Previously, Jewish settlement might not have been possible at all due to the town's long-term affiliation to the Church (the Cistercian monastery in Wąchock). The Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and other Slavic countries states that in 1893 there were 371 Jews in the Wierzbica commune, out of a total number of 1,869 inhabitants.

The town lost its significance with the development of nearby Radom. In 1870, it lost its municipal rights, which it never regained. In 1873 and 1904 the town was destroyed by fires.

The Yad Vashem database contains several dozen records about the Jewish inhabitants of Wierzbica murdered by the Germans in the Holocaust. The most common surnames are: Akerman, Birenbaum, Finkelsztajn, Goldwaser, Hakman, Hochman, Jeleń, Katz, Najman, Pelc, Rozenberg, Rozencwajg, Szmukler, Sztajnberg, Tenenbaum, Winter and Żytnik. Many of these people have some connection with Radom; probably because of the local ghetto, the Jews from Wierzbica shared the fate of other Holocaust victims.

The Description

According to Adam Penkala, the Jewish cemetery in Wierzbnica was established in 1831. It is located north-east of the town center, on road 744 leading to Radom, at the junction of Wierzbicka street with Błędowska street.

The necropolis was destroyed during World War II and has not been used after the war. Jews who were shot on the way to the Jastrząb station are said to be buried in the area.

Today, there are no tombstones preserved in the Jewish cemetery in Wierzbica, only a fragment of the brick fence. On the side of Wierzbicka street, there is a symbolic red brick gate built around 1982. It is not related to the tradition or to the site of the former entrance to the necropolis.

Author of the note: Magda Lucima

Właściciel praw autorskich do opisu: Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN.