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• A Bibliography for Polish Genealogical Research
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The Holocaust in Frysztak

• An Overview by William Leibner
• The Ghetto in Frysztak
• What Are We and Where Do We Come From? --the story of a family by Murray Ressler
• Jacob Apfelbaum's Memoirs, a Memorial
• Thirty Years Later...The Trialby Jack Apfelbaum
• The Story of Frysztak in the Strzyzow Yiskor Book, pages 408-410
• The Jews in the County of Cracau
• Yad Vashem To view over 3 million Pages of Testimony.

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The History of Frysztak - "Fristik" in Yiddish

The Polish King, Casimir, "the Great"- established the city of Frysztak, near Krosno, in 1366. The city soon passed into the hands of the monks. The original inhabitants were German colonists. The city grew at a moderate pace but suffered terribly during the Swedish wars in the 17th century. Most of the German settlers and their descendants slowly left Frysztak. The economic stagnation of the city continued until the railway reached the city. Frysztak was deprived of its municipal status following WWI.

The first Jews appeared in Frysztak or Fristik (in Yiddish) in the 15th or 16th century. The number of Jews steadily increased as the German settlers left. By the 17th century, the Jewish kehilla was already well established and provided services to the members. The burial society registered all deaths as of 1770 until the Shoa. The census of 1765 indicated that the kehilla had a membership of 97 families who lived in Fristik and the surrounding area. At that time the Jews comprised a majority of the population of the city. The non-Jewish population lived on the outskirts of town or nearby villages. The administration of the town was always in the hands of the Jews, even the Polish government appointed Hersch Yaari as the head of the local government. Frysztak had one pogrom in 1898 that the Austrians severely suppressed. Jewish-Chrisatian relations remained calm until WWII.

The economic situation of the Jews in Fristik was similar to the one in other Galician towns. Poverty was rampant throughout the village. No industry to speak of, few job opportunities and little hope. WWI totally pauperized the village. The American joint organization had to step in to help the local Jewish population. It also established a medical clinic and provided some vocational training for young Jews. Slowly the economic situation improved. The local Jewish population was known for its extreme piety and fought very hard against Zionist intrusion to the extent of burning the first modern Jewish library. The Halbershtam/Halberstam rabbinical family provided the rabbis for the village. The last rabbi of Fristik was Rabbi Haim Baruch Halbershtam who perished in the Shoa.

Frystik was the town where the famous hasidic rabbi, Menahem Menmdel of Rymanow held court for many years. (This history is continued in the Holocaust Section)

William Leibner September 17th,2000 , Jerusalem

The following appeared in the New York Times on June 7th, 1898:

Lemburg, Austrian Galicia, June 17-gangs of peasants yesterday attacked and plundered the Jewish shops at Frysztak, near Rzeszow, and wounded several Jews. The police fired on the mob, killing six of the rioters and wounding five more.

Nine persons were killed during the rioting. A general panic prevails, and troops have been hurried to the district, where other serious excesses have occurred.

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The History of Frysztak

The following was taken from the web site of the Polish Genealogical Society of Texas: It was adapted from Slownik Geograficzny, published around 1900 and translated by Michael Kurtin.

FRYSZTAK: with Glinik Dolny, Pulanki, and Twierdza, is a town in Jaslo county with an area of 1,558 morgs; 134 houses, 590 male inhabitants and 607 female, for a total of 1,197, of whom 416 are Roman Catholic and 779 Jewish. It is the site of the county court, a notary's office, a military police post, post office, deanery office covering 6 parish, and a parish office. The church is wooden, its date of construction unknown; it is dedicated to the Birth of The Blessed Virgin.

There is a 2-grade public school with three teachers, a match factory, production of grease and turpentine, a fair every other Thursday and particularly lively in spring, when many working horses and cattle are sold at it.

Frysztak lies on a hillock, at the feet of which the Wisloka flows by, and is on the county road from Rezeszow to Krosno. A second highway leads from Frysztak through Lubla and Sieklowka to Warzyce, where it joins the government highway leading to Jaslo. According to tradition Frysztak was founded as a German colony by King Kazimierz the Great and was originally named Frysztak (German Freistadi ['free city'].) Return to Table of Contents

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Photographs from Frysztak: Past and Present

We do have some scenes of today's Frysztak

Thanks to Elli Epstein, we have a wonderful photograph of Frysztak in August of 1926

We are seeking photographs taken long ago; of Frysztak Streets and markets and people.

