Catholic prayer book
Object numberM2021/007:003
TitleCatholic prayer book
DescriptionSmall Polish Catholic prayer book, with a fitted cardboard cover. This book, along with other Catholic ephemera, belonged to Polish Jew Kristina 'Krysia' Turek (nee Tabanski) during her time hiding as a Catholic among a family in the town of Progroszew and then Pruszkow, in order to avoid being denounced and arrested by the occupying Nazis. Krysia brought these items to Australia around November 1948 as mementoes of her time in hiding.The prayer book contains a handwritten note in Polish: "Lodz, August 9, 1948 - To my beloved sister Krysia so that 'she would always believe in God and obey the word of God.' Wanda." Wanda was the sister of Vitold Pac, a Catholic man who, with his wife Maryla, initially hid Krysia after her escape from Warsaw ghetto. Wanda posed as Krysia's sister in order to strengthen her Catholic cover story.
Kristina 'Krysia' Turek (nee Tabanski), born in Warsaw in 1915, was the daughter of Abram, a dentist and Helena Tabanski. Her sister Irena was five years older. At 17 Krysia sat the entrance exam for Dental School but because of antisemitism was not accepted. In 1937, aged 18, she married Michael Ilutowicz. Confined to the Warsaw ghetto, her father died of Typhus in October 1943. Her mother was murdered in Treblinka in March 1943 and a month later her sister and her sister's son, 5-year-old Wlodus, were murdered in Majdanek.
Michael aided Krysia's escape from the ghetto. Vitold and Maryla Pac sheltered her for two years. Michael was sent to a forced labour camp, escaped, was captured, and executed by a firing squad. Krysia was unaware of her husband's fate at the time. Around November 1948 with the assistance of the JOINT, she left for Australia. Here, she met Izaac Turek. They married on 30 November 1949.
Kristina 'Krysia' Turek (nee Tabanski), born in Warsaw in 1915, was the daughter of Abram, a dentist and Helena Tabanski. Her sister Irena was five years older. At 17 Krysia sat the entrance exam for Dental School but because of antisemitism was not accepted. In 1937, aged 18, she married Michael Ilutowicz. Confined to the Warsaw ghetto, her father died of Typhus in October 1943. Her mother was murdered in Treblinka in March 1943 and a month later her sister and her sister's son, 5-year-old Wlodus, were murdered in Majdanek.
Michael aided Krysia's escape from the ghetto. Vitold and Maryla Pac sheltered her for two years. Michael was sent to a forced labour camp, escaped, was captured, and executed by a firing squad. Krysia was unaware of her husband's fate at the time. Around November 1948 with the assistance of the JOINT, she left for Australia. Here, she met Izaac Turek. They married on 30 November 1949.
Production placePoland
Production date circa 1939
Subjecthiding, survival, deceptions, identity concealment
Object nameprayer books
Dimensions
- width: 70.00 mm
height: 95.00 mm
Language
- Polish
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Yvonne Haber
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.