KRZYSZSTOF MALCZEWSKI
Krzysztof at Bachna Ganzyk's home, Klodawa, 2017.
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Krzysztof Malczewski began working for JRI as a researched and records extractor. As the interest of descendants grew to visiting their ancestral towns and trying to view records, Krzysztof jumped in and added tour guide, and translator to his already expertise in records searching.
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When I first talked to Stanley Diamond of JRI-Poland back in 2015, he insisted that if I make my way to Klodawa, there would be nobody better to use as a guide than Krysztof.
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As I already had a contact in Klodawa, Bachna Ganczyk, I did not need his services.
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In 2017, when I made my trek to Klodawa, and staying with Bachna, I had taken the weekend to visit Poznan with my guest guide Aleksander Loza. Bachna called in somewhat of an urgent message to say it was important to return the next day, as a researcher from Australia was going to Przedez the following day, and it would be a great opportunity for me to join. When I returned and walked into Bachna's house, who was there, but the woman from Australia and her guide: Krzysztof.
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Some things were meant to be.
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Krzysztof was as amazing as Stanley explained. He got us all there safely. He talked to the locals who were less than thrilled to see us there in general, and specifically go through the old Jewish records. It would not have happened without his finesse and understanding of the local attitudes. It was an amazing day in Przedecz. Please see photos below.
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Additionally, 3 years later, as travel has all but stopped, Krzysztof and I have worked on record translation and other projects. He is an amazing resource, if you plan to travel to Poland for family research. Please feel free to contact me, and I will connect you!
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Meeting Krystof at Bachna Ganzyk's home for the first time, May 2017. On the left is Anna from Australia. We will all go to Przedecz tomorrow to try to find records and the homes of our ancestors. Planning our strategy!
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Krzysztof, Anna going over final plans.
Off to Przedecz. Kryzsztof at the helm. Driver, researcher, translator! Amazing!
Krzysztof worked his magic and we got ourselves in, despite a less than friendly reception at Przedcz town hall.
Kryzsztof doing his thing! Przdecz Town Hall white building red roof behind Krzysztof.
Our day in Przedecz did not start off an a great note. We arrived at the town hall, with two non-Jewish local Poles, but still the staff at the town hall who oversaw the records did not want to let us. After about an hour, or so, of waiting in the hallway, with no word, they finally agreed to let us in.
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The records, themselves, were stored in an older metal type cabinet-- the kind you'd find in a garage with outdoor tools, etc. They were huge in size, very fragile, and absolutely beautiful! Anna was on a quest to find as much information as possible, and she had hired Krzysztof, so absolutely had first dibs. The plan was if I saw a name of my own descendant (Buks, Herzberg, or other non-relation Klodawa family, Krzys would take a photo for me, and I could try to snap one, as well.
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Just as we started to get on a roll, and find things, and get into a nice rhythym of recording things, the person in the office, said, "You have to leave, I'm going to eat my breakfast or lunch". We weren't sure if we'd get back in, but there was nothing we could do.
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We left the building and started walking around the rynek and noticed there was a cafe/bar open We walked in, and expected (but not hoped) to receive the same cold treatment.
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We took a seat, ordered some coffees, and once again, Krzysztof did his magic. First he spoke to the owners wife, then the owner walked in himself and they began to chat. To this day, I don't know exactly what was said, but even in a foreign language, you could tell the chatter got lighter.
Next thing we know, the man is bringing out postcards, papers. It turns out he was extremely friendly, and knew where all the old Jewish buildings were- the mikvah, the cemetery, and some of the homes of the more prominent Jewish families (the rabbi). He offered to take us around the town and show us! You had to be there to believe this event.
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Again, I do not remember the order of events, but I believe we went back to the Town Hall, as it was most important to get these records documented if we could. We went back and they let us in, and we had a very productive day. It wasn't until recently, the Krzysztof told me that our friend and Przedecz contact, Halinka Ziecik, also called and put a good word in for us.
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We had an extremely productive afternoon. And, then went back to the cafe keeper, who, as promised, took us around town and showed us some of the Jewish sites. We found the house that Anna's family had lived in, but when we appeared near the person's home and tried to converse, she basically told us to go away, which we did.
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It is very hit or miss there how people will receive you.
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This was our day in Przedecz.
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Chatting with the locals. What transpired was amazing!
Chatting with the locals. What transpired was amazing!
Przedecz Rynek.
Back in Klodawa for some refreshments [pizza and lite beer!) after a very successful day! With Bachna, Krzysztof, and Anna.