We just received these postcards... from Tomasz Okoniewski, a teacher in Frysztak who is creating his own website...he said: "I teach history in elementary school in Frysztak. I would like to organize a photo gallery about place where I work. In this way I can show young people peace of theirs history, some artifacts. " The first scene is of an early Frysztak

The second contains the Synagogue, which Tomasz said came from the Frysztak Library.
You can email Tomasz by clicking here.

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The latest addition (january 2010) a photograph of Fryztak in 1939
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Frysztak 1891 Business Directory:

The 1891 Galician Business Directory contains only a few listings for Frysztak. They are:

• DYDYNSKI, An.Godowa, Landowners (with Mansion/farm)
• HOLZER, Sigim, Notary
• TENCER, Hersch, Wood Dealers/Cloth Dealers/Notions& Fabrics
• WALKOWIECKAK, Breweries
• ZAJACZKOWSKIW, Druggist

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Frysztak - 1923 Business Directory:

The Business Directory of 1923 shows that Frysztak Jews were not illiterate farmers, but included many tradesmen and well-educated professionals.

FRYSZTAK - (in polish and french): Miasteczko, powiat Frysztak, sad powiatowy Frysztak, sad okregowy Rzeszow, I 357 mieszkancow, (picture of train) 1 km linja kolejowa Jaslo Rzeszow; urzad miejski, 1 (picture of church) 2 synagogi, Szpital epidemiczny. Stow, kupcow I Przemysl, stow. Rzemieslnikow. Targi: co tydzien ogolne. Fabryki wyrobow cementowych.
Petite ville, distr. De Frysztak, trib. De distr Frysztak, trib. D'arr-t Rzeszow, I 357 habit.
English: Small town, Frysztak county, county court headquarters, district court Rzeszow population 357. 1 km. of railway: Jaslo-Rzeszow. City hall 1 cathedral, 2 synagogues, hospital. Merchants' association, craftsmen`s association. Market day: weekly, all types of merchandise. Cement factory.

The following trades and tradesmen were listed, first in Polish, and then in french; in addition, we have translated the trades into English.
Durmistrz ( maire : mayor): Rom. Zasielski
Lekarze ( médecins : physicians): Czwal Benj., Wilkt Natter
Akuszerki ( sages-femmes : medical midwives): L Steinlauf, A Wasikiewicz
Adwokaci ( avocats : lawyers ): M. Kaczkowski dr.
Agentury ( commissionaires en marchandises : Agent of merchandise): H. Getzler
Apteki ( pharmacies : pharmacies): R. Zasielski
Blacharze ( ferblantiers : tinsmiths): I. Kern, P. Reich
Bielizna pracownie ( lingerie : underwear): B. Goldfischer, M Korn , R. Wagner
Blawaty ( tissus : fabrics): L. Gast, S. Neuman, I. Schmied, L Silber, I Steppel, R. Thaler
Budowlane materjaly ( matériaux de construction :construction materials): T Puderbeitel, Iz Malz
Bydlo - Handel ( march. de bestiaux : cattle traders): J Bein, M Bein
Cementowe wyroby fabriyki ( fabr. De produits en ciment : cement products): W Dudek, I Malc
Drzeico ( bois : timber): Emglard Kosztur
Confectionary:E Hersberg
Galanterja ( merceries : clothing accessories): Ader, J Stiel
Informacyjno-handiowe biura ( renseignements commercerciaux : comercial resellers?): O Birnbaum L Stein
Jaja ( oeufs : eggs): S Neuman, I San
Kasy pozyczk.-oszczedn. ( caisses d`emprunt et d`épargne: credit unions): Zaliczkowe, Sp. z o. o. - Ukrainska Kasa Kredytowa, Sp. z o. o.
Kominiarskie przedsieb. ( entrepr. de ramonage : chimneysweeps) : M Tyrlok.
Kooperatywy ( cooperat. :: cooperation): Kolko Rolnicze
Kamasznicky ( tiges p. chaussures : boot makers): Diamant S.
Konie handel ( march. de chevaux : Horse trader): S. Seiden, L Bigajer
Kowale ( forgerons : blacksmiths): F Gornicki, H Kosztor, J Kosztor
Krawcy ( tailleurs : tailors): S Lat, F Seiden
Maszumu dp szucoa ( machines a coudre : sewing machines?): Ch Rosengarten
Nabial ( cremiers : Cream makers?): A Bodner, L Bruch, I Schenkel
Nafta ( petrols : oil ): "Zanger"
Nierogacizna Handel ( march. de porcs : Pig trader: F Hefner
Obuwie ( chaussures : shoes): D Guzik, G Weiss
Piekarnie ( boulangers: bakers): I Grun, M Isler
Oieje I smary ( huiles et graisses: ?): I Neubart
Zboze ( grains : grains): Priwler I. - Schreiber L.
Roinicze nar zedzia ( instr. agricoles: farming school ?): J Low
Rozne towary ( art divers : miscellaneous merchandise): S Baldinger, S Engelhardt, A Epsteiin, Ch Epstein, Herbach, J Klotz, S Krieger, M Kurtz, Ch Lampin, F Nord, S Nord, G Puderbeitel, M Puderbeitel, W Rieger, R Schiff, S Schiff, M Schweid, W Sukc Silbermana, A Asmyka, R Struck, J Teitelbaum, S Wilner, S Ziegler, N Galitz, Ch Fleischer, A Widniowski
Siodlarze ( selliers : ?): D. Kandel
Skory ( cuirs : leather): T Blank, P Engelhardt, J Gross, S Teitelbaum
Sol hurt ( sel en gros : wholesale salt?): J Miloraj
Stolarze ( menuisiers : carpenters): Marcinkowski
Szewcy ( cordonniers : shoemakers): I Last
Szklarze ( vitriers : glaziers): Steppel
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Frysztak Immigrants to New York 1892-1924

