Liegnitz, Germany

LIEGNITZ (Polish Legnica) Lower Silesia, Germany, today Poland. Jews are first mentioned in 1301 and at mid-century they lived in a Street of the Jews and maintained a synagogue and cemetery. In 1559, Jewish settlement was banned, only to be renewed in 1812, at which time a prayer house was opened. A cemetery was established in 1815. The community founded an old age home in 1828 and reached a population of 236 in1838 and a peak of 877 in 1900. New synagogues were consecrated in 1847 and 1879 and additional cemeteries were opened in 1838 and 1923. The community also maintained a building housing a religious school and library. Among the organizations operating in the community were a B’nai B’rith lodge, the Zionist movement with a youth group, the Jewish Artisans Association, and the Moses Mendelssohn Youth League. On the eve of the Nazi era, the Jewish population was about 850. The community subsequently organized courses in farming and gardening for potential emigrants; the Zionists provided Hebrew classes. A branch of Hehalutz was opened as late as 1938. On Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938), the synagogue and a number of Jewish stores were set on fire. In October 1942, 22 Jews married to non-Jews remained in the city. There is no additional information about the fate of the community in WWII. Presumably those unable to emigrate met their deaths after deportation.