Despite its favorable location near the Vistula River and on the KrakówSandomierz route, the economic situation of Połaniec was unstable for a long time; this was followed by numerous migrations. Połaniec suffered during the Zebrzydowski rebellion of 1606, the Swedish Deluge (1655–1660) and the invasion of Jerzy II Rokoczy (1657). In 1801, Jews were allowed to take part in the propination, which was an expression of the city's poor economic situation. Other sources of income included the Vistula grain trade, maintaining shops and inns, baking and tavern-keeping. The situation did not basically improve throughout the 19th century.

In the interwar period, the Jewish community in Połaniec had three houses of prayer, a cheder, a bathhouse and a cemetery. Jews owned 27 out of 28 grocery stores, and were also leaders in hat-making, glass-making, and upper-making.

During World War II, Połaniec found itself under German occupation. In 1941, the Germans established a ghetto in which approximately 2,000 prisoners were located. Some people tried to hide, including a local rabbi with his two granddaughters, but they were found and arrested. Some of the prisoners were soon sent to the Staszów ghetto. The final liquidation action took place in 1942; most of the Jews were then deported and died in the gas chambers at the German Nazi extermination camp in Treblinka.

Description

The Jewish cemetery in Połaniec was founded in the middle of the 17th century. It is located on Partyzantów street, formerly Kirkucka street. The last funeral took place here in 1940 (according to other sources - in 1945), after that, the victims of Germans who died during the liquidation of the ghetto and during the march to the ghetto in Staszów were buried there in a mass grave. During this period, the building was completely devastated. Nowadays, the Jewish cemetery in Połaniec is neglected, overgrown, with visible traces of sand being excavated. No matzevas have survived.

Author of the note: Magda Lucima