You can easily do the query yourself and find the manifest. Use the Steve Morse’s query at www.jewishgen.org/databases/EIDB . Here are the steps:

• Click on the Gold Passengers Query.
• To see all the immigrants from one town, enter the name of the town (or put your surname in) and
• Click on "sounds like" .
• Click on Search

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Researchers Interested in Frzytak

Do you have roots in Frysztak? Would you like to connect with others researching the same community? Go to the JewishGen Family Finder database. There are hundreds of thousands of names and towns being researched. You'll need to register first, but it's free, and it's wonderful...so please try it! Note down this address: https://www.jewishgen.org/JGFF or click here for the JewishGen Family Finder

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Records Available in European Archives

Another good resource is the JewishGen Community page with links to many databases (see table of contents). Return to Table of Contents

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Jacob Apfelbaum: Genealogy

This photograph was taken in Frysztak around 1935; it delightfully shows members of the Frysztak community.

Descendancy Chart of Avram Apfelbaum

Avram1 Apfelbaum, d. 1937 asthma
+Sara1 Mehr, d. 1934

• Mordecai2 Apfelbaum, b. 1887 Stempina, Galicia, d. 1941 Galicia
  +Tauba2 Den, b. 1889 Brzezowka, Galicia, m. 1911 moved to, Frysztak, d. 1926 in the Hospital, Krakau
  • Leibish3 Apfelbaum, b. 1912 Frysztak, d. 1943
  • Jack3 Apfelbaum, b. 25 Dec 1914 Zmigrod, Galicia
    +Pessel3 Birman
  • Efroim3 Apfelbaum, b. Nov 1919 Frysztak, d. 1943
  • Slamek3 Apfelbaum, b. 1922
  • Aaron3 Apfelbaum, b. 1924
• Sara2 (Apfelbaum), m. 1927
  • Itsik3 Apfelbaum, b. 1929 Frysztak, d. 1942
  • Naftula3 Apfelbaum, b. 1931 Frysztak, Galicia, d. 1942
  • Mendel3 Apfelbaum, b. 1933 Frysztak, Galicia, d. 1942
• Deborah2 Apfelbaum
• Esther2 Apfelbaum
• Chaya2 Apfelbaum, d. 1941

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Max Stein: Genealogy

Mordeche (Max) Stein was born March 18, 1897 in Frysztak, Austria. He was one of six children born to Chaim "Stein" and Malka (Miriam) "Maltz" Stein.
Max's siblings were Abraham (Abe), Genedel (Gerte), Leibush (Lichu), Mendel, and Hinde.
In June of 1910 Abe Stein born 1893 arrived at Ellis Island aboard the Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse . He established a dairy business on Houston Street on New York's lower East Side. In December of 1913, his sister Gerte born 1892 arrived on the Kaiseren Auguste Victoria. She later married Irving Sturm. In July of 1921 my Grandfather Max arrived in the US aboard the Berengaria. He was 24 years of age and had $40 with him at the time of his arrival. Max worked with his brother Abe for a few years before setting off on his own share of the American dream.
The other siblings remained in Europe along with their mother Miriam. Chiam Stein reportedly died when Max was a young boy, circa 1905.

