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There are people for whom the stings of life do not influence them and do not affect their mind, and they maintain themselves, even though life is difficult, and their shade is more than the sunlight. However, these special individuals see everything through a clear lens and utilize every opportunity and possibility to bring rays of light and happiness into their lives. They are imbued with a refined, strong faith in G-d. Their faith is a solid foundation that pervades their lives. They draw their strength to overcome all obstacles from their faith, and it serves as a protector and salvation to them in the darkness of their world.

This idea floats and comes before my mind as I recall the wonderful, noble personality, full of good traits and clear character. This is the enthusiastic Hassid and scholar, the well-known musician amongst the Hassidim of Stolin-Karlin and beyond, who served as the shochet in David-Horodok for six years – Rabbi Yisrael Yehuda Kula of blessed memory, may G-d avenge his blood.

He arrived in David-Horodok in the year 5686 [1926], through the influence of his rabbi, the Admor of Stolin, the rabbi and Tzadik [righteous person] Rabbi Moshe Perlov, may the memory of the righteous be blessed, may G-d avenge his blood. He was one of his enthusiastic Hassidim who held him in great reverence. He left his city of Bielic in Western Galicia (that is why he was called the Galician shochet). He lived with Mr. Boaz Schuster (Boaz the Perechodchik [Translator]) on Olshaner Street for the entire time he lived in David-Horodok. His way of life in that town was not a hedge of roses, and his success came after that time.

As was the way with most of the small Jewish towns in the Diaspora, dispute did not skip over our town, and indeed found its victim. The dispute between the various strata and between the shochtim and the butchers took on a very unfortunate form. Someone saw the new shochet as a person unsuitable for his role, and for the customary protocols in the town and its institutions, for he was concerned lest he be too stringent. That person perhaps regarded him as serious competition who might impinge on his livelihood in the future. Jealousy was also aroused in him, for his prayers and his sweet voice made a great impression in the town. On the first Passover, as he led the Prayer for Dew in the synagogue of the Hassidim of Stolin, the worshippers in the synagogues on the Shulhof [Synagogue courtyard] left their places and came to hear the new cantor. The elderly rabbi, Rabbi Dovidl of blessed memory, was also among those who came – and the impression was very strong. This poured oil on the bonfire. The dispute became harsher and reached Pinsk and Vilna. Reb Yisrael Yehuda's suffering due to the dispute was great, but his spirit did not fall. Not only was his reaction not negative, but it was even decisively positive.

Reb Yisrael Yehuda of blessed memory was graced with a deep sense of melody and music. He composed many melodies even though he was not able to read musical notes, and he invested a great deal of his soul, the feelings of his heart, and his yearnings into them. Apparently, these were simple spiritual concepts, but nevertheless, they served as an expression of complete and deep life, for he drew their tones from the source of the spirit of his life, from the unique world in which he lived.

Most of his melodies were stamped with the imprint of religious feeling. They had an effect on their listeners like chapters of prayer and hymns, which were pleasant to those who recited them, along with the understanding of the content and the meaning of the words. No less, they had an outpouring of the soul, overflowing with agony and joy, absorbing the atmosphere of their composer. Many knew how to ascend to the heights of the world, to sublime enthusiasm, in a holy flame.

His creations were influenced primarily from the treasury of Hassidism to which Reb Yisrael Yehuda was bound with a permanent knot. He absorbed into them all the beauty and pleasantness of Polish and Galician Hassidism, especially of the character of Stolin-Karlin Hassidism, with its enthusiasm, warmth of heart, internal essence, and dynamism, in accordance with “all my bones shall say”^[1].

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His melodies were primarily calm, with a special charm, caressing the ears and imbuing the listeners with light pleasure. (As an example, the Pesukei Dezimra of Shacharit before Hamelech)^[2]. However, as the melody continues, its resonance strengthens, “heats up,” and ascends with a flame of holy fire, an internal fire that penetrates the heart and soul with extra devotion, leading to the central, high point, to a world that is full of holiness, glory, and splendor.

