Przedecz, located in central Poland, had a vibrant Jewish community for some 600 years, starting at the end of the 14th century. In Yiddish, the city was known as Pshaytsh; in Hebrew, Pshedetz. Most Jews worked as tradesmen, artisans, merchants and small traders. The community supported a synagogue, a bet midrash, a mikva, Jewish schools, a Yeshiva, a bikkur cholim society caring for the sick, and a benevolent fund which granted interest-free loans. The town had a Jewish library where people could meet to read books, attend dances, hear lectures, and see theatrical performances. Nazis occupied the town in October 1939. Changing the town's name to Moosburg, they burned the Synagogue and began the persecution and killing of Jews. Nearly half were sent to forced labor camps, where most of them died of hunger and disease. In Przedecz, Jews were forced to live in a ghetto under horrific conditions. In early 1942, they were packed into the local church and left for three days without food or water. On April 24, 1942, the remaining Jews were sent to the Chelmno death camp. As the Editors wrote: This book is meant as a memorial and yahrzeit candle... revealing events and deeds in the lives of our dear ones up to the years of the Holocaust