In 1904, the “Ezras Chojłym” Society for Providing Medical Assistance and Nursing to Poor and Sick Jews in Płock was established at the Jewish Charity Society, which was financed from its own funds – separate contributions and donations, in order to provide medical and nutritional aid to the poor residents of the town. There was a cheap pharmacy and an infirmary at the Society. Mieczysław Themerson was appointed a doctor, and Moszek Chaim Zalcberg performed the medical duties as well. The Committee was composed of Moszek Lidzbarski, J. S. Zyskind, M. Chazen and Płońskier.
In 1908, the president of the Society was Maurycy Sachs – a famous Płock merchant, social activist and philanthropist. Sachs supported with his donations, among others, the Talmud Torah religious school, organization of summer camps for poor children, help for orphans and the Society for the Promotion of Education among Jews. He was also one of the founders of the Jewish Charity Society. Mieczysław Themerson was the vice-president of the Society, Julian Kwiatek was the treasurer. In 1920, the members of the board of the Society were, among others, Moryc Gutkind and Józef Galewski.
At the beginning of 1921, the “Ezras Chojłym” Society for Providing Medical Aid and Nursing to Poor and Sick Jews in Płock had 200 members. The income of the Society came from the subsidy of the Jewish community, the Municipality of Płock and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, as well as from voluntary donations, a house of prayer and organized weddings. The Society dealt with distributing medicines to the poor, and organizing medical appointments. People in need were supplied with milk and other food products. The seat of the Society at that time was at 12 Szeroka Street.
The peak period of the Society’s activity was in the first years of re-opening of the Jewish hospital in Płock. At the beginning of 1928, a solemn appeal was held at the Municipal Theater, the entire proceeds of which were allocated to “Ezras Chojłym”. The artistic program of the appeal was very varied: songs by Schubert were played, a series of humorous monologues by Szolem Aleichem were performed, and the highlight of the evening was the appearance of a child prodigy, a nine-year-old xylophonist from Płock, who performed, among others, Liszt’s rhapsody.
In 1934, Icek Mejer Zylberberg (president) and Jakub Kenigsberg (vice-president) stood at the head of “Ezras Chojłym”. The aid of the organization to those in need was mainly expressed in providing medical help to poor patients, providing free medicines and caring for the family in the event of the hospitalization of its main supporter. Until the outbreak of World War II, the “Ezras Chojłym” society played an important role in the independent social welfare system developed by members of the Płock Jewish community.
Doctor Mieczysław (Chaim Mendel) Themerson was born on October 8, 1871 in the family of Rubin and Chaja Tauba. He was a social activist known in Płock: a member of the scientific committee of the University for All, a member of the Płock Scientific Society, Płock Rowing Society, Polish Progressive Press, co-founder of the “Ezras Chojłym” Society for Medical Assistance and Nursing to Poor and Sick Jews and a member of the funeral fund established in Płock in 1903. Mieczysław Themerson was actively involved in social work, he had a particularly sensitive heart for children. Driven by concern for their well-being, he devoted his time and attention with admirable commitment to monitoring the health and hygiene of elementary school students in Płock. From the beginning of his work as a doctor-hygienist, he tried to spread the rules of school hygiene as a writer in press, organized talks for children and youth of all religions in Płock schools, struggled for universal access to bathing.
In Płock, there was also the “Bykier Chojlem” Association for the Care of Poor and Ill Jews, chaired by Manchajm Szenwic. Its founders were Jakub Szenwic, Izydor Wasserman, Chaskiel Perelgryc, Abram Fiszman, Manchajm Szenwic, Mordka Dancygier and Kalman Frenkiel. The association dealt, among others, with providing free bread to poor, sick Jews.
