Research conducted in several archives allowed to establish that 61 former Jewish students of the Brzesko gymnasium were murdered in the Holocaust
1. Nela Beidner
Born in Jadowniki on May 16, 1906, daughter of merchant Beidner/Bruh and Sara nee Brandstatter. Attended gymnasium in 1917-1923; back then she lived together with her family at the Market Square, #4. Nela had the highest grades in German language. She was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942. Her parents were also murdered. There is only one material trace left of this family in Brzesko – a fragment of the matzeva of Nela’s grandmother, Ryfka Beidner née Bruh, at the Jewish cemetery.
2. Sara Feigel Bienstock
Born in Brzesko on July 7, 1906, daughter of a clerk Mojżesz Bienstock (“a writer at the Brzesko County Office” as his profession was specified in his daughter’s birth record) and Sussel née Gelberger/Vogelhut. She lived in Brzesko at Głowackiego st., attended gymnasium in 1916-1923. She was murdered together with her mother during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
3. Dawid Birnbaum
Born on January 30, 1908 in Zakliczyn, son of merchant Leib Birnbaum and Zlata Marjem Hofstatter. He attended gymnasium1918-1921, had very good grades. Later he moved to Krakow, studied law at the Jagiellonian University, and became a lawyer. Dawid practiced in Kraków; married Ludwika (Chaja Sara) Hirsch. In December 1940, he lived with his wife and mother-in-law in Kraków at Wielopole st. According to the testimony given to Yad Vashem by his wife’s niece, they were both murdered in 1943.
4. Mila Bloch
Born on March 27, 1919 in Kraków, th daughter of Henryk Tzwi and Sprynca née Freiman. She lived in Brzesko, attended gymnasium in 1929-1937. She was a very good student, in 1937 she passed her final exams. Murdered in Tarnów in 1943. Her parents, brothers Roman and Rafael, and sister Leja were also murdered
5. Chaje Blonder
Born in Brzesko on June 13, 1905, daughter of Lemel Blonder and Reisel née Gold. She attended gymnasium in 1916-1920. Murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942
6. Salomon Blum
Born in Bochnia on January 1, 1906, son of merchant Wolf Hirsch Blum and Tauba nee Waarenhaupt. While studying at the gymnasium, he lived in Brzesko with his relative Mina Brandstatter. He became a dental technician, during the war was in the Płaszów concentration camp, and then in the Buchenwald concentration camp, where he was murdered.
7. Artur Blum
Born in Bochnia on December 6, 1911, son of merchant Wolf Hirsch Blum and Tauba. nee Waarenhaupt. He graduated from the Brzesko gymnasium in 1931; became a lawyer. Artur was imprisoned in the Mauthausen concentration camp from August 10, 1944, prisoner number 84459; perished on January 8, 1945.
8. Hinda Marjem Borgenicht
Born in Brzesko on August 8, 1902, daughter of merchant Majer Borgenicht and Estera née Brandstatter. She attended gymnasium in 1915 -1922, had the highest grades in foreign languages, French and German; graduated in 1922. Murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942
9. Chawa Brandstatter
Born in Brzesko on January 28, 1904, daughter of merchant Simcha Brandstatter, and Mindel née Mingelgrun. She attended gymnasium 1916-1922; after finishing school she stayed in Brzesko. Chawa married Mundek Laufer. Murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942. Her husband was also murdered.
10. Laja Brandstatter
Born in Brzesko on December 26, 1908, daughter of merchant Simcha Brandstatter and Mindel née Mingelgrun. She attended gymnasium in 1921-1925, after finishing school she stayed in Brzesko. She married dentist Majer Lamensdorf. Laja was murdered together with her husband and daughter Ester (born in 1936) in the Bełżec extermination camp in 1942.
11. Dwojra Freida Brandstatter
Born in Brzesko on November 16, 1919, daughter of Pinkas Brandstatter and Lieba Laja née Lamensdorf. She attended gymnasium in 1931-1938 and passed her final exams in 1938. After finishing school, Dwojra stayed in Brzesko. Murdered in the Majdanek concentration camp in 1943. Her mother and elder brother Izaak were also murdered.
