Association
Memory and Dialogue. Common History.

We want to recreate half-forgotten part of the Brzesko history, commemorate Jewish community, which was co-creating the city and surrounding villages for several centuries, but was wiped out by German occupiers. We trust that awareness of the common Polish-Jewish history of our region will help us build the present and future based on openness, mutual respect and dialogue over divisions.

"Whoever does not respect and does not value their past is not worthy of respect of the present or right to the future."

J. Piłsudski

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News

17.04.2023 | Redaktor
Wojciech Kotfis from Uszew

In 2002-2004, stidents from the Public Secondary School in Uszew, under the supervision of their teacher, Mrs Teresa Czesak, carried out an educational project entitled “Memory Saves Nations”. Within this project, the students researched the story of Uszew resident Wojciech Kotfis and the Jewish Goldberger family who were shot in May 1944. The pupils then […]

07.04.2023 | Redaktor
Franciszek Musiał, father Aleksander Osiecki and Stalmach family

Oskar Haber was born on March8, 1910 in Brzeźnica near Dębica. His parents were orthodox Jews; Oskar had 9 siblings. The family had a farm – horses, cows and a piece of land. They were the only Jewish family in the village. Oskar was a Polish patriot and was happy to serve in the army […]

07.04.2023 | Redaktor
Piotr and Janina Ogonek

Gizela Levy née Epstein was born in Tarnów in 1935. Her parents Sara and Moshe and her younger sister Sabina were murdered by the Germans during the war – the family of the survivor is still trying to establish the circumstances of their death. For some time Gizela was hiding with her aunt Blanka in […]

02.04.2023 | Redaktor
The Mika family from Zaborów

Pawel Mika (1897-1958) lived with his wife Karolina née Majka (1901-1945) and their four children, Stefan (1927-2013) and his 3 younger siblings Genowefa, Maria and Jan, in Zaborów a small village in Brzesko poviat. The house stood far from the center of the village, close to the forest. Already before the war, Karolina was diagnosed […]

18.03.2023 | Redaktor
Jan Wojciech and Maria Flądro from Dębno

In the previous article I wrote about people from the Dębno municipality who helped Jews hiding from the German invaders during the Second World War. Two people were missing on that list – Jan Wojciech and Maria Flądro. This was not a mistake, but a deliberate action, as this couple deserves special attention as they […]

17.03.2023 | Redaktor
Residents of the Dębno commune who helped Jews during the war

While researching the history of Dębno commune in the period  of 1939-1945, one may come across various references or memories concerning help provided by local residents to Jews who were hiding in the area. At the outset, it should be noted that before the outbreak of the war, the Israelites were an indispensable part of […]

11.03.2023 | Redaktor
Stefania, Eugeniusz, Irena and Helena Łoza

Originally from the Lviv area, Bazyli Łoza (1879-1939) and Stefania Duda (1890-1987) lived in Brzesko for most of their lives; it was here that they raised their six children. Bazyli died in the first days of the war, on September 6, 1939. His widow Stefania and three children who were living in Brzesko at the […]

07.03.2023 | Redaktor
Jan Wiktor Brzeski from Brzesko

Jan Wiktor Brzeski was born in Brzesko on July 17, 1909. His father, Jan Władysław Brzeski, was not only a doctor, but also the mayor of Brzesko and a prominent social activist. His son also became a doctor. During the Second World War the Germans arrested and imprisoned Jan Władysław Brzeski in Tarnów, Kraków and […]

04.03.2023 | Redaktor
Stefan and Maria Łaszkiewicz from Borzęcin

Stefan Łaszkiewicz (January 22, 1891 – November 1, 1963) and Maria Jadwiga Łaszkiewicz nee Wręga (November 21, 1900 – March 30, 1978) lived in Borzęcin. Stefan was a reaiway station worker and Maria was a teacher. During the second world war they were hiding for over 2 years Miriam Redner together with son Ryszard. From […]

04.03.2023 | Redaktor
Julia Piękosz, Emilia Hynek-Piękosz from Borzęcin

By Lucjan Kołodziejski Emilia Piękosz Hynek passed away on February 18, 2019. She was the last of the seven Righteous of Borzecin to bear such an honorable title. About ten years ago, I interviewed her about the help her mother provided to a Jewish family hiding in their house during the war. Their entire family […]

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Our mission

Back in 2015 we have started various projects on commemoration of the pre-war Jewish community of Brzesko and vicinity.

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Our initiatives

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Dov Landau: my Brzesko

Former Brzesko resident, Holocaust survivor Dov Landau recalls his childhood times walking the streets of his hometown.

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History of Association

Dr Anna Brzyska,
chairperson of the Association

Although the association „Memory and Dialogue. Common History” was registered in March 2019, we started our first projects on commemoration of the pre-war Jewish community of Brzesko in spring 2015.

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