[Page 109]

The idea to organize and establish a real Association was suggested one day, during recess in school. It was the year 1919, and we were third class students of the Tarbut high–school in our town. The suggestion caused a lively discussion, which continued during class. When the substitute teacher came in (since our teacher was ill), he found us huddled in groups and whispering secretly. – “Since you are the oldest class in school, I rely on you and I am sure that you will remain sitting quietly and orderly, and I will go to another class.” – said the teacher and left. We continued our discussion in whispers, so that no part of it would reach the ears of strangers. Finally we concluded: the name of our association will be “Hatehiya” [the revival].

Clearly, an association must have a stamp so we ordered one from Yitzhak Khitron in Soroca. However, the day it arrived we had to part with it. The round stamp, on which it was written: “The Association of Young Zionists Hatehiya – Căpreşti” was brought to the classroom and the excitement was great. Everyone wanted to see it and its imprint on paper. The stamp passed from hand to hand, and nobody was listening to what our teacher had to say. It didn't take long and it was confiscated.

Our begging didn't help – the stamp was not returned, and we were reprimanded by the principal, that we were wasting our time with childish matters. We were full of anger at those who had brought the stamp to school, but finally we met – a small group of students who trusted each other – and we decided that our association will be called “Pirhei–Zion” [flowers of Zion] and that we shall keep the whole thing a secret. The founders, as far as I remember, were: Broitman Moshe, Heissiner Herzl, Kharsanski Itzel, Turban Eli, Yutzis Eliezer, Matyewitz Hershel, Mar Aharon, Skeldman Yakov, Feinboim Hershel, Feierman Motl, Froimtchuk Leib and Kleinman Avraham – all at the age before “Bar–Mitzva.”

Our first activity – even before the new stamp arrived – was to prepare a set of regulations for our association. After many discussions the set of regulations was completed and printed, and it was decided to include it in the “membership card” printed with a Star–of–David on the cover page and signed by the Chairman and the Secretary. Every member who joined the association received a membership card and was informed about the Regulations. The Association existed from 1920 to 1923.

In time, membership increased and we could not meet in a small room; we rented from Yosef Peck an empty apartment situated in back of his house. There we met and discussed various matters and we also established the Pirhei–Zion library, which included many books in Hebrew that the children read with great excitement.

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At times, we would make trips to the Răut River, and we mostly enjoyed climbing on the excavations at the East of town – from there we could see the entire town. We also performed plays, which attracted a large public of children as well as parents, who came to see their children–actors.

But our main activity was national. The members made a pledge to speak only Hebrew, and when one forgot and spoke another language he would impose on himself a fine of one coin, for the benefit of the library. Other activities were held for Keren Kayemet [JNF]. I remember on 29 Tamuz we held a memorial assembly for Dr. Herzl, with the participation of adults as well. On Simchat Torah we participated in the “Zionist Minyan” and we were so happy when we were called to the Reading of the Torah, together with the adults.

The truth must be told: Often we were working in the dark, sometimes not knowing how to act; the reason was that we were located far from a guiding center and from other Zionist associations of our age in the neighboring towns. As far as I remember, Motl Feierman (Rishpy), a member of our Committee, founded a branch of Pirhei–Zion in Călăraşi, while visiting his uncles.

With the establishment of the Hechalutz organization in Căpreşti, our activity was intensified. We were the first to visit them, and since we knew Hebrew we were welcomed gladly. And we were glad to help the “halutzim” during the summer vacation with their agricultural work, for example “beating” the sunflowers and “stringing” tobacco leaves. The halutzim would bring heaps of sunflower heads and we beat them – with the help of a heavy stick – until all seeds fell out. Stringing tobacco leaves was done by inserting a long and flat needle in the base of the tobacco leaf vein.

The activity of the association ended, when several of the members went to study in other places.

A membership card

A. The aim of the Association

The Căpreşti association Pirhei–Zion is doing its best to spread and expand the use of the Hebrew language among the young people and to instill in them a national spirit.

