Pre-War Częstochowa Jewish Newspapers
Pre-War Częstochowa Jewish Newspapers
- professional English-language translations
PRE-WAR CZĘSTOCHOWA JEWISH NEWSPAPERS
The pre-War Jewish community of Częstochowa was enriched by many Jewish publications – in Yiddish, Poland and Hebrew. They included book, magazines and, of course, newspapers.
Here, we present professional English-language translations of some of them:
The “Częstochower Cajtung” (“Częstochowa Gazette”), published from 1922 to 1939, was a Yiddish-language, political and social weekly, with a Zionist-Orthodox character.
Owned and printed by Bernard Bocian, it was initially edited by Izrael Płocker and then by Szmul Frank. Its editorial office was located at Aleja NMP 6.
It seems to have been the most enduring periodical of Jewish Częstochowa. This was probably due to its moderate political line.
Click HERE to view the translations.
“Nasz Głos Powszechny”” (“Our Common Voice”), was a Polish-language Jewish newspaper published in 1936. It seems that there were only five issues,
Professor Jerzy Mizgalski believes that the timing of the publication may have been to somehow motivate the Częstochowa Jewish community to actively participate in the Jewish Gmina elections, due to take place on 6th August, nine days after the publication of the final issue.
Click HERE to view the translations.
The professional English translation of this newsapaper has been made possible by the financial support of the
Wolf Rajcher z”l and Dora Rajcher z”l were both Holocaust survivors from Częstochowa.
They were prisoners in both the “Big Ghetto” and the “Small Ghetto” and, until liberation, were slave labourers in HASAG-Pelcery. Following the War, they emigrated to Melbourne Australia.
Upon the passing of both his parents, their son, Andrew Rajcher, established this charitable fund in their memory.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Andrew Rajcher
IMPORTANT NOTICE
While the English translations are available for download, they may not, either in part or as a whole, be distributed or published without the prior written permission of Andrew Rajcher, the copyright-holder of this English-language version of this newspaper.
"Nasz Głos Powszechny" 1936
"Nasz Głos Powszechny" ("Our Common Voice")
- a five-issue Polish-language Jewish newspaper
This Polish-language Jewish newspaper was published in Częstochowa in 1936. After much research, we believe that only five issues of the newspaper were ever published.
The exact reason for there being only five issues is uncertain. However, Professor Jerzy Mizgalski believes that the timing of publication may have been to somehow motivate the Częstochowa Jewish community to actively participate in the Jewish Gmina elections (6th August – 9 days after the last issue) and in the Polish national elections due in September 1936.
As Professor Mizgalski observes:
The newspaper, being published in the Polish language, emphasises the pro-state nature of the editorial staff. It addresses itself to the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community, who linked their futures to their place of residence, where they have been rooted for several generations.
It was addressed to those Jewish circles, who consciously tried to fight against the slogans promoted by the antisemites, which created strong barriers between the Polish and Jewish communities.
INDEX OF NAMES of those Jews appearing in any of the issues of this newspaper
Article by Professor Dr. hab. Jerzy Mizgalski about this newspaper
(in English)
Article by Professor Dr. hab. Jerzy Mizgalski about this newspaper
(in Polish)
CLICK ON DATES TO REVEAL TRANSLATIONS.
Please note: Some text may not be translated as it is illegible due to the quality of the scanned newspaper.
Full scan of issue (in Polish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
21st June 1936 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
21st June 1936 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
21st June 1936 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
21st June 1936 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Polish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
28th June 1936 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
28th June 1936 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
28th June 1936 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
28th June 1936 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
28th June 1936 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Polish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
5th July 1936 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
5th July 1936 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
5th July 1936 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
5th July 1936 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Polish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
19th July 1936 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
19th July 1936 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
19th July 1936 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
19th July 1936 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Polish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
26th July 1936 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
26th July 1936 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
26th July 1936 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
26th July 1936 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
The professional English translation of this newsapaper has been made possible by the financial support of the
Wolf Rajcher z”l and Dora Rajcher z”l were both Holocaust survivors from Częstochowa.
