International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

Print

Coat of arms of SzadekAlternate names: Szadek [Pol], Shadek, שאדק [Yid], Schadeck [Ger], Шадек [Rus]. 51°41' N, 18°59' E, 21 miles W of Łódź, 12 miles ENE of Sieradz. 1900 Jewish population: 495. Yizkor: Pinkas ha-kehilot; entsiklopediya shel ha-yishuvim le-min hivasdam ve-ad le-aher shoat milhemet ha-olam ha-sheniya: Poland vol. 1: The communities of Lodz and its region (Jerusalem, 1976). This town in Zduńska Wola powiat, Łódź Voivodeship with 2,050 inhabitants in 2004. Jewish history. [July 2009]

CEMETERY: Located in the forest by the road connecting Zdunska Wola and Szadkowice-Ogrodzim, the 0.6 ha, unfenced, destroyed site has about 20 gravestones sticking out of the soil. In 2005 the cemetery was fenced and cleaned by PJCRP  in the cooperation with town authorities and the local priest. photos. photos. [July 2009]

US Commission No. POCE000674

The town is located at 51°42 18°59, 16 km from Lask in Sieradz region. Cemetery: a suburban forest in the village of Szadkowice. Present town population is 1,000-5,000 with no Jews.

  • Local: Urzad Miasta I Gminy ul. Warszawska 3, 98-240 Szadek, tel. 73.
  • Regional: Wojewodzki Konserwator Zabytkow, ul. Kosciuszki 3, 98-200 Sieradz, tel. 849-3815.
  • Interested: Urzad Wojewodzki w Sieradzu, Plac Wojewodzki 3, 98-200 Sieradz, tel. 849-71666. Zydowski Instytut Historyczny w Polsce, ul. Tlomackic 315, 00-090 Warszawa, tel. 27-92-81. [The last two numbers may be 21.]

The earliest known Jewish community dates from the 19th century. The 1921 Jewish population was 535 (17.5%.) The unlandmarked Orthodox and Conservative Jewish cemetery was established in the 19th century with last known Jewish burial 1942. The wooded flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall, fence, or gate. The pre-and post-WWII cemetery size is 1.0 ha. 20 to 100 stones in original location with none broken or toppled date from the 19th and 20th century. The sandstone or limestone markers are either flat shaped stones or rough stones/boulders. There are no known mass graves. The municipality owns the property used as a park. Adjacent property is recreational. The boundaries are smaller, reduced by agriculture [sic: earlier showed size was and is 1.0]. Occasionally, organized Jewish groups, individual tours, private visitors, and local residents visit. It was vandalized during World War II and not in the last ten years. No maintenance, care, or structures. Vegetation is a constant problem, damaging stones. Security and weather erosion are serious threats. Vandalism is a moderate threat. Pollution and incompatible nearby development are slight threats.

Adam Penkalla, deceased, completed survey in Nov. 1992 using private documentation. He visited the cemetery.