This event is being organized and is taking place under the auspices of the Jewish Community of Lódź with the support of the municipality of Bełchatów.
The Association Jewish Research Center in Lódź (Stowarzyszenie Centrum Badań Żydowskich w Łodzi) has taken on the Honorary Patronage for the commemoration.
There is a core organizing team consisting of Ewa Paul, Andrzej Selerowicz, and John Clark, preparing an event, a commemoration and reunion on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liquidation of the Jewish Ghetto in Bełchatów. The event will take place 16 to 19 August 2022.
Andrzej and Ewa were both born and raised in Bełchatów and have a keen interest in the history of their hometown, especially that of its Jewish community which made up a large part of the population until its destruction in 1942. The results of their research poured into their first book, Żydzi z Bełchatowa i okolic, which was subsequently published with John’s assistance in an English version, The Jews of Bełchatów and Neighboring Towns. Andrzej’s second book followed: Było sobie miasteczko…Bełchatów (There was a town…Bełchatów), and in 2021, Cud, ż przeżyliśmy (It’s a miracle we survived).
We are looking forward to welcoming many children, grandchildren and great-grandchilden of Jewish survivors from Bełchatów. They come from Israel, USA, Sweden, Australia, Canada, France, Argentina and other countries. We will be joined by other interested residents from Bełchatów and beyond.
Ewa Paul
Andrzej Selerowicz
John Clark