His faith and devotion to his Rabbi was deep and strong. When the Rebbe commanded him to compose melodies, he did not know how to desist: he was like an overflowing wellspring, spilling over its brim, with its waters spreading outside. Thus did the steams of melodies flow forth in honor of every holiday and event, for hymns and Hassidic dances, for the High Holy Days and for all the days of the year.

When Rabbi Yisraelke, may the memory of the righteous be blessed, the Yenuka [Child] from Stolin, passed through Warsaw on his final journey to Frankfurt, where he died, he met Reb Yisrael Yehuda after not having seen him for many years (because Reb Yisrael Yehuda of blessed memory escaped from Russia in 1905, when he was drafted to the Russian army during the Russo-Japanese War). It was 1920. The Rebbe listened to his song, and it made such a great impression on him, so he said, “Let him sing as a sign of his soul, for he is a professional, he knows his trade.” He even commanded him to send him special tunes for the High Holy Days, for Vayeetayu^[3] and Hayom Harat Olam^[4].

Reb Yisrael Yehuda sent his Rebbe the notes to these songs. When the Rebbe died a year later, he kept his command stringently, and continued to compose melodies for the High Holy Days that were always sung in Stolin. [He also composed melodies] for all the Sabbaths of the year (for example, Menucha Vesimcha^[5] on the eve of the Sabbath, and the holy hymn Ka Echsof^[6] sung by the Karlin-Stoliner Hassidim on Sabbath eves and the third Sabbath meal). This was their custom until the terrible Holocaust that brought destruction upon Polish Jewry, and also silenced the holy, pure voices and resonance.

Reb Yisrael Yehuda was murdered on 4 Cheshvan 5703 [1942] along with his wife Beila Chaya, and their daughter Chana by the Nazis in the city of Kobrin. His melodies are sung to this day among the rest of the Karlin-Stolin melodies on Sabbaths, festivals, and the High Holy Days.

He was pleasant with his fellow, an enthusiastic Zionist from his youth, Orthodox in his faith, while also dealing with maskilim [followers of the Haskalah [Enlightenment] movement] with patience and understanding. Truth was his guiding light. He was the symbol of honesty. He pursued peace and loved his fellow. He never entered a dispute. He did not want to be an arbitrator for one side unless it was for both sides. One could trust his honesty.

He was a follower of the methodology of the G'ra [Vilna Gaon] of blessed memory in his study and behavior: simplicity, modesty, not wanting to praise his children for that would be as if he was praising himself. He loved the poor and never forgot about them. His wife helped him in his charitable deeds.

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His way in business was with truth. He would relate: When I studied in Yeshiva, we heard the rabbi (the Yeshiva head) saying: Rabbi Meir says, “What should a person do to become rich?” All the students were eager to hear the advice for attaining wealth. The continuation was: “He should conduct business in honesty.” At that time, I did not understand the advice of doing business with honesty. However, through my life experiences, I have found this proper, and I guide my children along that path.

His life was a life of Torah and divine service. He attended a Talmud lesson every day, and he never wasted a moment of his time.

During his final years, he opened a manufacturing business. Despite the difficult years, his business flourished thanks only to the great trust that both his suppliers and customers had in him. The gentiles would urge each other to shop in his store since “here is the truth.”

His entire family was murdered together with him.

Surviving him are: A son who left for Cuba in 1922 (Chaim Lutzky), and his daughter Yentl who made aliya to the Land in 1933 along with her husband.

May his memory be blessed.

Yosef was a fruitful vine^[7], modest and humble a friend to old and young, to the rich and the poor alike.

He was a man of deeds, with imagination and ideas, a believer the son of a believer, who always said: Fortunate is the believer, how good is his lot and how beautiful is his heritage. The good, and also, Heaven forbid, the bad, everything is from He Who Is Blessed.

A sizable portion in forging the spiritual image of my father goes to Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Koltin, who was called “Der Malach” [The Angel] by the people of the city. Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak had exceptional influence on all his students, who were the finest of the city. Aside from studies in Talmud and commentaries, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak worked to imbue the hearts of his students with pleasant traits, love of one's fellow, love of fellow Jews, etc.

