Alternate names: Lelów [Pol], Lelev, לעלאוו [Yid], Leluv, Лелюв [Rus]. 50°41' N, 19°37' E, 23 miles ESE of Częstochowa, 20 miles SW of Włoszczowa. 1900 Jewish population: 720. Lelów is a village in Częstochowa powiat, Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland and the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Lelów. On the Białka river, 66 km (41 mi) NE of the regional capital Katowice. The village has a population of 2,127. The ohel of David Biedermann in the Jewish cemetery continues to attract pilgrims; the surviving synagogue occasionally holds services on 7 Shevat, the anniversary of the death of David of Lelow. [June 2009]
A few dozen Jewish families lived in Lelow by 1547. Over time, the Jews constituted a significant percentage of the population. Jewish population: 808-269;1857-480; and 1897-720 (60%). Many Jews were engaged in crafts. Glassworks and tanneries operated in the early 20th century. Lelów was an important Chassidic center. The local dynasty was founded 1746-1814 by David Biedermann, a student of Leżajsk Elimelech, Moshe Lejb, and Jakoowa Icchak Hurwicz (Horowitz), called the "eye of Lublin." H is son Moshe continued for him. Today, the group identified with Lelow Chasidim are in America and Israel. After the outbreak of W II, many Jews fled the city. Those remaining were deported to Treblinka in autumn 1942. The Lelow Jewish community had two cemeteries. Old Cemetery was established in the 17th century west of the city. By the 19th century, Lelow Jews organized a new burial place north of the road leading to Paulinowa near the river. The Nazis destroyed both. Gravestones were used by the local population, among other things, for the pavement at the Ślęzanach school. During PRL, the cemetery was built on for commercial cooperatives pavilion. In 1988 at the initiative of Diaspora Jews, the search began for the tomb of David Biedermann in the old cemetery. His remains were found at the aforementioned shop. The excavated skull, tibia, and bones of hands were submitted for examination to the University in Jerusalem. With the help of the Nissenbaum Family Foundation, the cemetery area and pavilion GS had separate room arranged as a modest ohel. The work completed in February 1989 is a Chassidic pilgrimage objective, particularly on the anniversary of his death. seventh day of t,e month Sh'vat. The Ohel keyholder is Mr. Roman Fijewski at Ogrodowej 7. Photos. [May 2009]
LELOW (I): AS 148
Lelow (I) is in Czestochowa at 50º4119º37, 40 km from Czestochowa. The Old Cemetery is located ___. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
- Town: Urzad Gminy, ul. Szczekocinska, tel. 54.
- Regional: Wojewodzki Konserwator Zabytkow Aleksander Broda, 47-217 Czestochowa, ul. Domagelskich 2, tel. 49745.
The earliest known Jewish community was 16th century. 1921 Jewish population was 638. Living here was David Salomon (1746-1813). The Hasidic Orthodox cemetery was established in 17th century. The isolated urban flat land has a sign or plaque in Hebrew. Reached by turning directly off a public road, no wall or gate surround. There are no gravestones or mass graves. The only part of cemetery left is an ohel near a shop. The cemetery was vandalized during WWII. The cemetery property is now used for industrial/commercial use and storage. Properties adjacent are residential. Frequently, organized Jewish group tours visit.
Jan Powel Woronczak, Sandomierska St. 21 m. 1, 02-567 Warszawa, tel. 49-54-62 completed survey 30 Dec 1991. Jeny Woronczak and Jan Powel Woronczak visited the site in 1986. No interviews.
LELOW (II): AS 149
See Lelow (I) for town information. New Cemetery is E of town, between a road and a river. The Orthodox Jewish cemetery was established in the 19th century. The isolated rural (agricultural) flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by crossing private property, access is open to all with no wall or gate. There are no gravestones, structures, or mass graves in the cemetery. A private individual owns property used for agricultural purposes. Properties adjacent are agricultural. Local residents occasionally visit. The cemetery was vandalized during WWII. There is no maintenance or care. The cemetery is no longer there.
See Lelow (I) for survey details.