Rabbi Kalman Chameides served the community of Katowice, Poland from 1928 to 1939. He also served as editor of the community newspaper and frequently wrote essays, probably based on his sermons. 118 issues (1932-1936) of the newspaper have been preserved. His son, Dr. Leon Chameides has translated the essays from their original Polish and German, grouped them by topic, annotated them, and wrote several introductory chapters to place them in context. The essays are especially pertinent to gaining an understanding how community leaders viewed the events that preceded and lead to the Shoah (Holocaust).