There, in a narrow room, next to the table crowded with a number of students, they would learn Torah for its own sake with his large eyes filled with mercy, his high forehead shining like rays of lights, and, most important, his mouth exuding pearls – there, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak imprinted his seal, the seal of truth, love, and righteousness in the hearts of his students. My father of blessed memory remained his faithful student, listening to the stories of his Rabbi about Tzadikim, who served as lessons in morality forging proper behavior between man and G-d, and between man and his fellow – and he made efforts to fulfill them.

The main part of his education came from Grandmother and Grandfather Reb Moshe and Leah of blessed memory. Grandfather was G-d fearing, diligent in observing commandments, a man of truth, who lived from the toil of his hands. Grandmother was righteous, and not a day passed without her giving charity. They gave their part in educating their son, who was a source of pride to them and their Creator.

They cannot be counted! I cannot write on paper all the fine traits with which he was graced. He read, learned, did, acted, studied, taught, worshipped, and sang with feeling, sweetness, and devotion.

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spiritual sustenance that we absorb, spread, and disseminate is pleasant, beautifies the soul, and leads to spiritual sublimity. Whereas they: at that moment they laugh or cry, and later everything passes, as if it never was, like smoke that flies away.

He would explain Hassidic song as follows: Our songs are deep. They have content and life. Everything is feeling, joy, and longing. They have levels, and everything is in accordance with the level. When we sing Ka Echsof^[6] the longing and desire is great and endless. The splendor and glory in them to greet the pleasantness of the Sabbath continues until “Your souls shall long.” The pleas emanate from the depths of the heart. The effervescence, the storminess, and the pleading of “May Your mercy be aroused” and “Let us find shelter under the shade of Your wings” – are the content, the primary matter, and the faith. One lives by them. He continued: The melody is not abstract. It is expressed and comes forth in the spirit of Atah Echad, Dror Yikra, and Ata Nigleita^[8].

Not only did he preach nicely, but he also fulfilled everything with his entire body and soul. His sweet prayers that emanated from the heart penetrated the hearts of all those who knew him, both Hassid and Misnaged. Even though he was weak in body and was not considered as one of the mighty ones, he girded himself like a lion at Ezkera Elokim Vehemaya and Yareiti Biftzoti^[9] in the synagogue of the Admor of Karlin and in David-Horodok. Above all was the Ya'alot and Neila. Those who knew him often wondered from where he drew such energy.

The Admor of Karlin, may the memory of the righteous be blessed, told me that on the final Rosh Hashanah, my father of blessed memory came to Karlin weak and subdued. On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, as always, he was sent by the Admor to serve as the prayer leader, and he stumbled on account of his weakness. The Admor told him, “Go! G-d will help you.” The Admor continued: “I saw him, I heard him, and I knew very well the order and style of his prayers, but I will never forget that final Yareiti Biftzoti. I will remember it for my entire life. It was the power of a pained heart with feelings to rise up ‘Before the Mighty, Awesome One,’ and to storm with super-human energy in accordance with ‘My insides are stormy as I commence’ so that ‘I will find forgiveness and pardon for those that sent me.’^[10]”

From melody, song, and prayer to study. The Talmud with the Levush was his daily bread. Even though he was busy with matters of livelihood, no day passed without studying Gemara or looking into a book.

He was expert and knowledgeable regarding matters of the day. He would read Yiddish, Russian, and Hebrew newspapers to find out what was taking place in the world. His reactions to world events were based on a religious outlook, were interesting, and beyond dispute.

All of this, and even more so, was between man and his Creator, but what about between man and his fellow? Who can enumerate and who can count the level of concern he had for his fellow? He gathered, collected, took from one person, and gave to another. To fulfil the needs of the poor he would collect sums of money during his many travels and hasten to give them to the designated recipients. There were such people who knew that they had someone who concerned himself with them, and he never failed them, Heaven forbid.

His chief concern was the bathhouse, which was a burden and expense on the Jews of the city. “We have been commanded regarding purity and cleanliness,” he would say, “and especially about family purity^[11]. How can we eat our daily bread without concerning ourselves with family purity among the people of Israel? Is this not our pride and greatness?”

