In 1898, on the initiative of Miranda née Kohn Wolfsohn, a shelter for orphans was established in Płock, supported by contributions, one-off donations, and primarily from the founder’s own funds. Miranda Wolfsohn was born around 1841, she was the daughter of Mojżesz and Hinda née Fajersztejn, the Kohn spouses. Her husband – Markus Frenkel Wolfsohn (1830-1910) – was a grain merchant, banker, member of the Mutual Credit Society in Płock and a well-known Płock philanthropist, one of the initiators of the creation of the Jewish hospital. Miranda Wolfsohn, apart from being involved in the activities of the orphanage, also looked after the shelter for the elderly and disabled.
In 1905, a shelter for girls under the age of 13 was established at the Jewish Charity Society. In 1913, 16 girls, mostly orphans, found shelter and support there, in 1915 there were 20 children. The shelter was financially supported by, among others Moszek Szlama Sarna, Adolf Russak, Julian Kwiatek, the Fajans, Płońskier, Szyf and Szlossberg families.
During World War I, the Jewish community in Płock launched a daytime shelter for 80 children with the help of the Association of German Jews in Berlin.
In 1917, the Society for the Protection of Jewish Children was established in Płock. According to the Society’s Act, its aim was to extend moral and material care over poor children in Płock. This goal was achieved by supporting the existing institutions in Płock and caring for children, opening new shelters for children, creating summer camps and day camps, providing children with clothes and food, providing medical care, funds for education etc. Funds for the Society’s activity came from donations, income from the capital and property of the Society, lectures, concerts, theater performances, as well as donations placed in fundraiser cans in various places. The text of the act was signed by Józef Rogozik, Izrael Nożyca, Mojżesz Jakub Globus, Józef Kohn, Eda Sarna and Paulina Altberg. The seat of the Society was at Dobrzyńska Street in the house of Franciszek and Marcelian Antoni Zieliński.
The Society for the Protection of Jewish Children in Płock ran the Shelter for Homeless Jewish Children in Płock, founded by Mojżesz Jakub Globus and Mordka Koszerkiewicz. The board was composed of Józef Rogozik, Paulina Altberg, Eda Sarna, Mojżesz Jakub Globus, Mordka Koszerkiewicz, Szlama Eksztajn, Jakub Józef Bursztyn, Berysz Czerkas, Józef Kon and Izrael Nożyca.
The shelter was supported by a subsidy of the board of the Jewish community, funds from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a subsidy of the Municipality and voluntary donations. In order to fund the shelter, its management organized various charity events, including performances in the building of the municipal theater. In 1921, the institution had 25 places (45 residents) and employed 5 people.
Daytime shelter with a dormitory for Jewish children was located in the house of the Jewish community at 5 Zduńska Street and developed its activities on the basis of the statute of the Jewish Charity Society. It was a closed facility, which functioned thanks to payments for children, a subsidy from the Jewish community, the Central Association for the Care of Orphans, a subsidy from the Municipality of Płock, charity events and private donations. Parties for support of the Jewish shelter for children were organized, among others, in the gymnastic hall of the primary school at Dobrzyńska Street. The institution looked after the Jewish children of the town of Płock, orphans, half-orphans and children abandoned by their parents, aged 3 to 14 years.
In June 1923, there were 23 children in the institution at Zduńska Street, in December of that year – 37, in early March 1924 – 31 (the youngest – Fajga Lewkowicz – 3 years old, the oldest – Estera Szlachter – 15 years old), at the end of May 1924 – 35.
According to data from July 2, 1929, there were 30 children, 20 girls and 10 boys, aged 2 to 14, in the shelter. The administrative department employed 2 employees, the educational department – 1. In 1930, there were 12 boys and 20 girls in the shelter. The youngest children were under 3 years old. The daily cost of maintaining one child was 1.20 zlotys. In January 1931 there were 32 children in the shelter, and in October of that year – 35. The board of the institution at that time included Paulina Altberg, Frenklowa, Mojżesz Altberg, Alfred Blay, I. J. Bursztyn, Jakub Kenigsberg and Józef Rogozik. The manager, host and tutor of the institution was Jadwiga Zand, who for many years worked as a tutor in a similar shelter in Łódź, had secondary school education and extensive experience.
Paulina Altberg, a charity activist known in Płock, looked after the shelter for most of its existence. As the protégé of the shelter, Gustaw Puk, recalled: “The shelter was the apple of her eye and she spared no efforts to raise its level. She was like mother for us children, we turned to her in times of need. She will remain in our hearts as a symbol of a devoted and caring Jewish mother, and as a symbol of good in the human soul”. Paulina (Perla) Altberg was born on October 10, 1865 in Płock, in the family of Beniamin Golde and Liba Rachela (Bronisława) née Goldsztejn. She was a music teacher, and Icchok Lejbusz Perec, who was friends with the Altbergs, liked to listen to her playing the piano. She played for him works by Robert Schumann and Ludwig van Beethoven for hours. She instilled a love for music in her daughter Emma, who was an outstanding pianist, harpsichordist, music teacher and journalist. Paulina Altberg together with her mother Bronisława Golde dealt with the organization of amateur performances, concerts and games, the proceeds of which were allocated to the activities of the Talmud Torah religious school. She was a member of the board of the “Drop of Milk” Jewish Society for the Protection of Mothers and Children and the chairman of the section for distribution of clothes and shoes to school children at the Jewish Charity Society. In 1917, she co-founded the Society for the Protection of Jewish Children in Płock and was part of the board of the Shelter for Homeless Jewish Children in Płock, which operated at the Society. For many years, she was the main carer of the Shelter for Jewish children in Płock. For her pupils, she organized, among others, trips to summer camps in Ciechocinek and Emilin. Paulina Altberg died on March 15, 1938. She was buried at the local Jewish cemetery.