In order to achieve this goal, the association will work as follows:

1. All young people will be united under the national flag by the name of Pirhei–Zion.
2. A library.
3. Assemblies and discussions (debates) of the members of the Association.
4. National events and festivities.
5. Participation in the “National Revival” work.

B. Means of existence of the Association

The means of sustenance of the Association are from:

1. Monthly or yearly membership dues.
2. Contributions.
3. Income from banquets and festivities held by the Association.

C. The Association

1. Members of the Association will be no less than 11 years old.
2. Members will know the Hebrew language.
3. Members will accept the decisions and regulations of the Executive Committee.

D. Management of the Association

1. The Association is managed by the General Assembly (with the participation of all members) and by the Committee.
2. The General Assembly is called by the Committee at least once every three months.
3. The General Assembly can be called by one half of the number of members.
4. The General Assembly is the legislating organ of the Association.

The work of the General Assembly included:

1. Amendments to the Regulations.
2. Elections to the Executive Committee, a committee for preparing literature, etc.
3. Discussion on the topics presented to the Assembly by the Committee.
4. Finances, accounting and bookkeeping, suggestions of the Committee, etc.
5. Association membership fee and taxes.

E. The Executive Committee

1. The Committee heading the Association is responsible for its regular work.
2. The Committee is elected by the General Assembly for the duration of 6 months.
3. The Committee shall number no less than 5 members.
4. The Committee shall elect a chairman, a treasurer and a secretary.

5. The Committee will meet at least once in two weeks.
6. The chairman can call a meeting to discuss an important and urgent matter.
7. The Committee can demand work from the members, if it sees fit.
8. All matters are decided upon by a majority of vote. In case of a tie, the vote of the Chairman determines the decision.

The work of the committee includes also:

1. Admitting new members to the Association.
2. Keeping the books and managing the finances.
3. Calling a General Meeting etc.

F. Membership

1. A candidate for membership must submit to the Committee a request in writing.

A member can be expelled from the Association for the following reasons:

1. Violation of the Association discipline.
2. Improper behavior during general assembly, meetings etc.
3. Failing to pay dues (for two months).
4. A member who was expelled from the Association can be readmitted by a majority vote of the General Assembly.

Approved by the Committee on Tuesday, 3 Tamuz 5682 (1922)
Chairman: Herzl Heissiner
Secretary: I. Skeldman

Many of the Căpreşti Jews joined, in the course of the years, the Zionist Movement; some of them were regular readers of the Hamagid, Hatzefira or Ha'olam. However, we do not remember whether there was an official organizational framework for the activity of the two main Zionist movements, the “General Zionists” and the “Mizrahi.”

After the Balfour Declaration, there was an awakening in town, in particular among a considerable group of young couples, who were connected socially. Some of them, who had visited Kishinev, brought to Căpreşti the news about the organization of a Zionist Association named “The Fraction of Tze'irei Zion.” Following this, an association named Tze'irei Zion was formed in our town as well. Among its members were, as far as we can remember: Ivtcher Mina, Goldenberg Yakov, Gerstein Dania, Heissiner Shimon, Wolman Yakov, Silberman Avraham, Yutzis Baruch, Yutzis Piny, Yanowitz Itzik, Leiderman Fania, Mar Freida, Sklyar Yosef, Fidelman Nyuke, Kaplivetzki Yochanan and others.

This group of young people, aged between 20 and 30, constituted the active part of the educated young people in town. They invested their energy in all areas of Zionist activity: campaigns for the Keren Hayesod