Miriam Maltz Stein's parents were Chiam Hersh Maltz and Frede Pesel "Wallach" (Walach, Wallick, Wallish). Miriam Maltz Stein was alive as late as 1932.
Miriam was one of 5 children born to Chaim Hersch Maltz born 1837. Reportedly a large land owner in Frysztak, upon his death his son Israel (Izzy) took over the family business of building supplies and lumber. Miriams siblings were Rivka , Reizel , and Chaskel.
Chaim Stein's parents are unknown at this time.
Max Stein married Rose Berkowitz in June of 1926. Rose was from a Shtetl called Drohovo, Dragovo, Kovesliget , which was part of the former Hungarian empire and today is part of the Ukraine. Max and Rose had 3 daughters all liklite@lionsharecapital.com"> R. Keith Lite

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Wolker: Genealogy

My name is Yonasan Shapiro and I live in Israel. I am searching Wolker/Volker from Frystak. My g-g-grandfather Yitzchok Hacohen Wolker had at least 3 siblings:

• Yerchamiel
• Shmuel,
• Nathan,and
• Miriam Gittel (Gottlieb)

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Neumann: Genealogy

My name is Elli Epstein and I live in New Jersey. I would appreciate any information about the Neumann Family from other family members or landslite.

My mother, Chave Neumann, was born in Frystik. Two brothers, Simcha Mayer and Shimon came to the U.S. before the war. (The photograph below is the Neumann family with cousins; it was taken in Frystik in 1937).
A sister Ita and brother Yankel remained in Frystik.

Below left is a photograph of Chave, Yankel, Elli and Ita Neumann, Frystik 1937. Below right is the wedding photograph of Ita Neumann and David Findling, taken in Frystik shortly before the war.

My father Shimon Neumann was born in Kolaczyce, near Frystik. He was one of nine siblings. During World War I his family moved to Cologne (Koln) Germany where they remained until WW2. Only my father and later one brother, David, came to the U.S. Please click on my name to send me a message. Thankyou. Elli Epstein

More Neumann Genealogy

Elli...I received the following note from Maria Brilliant in Israel. She wants to contact you. Please email her.

Dear Phyllis, My father was born in Frysztak. While looking at your site about Frysztak, I suddenly found the picture that Elli Epstein sent you of her family, in 1937 in Frysztak. And imagine my emotion at recognising my father on that picture, and one of his brothers (my uncle, still living in Paris). I never had any picture of my father nor of Frysztak from before the war. I went to Frysztak in 2005, but it was hard to feel connected... So I wrote to Elli Epstein, but her mail is not valid anymore. Could you please ask her somehow to get into touch with me ? Because she is family, being born Neumann from one niece of my grand-mother...Thank you very much for your help. My name is Maria Brilliant, and I live in Israel. Maria Brilliant

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David Wolf Findling

I am David Findling and my father, Fred Findling is a survivor. I have been trying to fill in more of his family tree but have struggled. My grandfather, David (Dawid) was born in Frysztak in 1901; he died in a group execution in a Polish field near Frysztak. My grandmother, Etla died at Auschwitz. My father became a refugee around age 8 and came to the U.S. at 10. I have searched on JewishGen, the multiple databases, the Galicia site, Ancestry and others.

My father is nearing the end of his life and I would love to fill in his family tree for him. As with other survivors, my father went back to Europe in the 50s to find family. He was able to connect with his first cousin (on his mother's side) Joe Kirchenstein and an uncle, Charles Gordon (Chaskiel Gottesdiener), but noone from his father's side. My brilliant sister, Debbie also searched in Poland for answers. You can read about her search in the Detroit Jewish News article, "A Path To The Heart"

I would grateful for any assistance or direction you can offer.
Thank you David Findling

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Edmund Janas Genealogy

In March 2008 I received this note from Edmund Janas: Dear Phyllis, my grandmother was Cecelia Dudek, wife of Walter Janas and they were both from Frystak. Could you please put a notice asking for information regarding her family there. She had a son who was killed on a bike by a German land mine. He was my father's half-brother, and we believe he had children. Cecelia went on to America. Thankyou.Edmund Janas

