Przedecz, located in central Poland, had a vibrant Jewish community
for some 600 years, starting at the end of the 14th century. In
Yiddish, the city was known as Pshaytsh; in Hebrew, Pshedetz.
Most Jews worked as tradesmen, artisans, merchants and small traders.
The community supported a synagogue, a bet midrash, a mikva, Jewish
schools, a Yeshiva, a bikkur cholim society caring for the sick, and a benevolent
fund which granted interest-free loans. The town had a Jewish library
where people could meet to read books, attend dances, hear lectures, and
see theatrical performances.
Nazis occupied the town in October 1939. Changing the town's name to
Moosburg, they burned the Synagogue and began the persecution and
killing of Jews. Nearly half were sent to forced
labor camps, where most of them died of hunger
and disease. In Przedecz, Jews were forced
to live in a ghetto under horrific conditions.
In early 1942, they were packed into the local
church and left for three days without food or
water. On April 24, 1942, the remaining Jews
were sent to the Chelmno death camp.
As the Editors wrote: This book is meant as
a memorial and yahrzeit candle... revealing
events and deeds in the lives of our dear ones up to the years of the Holocaust
