Explore the rich, complex history of Jewish life in Oświęcim, now preserved and honored by the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation
The Beginnings
In the 16th century, the first Jews arrived in Oświęcim, a town strategically located at a crossroads of important trade routes. Known as “Oshpitzin” in Yiddish, meaning “guests,” this small Polish town became home to a growing Jewish community. Although faced with restrictions, such as a ban on further Jewish settlement in 1563, the Jewish residents persisted, establishing a synagogue and cemetery and creating a thriving communal life despite periods of hostility from their Christian neighbors.
Despite these challenges, Oświęcim’s Jewish community flourished, developing a distinct district and gaining economic importance through trade in salt and spices. By creating a resilient network of religious and social structures, the Jews of Oświęcim transformed the town into a vibrant center of Jewish life and culture, which endured for centuries.
Galicia (1772-1918)
With the 1772 incorporation of Oświęcim into Austria, a period of both hardship and opportunity began. Renamed Galicia, the region was heavily taxed, and its Jewish residents faced numerous legal restrictions. However, in 1867, Jews were granted equal rights, and Oświęcim’s Jewish community took an active role in civic life. The town’s economy flourished, with Jewish merchants and industrialists contributing significantly to its growth.
The late 19th century saw ideological divides in the Jewish community, with Hassidic and Orthodox traditions meeting the progressive ideas of the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment) and Zionism. This period marked a dynamic phase, where debates on modernity and tradition shaped the Jewish identity in Oświęcim, with the Great Synagogue standing as a central symbol of this thriving community.
Between the Wars (1918-1939)
During the interwar period, Oświęcim’s Jewish community saw unprecedented growth, with Jewish citizens actively participating in cultural, social, and political life. Jews held seats on the Town Council, with a deputy mayor among them, and worked alongside Christians in numerous charitable organizations. The community had 20 houses of prayer and numerous welfare organizations, reflecting the depth and vibrancy of Jewish life in Oświęcim.
However, this period was also marked by rising anti-Semitism, especially during Poland’s economic downturn in the 1930s. Despite this, the Jewish community continued to thrive, maintaining strong social networks and fostering a rich spiritual life that included various religious and political groups, with traditional Jewish values remaining prominent.
The Holocaust (1939-1945)
With the German invasion of Oświęcim in 1939, the Jewish population—comprising 9,000 out of 13,000 residents—faced unimaginable terror. Forced into labor, dispossessed of businesses, and confined to ghettos, the Jews of Oświęcim were systematically persecuted.
The Nazis renamed the town “Auschwitz” and built one of their most infamous death camps here, forever linking Oświęcim with the horrors of the Holocaust. In 1941, nearly all were deported to ghettos and eventually sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where the majority were murdered. Synagogues and cultural sites were destroyed, and Jewish men were forced into brutal labor, rebuilding bridges and infrastructure for the occupying forces.
Auschwitz-Birkenau expanded to become a complex of over 40 death camps, killing over 1.1 million people, and the Jewish community of Oświęcim became one of the earliest victims of mass genocide. The physical and cultural annihilation of this once-thriving community serves as a haunting reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the destructive power of unchecked hatred.
“Oshpitzin, a word that means guests. Oshpitzin was home for us, and into our home, we welcomed all guests and extended our hospitality to all travelers. For me, the transformation of Oshpitzin to Auschwitz signified the end of home and of innocence.”
Moshe Weiss, 1977
Communist Poland (1945-1989)
Liberated by the Soviet Army in January 1945, Oświęcim’s few surviving Jews returned to find a desolate home. Struggling to rebuild amid anti-Semitism, Communist repression, and economic challenges, the remaining Jewish community dwindled as survivors emigrated to Israel, the United States, and beyond. By the 1960s, nearly all Jewish families had left, and Oświęcim’s Jewish population fell to just a few individuals, leaving a silent reminder of the town’s lost heritage.
Despite the attempts to revive Jewish life, the socio-political climate proved too inhospitable. The communist era marked a period of isolation and gradual disappearance for the Jewish community in Oświęcim, leaving behind a legacy that would only be revisited decades later with the fall of communism.
The Present (1989 - Today)
The fall of communism in 1989 marked a turning point. In 1998, the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot Synagogue was returned to the Jewish community and subsequently transferred to the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation. The opening of AJCF in 2000 signaled a renewed commitment to preserving Jewish history in Oświęcim. As the last pre-war Jewish resident, Szymon Kluger, passed away, the AJCF took on the mission to honor those who had lived here by restoring significant sites, including the Synagogue and cemetery.
Today, AJCF works tirelessly to educate the world about the rich Jewish life that existed in Oświęcim and the tragic lessons of the Holocaust. Through educational programs, our museum, and preservation efforts, we ensure that the memory of the Jewish community of Oświęcim endures, inspiring future generations to stand against hatred in all its forms.
