Of the twelve, eight reported for duty, while the remaining four left Łódź
immediately upon receiving their invitations. A finance committee was set
up to collect the war tax, which was as much as ten thousand zlotys. Those
who failed to pay the tax had it raised to fifty thousand zlotys. Such large
sums, however, were not collected, as people who were able to pay promp tly
left Łódź. The social welfare department was very active. Four kitchens were
set up: in Zachodnia Street (in the Berlin Hall)²⁸⁵, in Solna Street²⁸⁶ (at the
premises of the Noten Lekhem²⁸⁷ association), at Berka Joselewicza Street 16,
and at Pomorska Street 18 (the kehillah premises). Five thousand meals were
distributed daily. Financial aid was ten to fifteen thousand zlotys a day.
An order came concerning the experimental resettlement of fifteen thousand
Jews in four days. The kehillah announced that those registering voluntarily
would get financial aid for the move, at 50 zlotys a head. Those who
registered far exceeded the specified number. People were sent away to different
places. Registration continued, when suddenly there came an order to
terminate it. People took fright, panic ensued, and Jews again began fleeing
from the city.
ARG I 901 (Ring. I/963)
Description: original or duplicate, handwritten (MS*), pencil, Yiddish,
148×210 mm, minor damage and fragments missing, 1 sheet, 1 page. In the margins, the sign “••” (ink). The document was kept in a binder.
Attached is a note by Hersh Wasser in Yiddish: “On the history of the Łódź
Judenrat, Mordkhe Schwartzbard.”
285 The kitchen was located in a locale that belonged to Tomchei Orchim at Zachodnia Street 26.
286 Solna Street 14.
287 (Hebrew) bread giver; a charitable organisation already operating before the war.
