Żelechów [ʐɛˈlɛxuf] ⓘ (Yiddish זשעלעכאָוו) is a town in eastern Poland in Masovian Voivodeship in Garwolin County.

Detailed demography information from 31 December 2006: Poles are dominant nationality in the town, there is also a group of the Romani people.

The name derives from the Polish forename Żelech [ˈʐɛlɛx], which is a simplified form of Żelisław.

In Hebrew, the name זליחוב translates as זה לי חוב, which means "it is my obligation" [to be a Jew and engage in mitzvot and good deeds].

[4] Names in other languages: The first record of Żelechów dates back to 1282, and the city rights were gained in 1447.

[5] King Casimir IV Jagiellon established annual fairs and weekly markets in 1447.

At that time the town was greatly devastated, and dozens of people died (also due to diseases).

The town saw an influx of Jews as a result of Russian discriminatory policies (see Pale of Settlement).

Nearby peasants received land (which later belonged to nobility), and the city from that time onward was not owned by a single person.

In 1880 a great fire burned a large part of the town, but it was rebuilt quickly with brick houses replacing wooden ones.

Before the Great Wars, many Jews migrated to America, mainly to Costa Rica, where they founded a new Jewish community.

Following the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, which started World War II in September 1939, the town was occupied by Germany until 1944.

In September 1942, the liquidation of the ghetto began, where people were transported to Treblinka extermination camp, but due to the chaos many tried to escape.