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Maurer Genealogy

In January of 2015 I received this note from Russ Maurer: Hi Phyllis,
I just thought I'd pass along a couple of Frysztak connections that have emerged as I have continued to research Maurer/Mahrer ancestry in Jodlowa, which is about 20 miles to the west.
One Mahrer cousin, Zvi Naftali Mahrer, son of Moshe Mahrer and Blima Gass, went to Frysztak (Kalembina) to marry a Beim girl. Zvi Naftali's wife was Miriam Beim. Go ahead and put something on the kehilalinks page. The girl may be from the family listed as Bein in the 1923 business directory and in the list of pre-war residents. Zvi Naftali and his wife had several children, one of whom got to the US in 1935. I am in touch with that one's daughter. The rest of the family didn't make it.
In the opposite direction, Fiszel Neubart from Frysztak (Huta Gogolowka), son of Rubin Neubart and Lea Weintraub, went to Jodlowa to marry another Mahrer cousin, Feiga, the daughter of Szimon Mahrer and Rywka Siegfried. The marriage was in 1921, and the couple went on to have 3 daughters. I don't know what happened to the family in the war, but my assumption is they perished. I did note a Mirla Neubart on the list of emigrants that you posted on the shtetlinks page. I investigated, and she turns out to be Fiszel's brother. Needless to say, I would love to track down descendants, if there are any. If you happen to know anything about her after her arrival in NY, that would be a huge help since she is proving elusive so far.
All the best, and happy hunting! Thankyou.Russ Maurer

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Lubla, a town North of Frystak by Howard Matson

Lubla is a shtetl/village located about 2 or 3 miles north of Frysztak. I stopped in Lubla in August of 2013. My great uncle, Harry STEIN, was born in Lubla, Septeber 17th, 1879 to Peron David Stein (1849-1902) and Gertrude Brandt Stein (1850-1913).
Uncle Harry Stein went on to become a leading businessman in Passaic, New Jersey. He was instrumental in the early motion picture industry in Northern New Jersey; then a real estate developer and at his death in 1952 the largest individual taxpayer in the city.
The ten children born to Peron and Gertrude in Lubla were: Jacob, Leon (1874-1961), Samuel, Bertha (1869-2929), Bernhardt, Edward, Max Anna, Harry (1879-1952) and Lieb.
The photographs taken are at the abandoned Jewish cemetery located on the western side of the road behind a group of small stores. The cemetery is located on a slope and there is no care or maintenance.
Howard Matson, Westport, Connecticut

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Teper and Berger Genealogy by Chaya Stamm

My grandmother is the daughter of Menachem Mendel Teper (sometimes spelled Tepper) and Mindel Berger.
Menachem Mendel was born in 1901, he was the son of Yaakov and Feiga (whose last name we would like to know). He was one of 14 children.
Mindel was born in 1903 and was the daughter of Hendel Henna Stein and Arye Leib Berger. She had a sister Gertrude and brothers Nat, Benny, and Otto (I think).
Mindel had an aunt Rose who as far as I can tell (family history changes a bit based on who you ask) sponsored Gertrude's ticket to America. Gertrude worked in a sweatshop and saved to bring each of her family members over from Frystak one at a time.
Mindel came over as an older teen as far as I can make out (I can't find a record of herself travel) and became a seamstress. Her mother came over in 1925 on the Caronia (I found her on Ellis Island records) and worked selling curtains from a push cart. When Mindel was 26 their family finances must have been a bit better, because she went back to Frystak to find a religious man to marry. Family story has it she remembered Mendel from her neighborhood and went in the hopes of marrying him specifically. He was hesitant based on the fact that he heard there is no Shabbos in America. The Rabbi told him he should go for a shidduch, clearly as he was 31 by the time they arrived in America, he was not a young single anymore. He tried to persuade his parents to immigrate too but they wouldn't as they were very religious and didn't trust yiddishkeit in America either.
I found the record of Mendel Tepper in Ellis Island, and have Mindel's passport that shows her travels, to confirm this story.

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Photographs of the Cemetery

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The Holocaust in Frysztak

Ghettos

(Source: Glówna Komisja Zbrodni Hitlerowskich w Polsce - Rada Ochrony Pomników Walki i Meczenstwa - Obozy hitlerowskie na ziemiach polskich 1939-1945, Warsaw 1979) (translated from Polish in April, 1998)

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