By the middle of the 18th century, only single Jewish families resided permanently in the Duchy of Oleśnica, including Bierutów, Oleśnica and Twardogóra. In 1751, 10 Jewish families lived in Bierutów and the surrounding villages. From 1765 onwards, there was an increase in the Jewish population in Bierutów. Jews came to the town from the surrounding villages and also from other cities, including Wrocław. In 1787, a total of 104 Jews (forming 20 families) lived there.

Initially, church services were held in rented premises. The Jews of Bierutów wanted to build a synagogue as early as in 1761, however; they did not receive the permit at that time. In 1808, the existence of a synagogue in Bierutów was recorded but the building could not be used because it was in danger of collapsing. A new temple was erected next to the old one; however, both buildings were consumed by fire on 14 September 1808. After the fire, the synagogue was rebuilt - it was located in the northern part of the town, next to the town walls, on the area that became Junkernstraße later on (today's 1 Maja Street).

Until the Emancipation Edict came into force (1812), the largest Jewish community in the Duchy of Oleśnica could be found in Bierutów. In 1791, 100 Jews lived in the town, and in 1812 - 43 Jewish families.

Between 1932 and 1933, the Jewish Community in Bierutów consisted of 80 members. The members of its management board were: Moritz Holländer, Hans Perlberg and Simon Ebstein. The teacher and cantor was Ismar Pakula. The Chevra Kadisha, founded in 1797, the Union of Jewish Women and the Association for the Care of the Sick operated in the community.

After the Second World War, the Jewish community did not recover in the town. The synagogue building at 9e 1 Maja Street (ul. 1 Maja 9e), which is now used as a gym, has survived to the present day.

The Jewish cemetery in Kijowice was the burial place for the members of the synagogue community in Bierutów (Bernstadt). That community has had its own cemetery since the 18th century, which was located in Miłocice (Mühlatschütz). Already in the second half of the 19th century, the necropolis proved too small for the Jewish community of Bierutów. In 1865, the town donated a second cemetery to the community of Bierutów synagogue and it was located in the village of Kijowice (Vogelgesang), two kilometres north-east of Bierutów.

The agreement with the city for the establishment of a new cemetery was signed on 11 May 1865 by the then municipal board of the Jewish community represented by merchants Josef Deutsch and Gustav Meidner and master brewer Abraham Ledermann. The Jewish cemetery was used until 1935.

The Description

The Jewish cemetery in Kijowice covers an area of approximately 0.2 ha and is surrounded by a brick wall. The buildings near the cemetery - the funeral home and the residential building, which most probably was for a gravedigger (address: Kijowice 20) - have survived to the present day. Not a single tombstone has survived, only parts of broken matzevahs. The site was entered in the register of historical monuments on 12 January 1990, under no. A/3322/636/W. The cemetery is the property of the Jewish Religious Community in Wrocław.

Author of the note: Tamara Włodarczyk

References

• Brilling B., Die jüdischen Gemeinden Mittelschlesiens. Entstehung und Geschichte, Stuttgart 1972.
• Card of the Jewish cemetery in Kijowice, compiled by B. Szulejko, 1983.
• Teczka ewidencyjna cmentarza żydowskiego w Miłocicach, compiled by J. Kichler, Wrocław 1986 (available at the Jewish Religious Community in Wrocław).
• Wodziński M., Hebrajskie inskrypcje na Śląsku XIII-XVIII wieku, Wrocław 1996.

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