Jaroslaw Book

<p>Jaroslaw's development was founded on its great 16th and 17th century fairs in which Jewish merchants played a prominent part. During its triennial fall fair the town often hosted meetings of the Council of Four Lands-the central administrative body of the Polish Jewish community. By 1738 about 100 Jewish families lived in the town. By 1921 Jews numbered 6577 about 33 percent of the population. The city was captured by the Germans on September 10 1939. On September 28 they ordered the Jewish population to assemble in the Sokol sports field. Some 7000 people were deported across the San River to Soviet-occupied territory. Jews had to hand over all items of value and all their property was taken. On the Soviet side it was difficult for them to find food shelter and work. In summer 1940 many were exiled to the Soviet interior. But several hundred of the exiles survived while those in east Poland were killed by the Germans between 1941 and 1944. Generations of rabbis Torah scholars intellectuals and Zionist leaders lived wrote and taught in Jaroslaw. May this book be a memorial to them and the community that no longer exists</p>