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Front row (siting on the ground): Etale Goldenberg, Sara Bershak, Hinde Yutzis, Dania Yutzis–Gerstein, Tzipa Yutzis, Lea Skeldman Second row: Sonia Feinboim, Elka Lerner, Bella Leiberfarb, Hadassa Goldenberg, Mordechai Goldenberg, Furer's wife, Freida Kleinman, Zelda Varzov–Fidelman Third row: Moshe Lerner, Shmuel Leiberfarb, Yoel Mer, Yasha Schlein, Leizer Heissiner, Yankel Goldenberg, Shimon Yutzis, Yakov Wolman, Baruch Yutzis, Reuven Furer, Zev Skeldman, Dr. Nyuke Fidelman, Dr. Bershak Fourth row: Israel (Izrayil) Yanowitz, Hershel Feinboim, Yosef Birstein, Buma Yutzis, Itzik Feinboim, Berl Broitman, David Derbendiner [Derbarmdiger?]–Rachmani, Imanuel Pri–Paz

and Keren Kayemet [JNF] funds, “selling shekels” organizing a Zionist minyan on the holiday of Simchat–Torah, organizing banquets etc. When the Hehalutz branch was opened in Căpreşti, the members of Tze'irei Zion were the first to help them, established a group called Friends of Hehalutz, organized a collection campaign called Hehalutz week, etc.

The activity of the Tze'irei Zion members was felt in other areas of public life as well: helping the sick, library, etc. In 1935, they participated as an independent party list and won several places in the Community Committee.

In the beginning of 1920, during the pogroms of Petlura, I crossed the Dniester, with other Jewish refugees from the Ukraine. I went to the shtetl Căpreşti, since my sister lived there. I had no intention to settle in Căpreşti or in Bessarabia. My aim was to go to Eretz Israel, by any possible way, because I was a Zioist since the time I studied in Odessa.

Not far from the town there was a farm, managed by the agronomist Zussman (father of the poet Ezra Zussman). The Odessa Municipality leased a plot of 100 hectares to a group of halutzim. The land was irrigated by drainage water. These were the first local halutzim, and they grew vegetables. Some of them were among the founders of Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim. I used to go with my friends to this farm and we were impressed by the young people who trained there, preparing themselves for the life in Eretz Israel.

From talks with young people I learned that for most of them life in Căpreşti had no meaning and their desire was to go to Eretz Israel, but they continued with their life waiting for “certificates,” which did not arrive. I suggested that they use the time to learn a trade. Many responded to my call, among them a young family with a baby. The question was: what are we going to do? I realized that if we didn't do soon something to sustain the group, it will dissolve. I presented the idea to leave the parents' home, gather in one place and begin a life of agricultural training and farming.

After my suggestion was accepted we leased a plot of land of five hectares near Căpreşti. The first thig we did was to prepare a place to live: we dug a pit some 1.5 m. deep and covered it with wooden boards and earth. Inside we arranged cots for sleeping. We could not find work in such a small place; so, since we realized that the common building material in the place was stone and earthen bricks we decided to become manufacturers and providers of these materials. On the banks of the Răut River we found a stone quarry and we used it – however since the government did not supply explosives for fear that they might end up in the hands of revolutionaries we had to cut the stone by hand tools. In addition, we made bricks for sale.

Near the well, using our feet we mixed clay and straw, filled molds, dried them and then sold them. As to the mixing procedure – the halutzim stood in front of the heap of straw and clay not knowing what to do. Only after I took off my shoes, rolled up my pants and began working, the others joined me and this work became our daily routine.

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The first Hechalutz branch in Bessarabia was established in Căpreşti. Later we founded similar branches in Yadinitz, Călăraşi, Czernowitz, Oreyew, Kishinew, Lipcani and Britceva. The training camp in Căpreşti lasted a summer, a winter and another summer. After that we leased another 38 hectares in Rogozhni, about 7 kilometers from Căpreşti and founded the Rogozhni Farm, where halutzim from all parts of Bessarabia, but mostly refugees from Ukraine, received their agricultural training during two to three years. In winter, when farming was not possible, the halutzim group in Căpreşti would gather in Yosef Peck's unfinished house. Later, the farm was transferred from Rogozhni to Biliceni near Băşi.