He was an advisor in matters of the individual and the public. He would answer everyone willingly. He would think deeply. He turned the topic of discussion on all its sides. He would reach a judgment and forge a path. Even though he could not satisfy everyone, the majority would heed his advice. He especially excelled as an arbitrator.

Despite the tribulations that he suffered, the illness of his young daughter Risha of blessed memory, who was bedridden for several years and died at the age of eighteen, and the tribulations of the individual and the public that pressured his heart, his shine did not dull. He would explain: “The righteous lives by his faith^[12] – he who comes to terms with everything and that is his faith – shall live!”

When his friend Rabbi Shneur Zalman Shapira of blessed memory left David-Horodok about a year before the destruction and the Holocaust – and his situation was already unbearable – he told Rabbi Shapira as he bid him farewell, “Your departure is difficult on me. Who knows if the agony, the longing, the situation, and my wife's illness will not crush the remainder of my heart. I take comfort in that three of my sons are in the Land of Israel. I wish that I had a wing like a dove, and I would fly to our Holy Land in order to enjoy the splendor of the Divine Presence that flutters over the Land of the Patriarchs.”

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A stream of hot tears burst forth from the pure, glowing eyes. The words emanated from the holy mouth, and the heart was emotional and stormy, without finding relief…

And he did not merit… His soul ascended heavenward along with the entire holy community of David-Horodok.

How is it, my holy father, how did you fall, Heilel the son of the morning star^[13]? You, your daughter Chava and her three children, your son Litman, your brother Litman, his wife Gittel, and their sons Yaakov and Yisrael, your sister Feigel her husband Chaim and their children, your mother Leah, pure, upright, and modest – how is it [that this happened to] the entire community of the Children of Israel in David-Horodok?

Your blood boiled for three days and was not calmed. Was this your final protest on the earth, with nobody to listen and nobody to give comfort?

May your memories be etched in the hearts – not to be forgotten, and may revenge come and avenge the honor that was desecrated and the dear souls that perished in an untimely fashion. May G-d avenge your blood!

May your souls be bound in the bonds of eternal life.

A memorial candle

“Be careful with the children of the poor, for Torah shall emanate from them”^[14] – this statement was not applicable to us.

We were not poor like the “children of the poor.” In any case, there were such people, old and young. In a small community, there was relatively more of such than in a large city.

Regarding such children of the poor, who broke through toward a path with their independent powers, and went out to the wide expanses, the poet writes:

“Luminaries shall arise for us from among the luminaries. And geniuses shall descend upon us from the gardens…” (Bialik, Hamatmid)

Not only tuition but it was not proper that this student should sit in the classroom among his friends without wearing the same uniform as his friends, as was customary at that time in all government schools. Therefore, the director made an effort to organize a celebration for the school with the income being dedicated to the student, to purchase books for him, and to sew a uniform for him.

The student passed from class to class successfully until graduation.

He could not think of high school, even in a dream. The only place where it would be possible to study for free was the Teachers' Institute in Vilna. Perhaps he had an inclination to teaching. We never had the opportunity to speak about this. It seems that only the thirst for education brought him to Vilna. The tall lad returned to his town for vacations, wearing the cap of the Institute's uniform on his head. He would return to the place of learning when the time came. This is the way it was every year. In the meantime, there was communal work and dreams about the Jewish community of the future, about autonomous institutions, about national education and culture, and about all

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nice things seen in the distant horizon. This is the way Avraham was. We would meet during the gloomy time of war during the time of the Czarist regime, and dream of spring, about a change of ways in Russia, when we would be able to organize our lives according to our aspirations.

Then the revolution of 1917 broke out. Vibrant communal life began in the town, especially in the local Zionist organization. Durchin was alert and active. He appeared in public gatherings and was chosen as a member of the local Zionist council.

Durchin's activities during that period will be described in another place.

Durchin left the Institute, not to go to teaching, but rather to continue his education abroad. He chose the chemical profession.

Later, we found out that he had entered the circles of Torah and science. He married the daughter of the well-known Sh'y Ish Horowitz. Durchin lived in Warsaw and was occupied in his profession of Doctor of Chemistry.

