The history of the Gliwice Jews dates back to the seventeenth century, but in greater numbers, they began to settle here a hundred year later. The first synagogue was founded in 1812, and in 1861, another one was opened. The new Jewish cemetery, located at Poniatowski street, was founded in 1902 - 1903, because due to the tremendous growth of the Jewish population the old cemetery at Na Piasku Street became too small. Originally, the new cemetery area was 2.5 hectares.