The Judenrat was formed following an order from the Kreishauptmann⁷⁷⁴
on the general order of the Governor General. The Judenrat was formed on
15 January 1940. Compromise elections were held. There were 6 people elected
from the old Jewish community and 6 new [ones], altogether 12 people.
The chairman, Mr M. Skrzypek was one of the new people. The Judenrat immediately had a very difficult and responsible task to supply the authorities with
various items and simultaneously to regulate the labour issue. The supply of
the items entailed colossal expenses for such a town. A monthly budget had
to be fixed for this purpose. In some months, the budget reached 5,000 zlotys
a month. The collection of these sums for [6] this monthly tax, as it was
called, had to sometimes be done by sanctions, such as taking funds, even by
locking up, with the help of the police, later the Jewish police.
The material situation of the Jews of Góra Kalwaria at that time became
very bad. Their merchandise had been confiscated; trade was clandestine. It is
telling that in the adjacent town of Piaseczno Jews traded freely and openly,
whereas in Góra Kalwaria everything was prohibited. It is true that a new
branch of income was added: smuggling food into Warsaw and bringing back
sugar and other foods.
There were up to 900 refugees at that time. They lived better than the
poor of Góra Kalwaria. They were supported as much as possible. The destitution
among the Jews of Góra Kalwaria was great, contact with the Warsaw Joint
was soon established, and after receiving the first 3,000 zlotys in February
1940, the Jews immediately began to set up a soup kitchen. Understandably,
the Judenrat took over the work, and in no time the kitchen was ready and
distributed up to 1,200 daily midday meals for 10 groszes a meal, free to the
poor. The kitchen lasted until June and, when the Joint stopped providing
support, the kitchen ceased to exist. It is worth mentioning that the Judenrat
supplemented up to 10,000 zlotys for the kitchen.
There were no special aid committees. The Judenrat provided all aid.
Medical help, one zloty per visit to a doctor (a Jew, P. Rozenberg), partly free
of charge, and prescriptions were also free, and partly subsidised. The Judenrat
distributed support to the poor in money, up to 1,500 zlotys monthly. It is
774 From September 1939 to 1 March 1940, the Kreishauptmann of the Grójec County was Paul Hampel (1907–?). Later, until February 1943, he held the position of Landrat of Zawiercie (Wartheland). See M. Roth, Herrenmenschen, p. 479.