In May or June 1920 the first Hechalutz congress took place, and the Bessarabia Hechalutz was recognized as a branch of the Hechalutz organization in Romania. It is worthwhile to mention, that the Căpreşti branch attracted passing refugees, who came from Ukraine and from villages in the region. About half of the 35 young men and women who founded the first branch went to Eretz Israel in the course of two or three years. Others left.

About the relationship between the public in Căpreşti and the Hechalutz branch, we can say this: we did not have any public activities and did not receive help from anyone, except one Jew who trusted us and leased the land to us. Since we were totally ignorant in matters of agriculture, we had an instructor, Binyamin Pohorner. However, by its mere existence, the Branch inspired a Zionist atmosphere in town. Young people, of Zionist education, visited us often and were ready to assist us, whether asked or not. The influence of the Hechalutz branch was considerable in the following years as well – considering the large number of halutzim among the youth of Căpreşti who ultimately made Aliya to Eretz Israel.

The Hechalutz branch in Căpreşti, 1921

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I came to the Pioneers' Cell in town… about sixty local young men and women; their leader was a young man from the Ukraine.

These young people had left the houses of their parents, rented a plot of land and sowed various plants. They dug a large hole in the ground and over it they erected an elongated tent made of wood and canvas and covered with earth and tree branches. From the entrance, a few steps led the way down. In the opposite wall – a small window. On one side a long and wide shelf, on which they would sleep. In the middle a long table and benches, fastened to the floor. Outside, near the tent, two original tables: two ditches dug in a circle; the middle area of the circle was raised: the members would sit on the ground, their feet in the ditch, and the raised part in the middle served as a table; on it they would eat their evening meal, when it was too hot inside the tent. They would eat “according to the earnings” – sometimes more sometimes less. The kitchen utensils were quite primitive: wooden spoons and big, simple clay plates. They would eat and buy their clothes only from what they earned. They worked their own fields and others' fields, and when there was no work in the field they would make bricks for sale. Eating and sleeping in the parents' houses was absolutely forbidden. The Yiddish language was entirely banned, with fanaticism. Everything was carried out the “revolutionary way.”

And there was also a young couple with a “baby pioneer,” who already knew to shout “hooray.”

For months they have been living like that. Their leader said that they were not ready yet. With another few months of training you will be the top group in our camp!

You shall be blessed, innocent pioneers of the Jewish people! Do you know that you are alone? You are leading the camp – but there is no camp following you?!

Wonder of wonders! You are in the midst of your nation, who can see and feel day by day the holiness of the pioneering activity – and your nation is blind and deaf to your world and your actions!

Another of our undertakings, not less important than the establishment of Bet Ha'am [“People's House”], was the local youth movement Hamitzpe. How did this youth movement, exclusive to Căpreşti, come into being and how did it act?

Once a week, as we returned from the weekly review of the town, we would talk about the problem of the Căpreşti young people, whose main occupation was playing with little wheels. All along the streets, one could see children of all ages pushing a heavy iron bar, with a little wheel attached to its end. This was the main entertainment of children and youth; for lack of

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any educational framework, they spent their free time doing this, or playing with walnuts etc.

“We should do something about our youth and organize it” – I once made a suggestion. Yochantze liked that – “not a bad idea,” he said, “well, let's see what and how.” And so we created the Hamitzpe organization (the name was suggested by Yochantze). I don't remember how we announced the establishment of Hamitzpe, but it is a fact that many parents asked us to register their children in this educational unit. Some stood in line near our door, waiting to register their children in the organization.

From the few tens of young boys and girls, who knew Hebrew, several were chosen to serve as guides of the groups. Once a week we would discuss with the guides the activity of the previous week and the program of the next week. Usually we would meet near Bet Ha'am. Most of the activity, except field trips, took place there. The intention was that the children develop a connection with Bet Ha'am as it was being built and also be a factor in its speedy completion.

In the newspaper Unzer Zeit No. 2086, 25 August 1929, in the article by Avraham Yutzis we read: “Hamitzpe is an organization for children aged 8 to 15, created by the initiative and energetic work of Yochanan Kaplivetzki. This youth organization already won the sympathy of the public in town, and has today 150 members, children of various ages, divided into groups; each group is led by a special guide. Every afternoon all Hamitzpe children gather in the playing ground for discussions, singing, dancing etc.

