Back to the JewishGen Book Shop
JewishGen Press

Korelitz: The Life and Destruction of a Jewish Community

Korelits: hayeha ve-hurbana shel kehila yehudit

Cover of the Karelichy Yizkor Book

Korelits: hayeha ve-hurbana shel kehila yehudit

Editor of the original Yizkor Book: Michael Walzer-Fass (568 pages, in Hebrew, Yiddish and English) Translation Project Coordinators: Ann Belinsky and Merle Horwitz (emerita) Cover Design: Nili Goldman Hard Cover, 11" by 8.5", 568 pages with all illustrations of the original Yizkor book plus fifteen new appendices of recently collected material

About This Book

The Korelichi (Korelitz, Karelichi) Memorial Book is the English translation of the Yizkor (Memorial) Book published in 1973 by survivors and former residents of this town, situated in present-day Belarus. Written originally in Yiddish and Hebrew and with some abridged English summaries, it commemorates their beloved families and town, provides a vivid portrayal of Jewish life in Karelitz before and during World War II. In addition, there is a section on the Korelitzer Society of America, which was very active from the early 20th century until the late decades.

The book details in personal and authentic accounts, the history of the town and its people, the way of life, institutions, Zionist organizations, cultural activities, townspeople and leading personalities. The horrendous events during the Holocaust, when most of the Jewish population was brutally murdered in mass killings in the town are described, and lists of the victims are given. The remaining Jews were enclosed in the ghetto of the nearby city of Novogrudek. Some escaped to forests in the vicinity and joined the partisans.

This book contains additional new information by descendants of the Korelitzers. It includes stories of Korelitzers who came to the US at the beginning of the 20th century and joined the Korelitzer Society in New York, and a newly discovered list of its members. There is a detailed story of a partisan who joined the Bielski “Brigade”. New family relationships were also uncovered during preparation of the book.

This publication by the “JewishGen Press” of JewishGen, Inc., provides the English-speaking community and descendants of the Korelitzers with these first-hand accounts in book format as a primary resource for research and for individuals seeking information about the town where their families had lived.

Place Details

Located at 53°34' North Latitude and 26°08' East Longitude

Alternate names: Karelichy [Bel], Korelicze [Pol], Korelichi [Rus], Korelitz [Yid], Kareličai [Lith], Kareličy, Karelic, Karelits, Korelits, Korelitsh, Koreliche, Korzelice, Kozhelitse

Nearby Jewish Communities:

Negnevichi 6 miles NNW
Yeremichi 8 miles E
Turets 8 miles ESE
Dolmatovshchina 10 miles SSE
Tsirin 12 miles S
Navahrudak 13 miles W
Lyubcha 13 miles NNW
Mir 16 miles ESE
Delyatichi 16 miles NNW
Vselyub 17 miles NW
Haradzishcha 18 miles SSW
Naliboki 18 miles NE

← All JewishGen Press Titles