12. Abraham Brau
Born in Kielanowice on August 11, 1898, son of merchant Herman Brau from Strzyżów. He attended gymnasium in 1911-1914, at that time he lived in Brzesko under the care of a bank clerk Leon Salomon. Abraham became a merchant, lived in Strzyżów. Murdered in Bełżec in 1942 together with his wife Nechama and a child.
13. Luzer Braun
Born in Brzesko on October 20, 1921, son of Alter Dawid Minzer/Braun and Rojza née Vogelhut. He studied at the gymnasium for only one school year, 1938/39. Murdered in Bełżec in 1942 together with his parents, brothers Jakob, Israel, Shlomo, Jeheskiel and sister Feigel.
14. Jerzy Deiches
Born in Kraków on November 27, 1907, son of Aleksander Deiches, a lawyer and deputy mayor of Brzesko, and Franciszka née Krieger. He lived in Brzesko with his parents and brother in the tenement house #23 on the Market Square. Jerzy attended gymnasium in 1920-1928; in 1928 he passed his final exams. Murdered in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943.
15. Stanisław Deiches
Born in Kraków on October 16, 1914, son of Aleksander Deiches, a lawyer and deputy mayor of Brzesko, and Franciszka née Krieger. He lived in Brzesko with his parents and brother in the tenement house #23 on the Market Square. Stanosław attended gymnasium in 1924-1931. Murdered in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943.
16. Malka Scheindel Einhorn
Born in Brzesko on June 26, 1903, daughter of Nachman Bornstein and Schifra Einhorn. She attended gymnasium in 1917-1923 and passed her final exams in 1923. Malka married Samuel Orgel from Kołbuszowa. During the war she was in Holland, on February 19, 1943 she was deported from the Westerbork transit camp to the Auschwitz-Birkenau cncentration camp together with her husband, son Israel (born February 6, 1931) and daughter Gusta (born January 7, 1933). All of them were murdered.
17. Beniamin Einhorn
Born on December 30, 1911 in the city of Metz, France. He lived in Brzesko and graduated from the Brzesko gymnasium in 1930. Beniamin was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
18. Gerszon Federgrun
Born on March 14, 1899 in Wojnicz, son of Natan Federgrun, keeper of Jewish community registers, and Sara nee Kanner. Gerszon attended gymnasium in 1911-1914, back then he lived in Brzesko with his grandfather Abusz Federgrun, who was the keeper of registers of Brzesko Jews. Gerszon married Hela Flink, moved to Tarnów, lived at Lwowska street; was murdered in the Holocaust. Matzevot of Gerszon’s father and grandfather have survived at the Brzesko Jewish cemetery.
19. Menachem (Emanuel) Fischelberg
Born in Brzesko on January 21, 1898, son of Markus and Hudes née Rosenbaum. He
lived in Brzesko at Głowackiego st. Menachem attended gymnasium only in the
school year 1911/12. He became a merchant, married Scheindel Fenichel, and
moved to Tarnów. Murdered in the Tarnów ghetto in 1942 together with his wife,
son Zygmund (born in 1923) and daughter Chana.
20. Wadje Fischelberg
Born in Brzesko on April 1, 1920, son of Joel Fischelberg and Feiga née Brandstatter. He was the nephew of Menachem Fischelberg; attended gymnasium in 1931-37; became a merchant. Wadje was murdered in the Bresko ghetto in 1942.
21. Estera Fluhr
Born in Bochnia on January 24, 1917; while studying in еру пньтфышгь, she lived in Brzesko. Уыеукф was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
22. Jozef Freundlich
Born in Rabka on November 16, 1901, son of merchant Abraham Freundlich and Pepi née Vordzimmer. In 1922, Jozef passed his final exams at the Brzesko gymnasium. He moved to Krakow and studied philosophy at the Jagiellonian University. In 1925 Jozef married Stella Willer from Podgórze; after a few years he divorced and in 1936 remarried, Irena Rittermann was his second wife. Jozef was murdered in the Holocaust
23. Henryk (Chaim) Frisch
Born in Bochnia on December 17, 1899, son of Pinkas Frisch and Freida née Greischler. There were at least 5 children in the family, but only Henryk attended the Brzesko gymnasium. At some point, the family moved to Krakow. Henry married; he and his younger brother Herman worked in a bank. Mother Freida, brothers Samuel and Markus and sister Scheindel also lived in Kraków. In 1940, they were ordered to leave Krakow. Henryk, his wife Sara, mother Freida, sister Scheindel and brother Markus were murdered.
