49°33' N 19°44' E, 194.4 miles SSW of Warszawa. This village in the administrative district of Gmina Jabłonka within Nowy Targ powiat, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland close to the border with Slovakia, 9 kilometres (6 mi) N of Jabłonka, 23 km (14 mi) NW of Nowy Targ, and 59 km (37 mi) S of the regional capital Kraków with a population of 2,200. [June 2009]
On the slope of Mount Kuligowej among fields and forests, the cemetery probably was established in the second half of the 19th century. Surrounding localities including Piekielnik, Lipnica, and Zubrzycy also used this cemetery. Several dozen matzevot remain on the site, most traditional, simple triangular or arched gravestones with typical of Jewish decorations. The inscriptions are in Hebrew and German or Spanish. Despite years of neglect, rows can be distinguished. Among the overgrown vegetation are the remains of a wooden fence and brick pillars with the gate, damaged after the war. The cemetery has a beautiful view of Babia Gora. The Circle of Orava Friends did restoration including resetting gravestones and removing rubbish many years ago. No current maintenance as of 2008 leaving gravestones hidden in dense thickets and barely accessible. Most gravestones are fallen, overgrown with moss and grass, sinking into the earth. Many inscriptions are illegible. To reach the cemetery: From Chyżnego, turn right in front of the village church, then follow the road to the asphalt road to a small chapel. At the chapel on the right, turn right (as road climbs 250 meters up the top) into the field. The cemetery is located in the forest. [June 2009]
US Commission No. POCE000754
Podwilk is located in the province of Nowy Secz at 49º34N 19º44E, 80 km from Krakow, and 20 km from Nowy Sogir. The cemetery is located 1.5 km S of the village center, on the slopes of Kuligowa Mountain. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.
- Town: Podwilk is Wojt (head of a village), Urzad Gminy, 34-480 Jablonka Orawska, tel. 523 03.
Regional: Wojewodzki Konserwator Zabytkow, Mgr. inz, Zygmunt Lewcruk, ul. Kilinokiego 68, 33-300 Nowy Sogir, tel. 238-38 wci 234. (see Bobowa)
1921 Jewish population in Podwilk was 49. The last known Jewish burial was in the second half of the 19th century. Jablonka and Orawka (9 km and 5 km away) Jewish communities also used this landmarked cemetery. The isolated rural hillside has no sign or marker, no wall, gate, or fence. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. The present size of the cemetery is about 0.4 hectares. 20-100 gravestones visible in the cemetery, all are in original location with 25%-50% toppled or broken, date from 1880-20th century. The marble, granite, sandstone, and concrete finely smoothed and inscribed stones or flat stones with carved relief decorations have Hebrew, Polish, German and Hungarian inscriptions. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. It is used solely as a Jewish cemetery. Properties adjacent are agricultural. Rarely, private visitors stop. The cemetery was vandalized during W.W.II. No maintenance. There are serious security threats and slight vandalism threats. Weather erosion and vegetation are very serious threats. Vegetation is a constant problem, damaging stones. Water drainage is a seasonal problem. Because of lack of care, young trees overgrow quickly.
Piotr Antoniak, ul. Dobra 5 m 36, 05-800 Praszko visited the site on August 24, 1992 and completed the survey September 7, 1992. (see: Bobowa)
UPDATE: The Jewish Cemetery of Podwilk in the Orawa district: Podwilk is a small village near the Slovak border, 62 km S of Krakow. The cemetery served a group of towns west of Nowy Targ including Jablonka, Piekielnik, Zubryca, and Lipnica. Where Once We Walked lists the number of Jews between the wars as 49 in Podwilk, 42 in Jablonka, and 7 in Piekielnik. The original list was typewritten in Polish by a local Pole name Krzewniak dedicated to Jewish cemetery heritage. It was sent to descendents of the Szekely family of Jablonka in Sydney, Australia. Dots for missing bits and question marks for uncertain information and alternate names are as in the typewritten version. The cemetery is in fairly good condition now, with a new fence and grass trimmed, etc. Source: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. [August 1998]