Unfortunately, economic development was inhibited by numerous epidemics, fires and armed conflicts, including the invasion of Khmelnytsky's Cossacks in 1648. In 1670, Aleksander Stanisław Bełżecki gave Jews equal rights with Christians in exchange for help in defending their holdings.

In 1772 Cieszanów found itself in the Austrian partition. In 1785, there were 410 Jews in the town. Their numbers increased significantly in the following century. In 1870, the Jewish community in Cieszanów had a synagogue, a cemetery and three institutions under its management. From 1880 onwards, a Credit Society was active. By 1900, the Jewish community in Cieszanów had increased to 2,777 people. Among many charitable associations, Gemilut Chesed was especially active. During this period, the son of the tzadik from Dynów, David Halberstam, established a local Hasidic center here.

After the outbreak of World War I, Russian troops entered Cieszanów and destroyed Jewish shops and establishments. These events contributed to the inhibition of the town's development and the reduction of its population. The 1921 census showed that there were 939 Jews living in Cieszanów. In the interwar period, the Association of Jewish Handicraftsmen 'Yad Charuzim' ( 'Skillful Hand'), Cash Advance Fund and the mentioned 'Gemilut Chesed' operated in the town. In the early 1930s, unemployment was very high, including among Jewish craftsmen.

After the outbreak of World War II, Cieszanów became part of the General Government. In 1940, the German authorities established a labor camp for Jews who were employed in the construction of fortifications, river regulation and road construction. The occupier then created a ghetto around the synagogue. It gathered local Jews and those brought from nearby villages and the ghetto in Mielec. In early 1943, German troops deported and shot all prisoners in the forest in Wierzbica.

The Description

The Jewish cemetery in Cieszanów was founded before 1854. The necropolis is located on Armii Krajowej street, approx. 120 m from the junction with Warszawska street and approx. 200m north-west of the market place, on the plot no. 1718. The site is surrounded by a contemporary fencing.

During World War II, the cemetery was vandalized by the German occupation authorities. At that time, matzevas were used as building material to pave roads.

In 1991, thanks to the efforts of the Nissenbaum Family Foundation, an ohel was built on the grave of tzadik Symcha Issachar Ber Halberstam, who died in 1914. No other tombstones have survived to this day.

Author of the note: Magda Lucima

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