescued Gawriel Singer. The visit took place in September 2007.

Next year in September 2008 Ela Zemer, the grand-daughter, came again to Staszów with her family including mother, father, brothers and sisters. She came to show them places where the rescue of her grandfather occurred. In the archive of Staszów town the birth certificates were found. The certificates confirmed that the rescued Gawriel Singer had also a sister who was two years younger than him and a three-year-old brother. They both died together with their parents in Treblinka.

The Embassy of Israel in Warsaw became interested in the Project. As the result, Israel's vice ambassador to Poland Nadav Eshcar arrived in Staszów twice, in June 2011 and in September 2012 to join the events commemorating the 70th anniversary of annihilation of Jewish society in Staszów. Among fifty five descendants of Jews from Staszów the attendance included five Jews who were present in Staszów at that time and happily survived. Michael Schudrich the chief rabbi of Poland also attended the celebration, (see photo below).

Wizyty z Izraela - zdjęcie 1
A group of 150 pupils from Kibbutz Yiftah from Israel involved in the educational project on the annihilation of Jews at the Jewish Cemetery in Staszów, September 2007
Wizyty z Izraela - zdjęcie 2
At the backyard of the old household of Andrzej Tutak where a 14-year-old Gawriel Singer was being hidden in the period of January 1943 to July 1944. The country Czajków near Staszów, September 2007

Wizyty z Izraela - zdjęcie 3
„Two-granddaughters". Touching thanks of Ela Zemer to Angelika Macias-Tutak for rescuing her grandfather. The country Czajków near Staszów, September 2007
Wizyty z Izraela - zdjęcie 4
The descendants of Jews from Staszów commemorating the 70th anniversary of annihilation at the Jewish Cemetery in Staszów (3rd October 2012). In the middle Natanel Erlich (with medals), on his right: Alexander Erlich (white trousers) and Jack Aizenberg- they survived the annihilation hiding in Staszów forests

Wizyty z Izraela - zdjęcie 5
Staszów on the 3rd October 2012: the event commemorating the 70th  anniversary of annihilation of the Jewish community. On the "death march": the first from the left the chief rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich and the fourth from the left: Israel's vice ambassador to Poland Nadav Eshcar

Artykuły dotyczące tematyki żydowskiej opublikowanie w kwartalniku "Powiat Staszowski" ISSN 1641-82-12 w latach 2007 - 2013