Gabin
Encyclopedia
Gąbin ' is a small town in Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship
, Poland
, with 4,230 inhabitants (2006). It is an ancient town, having been founded in the 13th century.
volunteers and has promoted foreign exchange visits with peers from Germany, Russia, and other countries.
issued a decree prohibiting Jews from buying leather from the local peasants, allowing them to purchase leather only at the town market after completion of the morning mass at the town’s Catholic church. In 1582 a decree from Stephen Báthory
further prevented Jews from buying hides and tallow in the town or its vicinity. During the Swedish invasion of Poland Jews in the town were persecuted by Stefan Czarniecki
during a pogrom
. During subsequent years, Jews were further harassed and forced to live in designated parts of the town. From 1823 to 1862 Jews were forced to live in a ghetto
named the “quarter.”
Jews generally represented approximately half the population of the town. For example, in 1808, the town’s population consisted of 577 Jews out of a total population of 1,183. The census of 1827 counted 1,472 Jews out of a total population of 2,926. After World War I
the 1921 census showed that of the total population of the town, at 5,777, there were 2,564 Jews living in the town.
, Gąbin was home to a very large Jewish population, and housed one of the most remarkable old wooden synagogue
s of the entire region. On September 7, 1939, Gąbin was occupied by the invading German Army, which burned down the wooden synagogue and rounded up the town’s Jewish population to dig trenches for protection against the Polish Army. Subsequently the Germans placed the Jewish population in a ghetto, and in 1942 liquidated the ghetto and sent its inhabitants to labor camps. At war’s end, of the approximately 2,300 Jews that had resided in Gąbin, only about 212 survived, 180 having escaped to the Soviet occupied zone of Poland in September 1939, and 32 fleeing into the Polish countryside.
The Jewish history of Gąbin was memorialized in Minna Packer's acclaimed documentary film Back To Gombin (2002) as seen on United States and Israeli television, and in numerous international film festivals. The film is distributed by the National Center for Jewish Film
.
in Konstantynów, a village belonging to Gąbin commune (gmina
) was the tallest structure on earth. The tower was used to broadcast the programs of Polish Radio
throughout Europe. Because of fears that the tower's incredibly powerful radio waves might cause health problems, a large number of villagers who had once farmed the land directly under and around the tower were migrated to a block-style apartment building in the center of Gąbin, where many still reside today. The town has experienced a remarkable renaissance since the fall of Communism
.
, who was born in Gąbin in 1910 and attended grade school there, escaped to the Soviet-occupied part of Poland in September 1939, and was later recognized as a major writer of poetry in the Yiddish dialect.
Masovian Voivodeship
-Administrative division:Masovian Voivodeship is divided into 42 counties : 5 city counties and 37 "land counties"...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, with 4,230 inhabitants (2006). It is an ancient town, having been founded in the 13th century.
Current events
Gąbin is home to a large high school of over 1,000 students with specialties in modern farming techniques, technical skills, and preparation for higher education. The school has been home to Peace CorpsPeace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteers and has promoted foreign exchange visits with peers from Germany, Russia, and other countries.
Historical background
From its earliest days, Gąbin was a town of craftsmen of various trades, and her population always contained a sizeable number of Jews. Competition and conflict between Jewish and the non-Jewish tradesmen is noted as early as 1576 when Sigismund IIISigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
issued a decree prohibiting Jews from buying leather from the local peasants, allowing them to purchase leather only at the town market after completion of the morning mass at the town’s Catholic church. In 1582 a decree from Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory may refer to several noblemen of Hungarian descent:* Stephen III Báthory , Palatine of Hungary* Stephen V Báthory , judge of the Royal Court and Prince of Transylvania...
further prevented Jews from buying hides and tallow in the town or its vicinity. During the Swedish invasion of Poland Jews in the town were persecuted by Stefan Czarniecki
Stefan Czarniecki
Stefan Czarniecki or Stefan Łodzia de Czarnca Czarniecki Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth general and nobleman. Field Hetman of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom. He was a military commander, regarded as a Polish national hero...
during a pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
. During subsequent years, Jews were further harassed and forced to live in designated parts of the town. From 1823 to 1862 Jews were forced to live in a ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
named the “quarter.”
Jews generally represented approximately half the population of the town. For example, in 1808, the town’s population consisted of 577 Jews out of a total population of 1,183. The census of 1827 counted 1,472 Jews out of a total population of 2,926. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the 1921 census showed that of the total population of the town, at 5,777, there were 2,564 Jews living in the town.
World War II
Before the onset of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gąbin was home to a very large Jewish population, and housed one of the most remarkable old wooden synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s of the entire region. On September 7, 1939, Gąbin was occupied by the invading German Army, which burned down the wooden synagogue and rounded up the town’s Jewish population to dig trenches for protection against the Polish Army. Subsequently the Germans placed the Jewish population in a ghetto, and in 1942 liquidated the ghetto and sent its inhabitants to labor camps. At war’s end, of the approximately 2,300 Jews that had resided in Gąbin, only about 212 survived, 180 having escaped to the Soviet occupied zone of Poland in September 1939, and 32 fleeing into the Polish countryside.
The Jewish history of Gąbin was memorialized in Minna Packer's acclaimed documentary film Back To Gombin (2002) as seen on United States and Israeli television, and in numerous international film festivals. The film is distributed by the National Center for Jewish Film
National Center for Jewish Film
The National Center for Jewish Film is a non-profit motion picture archive, distributor, and resource center. It houses the largest collection of Jewish-themed film and video outside of Israel...
.
Under communist rule
Between 1974 and 1991 the Warsaw radio mastWarsaw radio mast
The Warsaw radio mast was the world's tallest structure until its collapse on 8 August 1991. It is the second tallest land-based structure ever built, being surpassed as tallest by the Burj Khalifa, completed in 2010....
in Konstantynów, a village belonging to Gąbin commune (gmina
Gmina
The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...
) was the tallest structure on earth. The tower was used to broadcast the programs of Polish Radio
Polskie Radio
Polskie Radio Spółka Akcyjna is Poland's national publicly funded radio broadcasting organization.- History :Polskie Radio was founded on 18 August 1925 and began making regular broadcasts from Warsaw on 18 April 1926....
throughout Europe. Because of fears that the tower's incredibly powerful radio waves might cause health problems, a large number of villagers who had once farmed the land directly under and around the tower were migrated to a block-style apartment building in the center of Gąbin, where many still reside today. The town has experienced a remarkable renaissance since the fall of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
.
Notable inhabitants
Rajzel ŻychlińskyRajzel Żychlińsky
-Individual poems:Her poem God Hid His Face is one of her most famous and powerful about the holocaust. In the poem she writes of a mood darkening bit by bit with no hope of rescue.-Anthologies:...
, who was born in Gąbin in 1910 and attended grade school there, escaped to the Soviet-occupied part of Poland in September 1939, and was later recognized as a major writer of poetry in the Yiddish dialect.
Churches
Churches that support the local Catholic population include:- Saint Nicholas, ul. Warszawska 4, Gabin, 09-530 PL
External links
- Official website
- Map of Gąbin
- Gombin Society active participant Ada Holtzman's personal web site and memoir to Gombin