80th Anniversary of Deportation of Częstochowa Jews

September 22, 2022
Words: Alon Goldman Photos: Agencja Wyborcza.pl
 
On 22nd September 1942, the Germans began deporting the Jewish residents of the Częstochowa ghetto to the Treblinka extermination camp. In six transports of freight trains, over a two week period ending on 8th October, about 40,000 Jews from Częstochowa and the surrounding area were deported to their deaths.

During the ghetto clearance, about 2,000 ghetto Jews were shot and buried in mass graves on ul. Kavia. Only about 5,000 people survived the “selections” and remained as forced labourers at the HASAG munitions factory.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the deportations an emotional ceremony was held on the square of the Częstochowa Jews memorial monument.

Dozens of local high school students, with their banners and flags, the Straż Miejska, dignitaries and guests participated in the ceremony. Attendees also included the son, daughter and six grandchildren of Częstochowa-born author and poet Irit Amiel (Irena Librowicz) z”l, who came from Israel.

The ceremony led by Ms Izabela Sobańska-Klekowska, Chair of the Częstochowa branch of the TSKŻ. Speakers included Deputy Mayor of Częstochowa, Dr. Ryszard Stefaniak, Deputy Chair of Częstochowa City Council, Ms. Jolanta Urbanska, Chairman of the Association of Częstochowa Jews in Israel, Alon Goldman (who also recited the memorial prayer Kaddish) and Oni Amiel, son of Irit Amiel z”l.

Students from the Częstochowa’s Juliusz Słowacki Liceum and Biała Orła Elementary School sang and performed memorial pieces.