They were prisoners in both the “Big Ghetto” and the “Small Ghetto” and, until liberation, were slave labourers in HASAG-Pelcery. Following the War, they emigrated to Melbourne Australia.
Upon the passing of both his parents, their son, Andrew Rajcher, established this charitable fund in their memory.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Andrew Rajcher
IMPORTANT NOTICE
While the English translations are available for download, they may not, either in part or as a whole, be distributed or published without the prior written permission of Andrew Rajcher, the copyright-holder of this English-language version of this newspaper.
"Częstochower Cajtung" 1939
"Częstochower Cajtung" ("Częstochowa Gazette")
- a weekly Yiddish-language newspaper
1939 (34 issues)
Click on date to reveal translations
Please note: Some text may not be translated as it is illegible due to the quality of the scanned newspaper.
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
6th January 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
6th January 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
6th January 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
6th January 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
6th January 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
6th January 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
13th January 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
13th January 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
13th January 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
13th January 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
13th January 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
13th January 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
20th January 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
20th January 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
20th January 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
20th January 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
20th January 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
20th January 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
20th January 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
20th January 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
27th January 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
27th January 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
27th January 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
27th January 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
27th January 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
27th January 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
3rd February 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
3rd February 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
3rd February 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
3rd February 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
3rd February 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
3rd February 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
10th February 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
10th February 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
10th February 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
10th February 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
10th February 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
10th February 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
10th February 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
17th February 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
17th February 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
17th February 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
17th February 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
17th February 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
17th February 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
24th February 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
24th February 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
24th February 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
24th February 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
24th February 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
24th February 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
3rd March 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
3rd March 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
3rd March 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
3rd March 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
3rd March 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
3rd March 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
10th March 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
10th March 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
10th March 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
10th March 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
10th March 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
10th March 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
17th March 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
17th March 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
17th March 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
17th March 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
17th March 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
17th March 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
24th March 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
24th March 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
24th March 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
24th March 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
24th March 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
24th March 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Unlike other issues of this newspaper, published on Fridays, this issue was published on a Monday – Erev Pesach (the eve of Passover). You will also notice that, unlike other issues consisting of six pages, this issue consisted of sixteen pages.
Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate copies of pages 5-12, which we believe may have been a special Pesach “lift-out”, given the date of this issue’s publication. If anyone knows where we can find copies of these missing pages, please email the webmaster, using the link at the top right-hand corner of this website.
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
3rd April 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 13 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 14 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 15 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 16 articles (English translation)
3rd April 1939 – Page 16 articles (English translation)
Unlike other issues of this newspaper, published on Fridays, this issue was published on a Monday – chol ha’Moed Pesach (4th day of Passover).
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
9th April 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
9th April 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
9th April 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
9th April 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
9th April 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
9th April 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
14th April 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
14th April 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
14th April 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
14th April 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
14th April 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
14th April 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
21st April 1939 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
21st April 1939 – Page 2 articles (English translation)
21st April 1939 – Page 3 articles (English translation)
21st April 1939 – Page 4 articles (English translation)
21st April 1939 – Page 5 articles (English translation)
21st April 1939 – Page 6 articles (English translation)
The professional English translation of this newsapaper has been made possible by the financial support of the
Wolf Rajcher z”l and Dora Rajcher z”l were both Holocaust survivors from Częstochowa.
They were prisoners in both the “Big Ghetto” and the “Small Ghetto” and, until liberation, were slave labourers in HASAG-Pelcery. Following the War, they emigrated to Melbourne Australia.
Upon the passing of both his parents, their son, Andrew Rajcher, established this charitable fund in their memory.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Dave Horowitz-Larochette
IMPORTANT NOTICE
While the English translations are available for download, they may not, either in part or as a whole, be distributed or published without the prior written permission of Andrew Rajcher, the copyright-holder of this English-language version of this newspaper.
