![]() The panic during the 'Ne'ila' prayer was high. The Jewish victims were buried in a grave that had been prepared earlier, at the place of execution. One of the 11 innocent people was hanged at once on a lamppost on the market place, and the other 10 were shot on the outskirts of the city after been severely beaten by the Cossacks whips. He did not even allow anyone from the delegation to approach him, and he threatened to shoot them. Jews of Staszów and the Rabbi at their head rushed to the general to show him the absurdity of the charge, if only because on this Holy day, Yom Kippur, Jews are forbidden to light any fire at all - but to no avail. Toward evening, the Cossacks brought 11 Jews from this village, including a Staszów Jew, famous in Torah, which runs a prayer hall in the village. The general immediately seized the opportunity and ordered to send for the guilty men right away. An anti-Semitic gentile incited the farmer to complain to the thug general that the Jews of the village set the fire it. In the afternoon arrived to the municipal hospital a farmer from Strzegom, a nearby village, with burned hands from a fire that broke out in his house. He also demands these arrested Jews to scatter around and gather food for him, he requires that all the bakers bake bread for the army and so on. He arrests three major landlords and forces them to sign the commitment that no Jews will sell any means of survival to the approaching Austrians, if they take over Staszów. After the 'Shacharit' prayer, the general orders the hat makers in town to provide before dusk fifty caps for his officers. ![]() The local rabbi gives his permission and the Jews execute the command. Suddenly, the bloodthirsty general commands the Jews to open their shops. Very early, all the minyans are already praying in order to return home as soon and as quickly as possible. Canons shots are heard coming from the nearby border near Stopnica. On Yom Kippur morning, the atmosphere is heavy. Even the Jews themselves, organize and hit a few hooligans in some cases. Each time soldiers - hooligans are seen near a Jewish home, everyone starts to shout, until the police with a high rank army officer drives the attackers out. The Jew is released after 300 puds (* 5000 kg - RR) instead of 200, are delivered at a designated location.Īll night long, men surround their homes, protecting their families from an attack. Of course the Jews rushed out immediately, despite the Holy Day of Atonement, among the local Gentiles, to purchase the grain needed. 3300 kg, as 1 pud = 16,38 kg - RR) of grain for the army otherwise they will hang the Jew. ![]() The situation gets worse when - before 'Kol Nidre' - one of the prominent Jews is arrested as hostage, unless the Jewish community provides, within 3 hours, 200 puds (* ca. Cossacks now take advantage of the opportunity and are breaking into homes, as they ransack every thing they get their hands on. Prayers are expedited, and everyone runs back home. Candles are lighted and people bless each other, with tears choking more than with words, only men go to the 'Kol Nidre' prayer. Jews grabbed something to eat before fast. No sign of bowls (bowls used for collecting charity - RR) and even the lights are off. Inside the synagogue, the atmosphere is tense. Only a few frightened Jews run past the synagogue. Bread is taken out from the oven just after 'Kol Nidre'. An instruction also requires all the bakers to immediately make bread for the army that arrived. Shops are half closed for fear of the Cossacks, who empty them.Īn order is given: each house owner must clean up the street and the sidewalk in front of his house. At the Beit Hamidrash, nobody is drinking wine with a bite of lekach (i.e. It was not perceivable that today is the eve of Yom Kippur. Many people were preparing their own bread, for fear of shortage with the arrival of a new army to the city. The former were afraid by the Cossacks, and the latter - mainly by the German army bound to arrive and who got closer to Staszów.Īt first, the Cossacks did not loot, they just took from the Jewish shops, without paying. ![]() Panic fell not only on the public, but also on the Poles. There they stood ready to march in case they have to run back quickly. ![]() That tragic day came to Staszów many Cossacks, who stopped by near the post office. Translated from Hebrew to English by Jean-Pierre Stroweis Staszów, Poland (Pages 271-285) « Previous Page ![]()
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