Date unknown, Warsaw ghetto, Yoysef Piotrkowski – Lubień , ”געשיכטע
מלחמה איבערלעבעניש פֿון קוטנאָ“ [History and war experience of Kutno].
History of the Jewish settlement in Kutno. September 1939, first months
of the German occupation, persecutions and expulsion of the Jews to
a camp at the Konstancja sugar factory.
[1] History and war experience of Kutno
Written by Yoysef Piotrkowski – Lubień.⁹²³
According to a certain historian, settlement at Kutno in general dates back
to the 15th century. Jews first began to settle in Kutno at the end of the
16th century, and it was famous for its great rabbis and brilliant scholars,
known throughout the world for their genius and acumen.
The author⁹²⁴ of Lechem Ha-Panim,⁹²⁵ who was the son-in-law of the
Magen Avraham,⁹²⁶ was a rabbi in Kutno. That was already almost 250 years
ago. It is said of him that every morning at dawn, contrary to his dignity, he
used to carry a bucket of water to his home. One day a householder remarked
that it was not befitting for a Kutno rabbi to do so. The rabbi replied hakatan
lefi Kutno,⁹²⁷ “it is befitting for Kutno.”
Among other rabbis who were active in Kutno were Rabbi Ayzl
Harif⁹²⁸ z.tz.l. and rabbi Moyshe Aharon Kutner929 z.tz.l., the author of Zayit
923 It is not clear whether “Lubień” is part of the author’s name or his place of residence. The town of Lubień Kujawski lies about 25 km north-west from Kutno.
924 Rabbi Yekutiel Ha-Cohen Kaufman, who returned to his hometown of Krotoszyn around 1710 following a controversy in the Kutno community.
925 (Hebrew) shewbread; consecrated unleavened bread placed by the priests of ancient Israel on a table in the Temple sanctuary on the Sabbath; a commentary on the Yoreh de’ah section of the Shulhan Aruch.
926 (Hebrew) Shield of Abraham; a commentary on the Orach Hayim section of the Shulhan Aruch by Rabbi Avraham Abele ben Hayim Ha-Levi Gombiner (1635–1682), who is known by the title of that work.
927 (Hebrew) humble according to Kutno; a word play on “Kutno” and the expression ani hakatan (my humble person). The meaning is that for a rabbi it might not be befitting, but for a Kutno rabbi it was.
928 Yehoshua Ayzik Shapira (1801–1872), called Charif (sharp), who returned to his hometown of Słonim in 1861.
