Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland

Gendarme is a French word derived from the antiquated expression gens d’armes, which literally translates to “armed person.” Gendarmes work to enforce civil law.

The term comes from the German Gemeinde, meaning “commune.” In Poland, public administrations are divided in three tiers: voivodships, or regions; powiats, or districts; and gminas (or gminy), which are local or communal authorities. The gmina manages all matters of local importance. As is the case in most cities, mayors are the executive authorities of gminy. There are three types of gminy in Poland: urban gmina, which comprise one town or city; urban-rural gmina, which consist of one town or city and surrounding rural areas; and rural gmina, which may consist of one village or several.

Also written as kehillah, this means “congregation” in Hebrew. Kehillas are locally elected Jewish communal authorities who offer support to Jews within the community and work to preserve Jewish culture locally. They frequently organize charities and other communal efforts, such as Hanukkah celebrations. Kehillas were very common in Eastern Europe before World War II.

In Jedwabne, kehillas “maintained special funds” and other gifts for local Christian authorities, which were paid in exchange for the latter’s protection of the Jewish community against potential antisemitic attacks.