"Częstochower Cajtung" 1926
"Częstochower Cajtung" ("Częstochowa Gazette")
- a weekly Yiddish-langusge newspaper
1926
Click on date to reveal translations
Please note: Some text may not be translated as it is illegible due to the quality of the scanned newspaper.
Full scan of issue (in Yiddish) – use menu items, below the flipbook image, to enlarge
1st January 1926 – Page 1 articles (English translation)
1st January 1926 – Page 1 notices/advertisements (English translation)
The professional English translation of this newsapaper has been made possible by the financial support of the
Wolf Rajcher z”l and Dora Rajcher z”l were both Holocaust survivors from Częstochowa.
They were prisoners in both the “Big Ghetto” and the “Small Ghetto” and, until liberation, were slave labourers in HASAG-Pelcery. Following the War, they emigrated to Melbourne Australia.
Upon the passing of both his parents, their son, Andrew Rajcher, established this charitable fund in their memory.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Dave Horowitz-Larochette
IMPORTANT NOTICE
While the English translations are available for download, they may not, either in part or as a whole, be distributed or published without the prior written permission of Andrew Rajcher, the copyright-holder of this English-language version of this newspaper.
"Częstochower Cajtung" ("Częstochowa Gazette")
"Częstochower Cajtung" ("Częstochowa Gazette")
- a weekly Yiddish-language newspaper
ABOUT THIS PROJECT:
In one very important aspect, we believe that translating newspapers can be more revealing than translating Yizkor Books. Yizkor Books were written by Holocaust Survivors, sometimes many years after the War, relying on memories which, over time, may no longer be as accurate as we would like and which may have been affected by “collective memory”. However, newspapers were written in “REAL TIME”, as events, being written about, were actually happening.
The “Częstochower Cajtung” (“Częstochowa Gazette”), published from 1922 to 1939, was a Yiddish-language, political and social weekly, with a Zionist-Orthodox character.
Owned and printed by Bernard Bocian, it was initially edited by Izrael Płocker and then by Szmul Frank. Its editorial office was located at Aleja NMP 6.
It seems to have been the most enduring periodical of Jewish Częstochowa. This was probably due to its moderate political line.
It had a sound financial position which was drawn from both advertising and subscriptions. It was printed in its own (Bocian’s) printing house.
Its circulation ranged from 900 to 1,400 copies and continued to be published weekly until the last week of August 1939.
In translating the issues of this newspaper, every effort has been made to translate, as accurately as possible, the Yiddish text and to transliterate (and double-check) the names of people and places as they would have been spelt in a historically, accurate manner (surnames may have been changed post-War). This includes the use of Polish diacritics where appropriate.
PLEASE NOTE: A great number of people are mentioned in the issues of this Yiddish newspaper.
If anyone finds their landsleit relatives’ names spelt incorrectly, please email us.
We have decided to begin translating these newspapers with 1939 – the year when the Germans marched into Częstochowa. We believe that, unlike the Yizkor Books, which were published post-WWII,
they will provide us with knowledge about what the Częstochowa Jewish community knew at the time.
We believe that this is the first time
that there has been an attempt to PROFESSIONALLY translate, into English,
as many issues as possible of this Częstochowa Jewish newspaper.
The professional English translation of this newsapaper has been made possible by the financial support of the
Wolf Rajcher z”l and Dora Rajcher z”l were both Holocaust survivors from Częstochowa.
They were prisoners in both the “Big Ghetto” and the “Small Ghetto” and, until liberation, were slave labourers in HASAG-Pelcery. Following the War, they emigrated to Melbourne Australia.
Upon the passing of both his parents, their son, Andrew Rajcher, established this charitable fund in their memory.
INDEX OF NAMES (This list is updated as each issue of the newspaper is translated into English)
Click on the YEAR to reveal that year’s issues.
-
1939 – 34 issues (16 issues translated into English thus far)
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
David Horowitz-Larochette
IMPORTANT NOTICE
While the English translations are available for download, they may not, either in part or as a whole, be distributed or published without the prior written permission of Andrew Rajcher, the copyright-holder of this English-language version of this newspaper.