Milejczyce
Polska / podlaskie
 | Synagogues, prayer houses and others |  | Cemeteries |  | Places of martyrology |  | Judaica in museums |  | Other |
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History
Aleksandra
The first mention of Jews in Milejczyce dates back to the 16th century. It talks about the conflict between Christian townsmen and Jewish people flocking to the town. The Jewish community was set up around the middle of the 18th century. Surviving documents mention “a brewery and a Jewish barn”. A cemetery was established in 1865 and the number of Jews in Milejczyce gradually increased.
In 1878, 1588 people lived in the town, 627 of whom were Jewish. In 1897 there were 1685 inhabitants and of these, 814 were Jewish. According to the census carried out in the interwar period, in 1921 there were 648 Jews living in the town. Just before the outbreak of the war, in 1935 the town had 2000 inhabitants, with a Jewish population of 894. After September 17, 1939 there were 1275 Jews in the town .
Jews lived mainly near the marketplace, and between the marketplace and the Jewish cemetery. The Rabbi lived right next to the synagogue. Near the synagogue there was a small prayer house and a bathhouse. The last Rabbi of Milejczyce was Rabbi Aron Izaac.
In the interwar period, Milejczyce was the main holiday resort for Jewish people, who came primarily from Białystok and Warsaw, but also from Western Europe. The town was considered a health resort; its forests had a healing effect on the respiratory tract which was supposed to help people with tuberculosis. In 1927 a big synagogue existing till this day was set up due to the large influx of Jewish patients. In the interwar period, around 2100 people lived here. One of the main sources of income was farming and selling food to people staying there for therapeutic reasons or to get some rest. The number of visitors during the season – mainly Jews – was between two to four thousand.
In 1942 a ghetto was set up in Milejczyce and around 900 Jews were placed there. At that time, around 90 Jewish houses were demolished.
Local history
Aleksandra
The first mention of Milejczyce dates back to the 15th century and talks about the presence of a settlement in this place – a spot where travelers could take some rest. The Royal Route to Brześć Litewski was located here.
In 1516 Milejczyce was granted a town charter under the Law of Magdeburg. Two parishes, an Orthodox and a Catholic one, were also set up at that time. At first, the town belonged to Troki province, then to Podlasie province, and since 1517, to the newly formed Brześć Province.
In the 16th century Milejczyce was quite a well developed town. There were a dozen or so taverns and many craftsmen’s workshops. The first synagogue was built in 1857. Two years later, a serious fire broke out in the town.
After World War I, Milejczyce lost its importance. Among other things, the town charter was taken away. In the interwar period, the town was an important holiday resort for Jewish people, who came here from all around Poland due to its forest microclimate. During World War II, a ghetto was set up here.
Summary
| Province: | podlaskie / białostockie (before 1939) |
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| County: | siemiatycki / bielski (before 1939) |
| Community: | Milejczyce / Milejczyce (before 1939) |
| Other names: | Мілейчыцы [j.białoruski] מילייציץ [j.jidysz] |
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Location
Aleksandra
Milejczyce is located in Podlasie Province, in the north-east part of Siematycze County, in the Drohiczyn Upland.
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