Gustaw (Gecel) Cyprys (1906-?) – an ophthalmologist. Son of Józef Chaim and Sura nee Fogel. He studied medicine in France at the University of Montpellier. In the 1930s, he worked at the Jewish Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Czyste in Warsaw. He was murdered by […]
Doctor Matias (Mateusz) Marienstras (Mariański) was born on September 22, 1900 in Płock. He was the son of Moszek (Mikołaj) and Maria née Krykus. He had two brothers – Wilhelm, who was also a doctor, Maksymilian – a pharmacist by profession, and sister Franciszka (married […]
On February 21, on the 80th anniversary of the first deportation of Jews from the Płock ghetto, the album Dalet by the Płock trio Schröttersburg was released. Both the release date and the title of the album are not accidental – Michał, bassist and vocalist of the group says: The band wanted to remind about it and also dedicate the album to all victims of the deportation. It is also worth mentioning that this album is largely inspired by Kabbalah, its symbolism and meaning.
Apart from the above-mentioned inspirations, the album does not contain direct and literal references to Jewish culture or music. Schröttersburg are consistently doing their artistic work, following the cold-wave path on which the musicians have built their own language. A language that was also very aptly used to pay tribute to the Płock Jewish community, because this music does not lack energy and motor skills, which are a transmitter of emotions, anger and discord.
It is worth noting that fragments of two songs from the Dalet album were also included in the soundtrack of the film “Into the abyss of shadows”, created by the Nobiscum Foundation as part of the 80th anniversary of the liquidation of the Płock ghetto.
The album has been released on CD and cassette, and a vinyl release is also planned. More information about its purchase can be found, among others on Bandacamp and the band’s Facebook.
We invite you to watch the film “Into the abyss of shadows”, which we prepared in connection with the 80th anniversary of the liquidation of the Płock ghetto. In the film, you can listen to the accounts of witnesses of these events, see archival documents […]
Matias Marienstras (Mateusz Mariański) (1900-1957) – doctor of medicine. He was born on September 22 in Płock. He was the son of a merchant from Warsaw, Moszek and Sura née Krykus. He had two brothers – Wilhelm, who was also a doctor by profession, and […]
The Jews of Płock, apart from creating their own social organizations, took an active part in the activities of many others operating in the town. An example may be the Medical Society of Płock, where doctors of Jewish origin were involved, many of whom were professionally associated with the Izaak Fogel Jewish Hospital.
The second from the left is Dr. Jakub Winogron (born 1888) – a doctor of internal medicine, who was responsible for medical care in primary schools together with school counseling centers to fight social diseases at school age. His tasks included, among others observing hygienic conditions in school premises, supervising the health of students and teachers, periodic tests of children, directing the poorest children to free health centers and outpatient clinics, facilitating trips to summer camps. He also provided outpatient assistance in the municipal clinic at the St. Trinity Hospital.
The fourth from the left – Dr. Chaskiel aka Jerzy Bresler (born 1890) was also a doctor of internal medicine. He studied in Berlin, then in Warsaw. Professionally, he was associated with the Izaak Fogel Jewish Hospital.
Next to him is Dr. Antoni Surzec (born 1886), who conducted medical practice in the field of gynecology and obstetrics in the interwar Płock. He was recognized as an outstanding practitioner.
The third from the right is Dr. Hersz Kadysz (born 1891) – a doctor and social activist involved in projects for the health of poor children in Płock.
The first on the right is Dr. Ignacy Feinberg (born 1867) – a doctor of internal medicine, director of the Izaak Fogel Jewish Hospital in Płock.
In the photo: members of the Medical Society of Płock (the photo taken by Wacław Rydel comes from the collection of the Płock Scientific Society).
27 January 2021 marks the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, following the annual call of the Shalom Foundation, we encourage everyone in Płock to light candles in our windows on 6 p.m. as a sign of remembrance of all victims of the Holocaust. […]
Chaim Mendel aka Mieczysław Themerson (1871–1930) – doctor of medicine from Płock, writer and journalist was born on October 8, 1871, as the son of the turner Rubin and Chaja Tauba Themerson. Chaim Mendel graduated from the Płock Governorate Middle High School, and then the […]
Paweł Goldstein (1884-1942) – an outstanding surgeon, scientist, one of the pioneers of neurosurgery in Poland, born in 1884 in the family of Kalman Kopel and Temra née Tac. His family lived at 10 Więzienna Street (now 30 Sienkiewicza Street) in Maria Obniska’s tenement house. Paweł Goldstein was a student of the Governorate Middle High School in Płock. On March 6, 1902, on the anniversary of Gogol’s death, Paweł Goldstein took an active part in the rebellion of the students of the Płock middle high school (he was one of its leaders, together with his cousin’s son, Lucjan Altberg, who was two years younger at the time, Beniamin Golde’s grandson, and Julian Golde, son of Benjamin Golde, one year older). The consequence of this courageous act was expulsion from school with being blacklisted at the same time. The blacklisting was revoked, but Paweł Goldstein had to take his high school diploma in Kerch, in the Crimea. Probably for the same reason he could not study at the Imperial University of Warsaw, so he decided to study at Swiss and German universities. He studied medicine in Bern, Berlin and Bonn. He received his doctorate in medical sciences in 1909 from the University of Freiburg. After returning to Poland, he settled in Warsaw, where he became professionally involved in the Surgical Department of the Hospital in Czyste. He took an active part in the Polish-Bolshevik war, serving in the front units in Polesie. He was the commander of a field hospital. In the 1930s, he opened a surgical facility in Warsaw at Wilcza Street, which became famous as a real workshop of clinical work. He was also a well-known philanthropist: in the Society for Aid to the Poorest, the Tuberculosis Society and the School of Nurses. During the mobilization, before World War II (or at the beginning of the war), he volunteered for the army, but was not accepted into active service. He was appointed the head of the surgical department of the hospital in Chełm. Evacuated to Łuck, he also remained there after the Germans entered, taking care of, among others, Soviet prisoners of war. He died in Łuck on January 24, 1942 of typhus, which he contracted from a patient. Apparently, he was still actively involved in the work of the hospital until he lost consciousness.
Paweł Goldstein conducted research in the field of neurosurgery and oncology in the neurobiology laboratory of the Warsaw Scientific Society. He conducted a number of difficult and pioneering operations, including he was one of the first surgeons to perform periarterial sympathectomy using the Lerich method and thoracoplasty using the Sauerbruch method. His scientific achievements include over 30 works, incl. those in the field of neurosurgery.
His wife was Cecylia née Mamelok. His son, Jan Goldstein (1913-1991), was a famous doctor, professor of surgery and academic teacher.
Bibliography:
Przedpełski J., Stefański J., Żydzi płoccy w dziejach miasta, Płock 2012
Year 2021 marks the 80th anniversary of the liquidation of the Płock ghetto. The first deportation of Jews from Płock took place on February 21, 1941, the last – on March 1 of this year. In order to commemorate the days when about 10,000 Jews […]