24. Regina Fruhman
Born in Bochnia on January 15, 1914, daughter of Wolf and Cyla. She attended gymnasium in 1930-32. Regina was a clerk, lived in Bochnia. Murdered in Auschwitz in 1942.
25. Selda Gartenberg/Feibysowicz
Born in Nowy Sącz on May 6, 1916, daughter of Josef Feibysowicz and Chana Gartenberg. She attended gymnasium in 1929-1936; in 1936 passed the final exams. Selda lived in Brzesko, was murdered together with her mother and five siblings.
26. Ryfka Goldman
Born in Brzesko on September 2, 1905, daughter of Mojżesz Chaim Goldman and Etel née Riegelhaupt. She attended gymnasium in 1915-1923, in 1923 she passed the final exams. Ryfka married Lazar Goldman and lived in Brzesko; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942
27. Mendel Goldstein
Born in Jadowniki on October 11, 1904, son of Abraham Goldstein, merchant from Borzęcin, and Syma née Steinlauf/Elsner. Mendel attended gymnasium in 1916-1920. He was murdered together with his mother during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
28. Zofia Grunbaum
Born in Bochnia on March 22, 1911. Zofia attended gymnasium only in the school year 1930/31; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
29. Mojżesz Dawid Grun/Vogelhut
Born in Brzesko on March 30, 1900, son of watchmaker Sandel Grun and Ester Chana Vogelhut. He attended gymnasium in 1913-1918. MJojżesz married Necha Hellfeld; was in Belgium during the war. Deported to Auschwitz together with his wife on February 10, 1943. After reaching Auschwitz, he was given prisoner number 1175…7. Murdered.
30. Schyja Hofstatter
Born in Brzesko on February 9, 1907, son of Majer Hofstatter and Chana née Laufer. He attended gymnasium in 1918-1920. Later, Schyja moved together with his family to Krakow. He became a pharmacist, ran a pharmacy and chemical warehouse at al. Krasińskiego, 20. He married Perła Engelstein from Wolbrom. In 1940, Schyja lived with his parents in Krakow at Władysława Syrokomli street, 19a. On August 21, 1940, Schyja was ordered to leave Krakow; was murdered in the Płaszów concentration camp together with his wife. Schyja was commemorated on a symbolic tombstone at the Jewish cemetery at Miodowa st. in Krakow.
31. Gittel Kaffer
Born in Brzesko on November 24, 1904, daughter of Tobiasz Gutman Kaffer and Sara Ittla née Verderber. She attended gymnasium in 1916-1920. Gittel was a good student – in the school year 1919/20 she had the highest grades in Polish, Latin, German, history; good in French, geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry and drawing, and only in gymnastics her grade was „satisfactory”. However, the following year, Gittel did not go to school. One can only assume that it happened because of the death of her father – Tobiasz Gutman Kaffer died in August 1918 as a result of pneumonia. Maybe the family could no longer afford Gittel’s school tuition?
On December 19, 1926, Gittel married Leib Epstein. Shortly after that the family moved to Katowice; sons Gutman and Josef were born there. However, the Epsteins often visited the family in Brzesko. The children spent time with their cousins and grandparents, and Leib, who ran a wholesale paint business in Katowice, donated the paints for the renovation of the main Brzesko synagogue.
Unfortunately, only Leib survived the war – he was in the Brzesko and Bochnia ghettos, later in Auschwitz concentration camp. Gittel and sons Gutman and Josef were murdered. In 1946, Leib testified before the poviat court in Brzesko that Gittel had been murdered in Auschwitz on November 15, 1943 (case number A 845/46). Most likely, the sons were murdered together with her.
