1. Opole Lubelskie - Centrum miejscowości

Village, in existence since at least the 12th century., in 1368. By virtue of a privilege from King Casimir the Great, it was transferred from Środa law to Magdeburg law. The date of the city's incorporation is not known, only that it took place no later than 1418. Almost from the beginning, Opole was inhabited by an ethnically and religiously diverse population.In the 16th and 17th centuries. The city became an important center of Calvinism. In the 17th and 18th centuries. A group of Scottish and German craftsmen settled here.In 1743, Jan Tarlo brought in the Piarists and erected a church and monastery for them. At the end of the 18th century. The owner of Opole became Rev. Aleksander Lubomirski, who built a magnificent palace in nearby Niezdow.In 1870, Opole lost its municipal rights.In the interwar period, it was a local trade and service center. There were many craftsmen and stores run mainly by Jews, as well as a few industrial plants: a sugar factory, tanneries and groats. During World War II, Opole Lubelskie was the center of the Home Army's conspiracy. In 1957. regained its municipal rights.Jews in Opole Lubelskie - Until 1918. - The first Jews probably appeared in Opole in the 16th century. In documents from 1538. Jews living in Opole, conducting trade transactions with merchants from Lviv, are mentioned.In 1564. Jews owned six, in 1616. while - 17 houses.In the middle of the 17th century. The local community suffered significantly from the invasion of the Cossack army. In 1664. The then owner of the city, Jerzy Slupecki, issued a privilege to encourage Jews to settle in Opole. He guaranteed them free purchase of squares and houses, including near the market, and at the same time pledged to abide by the laws and royal privileges issued for Jews.At the end of the 17th century. Jews mainly resided in the market square and ul. Mudna Street, located within the Old City, is where the Jewish quarter was formed, along with the synagogue complex. The date of construction of the first synagogue is unknown, probably in the mid-17th century. a cemetery was delineated.The existence of the Opole religious community is confirmed in source materials as late as the mid-18th century. However, it can be assumed that an independent municipality was established here much earlier.This may be indicated, among other things. The fact that already in the second half of the 17th century. The sessions of the Diet of the Four Lands were held here. In the 17th and 18th centuries. The local community grew demographically and economically.Jews made their living from trade and crafts - mainly shoemaking and tailoring. In 1872 or 1880. at. A new synagogue and a beit ha- midrash were built on Silent Street.Interwar period - In the 1920s and 1930s. There was a rapid increase in the number of local Jews. The source of income for most was services and petty trade.There were many Jewish craftsmen (shoemakers, tailors, hatmakers and carpenters) and 270 stores, most of which were located around the market. Small-scale industry was developing - Jews owned five tanneries, two oil mills and three porridge mills. Under the management of the local community were a synagogue, a beit ha-midrash, a mikveh, a shelter house for the elderly, a ritual slaughterhouse and a cemetery. The community operated a Talmud-Torah school and a branch of the Gemilut Chesed association, providing interest-free loans.There were 11 private beit ha- midrashim, established between 1920 and 1922, including several Hasidic shtibls. In August 1928. The local branch of the Tarbut association took steps to organize a Hebrew comprehensive school. The Orthodox dominated the municipal authorities, with the Bund and Zionist organizations (including Mizrachi, Zionist-Revisionists) also having representation. The Zionist Gordonia organization, which conducts cultural and educational activities and prepares young pioneers to go to Palestine, was highly influential among local youth.