Joseph Gellman | Kalushin has always been a part of our lives

Joseph Gellman was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in the United States. His grandmother and grandfather on his mother's side came from Kaluszyn, from which, independently of each other, they left after the First World War. They met in the United States and married there. The grandmother and grandfather on the father's side came from areas of present-day Ukraine. He grew up in a religious home, deeply aware of his Jewish identity. His father was a rabbi. Kalushin was always present in his life, his family kept in touch with other Jews whose families had roots in Kalushin. He studied journalism, political science and law. He works as a lawyer. He lives in Israel, where his children were born. In 2007 he visited Kaluszyn and became interested in the status of the Jewish cemetery. With the help of the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland and a group of committed friends, he managed to reclaim the cemetery grounds and erect a monument commemorating Kaluszyn's Jews. The unveiling ceremony of the monument took place in 2017. He plans to continue cleaning up the cemetery and educational campaigns related to the history of Kaluszyn Jews. Working to commemorate the Kaluszyn Jewish cemetery is one of his most important life experiences.