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Alternate names: Rzepiennik Strzyżewski [Pol], ז'יפיאניק [Yid], Rżepiennik. 49°48' N, 21°03' E, 54 miles ESE of of the regional capital Kraków, 15 miles S of Tarnów, 11 miles NNW of Gorlice. Jewish population: 264 (in 1880), 224 (in 1921). Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego (1880-1902), X, p. 146: "Rzepiennik" #3. Gmina Rzepiennik Strzyżewski is a rural administrative district in Tarnów powiat, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland with its seat as the village of Rzepiennik Strzyżewski. The gmina 2006 total population was 6,832 with 1,400 in the village. Gmina Rzepiennik Strzyżewski contains the villages and settlements of Kołkówka, Olszyny, Rzepiennik Biskupi, Rzepiennik Strzyżewski, Rzepiennik Suchy and Turza. Normal 0 The Jewish settlements in Rzepienniku Strzyżewskim began around 1800. In 1886, 264 Jews, (15%), lived there. In 1870, the kahal formed. About 1900 immigration of Jews overseas began due to depressed economic conditions. In 1910, 532 Jews and in 1921 only 224 Jews remained. During WWII, the Nazis destroyed the synagogue and created a ghetto. On August 11, 1942, ten Nazis shot the inhabitants of that ghetto in a nearby Dąbry forest through the entire evening while the other Jews gathered in the meadow awaited their fate. Only a few Jews from Rzepiennik Strzyżewskiego survived.  [June 2009]

CEMETERY: On a hill in the forest, the Nazis damaged the 0.5 cemetery probably, but some residents stole gravestones for building purposes. The cemetery gate also was stolen, by legend by a peasant, who fashioned it into a weapon. The majority of the old gravestones show traces of polochrome decoration and traditional Jewish sepulchral relief such as Cohanim hands, candles, crown, birds, etc. Video 1.  Video 2photos. [June 2009]

RZEPIENNIK STRZYZEWSKI: US Commission No. POCE000025. In Tarnow. The US Commission is not finished rechecking this file. [2000]

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 July 2009 12:46