Jews settled in Iłża (Yiddish - Drildz) at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In 1827, 22% of the population of the town was Jewish. Over the years the Jewish population kept growing from 376 to 542 residents in 1861 to 2,069 residents in 1897. By the end of the nineteenth century, Yiddish was the language for most of the residents of Iłża. At the turn of the twentieth century, many Jews had left the town for several reasons - among them, the liquidation of the city's porcelain factory, which was owned by Jewish businessman Zelig Sunderland, and the fact that this was the prime period of emigration to the United States. During the 1921 census, only 1,545 residents were Jewish.

After the occupation of the city of Iłża by the Nazi army, Jewish residents were subjected to many repressions. Those who survived the nightmare in the ghetto, were killed in the Treblinka death camp. Few survived the Shoah.

The Jewish cemetery in Iłża originated in the first half of the 19th century on the outskirts of the city; at present day Kampanii Wrze¶niowej street. Like many other Jewish cemeteries in Poland, the cemetery was destroyed during World War II. At the direction of the Nazis, the matzevot were extracted and used to pave roads. After the war, the cemetery was wooded with trees.

During a meeting in Toronto in 2002, Jews from Iłża decided to restore the place of burial of their ancestors. Their actions engaged the organization Project for Restoring Polish Jewish Cemeteries (Projekt Restauracji Polskich Cmentarzy Żydowskich, the residents of the city, and the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage (Fundacja Ochrony Dziedzictwa Żydowskiego). Due to the restoration efforts, the cemetery was cleaned up and fenced. To commemorate the end of the restoration project, there was a symbolic ending ceremony on May 21st, 2006. In attendance there were descendants of the Jews from Iłża, representatives of Jewish communities, local authorities and many residents of Iłża. Noteworthy is the participation by students from local schools. During the ceremony, a monument in memory of the Jews of Iłża was unveiled. At the entrance of the cemetery, there is a plaque in English, Hebrew and Polish with the inscription "This cemetery has been dedicated to the sacred memory of the Jewish community of Iłża (Drildzy) and the surrounding areas, in which they are buried here, hence more to the Jewish victims of mass execution, who were buried without a proper burial ceremony. They left a lasting legacy on future generations who pray for their eternal salvation, asking God for peace over their souls."

In 2007 the Embassy of Israel and the Jewish Historical Institute, recognized the mayor of Iłża, Mr. Andrzej Moskwa, by presenting him a diploma in recognition for his efforts in the preservation of Jewish heritage in Poland. In the explanatory memorandum it is written: "Iłża - beautiful town, as was recalled by Bolesław Le¶mian, who was here at his family's, the Sunderlands. The mayor and residents of Iłża tended to the Jewish cemetery. Even though today it is only a blank space, they built a stone wall that protects the ashes."

text: K. Bielawski
translation: Agnieszka Cikowska-Teczar
photos: Israel Blajberg