A route commemorating the Jewish history of Chelm. Walk through places that tell the story of the community that made up this city for centuries.
Before 1939 Chelm was inhabited by a large Jewish community. The minority numbered nearly 13,000-15,000 people, making the city one of the most important centers of Jewish culture on the eastern fringes of the Republic. This translated into the atmosphere of the city with its filled synagogue, the bustle of Lubelska Street, the intellectual ferment in Peretz’s library. This world, co-created over five centuries, was almost completely annihilated in the darkness of the Holocaust.
Most of the route points are located in the city center. The exception is the Jewish Cemetery on Kolejowa Street, which must be reached by car or on foot.
Kiosk of Jewish merchant and social activist Mejer Dobkowski. The wooden building, on a square plan with sides of 2.8 meters and a height of 5.1 meters, was built in 1913. It is covered with a gabled roof and decorated with Chelm’s coat of arms.
Monument unveiled in 2022 in the area of the former ghetto, dedicated to Chelm Jews murdered during World War II. Established during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the liquidation of the Chelm ghetto.
A plaque dedicated to Simon Mondzain (1988-1979), a Chełm-born painter active in France. It was founded in 2013 on the 125th anniversary of the artist’s birth. It is located on the façade of the Kupfer family building, where the painter’s family lived.
The tenement house of the Jewish Bronfeld family, which housed the Printing House, the Bookstore, the Stationery Store and the “Culture” Rubber Stamp Factory, printing, among other things, the monthly literary magazine “Kamena” (commemorated by a plaque founded in 1963).
A plaque dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the “Death March” that took place on December 1, 1939. It was founded by the Chelmer Jewish Organization of Israel in 2019. Below in 2024 a plaque dedicated to the 80th anniversary of “Operation Reinhardt”, funded by the Lublin Province authorities.
The building was constructed on the corner of Krzywa Street between 1912 and 1914 on the initiative of the Jewish Religious Community. The so-called “little synagogue” (bejt ha-midrash) functioned here, serving as a house of learning. The building has preserved decorative elements, in the form of Decalogue tablets on the gable above the entrance.
Dating back to the late 19th century, this tenement house on the corner of Krzywa Street, belonged to the Jewish Wieliczkier family. Until 1939, the Icchak Lejbusz Peretz Library, one of the main cultural institutions of Chelm Jews in the city, functioned here.
A square with a bench dedicated to Ida Haendel (1923-2020), a prominent violinist born in Chelm, who performed on stages all over the world during her career. Nearby is the former “Versailles” movie theater, the site of the artist’s first performances (now the “Zorza” Film Culture Center).
A square with a bench of Szmul Zygielbojm (1895-1943), a Jewish activist associated with Chelm. During World War II he was a member of the National Council to the President of Poland in London. There is a mural with his letter to the President of the Republic of Poland standing by the square, and a plaque founded in 2008 on a nearby building (Mickiewicza 9).
Located on the corner of Old Town Street, the cemetery was established at the end of the Middle Ages. During World War II it was destroyed. Currently it covers an area of about 2 hectares and about 80 preserved tombstones. In 1994-96 it was fenced and partially reconstructed with the participation of Chelm Jews from Israel, USA, Canada and South Africa. A symbolic monument dedicated to Chelm’s Jewish community and dozens of symbolic tombstones were also erected. A memorial dedicated to the Jews of Chelm and Rejowiec who were murdered at the cemetery in 1942 was also created in 2019.
Chelm in the Yiddish tradition is a city of legendary sages, characters at once wise and naive, whose stories were told throughout the Jewish world. Isaac Bashevis Singer, Menachem Kipnis and many other authors drew on Chelm folklore to create stories full of warm humor and wisdom hidden in apparent nonfiction.
These legends (about the Sages building a synagogue, catching the moon in a barrel or searching for reason at the bottom of a well) have become part of the world’s Yiddish culture. In literature, Chelm serves as a symbolic Jewish town, whose residents laugh at themselves, but in this laughter lies a deep truth about human nature.
Every year, Chelm hosts a festival that draws on the tradition of Chelm stories. Days of Jewish Culture is an event combining performances, concerts, workshops and walks in the footsteps of Jewish heritage. The festival attracts artists and audiences from all over Poland and abroad.
This is one of the few places where Chelm’s storytelling tradition returns to the city’s streets. During the festival, Legends of the Sages come to life in theater, klezmer music and workshops for children. If you are planning a visit to the trail, check the date of the festival. It usually takes place in late August. Walking through the memorials in the company of a living culture is an experience that stays for a long time.
The “All the world is one big Chelm” Festival has also been held for several years.
The route begins at the central point of Chelm.
Walk in the downtown area: Points 1-9 are in very close proximity to each other (within a radius of about 1-1.5 km). The whole area can be walked. The last point may require the use of public transportation or a car.
Points 1-9, is about two hours of leisurely walking with stops for reading the boards and a moment of reflection.
The route mainly follows sidewalks and paved paths.
Motorists can park in all available parking spaces. Parking throughout the city is free.
In the area of Mickiewicza and Lubelskaya Streets (the center) you will find numerous cafes and restaurants.
No – you can walk the trail on your own, but if you have the opportunity, walking with a local guide will be a deeper experience.
A Jewish cemetery is a place that demands respect. Men should consider head coverings. Nothing should be rearranged. Maintain silence.
The trail touches on the theme of the Holocaust, so it is best suited for older children (ages 12 and up) and teenagers. For younger children, the legends of the Wise Men of Chelm may be a better choice. They can be told at the Ida Haendel bench or at Dr. Luczkowski Square.
The Jewish Cultural Days Festival is held every year, usually in the summer. The exact date is announced on the city’s website and social media. This is the perfect time to combine a walk along the trail with participation in cultural events.
A tip for history enthusiasts:
If you want to deepen your knowledge of past residents, visit the Museum of Chelm Land. It showcases exhibits on the city’s history, including an ethnographic and historical section documenting Chelm’s multiculturalism
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