The discussion of the resolution provoked considerable emotion. Although the councillors voted unanimously, the reasons for rejecting the resolution were not unanimous. Councillor Józef Burniak stressed that quotations from books do not constitute sufficient evidence for a court. Explaining the SLD club’s negative position, Józef Burniak pointed out that the law must be observed and rationalism must guide decisions, while the Jewish community’s application demonstrated neither of these qualities.
President Piotr Roman approached the issue more cautiously, proposing consideration of the consequences of adopting or not adopting the resolution. In exchange for a positive decision on the application, the Jewish community promised to withdraw any further claims concerning other properties in Bolesławiec.
Councillor Zdzisław Abramowicz argued that the situation in which the Jewish community was demanding the return of a plot from the city was absurd. The City of Bolesławiec could not be held responsible for the fact that the Third Reich confiscated or destroyed Jewish property. Councillor Abramowicz also noted that the Jewish community used blackmail in its application. Moreover, it was not known whether, after this property was returned, other religious associations would seek to recover additional properties.
What does the Jewish community want?
The plot in question is located on Kubika Street, opposite the entrance to the children’s home. It has an area of 836 m². The estimated value of the plot is PLN 41,835. The Jewish Community in Wrocław applied to the Regulatory Commission dealing with matters concerning Jewish communities for its return.
Representatives of the Jewish community claim that on 30 January 1933 the plot belonged to the Synagogal Community in Bolesławiec and that a synagogue stood within its boundaries. As evidence in the case, the Jewish side quotes passages from German-language books: “The Bolesławiec Register of Residents” from 1935–36 and “Life in the German Silesian Town of Bolesławiec from 1871 to 1946”.
The book records confirm the presence of a synagogue within the disputed plot. An analysis conducted by employees of the Museum of Ceramics also confirms that the records in the cited book material refer to the synagogue located on Kubika Street.