The activity of Hamitzpe lasted from Pesach (Passover) to Rosh Hashana (New Year) and stopped when most of the guides went to study in the towns Beltz and Soroca. Again children were seen wandering in the streets with their old bars and wheels… at least during the year 1939.

During the school–year 1929–1930 I lived in Czernowitz, studying at the Teachers College. I was an active member of the Po'alei–Zion party in Czernowitz and I organized a branch of Young Po'alei–Zion. When I came home on summer–vacation I learned that the commissar of the local JNF [Keren Kayemet] has received questionnaires, which grant election rights to the “World Congress of Working Eretz Israel.” Since the date of the elections was approaching, I thought of asking the former Hamitzpe guides – who were also home for the summer vacation – to help. But this time the guides were not organized in one movement: Those who studied in Beltz were members of Hashomer Hatza'ir and those from Soroca were Gordonists.

I invited some of the Gordonists and said to them: “Perhaps you don't know, but you should know that the “World Congress of Working Eretz Israel” is about to take place, with delegates from

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various countries. The members of Hashomer Hatza'ir have received forms to fill out and they are about to take control of the entire town, and you? Will you sit idle?” Immediately, the Gordonists got to work, received the papers and began registering the young people, first and foremost the members or former members of Hamitzpe.

Shortly afterward, I met with the members of Hashomer Hatza'ir and tried to convince them to prevent the Gordonists from taking control of the Căpreşti youth. This way I created competition, which caused a large participation in the elections to the Congress about to take place in Berlin. In a week or two, cells of Hashomer Hatza'ir and Gordonia were established in town. Considering that I was an active partner in the establishment of the two cells, I continued to act and helped renting two places (in the neighborhood of Shmuel Leiberfarb) where they would conduct their meetings. During some time, I devoted two evenings every week to talks with the members of the two cells: one evening with Gordonia and one with Hashomer Hatza'ir. I remember that one of the evenings I organized in one of the cells a discussion and a “public trial” on the subject of suicide, and a week after that in the cell of the other movement. It is worth mentioning, that the members of each cell would visit the other and take part in the discussion.

As an active member, I helped both movements, without their knowledge, as much as I could. In particular, I tried to convince the former members of Hamitzpe to join one of the movements. In 1931 I served in the Romanian army and during the short and rare vacations I did not have a chance to follow the activity of the two groups. However, when I came home for a longer vacation, I found out that a considerable number of my former trainees had left the educational framework in which I tried so hard to include them. I was surprised to find, that those children who needed the framework of the movement most, had left, from Gordonia as well as from Hashomer Hatza'ir. The poor children were expelled because they did not pay the dues; the craft apprentices, who worked until late, could not join the activity of the groups. These facts caused me much sadness, but I could do nothing about it. Finally, however, all of them found a suitable framework for themselves.

Like a beautiful ramified tree, which grows and spreads its branches, sending its roots sprouting from the ground, to multiply and create around itself an entire family of new trees – so Zionism bloomed and divided into various sister–parties, in particular since the youth became active and devoted itself with great energy and enthusiasm to the national work. This way, Tze'irei Zion and Po'alei Zion sprouted from the General Zionists party; then the Revisionists and Brit Trumpeldor were created, with ready–made commanders and war terminology,

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and sooner or later – I am not giving here a history lesson – came Gordonia and Hashomer Hatza'ir. And so, hopefully, it will continue to spread and ramify, until the Messiah will come and bring a complete Salvation… The Diaspora is copying what is being done in Eretz Israel, as the shtetl is copying the big cities.

We have been privileged, with God's help, to see all cheder–children become members of the two most modern groups, Gordonia and Hashomer Hatza'ir.

