Korelitz - The Life and Destruction of a Jewish Community

The Korelichi  (Korelitz, Karelichi) Memorial Book is the English translation of the Yizkor (Memorial) Book published in 1973 by survivors and former residents of this town, situated in present-day Belarus. Written originally in Yiddish and Hebrew and with some abridged English summaries, it commemorates their beloved families and town and provides a vivid portrayal of Jewish life in Korelitz before and during World War II. In addition, there is a section on the Korelitzer Society of America, which was very active from the early 20th century until the late decades.

The book details in personal and authentic accounts, the history of the town and its people, the way of life, institutions, Zionist organizations, cultural activities, townspeople and leading personalities. The horrendous events during the Holocaust, when most of the Jewish population was brutally murdered in mass killings in the town are described, and lists of the victims are given. The remaining Jews were enclosed in the ghetto of the nearby city of Novogrudek. Some escaped to forests in the vicinity and joined the partisans.

Descendants of Korelitzers who emigrated to the USA, South Africa, New Zealand, France and Israel have all contributed additional new information in this book. There are stories of Korelitzers who came to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century and joined the Korelitzer Society in New York, as well as a newly discovered list of its members. There is a detailed story of a partisan who joined the Bielski Brigade (made famous in the film "Defiance"). New family relationships were also uncovered during preparation of the book.

This publication by the “Yizkor-Books-in-Print Project” of JewishGen, Inc., provides the English-speaking community and descendants of the Korelitzers with these first-hand accounts in book format as a primary resource for research and for individuals seeking information about the town where their families had lived.