32. Aron Kanner
Born in Borzęcin on December 16, 1900, son of Chaim Kanner from Brzesko and Tauba née Goldstein. Aron attended gymnasium in 1911-1920, in 1920 he passed his final exams. Murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
33. Leib Kanner
Born in Borzęcin on January 1, 1899, son of Chaim Kanner from Brzesko and Tauba née Goldstein. Leib attended gymnasium in 1911-1918, and in 1918, as one of the first 16 graduates of the Brzesko gymnasium, passed his final exams. Leib was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
34. Gusta Golda Klapholz
Born in Brzesko on September 16, 1898, daughter of the mayor Henoch Klapholz and Rachela Laja née Klapholz. Gusta attended gymnasium in 1911-1918; in 1918, as one of the first 16 graduates of the Brzesko gymnasium, she passed her final exams. Gusta was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
35. Chana Kleinberger
Born in Brzesko on June 6, 1907, daughter of Naftali and Estera née Gutter. Chana attended gymnasium in 1918-1921. She lived in Brzesko; married Dawid Kleinman. Chana was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
36. Cyla Krauter
Born in Brzesko on March 14, 1913, daughter of Chaim Krauter, owner of a printing house and a bookstore in Brzesko, and Lea née Muller. Cyla attended gymnasium in 1929-1932. On June 8, 1941, while being in the ghetto, Cyla married Chaim Jakub (Mundek) Strauber. A year later they were both shot dead. They are buried together at the Brzesko Jewish cemetery, their grave was commemorated in 2022. You can read more about the story of Mundek and Cyla in this article: https://brzesko-briegel.pl/en/p_en_tablice/2-mundek-and-cyla-strauber/
37. Chaim Langsdorf
Born in Wola Rogowska on December 27, 1903, son of farmer Jakub Langdorf. Chaim attended gymnasium in 1917-1920, during those years he lived in Brzesko with various hosts. Chaim was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
38. Anna Lindner
Born in Mościska on November 4, 1907, daughter of Regina (Rebeka) Lindner. Anna lived in Brzesko, attended gymnasium in 1918-1923; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
39. Baruch Lindner
Born in Mościska on July 5, 1897, son of Regina (Rebeka), a widow living in Brzesko. He attended gymnasium in the school year 1916/17. In 1939, he lived in Stanisławów with his wife Salomea, worked in a bank. Baruch was murdered together with his wife.
40. Juda Leib (Leopold) Loffelholz
Born in Brzesko on April 8, 1908, son of accountant Mojżesz Dawid Loffelholz and Laja née Wasserberger. Juda attended gymnasium in 1918-1922; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
41. Hirsch Pelz
Born in Radomyśl Wielki on June 12, 1898, son of merchant Jakob Pelz and Sara née Schabse. He first studied at the gymnasium in Tarnów, and in the school year 1913/14 – in the Brzesko gymnasium. At that time, he lived in Brzesko under the care of Stierer, secretary of the kehilla. Hirsch was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
42. Benzion Pomeranz
Born in Brzesko on December 12, 1899, son of merchant Osyasz Pomeranz and Fradel née Hofstatter. Benzion attended gymnasium in the school year 1913/14; was murdered.
43. Bronisław Reibach
Born in Jarosław on April 4, 1908, son of Chaim Isaak Reibach, a surveyor in Brzesko, and Gittla Heller. In 1909, the family moved to Brzesko, where they lived at Mickiewicza street, 303. Bronisław attended gymnasium in 1919-1926 and was a very gifted student. He passes his final exams in 1926; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
44. Abraham Renner
Born in Radów, Jarosław county, on November 20, 1909. Abraham lived in Brzesko, attended the gymnasium in the school year 1929/30; was murdered in the Brzesko ghetto.
45. Lazar Riegelhaupt
Born on May 18, 1897 in Tuchów, son of Zachariasz and Rachela Rojza née Steuer. Lazar attended gymnasium in 1916-1920, at that time he lived under the care of Regina Stieler at ul. Głowackiego, 157, later at Samuel Krautwirt. In 1920, he passed his final exams, moved to Kraków, and became an accountant. Lazar married Rifka Goldman; lived in Krakow at Smolki st., 14/2, was deported to the Krakow ghetto. Lazar was murdered in Tarnów in 1943.
46. Chaje Cerl (Celina) Rothkopf
Born in Szczepanów on December 31, 1902, daughter of Brzesko merchant Abraham Mordko Rothkopf and Malka Mindel née Ehrenberg. Chaje attended gymnasium in 1917-1923, and passed her final exams in 1923. She studied philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
47. Jakob Schapira
Born in Tarnów on February 14, 1900, son of Bernard Schapira, a trade agent in Tarnów, and Pessel née Vorschirm. Attended gimnasium in the school year 1913/14, at that time he lived in Brzesko with Brandstater; was murdered in the Holocaust.
