We are pleased to report the installation of a new informational signboard outside the Jewish cemetery of Goniądz on September 1, 2024. This work was led by Myrna Teck, in partnership with Edyta Matela and Ardakiusz Studniarek of the local non-profit Goniądz Friends Association.
The History of Goniądz Jews:
Jews are thought to have arrived in Goniądz around the early 18th century. In 1716 there were five Jewish residents in the town. Until 1795, Jews were not allowed to settle in the settlements and lands of the bourgeoisie. The first Jews settled in the area of the former castle jurisdiction, and the first synagogue was built there. After 1795 the Prussian authorities allowed Jews to settle freely. In 1735 there was already a guild of Jewish tailors. In 1765 a census of the Jewish parish in Goniądz was carried out, as a result, which revealed that the parish was inhabited by 426 Jews. In 1766, 24 merchants from Goniądz, including 14 Jews, were recorded in the local customs houses. Goniądz Jews specialized especially in selling wooden brews and basins.
By the end of the 18th century, more than 60 houses in Goniądz were inhabited by Jews. A Prussian description of the town in 1799 reported that the town had 1,373 residents, 498 of whom were Jews, accounting for about 36% of the total Goniądz community. The next century saw a doubling of the town's population. In 1878, Goniądz already had a population of 2943, of which there were 1880 Jews, making up 64% of the town's population. In 1897 their number rose to 2056 (59% of the total population).
The influx of Jews under the Russian partition was associated with construction services for the nearby Osowiec fortress, and later with the need to supply the garrison there. In 1906 and 1911, two major fires ravaged the town, also destroying many Jewish homes. In the interwar period, Jews made up almost half of Goniądz population–1135. They lived mainly in the Old and New Market Square.
After the outbreak of World War II and the entry of Soviet troops into Goniądz, the life of local Jews changed only slightly. Private stores were liquidated. In their place, the occupier established so-called "cooperatives," in which work was mostly given to Jews.
The situation of Goniądz Jews changed dramatically after the Germans occupied the town on June 26, 1941. It was then that the Jews became the main object of persecution by the next occupier. Already during the period of the establishment of German authority in Goniądz, there were mass executions, which, according to testimonies given after the war, were carried out on July 6 and 13, 1941. 59 Jews and 3 Poles suspected of collaboration with the communists were then killed.
The Germans organized a ghetto in the northern part of the city, where they placed some 900 to 1,300 people. The ghetto was liquidated on November 2, 1942. All Jews were herded to the market square. The city was tightly surrounded by German troops. The Germans ordered Poles to provide wagons on which the Jews were loaded. During the deportation, 217 people were killed. After searching the town, the convoy, escorted by German troops, moved to the village of Bogusze, where a makeshift transit camp was organized and barracks built. There they were subjected to selection and sent to various labor camps; some were sent to the German Nazi camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, while the “final solution” to the fate of the Jews of Goniądz did not occur until January 3, 1943, with their deportation to Treblinka. After 1945, the local Jewish community did not revive.
Jewish people from Goniądz were buried in the local cemetery located around 1 km from the Goniądz market, on an irregular lot of 1.28 hectares. The cemetery had been probably established in the second half of the XVIII century. Presumably during the Second World War its devastation began which was continued later. Nowadays in the cemetery there are several dozen tombstones preserved in a various condition. Only 19 matzevahs have relatively legible inscriptions. The inscriptions are available at <https://cemetery.jewish.org.pl>. According to the Virtual Cementary data the oldest matzevah is on the grave of Yosef, son of Mordechaj, who died on February 20, 1843. The newest preserved matzevah indicates the grave of Aharon Segałowicz, son of Shalom Arie Halevi (?), who died on the December 1, 1937. The cemetery was signed into the National monument register as number A-448/91 and in 2010 into the local community monument register as number 15.
By the end of the 18th century, more than 60 houses in Goniądz were inhabited by Jews. A Prussian description of the town in 1799 reported that the town had 1,373 residents, 498 of whom were Jews, accounting for about 36% of the total Goniądz community. The next century saw a doubling of the town's population. In 1878, Goniądz already had a population of 2943, of which there were 1880 Jews, making up 64% of the town's population. In 1897 their number rose to 2056 (59% of the total population).
The influx of Jews under the Russian partition was associated with construction services for the nearby Osowiec fortress, and later with the need to supply the garrison there. In 1906 and 1911, two major fires ravaged the town, also destroying many Jewish homes. In the interwar period, Jews made up almost half of Goniądz population–1135. They lived mainly in the Old and New Market Square.
After the outbreak of World War II and the entry of Soviet troops into Goniądz, the life of local Jews changed only slightly. Private stores were liquidated. In their place, the occupier established so-called "cooperatives," in which work was mostly given to Jews.
The situation of Goniądz Jews changed dramatically after the Germans occupied the town on June 26, 1941. It was then that the Jews became the main object of persecution by the next occupier. Already during the period of the establishment of German authority in Goniądz, there were mass executions, which, according to testimonies given after the war, were carried out on July 6 and 13, 1941. 59 Jews and 3 Poles suspected of collaboration with the communists were then killed.
The Germans organized a ghetto in the northern part of the city, where they placed some 900 to 1,300 people. The ghetto was liquidated on November 2, 1942. All Jews were herded to the market square. The city was tightly surrounded by German troops. The Germans ordered Poles to provide wagons on which the Jews were loaded. During the deportation, 217 people were killed. After searching the town, the convoy, escorted by German troops, moved to the village of Bogusze, where a makeshift transit camp was organized and barracks built. There they were subjected to selection and sent to various labor camps; some were sent to the German Nazi camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, while the “final solution” to the fate of the Jews of Goniądz did not occur until January 3, 1943, with their deportation to Treblinka. After 1945, the local Jewish community did not revive.
Jewish people from Goniądz were buried in the local cemetery located around 1 km from the Goniądz market, on an irregular lot of 1.28 hectares. The cemetery had been probably established in the second half of the XVIII century. Presumably during the Second World War its devastation began which was continued later. Nowadays in the cemetery there are several dozen tombstones preserved in a various condition. Only 19 matzevahs have relatively legible inscriptions. The inscriptions are available at <https://cemetery.jewish.org.pl>. According to the Virtual Cementary data the oldest matzevah is on the grave of Yosef, son of Mordechaj, who died on February 20, 1843. The newest preserved matzevah indicates the grave of Aharon Segałowicz, son of Shalom Arie Halevi (?), who died on the December 1, 1937. The cemetery was signed into the National monument register as number A-448/91 and in 2010 into the local community monument register as number 15.
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