us-005578-irn92309-irn7288
type: RecordSet
archival history: The tefillin was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993 by Edward Smolarz.
biographical history: Idek Smolarz was born on March 31, 1920, in Krzeszowice, Poland, to an Orthodox Jewish couple, Meyer and Rosalia Allerhand-Langsam Smolarz. Idek had six siblings: Solomon, born on November 28, 1911, Sara, born on September 28, 1913, Hanah, also called Ann, born on July 15, 1915, Leon, born on September 17, 1917, Samuel, born on January 19, 1925, and Rifka, born on December 4, 1929. Their father Meyer was born in 1888 in Chmielnik, to David and Esther Lefkovich. He had two siblings. Meyer was a sheet metal mechanic. He changed the family name to Smolarz to avoid antisemitic persecution. Idek’s mother Rosalia was born circa 1889 in Trzebinia, to David Shalom and Gitl Allerhand-Langsam. Rosalia had four siblings. Idek’s family was observant and attended services on Friday nights. Meyer went to the synagogue every morning to pray. Idek attended public school for seven years. The Polish children beat up the Jews and taunted them. After school, Idek worked with his father in Krzeszowice. In 1936, Idek began working in Krakow as an iron worker for Adolf Horszowski, who married Idek’s sister Sara. Sara and Adolf had a daughter, Esther, in December 1938. Idek’s sister Hanah married Tulek Rozenbaum, a furrier. They lived in Krakow and had a son, Yakow. Idek’s older brothers, Solomon and Leon, were in the Polish Army. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. The next day, Idek, Meyer, and Samuel fled and walked for almost 40 miles before being surrounded by German soldiers. They walked back to Krakow and went to Sara’s house. Idek’s mother Rosalia and younger sister Rifka were also there. After a few weeks, Solomon and Leon came to Krakow after surrendering to the Soviet Army. Sara’s husband Adolf was also in the Polish Army and surrendered to the Soviets, but stayed in the Soviet Union. Idek’s family returned to Krzeszowice. Idek was forced to work for the Germans, first in a stone quarry, then in the city hall. Idek’s sister Sara and her daughter Esther eventually came …
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Well-worn hand tefillin with a square, black painted, leather box [batim] with smooth sides. The box is centered on a black painted, square, 5 layered leather platform, sewn together with gut from kosher animals [giddin]. The platform has a triangular, notched back with an opening through which a worn, long, looped, black painted leather strap [retzu’ot] is threaded. The underside of the strap is unfinished. The box should hold a parchment scroll [parshiyot] inscribed with 4 Hebrew prayers. The paint has worn off the strap and part of the sides and edges of the box. The platform is bent and the box is warped. The strap is neatly coiled around 1 side of the platform. The head tefillin is 1993.156.1.3ab.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: after 1945 May
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn7288
is or was included in: us-005578-irn92309
record resource extent: overall: Height: 2.125 inches (5.398 cm) | Width: 2.375 inches (6.032 cm) | Depth: 3.500 inches (8.89 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Hand tefillin given to Idek Smolarz, 25, while recovering in a hospital in Wels, Austria, after his liberation on May 5, 1945. Idek received a tefillin set from another patient, a Czech boy who kept the tefillin with him while working for the Germans digging fox holes. In May 1942, Idek and his oldest brother Solomon were sent to Krakow-Kostrze labor camp, and then to Krakow-Płaszów, where they were joined by their father Meyer. Their mother and siblings were rounded up in Skala, Poland. In summer 1943, Meyer died of typhus. In early 1944, Idek and Solomon were sent to Auschwitz I. In March, the brothers were separated when Idek was sent to Sosnowitz II slave labor camp. In late 1944 or early 1945, Idek was sent on a death march to Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. He was reunited with Solomon, but in March, Idek was sent to Wien-Hinterbruehl slave labor camp and Solomon to Melk. Idek was sent back to Mauthausen that month and found Solomon and their brother Leon. In April, Idek, Solomon, and Leon were sent on a death march to Gunskirchen, where they were liberated on May 5, 1945. They stayed in a hospital in Wels, then lived in Bindermichl displaced persons camp until their 1949 immigration to the United States. Idek’s mother, three sisters, younger brother, niece, nephew, and most of his extended family were killed during the Holocaust.
title: Hand tefillin worn by a Polish Jewish man