2. At the turn of the 19th and 20th century Częstochowa was a vibrant city
teeming with multicultural and multilingual life. The Jasna Góra
Monastery towered over the city. Pilgrims from all over the century
were constantly present at the Monastery. Visitors coming by train
were welcomed by the beautiful view of the New Synagogue at
Wilson Street. Faithful Russian- and German- speaking people
gathered at Orthodox and Evangelical churches during religious
ceremonies. Residents, speaking Polish, Yiddish, Russian and
German, used to walk along the main avenues. On market days a
colorful crowd was very busy buying and selling at Stary(Old) and
Nowy (New) Rynek (Market). Częstochowa, located close to the
border between the Russian Empire and Prussia, was a city of
accelerated industry, trade and crafts development.
3. The general view of Częstochowa,the
dome of the new synagogue seen in the
top right hand corner.
The old marketplace
8. The earliest evidence of the prsence of Jews in
Częstochowa dates back to the 17th century and is
found in the reports of royal inspections from the
years 1620 and 1631. A separate Jewish Religious
Community was established in 1808, when the Calisian
Departament gave its permission to create community
in Old Częstochowa.
9. The oldest document related to a Jews, found
in the State Archives in Częstochowa is the
birth of Ruchla Bomba from 1809.
Birth certificate of Ruchla Landau, born in
Częstochowa on 19 June 1788, issued by the
elders of the Częstochowa kahal Jewish
council
10. Certification issued by the elders of the
Częstochowa kahal in 1810 confirming
that Anzel Mayzel was born in
Częstochowa on 13 March 1780.
A passport for Dawid Bursztyn,
issued 13 June 1826
11. A permit issued by the Commission of
the Calisian District authorizing a Jew,
Lewek Sorgenlos to purchase a hause in
Częstochowa.
A certificate announcing the marriage
of Wolf Zand and Rozalia Freyman
issued and signed by Rabbi Zacharias
Weingutt in 1845.
12. Last will of Częstochowa merchant
David Landau Kronenberg drawn
up in Herbew in 1847.