Wysokie-Mazowieckie; sefer zikaron
Original Book Edited by: I. Rubin – Wysokie-Mazowieckie Society Published in Tel-Aviv, 1975 Project Coordinators: Sandy Levin, Ada Holtzman z”l Layout and Name Indexing: Jonathan Wind Cover Design: Rachel Kolokoff Hopper Hard Cover, 8.5” by 11”, 228 pages with original photographs
About This Book
The earliest mentions of Jews residing in Wysokie Mazowieckie date back to 1719.
In 1765, the community in Wysokie Mazowieckie was described as an independent kehilla with its own rabbi and gabbai.
Jews made a living as store keepers and artisans.
In the 1920s and the 1930s, there were many active Jewish organizations in the town, including Poalei Zion, Tseirei Zion, Mizrachi, Tarbut, HaShomer HaLeumi, HaNoar HaTsioni, Betar, “Maccabi” Sports Society and others. Wysokie also boasted various charitable institutions: Hachnasat Kala, Hachnasat Orchim, Bikur Cholim. A small hospital was established in the 1930s.
Before World War II, 2,500 Jews lived in Wysokie Mazowieckie, constituting 50% of the total population.
The town was first occupied by the Germans on September 10, 1939. Following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the town was taken over by the Red Army on September 27, 1939.
Breaking the pact, the town was occupied again by the Germans on June 24, 1941. A ghetto was established shortly after and local Jews as well as Jews from the neighboring villages were forced to move there.
The process of liquidating the ghetto started on November 2, 1942 and residents were transported to Treblinka and Auschwitz-Birkenau. The last group of Jews was deported in mid-November to the temporary camp in Zambrów, from where they were taken to Auschwitz in January 1943.
May this Yizkor Book serve as a memorial to all the victims of the Shoah from Wysokie-Mazowieckie and the neighboring communities.
Place Details
Wysokie-Mazowieckie is located at 52°55' N 22°31' E and 79 miles NE of Warszawa.
Alternate names for the town are: Wysokie Mazowieckie [Pol], Visoka-Mazovietzk [Yid], Visoki [Yid], Mazowieck [Pol, before 1866], Vysokie-Mazovietzkie [Rus], Visoke Mazovyetsk
Nearby Jewish Communities:
Jabłonka 11 km WNW
Wizna 33 km NNW
Sokoły 14 km ENE
Tykocin 36 km NNE
Wyszonki Kościelne 18 km SSE
Śniadowo 37 km WNW
Czyżew-Osada 19 km SW
Sterdyń 40 km SSW
Zambrów 19 km WNW
Choroszcz 41 km NE
Rutki 21 km NNW
Piątnica 41 km NW
Łapy 25 km ENE
Kosewo 41 km W
Andrzejewo 25 km WSW
Łomża 41 km NW
Gać 26 km NW
Małkinia Górna 42 km SW
Zawady 27 km NNE
Kosów Lacki 43 km SW
Ciechanowiec 28 km S
Jedwabne 43 km NNW
Szumowo 29 km W
Ostrów Mazowiecka 43 km WSW
Suraż 29 km E
Prostyń 45 km SW
Brańsk 30 km SE
Boćki 47 km SE
Nur 31 km SSW
Trzcianne 48 km NNE
Zaręby Kościelne 32 km SW
Białystok 49 km ENE