A Jew came to Eretz Israel, a thinker with a crystal–clear soul, a sort of Yiddish Tolstoy without the sins of the youth. While in exile, he rebelled and burned all bridges behind him, settled in the Land of his Fathers and proclaimed, for the ears of the shop–owners, the clerks and the brokers, the truth of the “Religion of Labor”: Enough! – he said – now we stop giving our enemies reasons for claiming that the Jews are “a parasite people!” His call found an echo in all corners of the earth and groups were established, whose aim was to realize his theory. The groups were crowned by his beautiful name.

Our shtetl did not intend to remain behind this respected movement. Soon groups formed and leaders were found: Yoyke Motzis, Immanuel Tchizhlik and as helper Amnon “with the bran.” As one of the first activities, they organized an “Evening” – a drama presentation with music, where they demonstrated their great talents. With the few saved coins they rented a room by Chaim Itzy Chirik – and so the Gordonia Club was opened.

Then they obtained a seal in two languages – the Jewish national language and the government language – and they also recruited members for the newly born organization; Yoyke Motzis and Immanuel Tchizhlik registered children from the Cheders and assembled them in the new little synagogue at Chaim Itze Chirik's place. So, another shtetl was added to the brand–new party.

However, the opposition – they were: Yosl the Shmuleche's, Shony the long one, Meche'le the little one and Chande'le the little pepper – understood that these new members were taken from them, and the great envy began: How can we let the sleepy Tchizhlik and the sharp–tongued Motzis be on top?? What shall we do? – We also had Hebrew classes in high–school! So, soon they announced (the proclamations paper had an impressive Star of David on both sides): “Dear Jewish youth! You should know, that the Salvation will come through the Halutzim (pioneers)! Chickens come out from eggs; Halutzim grow from Hashomer Hatza'ir! If you want to build your nest in Eretz Israel, come and register in Hashomer Hatza'ir!”

But Yosl the Shmuleche's, Shony the long one, Meche'le the little one and Chande'le the little pepper did not wait for the young people to come and register: they would have had to wait a long time for that! So they organized a grandiose ball with dancing, American auction of embroideries and other such things – Chande'le the little pepper took care of these – and soon

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they rented an apartment, exactly across the street from the home of Gordonia, at Dvossie–Zisl the deaf. Children were simply seized in the street, tempted by cakes and cookies, just like in the times of Nicolai I, God forbid – and thank God this time for a good national purpose – and so the Hashomer Hatza'ir also became active in our shtetl.

And if you want to enjoy yourself, take a walk along the homes of our two new–born organizations; but please listen to the good advice I am giving you: put two little cotton wads in your ears, so that you don't become deaf as you hear how they prepared themselves to toil the land in Zion and Jerusalem. There was also much dancing, to the melodies of Eretz Israel songs – the sounds filled the two homes; and beautiful lectures were given, which the lecturers prepared very seriously…

The group was divided into classes: “listeners” [makshivim]– the youngest who were doing just that: listen to what they are told, like little calves that are doing one thing: sucking the milk of their mothers. Then there were the scouts or “watchers,” [tzofim] – who, in addition to listening they needed to observe the world around them, and then the “creators” [yotzrim] whose aim was to reach the highest degree and become “managers” [menahalim].

However, it would be naïve to think that our two organizations quietly observed each other's growth and development, oh no! The Satan of dispute and jealousy, who is always dancing in the midst of our chosen people, has settled nicely among us since the two youth groups were established… The wound of the dispute concerning the third shochet [ritual slaughterer] had not healed yet, and a new, wild and fearful hatred sprung up between Gordonia and Hashomer Hatza'ir. That is, the members – the children – would not give up their games with buttons for the party–matters; but how can one be a saint in face of the two war–mongering leaders, the “generals” of the two national groups, who seek only to train and express their war talents! The real World War broke out the same way: Hindenburg and McKenzie on one side, Foch and his friends on the other, made a bet on “who will beat whom” – and so the game has cost ten million lives, as well as destruction and invalids.

