The Book of Dembitz (Dębica, Poland) - Translation of Sefer Dembitz

Jews were living in Debica as early as 1673. They settled in Debica after being banished from the nearby town of Pilzno. At the beginning of the twentieth century there were about 2200 Jews or about 55% of the population. This vibrant small Jewish community was best known for two independent Jewish communities with two separate rabbinates and communal institutions (for Old Debica and New Debica). By the late 1930's there were approximately 3300 Jews still living in Debica. The Jews were lawyers, doctors, teachers, bakers, butchers, and tailors. When the Nazi forces occupied Debica in 1939 through 1944, the Jews were imprisoned in the local ghetto to perform forced labor in Pustków and were finally sent to the Belzec death camp. Approximately 13,000 Jews from the Debica county were murdered in the Holocaust, including about 3000 Jews from the city of Debica. A few survivors escaped, survived the camps and were hidden by Poles. About 50-100 people survived the war. Their stories along with the rich history of Debica when it was a living part of world Jewry prior to 1939 are described in this volume. Read the details in the survivors' own words as they remember and bring to life the once vibrant Jewish community of Debica. Today there are no Jews living in Debica, Poland. This book serves as a memorial to the Jewish community of Debica, Poland. It will be of interest to descendants and researchers of the town. Dembitz is located at 50°03' North Latitude and 21°25' East Longitude. Alternate names for the town are: Debica [Polish], Dembitz [Yiddish, German], Debitsa, Dembica, Dembits, Dembitsa, Dembiza. Nearby Jewish Communities: Pilzno 8 miles SW, Ropczyce 9 miles E, Przeclaw 11 miles NNE, Wielopole Skrzynskie 11 miles SE, Brzostek 12 miles S, Radomysl Wielki 12 miles NNW.