Translation of
“The Memorial Book of the Martyrs of Krasnystaw”

Project Synopsis

Translate entire contents of “Yisker tsum ondenk fun kdoshey Krasnystaw” to English, and post with images (photos, maps etc) as permissions allow. This material will be available to all visitors to the JewishGen website. Once completely translated, the book will also be made available in a print on demand edition from JewishGen.

Key Audiences

The many descendants of residents from this town and nearby areas in Poland that now reside in English speaking countries, and others who may not have access to the original work.

Survivors from Krasnystaw that became refugees in Europe (“Displaced Persons”) after World War II produced this book documenting Jewish communal life in the town and the destruction of their community. The early publication date (1948) and publication in Germany under the auspices of the United Nations distinguish this Yizkor book from most others. Less than copies of the original are known to exist, and the low quality of the paper (reflecting postwar austerity) results in relatively rapid deterioration of the originals. This translation will make the contents of the Krasnystaw Yiskor book available to English readers worldwide, preserving a valuable link in the chain of history and tradition for descendants, and will greatly increase accessibility of this primary historical source material for researchers to document the Shoah.

Krasnystaw is one of the oldest towns to be settled in Poland, and served in the 12th century as the district governor's place of residence. Jews have a long history in the town, and by the first half of the 19th century there were highly skilled Jewish craftsmen in the clothing and metal industries; there were also entrepreneurs who founded a leather tanning plant, as well as textile, candle and soap factories. Over time, the Jewish community developed a wide range of religious, educational, social, cultural, and economic organizations. At the beginning of the 20th century there were increased attacks on Jewish hawkers visiting nearby villages with their wares, and competition from the small business Polish cooperatives severely hurt Jewish earnings. The Nazi invasion of Poland, and horrors of the Shoah, brought an end to centuries of Jewish life in the town and nearby area.

The translation of this book is part of a larger effort aimed at making Yizkor books available for the entire region of Poland located between Chelm, Zamosc, Hrubieszow and the Bug River border with Ukraine. The Krasnystaw translation will supplement earlier translations and help paint a more complete picture of life in this part of Poland.

A '.pdf' version of Di Kehileh fun Horodlo from the National Yiddish Book Center and the New York Public Library will be used as the source for translations, and for any images depending on permissions required. Translations of text and captions will be conducted by translators working under 'work for hire' agreements. All translations will be reviewed by the Project Coordinator and sent to JewishGen for posting online. High resolution scans will be made of images from an original copy of the book for posting online.

Permissions

Permissions are being investigated and will be determined before any original material is posted online or published.

Estimated Cost

$6,000

Timeline:

Translation begins approximately 15 August 2024 and will continue until the project is completed. The Project Coordinator has identified a donor to support the translation.