Hashomer Hatza'ir had to see, painfully, how Gordonia was marching through the streets with the blue–white flag, under the leadership of Immanuel Tchizhlik and Amnon “with the bran.” Immanuel was a very tall guy, with funny pants and short socks, showing pieces of his naked legs. His hair blowing in the wind and a whistle in his mouth, he would lead the children who stomped with their feet like soldiers. Understandably, the Hashomer Hatza'ir leaders would almost burst with jealousy:

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“Again they took the first place” – they said – and immediately composed insulting verses:

Oh, that stupid Gordonia
A fine group!
The only thing they are worth
Is to lie in the ground.

But Gordonia would not remain behind, and they composed some “contra” verses:

You should know, Hashomer Hatza'ir,
That Gordonia does not give a damn about you
We are the only ones who are able to build Zion
And you shall fly to the ground!…

The hatred was so strong, that when Hashomer Hatza'ir made his next march through the streets, they received cries of contempt and mocking whistles from the Gordonists, and it almost came to a real fist–fight.

Well, they are two parties and this is what parties do: fight each other. The problem was, however, that the whole herd of children, who was swallowed by the two organizations; the children who were such good “listeners” and absorbed all the party–theories they were fed with – these children neglected their own studies, did not prepare for the rabbi their assignments of the Torah study with the RASHI commentary, did not do their homework in Hebrew grammar; they did not devote their time to study, since they were occupied with other things… Fathers saw this and became upset and annoyed. In addition to that, the orthodox people in town – the nice Aguda and even some from the Mizrahi party – they who had obtained from the Creator, blessed be His name, the full power to be His advocates on His sinful earth – just observed that Jewish children are led through the streets bare–headed; or that at the afternoon and evening prayers [Mincha–Ma'ariv] even one young boy cannot be found in Shul; that all was a mess: boys and girls together, anarchy everywhere – then they began a loud protest. Shlyom'ke Neta the shochet, who was always seen walking with his red kerchief ready to collect money for poor brides, for repairs and so on, when he spotted Shony the long one and Meche'le the little one leading – with a whistle! – a band of bareheaded children under God's skies, he stood there piously, as he did during the prayer of Shmone Esre [the eighteen blessings], mumbling: “May their names and memory be erased! This is treif [impure]! More treif than a pig! Worse than the areilim [uncircumcised]!” And, entering the synagogues he shouted: “Jews! Save your children from a great disaster! Calamity is about to hit the little chicks – the danger is great!” Hearing this, the women came out as well, with their own “text:” Zlote–Blume already had a broken heart on account of her youngest – whenever she needs to send her on an errand, she is busy in her “group” – may it sink in the ground; she was also a young girl once, forty years ago – whoever heard of such things then?

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Boys and girls dancing and jumping together, and by the way spoiling little innocent children? That had never entered one's mind!!

And Breine–Toyve, the wife of the shames [synagogue attendant] burst in tears: “How can the world be a good place, when Chaim Itze Chirik rented them a “hall” and Dovshe–Zisl the deaf one – may she be hit by sickness! – did the same, – does anybody know what is really happening? This is why we are all lying deep in the ground!”

In short, the situation with our young generals from the two most modern organizations in our shtetl was really bad. One evening, they even broke the windows of their Clubs, and Nachum'tche the bottle – a Jew who used to have 12 drinks a day – even threatened with police – and all that for the sanctification of His beloved Name!!

Here we must mention, with kindness, the name of our local chairman of the “General Zionists,” R'Nissel Glock – a Jew with a big mouth, who can, if needed, give a blow with his fist and ask for justice; he was also welcome as an important person at the Paritz's estate. The panicked generals of the youth organization quickly ran to him asking for protection, and indeed he took them under his protecting wings and called in a loud voice, so that chould be heard in the right places: “Let them just try to do something, they will have to remember me!”

And so, our Gordonia and Hashomer Hatza'ir continued to exist, the calls of Fulfill! [hagshem] and Be Strong [Hazak] were filling the air, “offending” songs were sung as before and the national work continued.

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