48. Estera Schindler
Born in Brzesko on December 19, 1904, daughter of baker Abraham and Pessel née Kluger. Estera attended gymnasium in 1917-1923; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
49. Mendel Schnur
Born in Brzesko on March 31, 1900, son of Josef, an innkeeper in Brzesko, and Golda née Klausner. Mendel lived with his parents and eight siblings at Głowackiego st. He attended gymnasium in 1912-1920; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
50. Ekiwa Siedlisker
Born in Pomianowa on February 23, 1900, son of Berl Siedlisker, tenant of a mill in Pomianowa, and Ruchla née Loffelholz. Ekiwa attended gymnasium in 1915-1918; in 1918 he passed the final exams. Ekiwa moved to Krakow and studied philosophy and law at the Jagiellonian University; was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
51. Chane Silberman
Born on December 22, 1911; attended gymnasium in 1930-1933; in 1933 she passed the final exams. Chane was murdered during the „action” in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
52. Rachela Spielman
Born in Brzesko on December 15, 1917, daughter of Wolf Jakob and Sara Sussla née Mingelgrin. Rachela attended gymnasium in 1930-1934; was murdered in the Holocaust.
53. Mendel Steinlauf
Born on March 25, 1905 in Mokrzyska, son of Aleksander Jakob Heuberger and Sara Ryfka Steinlauf. Mendel attended gymnasium in 1919-1924; was murdered during the „action’ in the Brzesko ghetto on June 18, 1942.
54. Cwi Hirsch (Herman) Steinlauf
Born in Brzesko on December 1, 1917, son of innkeeper Jozef Steinlauf and Scheindla Drobne née Steinlauf. He attended gymnasium in 1928-1936; passed final exams in 1936. Cwi Hirsch studied philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow; was s hot in Tarnów in 1943.
55. Idesa (Ida) Steinlauf
Born in Brzesko on February 24, 1916, daughter of innkeeper Jozef and Scheindla Drobne née Steinlauf. Ida attended high school in 1929-1933; was shot together with her brother in Tarnów in 1943
56. Chaim Jakub (Mundek)Strauber
Born in Dolina on November 3, 1908, son of merchant Israel Ber Strauber and Estera née Bruck. Mundek attended high school in 1919-1927; passed final exams in 1927. He studied law at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. After graduation, he returned to Brzesko and became a lawyer. On June 8, 1941,while being in the Brzesko ghetto Chaim Jakob married Cyla Krauter. A year later the spouses were shot dead and buried at the Brzesko Jewish cemetery. Their grave was commemorated in 2022. You can read more about the story of Mundek and Cyla in this article:https://brzesko-briegel.pl/en/p_en_tablice/2-mundek-and-cyla-strauber/
57. Rozalia Strauber
Born in Brzesko on March 30, 1923, daughter of merchant Israel Ber Strauber and Ettel Yetti née Riegelhaupt. Rozalia attended gymnasium in 1935-39. She lived in Brzesko, during the war was in Kraków; was murdered in Tarnów in 1943
58. Szoszana (Rozalia) Theeman
Born in Brzesko on February 10, 1914, daughter of merchant Dawid Theeman and Paulina (Perla) née Rozenberg. Szoszana attended gymnasium in 1924-1931; was murdered in Warsaw in 1942.
59. Adina (Anna) Theeman
Born in Brzesko on November 15, 1915, daughter of merchant Dawid Theeman and Paulina (Perla) née Rozenberg. Anna attended gymnasium in 1928-1934, passed final exams in 1934. She lived in Brzesko, during the war was in Brzesko and Krakow. She was murdered in Brzesko in 1942.
60. Wolf Theeman
Born in Brzesko on December 4, 1919, son of merchant Dawid Theeman and Paulina (Perla) née Rozenberg. Wolf attended gymnasium in 1933-1938; passed final exams in 1938. During the war he was in Lviv; was murdered in Tarnopol in 1942.
61. Lida Weinhaber
Born in Liszki on May 3, 1912. Lida lived in Brzesko, attended the gymnasium in 1922-1930; passed final exams in 1930. Lida was shot in Tarnów in 1943.
May the memory of all Holocaust victims be an eternal blessing
© Anna Brzyska, 2023