דף חדש 1

Brzeziny is situated along the banks of the Pisza, which is a tributary of the Warta River in the district of Lodz.

In 1793, around 10 Jewish families were already living in Brzeziny. By 1808 there were 32 Jews living there; by 1827 the number of Jews had risen to 172; and by 1921 the Jewish populace reached 406 out of the total 1899. At the beginning of the Second World War, Brzeziny was home to around 150 Jewish families, which constituted approximately 60% of the total populace. Today the town has a population of less than 1000 people, not one of which is Jewish.

Many Birch trees used to grow in Brzeziny, which were called “Brzuzy” in Polish, and hence the town’s name.

Brzeziny was established in the year 1278 as property of the king. Jews were not permitted to live there until it the year 1793, when, under Prussian sovereignty, property was distributed to the common people. A Jewish community committee comprised of Jewish representatives from several neighboring towns was operating from Brzeziny by 1825. At that time the community had two synagogues, a center of Torah study and a cemetery.

A resident of Brzeziny describes his town prior to World War II in these words: “A small, nice Jewish town in which all Jews knew each other.” The town also had a police station, a court of law and a post office.

Most of the Jews lived and had their business places in the center of town, with the rest of the population living in the periphery. The Jews controlled the town’s trade and commerce. The town center was the stage for a market day every week, in which many Poles and Jews from the neighboring towns came to buy provisions and trade their crops and cattle. Of what was the town’s business center in the 30s, nothing remains today.

When the Nazis conquered the town in September 1939, they changed its name to Berental and subjugated it to the third Reich. By August 1942 the last of the town’s Jews had been taken away. The local populace looted the possessions left by the Jews. Nowadays, no Jews live in Brzeziny.


			Brzeziny is situated along the banks of the Pisza, which is a tributary of the Warta River in the district of Lodz. In 1793, around 10 Jewish families were already living in Brzeziny. By 1808 there were 32 Jews living there; by 1827 the number of Jews had risen to 172; and by 1921 the Jewish populace reached 406 out of the total 1899. At the beginning of the Second World War, Brzeziny was home to around 150 Jewish families, which constituted approximately 60% of the total populace. Today the town has a population of less than 1000 people, not one of which is Jewish. Many Birch trees used to grow in Brzeziny, which were called “Brzuzy” in Polish, and hence the town’s name. Brzeziny was established in the year 1278 as property of the king. Jews were not permitted to live there until it the year 1793, when, under Prussian sovereignty, property was distributed to the common people. A Jewish community committee comprised of Jewish representatives from several neighboring towns was operating from Brzeziny by 1825. At that time the community had two synagogues, a center of Torah study and a cemetery. A resident of Brzeziny describes his town prior to World War II in these words: “A small, nice Jewish town in which all Jews knew each other.” The town also had a police station, a court of law and a post office. Most of the Jews lived and had their business places in the center of town, with the rest of the population living in the periphery. The Jews controlled the town’s trade and commerce. The town center was the stage for a market day every week, in which many Poles and Jews from the neighboring towns came to buy provisions and trade their crops and cattle. Of what was the town’s business center in the 30s, nothing remains today. When the Nazis conquered the town in September 1939, they changed its name to Berental and subjugated it to the third Reich. By August 1942 the last of the town’s Jews had been taken away. The local populace looted the possessions left by the Jews. Nowadays, no Jews live in Brzeziny.

		The bakery in Brzeziny that prepared Hallah (Sabbath bread), bread and buns to all neighboring towns as it appeared in 1938 (right), and the same bakery in 1997 after having been demolished during the war (left).