Pinkas Sochaczew
Edited by: A. Sh. Sztejn, G. Wejszman Published in Jerusalem, 1962 Project Coordinator: Jan Meisels Allen Layout and Name Indexing: Jonathan Wind Cover Design: Rachel Kolokoff Hopper Hard Cover, 8.5” by 11”, 670 pages with original photographs.
About This Book
Sochaczew, located in central Poland is a town about 44 miles due west of Warsaw, whose Jewish presence dates back to the 15th century. The first reported Jew in town was in 1463 - a doctor. Life was not easy for the Jews due to an alleged “blood libel” in the mid- 16th century, and the rabbi was punished with a death penalty, along with several other inhabitants. In the 19th century the Jewish community grew. Sochaczew became a great Hasidic center, first led by Tzaddik Abraham Bornsztajn.
In the later part of the 19th century reconstruction of the synagogue began after the previous one was burned down.
The book describes the life in the town, the institutions, the rabbis and the common people. There were workers' movements and professional unions as well as a Bund and Communist Circle. Memories of some of the survivors are related in the book.
The synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis when they entered the town in September 1939, and the town was destroyed during World War ll. Many of the Jews ended up in the Warsaw ghetto and some ended up in the Skarzyko Work Camp. 4,000 Jews lived in the town at the start of the war. Few survived. Today, there are no Jews in the town.
This Yizkor Book serves as a memorial to all the victims of the Shoah from Sochaczew.
Place Details
Alternate names: Sochaczew [Pol], Sochatshev [Yid], Sokhachev [Rus], Sochatchev, Sochoczew
Sochaczew, Poland is located at 52°14' N 20°15' E 32 miles W of Warszawa
Nearby Jewish Communities:
Wyszogród 11 miles NNW
Bodzanów 21 miles NNW
Bolimów 11 miles SSW
Zakroczym 21 miles NE
Czerwińsk nad Wisłą 12 miles N
Łyszkowice 22 miles SW
Wiskitki 12 miles SSE
Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki 24 miles NE
Żyrardów 14 miles SE
Gąbin 25 miles WNW
Leszno 15 miles E
Nadarzyn 25 miles ESE
Łowicz 16 miles WSW
Pruszków 25 miles E
Błonie 16 miles E
Sobota 25 miles WSW
Kiernozia 16 miles W
Żychlin 27 miles W
Sanniki 18 miles WNW
Bielawy 28 miles WSW
Grodzisk Mazowiecki 18 miles ESE
Płońsk 28 miles N
Skierniewice 19 miles SSW
Głowno 29 miles SW
Mszczonów 21 miles SE
Jabłonna 30 miles ENE