Stuchiner Young Men

Stuchiner Young Mens 

            The Stuchiner Young Men's Society was established in 1948 by immigrants from Szczuczyn, Poland. Initial Jewish settlement dates to the 18th century, following the town’s establishment in the 17th century. The towns’ Jewish population increased steadily throughout the years, with there being over 600 Jews in 1808, to ~3300 by 1897. In the late 18th century/early 19th century, both a synagogue and cemetery were established. The community maintained two study houses (one being the House of Study located on Vesaler Street), many prayer houses, three Heders, a Talmud-Torah School, which held six classes and one Yeshiva class, and a Yeshiva. Near the end of the 19th century, a Hebrew school was established and during the early 20th century, a Hebrew Heder was established. As part of the “Bet-Yaacov” network (Bais-Ya’akov educational network - founded by Sarah Schenirer in 1917), a girls’ school was founded in 1925 by Agudat Israel, an Orthodox Jewry world movement. 

            The Jews of Szczuczyn were politically active, having established the first Zionist organization in 1898, the “Bnei Zion” (Sons of Zion). This organization had a library containing works in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Polish. Its members also held classes teaching Hebrew, English, Hebrew Literature, and Eretz Israel geography. Multiple branches were established, including youth organizations such as the Hertsaliah, the Hashomer Hatsir, and the Poalei Agudat Israel to name a few. The Bund was also active, maintaining a library and drama circle. During the 19th century, the community maintained many distilleries, flour mills, and a carpet factory. During the interwar period (1918-1939), a soap factory, oil factory, and grinding mill were maintained. During the 20th century, unions for the Jewish craftsmen and tradesmen of Szczuczyn were formed. A cooperative bank was also created, as part of the Association of Jewish Cooperatives in Poland.

            By the 1930s, the Jewish community of Szczuczyn faced severe economic hardships as a result of boycotts. At the outbreak of WWII, many fled to Bialistok and/or Lomza. On September 7th, 1939, the Germans entered Szczuczyn. Two days later, males between the ages of 16-50 were required to register for forced labor. On the 12th of the same month, the Germans set fire to the synagogue. From the 23rd of September on, the town was annexed to the U.S.S.R per an agreement, however on June 22nd 1941, the Germans attacked the U.S.S.R and regained occupation. At this time, about 2000 Jews remained in the town. On June 28th of the same year, about 300 Jews were killed by Polish bands. About a month later, ~100 were killed in the cemetery by Polish policemen. On August 8th, 1941, the Gestapo entered the town and established a ghetto. Many died in the ghetto from starvation and/or diseases. The Jewish cemetery, which was being used to bury victims of the pogroms, was destroyed. A monument stands there today, remembering the victims of the Holocaust. On November 22nd, 1942, the ghetto was liquidated. Those who remained were set to the Bogusza transit camp, where they were then deported to the Treblinka or Auschwitz camps. The town was liberated on January 26th, 1945.

https://www.esjf-cemeteries.org/survey/szczuczyn-jewish-cemetery/

https://cja.huji.ac.il/browser.php?mode=set&id=49337

https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/szczuczyn/szc999.html

https://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/Szczuczyn_pol1/Szczuczyn_pol1.html

https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/szczuczyn/szc003.html#Page7

https://easteurotopo.org/indices/view/view.php?map=kdwrindex&section=Szczuczyn

~Blog by Olivia Scanlon