MZ-437-D

This is a letter written by Father Jan Skarbek (1885-1951), parish priest of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Oświęcim, to Dr. Iro Druks on April 14, 1950. The priest was known for his friendship with the Jewish residents of Oświęcim before the war. His friendship with the main rabbi of Oświęcim, Elijah Bombach, was well-known. Among his close friends was Dr. Iro Druks, who was a prominent Oświęcim lawyer and social-political activist associated with the Zionist-Revisionist movement. This party enjoyed considerable support in Oświęcim during the 1930s. Both Skarbek and Druks also served on the city council. In 1934, while a member of the Council, Skarbek received the title of honorary citizen of Oświęcim, and the Jewish and Christian members of the Council voted unanimously in his favor. This fact was later described in the Jewish daily press. The opinion-forming Kraków daily, Nowy Dziennik, called Father Skarbek a man of “crystalline character. After the War, Father Skarbek cared for those liberated from Auschwitz at the Polish Red Cross hospital in Oświęcim. He also remained on friendly terms with the Holocaust survivors scattered throughout the world. One of them was Dr. Iro Druks. Before the outbreak of World War II, the Liebermanns and the Druks, who were related to them, were co-owners of Emil Kuźnicki’s roofing felt factory in Brzezinka (founded in 1888). In 1939 both families fled to the East to escape the incoming war. Their odyssey led through Lvov, labor camps in the depths of the USSR (Kozmodemyansk in the Mari Republic and Omsk in Siberia), to Uzbekistan (Tashkent and Samarkand). The Druks – Iro, Łucja and their children Adam and Elinoar – landed with General Anders’ Polish Army in Teheran and Baghdad. They finally arrived in Palestine on December 31, 1942. Due to their advanced age, Joachim (1876-1950) and Józefina (1879-1958) Liebermann remained in Samarkand and returned briefly to Oświęcim after the war. They finally joined the rest of the family after the war. The text of the letter reads: “Most Venerable Counselor! A few days before Easter, I was pulled away from my work at the church because the post office reported that I had a box of oranges to pick up, and that I had to do it right away, because oranges go bad. Where do these oranges come from? I asked. From the Holy Land, they answered. At that moment I thought about Lieberman and Druks sending them. And I was not wrong. You, Counselor, have no “idea” – as they say here – what a great and pleasant surprise you have given me with such a dear and rare gift. My family and the priests who received a part of this gift rejoiced like little children. [Here it is quiet here […]. It’s cloudy and cool, and often rainy. Mr. Schoenker isn’t free yet. He’s a good man to his neighbours. He erected ruined walls around the Israelite cemetery, and he rendered many services to the poor. Few of the former residents of Oświęcim remain. You can count them on your fingers […]. The mayor is Mr. Kapała, the vice-mayor is Mr. Pępek, the one who was a nurse or a doorkeeper at Mr. Thieberg’s place. [How are things in the lives of Mr. Patenas, his wife and children? How are the Mrs. Liebermanns holding up? To you and to your whole family I send my heartfelt bows and thanks […]. With words of true honor and respect Rev. Jan Skarbek, M.A.