He visited the Land and wished to settle there but did not succeed. The war broke out and he perished along with all the Jews of Warsaw.

He knew when Tolstoy wrote War and Peace and when Dostoevsky wrote The Brothers Karamazov, and of course dates in the annals of Yiddish literature. Furthermore, he knew about the personal relations between Mendele and Bialik or Ahad Ha'am, and about everything done behind the curtain among people of science, literature, and politics.

Of course, the party made use of his talents. He ran every cultural activity of the party, especially among the youth. He related to political opponents with great honor. It was fascinating to see him during a political debate: he surprised his opponent with his knowledge of everything that took place within his party, and it was as if he agreed with their ideas. However, along with this, he tore the arguments of his opponent to pieces. He did all this with seriousness, with a level head, with the appropriate honor, and with a smile on his lips. He made aliya to the Land in 1926, but he left since he was weak and was unable to become accustomed to physical labor. There was no room for such a talented lad in any office in the Land.

When he returned to Poland, he got married and moved to Stolin. There, he met his tragic end along with the community of Stolin.

May his memory be blessed.

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He was born in 1905 to his father, the important communal activist and dedicated Zionist. From his youth, he absorbed the national and Zionist spirit that pervaded his home.

In 1915, he was already a member of Chovevei Sfat Ever [Lovers of the Hebrew Language], an organization that was founded in their home and functioned clandestinely, like all the communal organizations and societies in pre-revolutionary Russia.

After the revolution, Aharon was active in the Zionist youth. When the Tzeirei Zion [Youth of Zion] party was formed, he was among its first activists and dedicated workers. He distributed the newspapers of the party. Later, when the party united with Poalei Zion [Workers of Zion], he distributed the newspaper of the united party, Dos Vort, to the members.

He was especially active in Hechalutz [The Pioneer]. He displayed great dedication to the work of the Keren Kayemet [Jewish National Fund]. Similarly, he did so to the Y.L. Peretz Library and the League for Workers in the Land of Israel. Aharon was the doer, activist, and initiator in every political or financial activity.

In 1925, when the Hachshara [pioneer training] unit was formed in Lisovitz, Aharon was among its founders. He was elected by the members as the labor director. Through his dedication and faith, he served as an example and guide to all the members. He merited, and made aliya to the Land in 1928, but he was not able to settle there. For various reasons, he was forced, to his great dismay, to leave the Land temporarily, with the hope of returning in good time. This idea and hope never ceased in his heart even for one minute.

In 1938, he was certified for aliya once more, but his aliya did not come to fruition due to the lack of aliya permit certificates.

In 1941, he was imprisoned by the Soviets and deported from the town with eight other members for the crime of Zionist activity.

A long series of wanderings from prison to prison to prison and from concentration camp to concentration camp began. This wandering was replete with tribulations that put an end to his young life. In 1942, he died without meriting, as did some of his imprisoned friends, to survive to the end of the war and arrive in the Land of his aspirations and his hopes of all the years.

May his memory be a blessing!

It is hard to believe that Sara, who loved life so much, was cut off during the mass murder along with her dear husband and children!!!

It seems to me that I saw her only yesterday: walking among us full of life. She knew how to draw people close and make a difficult moment easier. She was a dedicated mother and a good daughter to her parents. She did all this with a wonderful blend of simplicity and good heartedness.

Anyone who came close to her immediately recognized her character and loved her. She was alert and attentive to everything that took place in our town and in our Zionist world. She dedicated her best years to communal work. She was an expert in the history and development of the movement. I recall that already then, more than 24 years ago, she would gather us together in her home after a grueling day of work – in a narrow room with the light of a lamp and read newspapers to us. She would guide people and organize them for aliya. She was active, and urged others to be active to pioneering and the upbuilding of the homeland…

We have merited a flourishing Land of Israel.

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And a large nation returned to it!

But she did not merit to see her dream actualize…

Sara, Aharon, and their children fell victim to the mass murder in David-Horodok.

Meirke, Nechamale, Yisraelke, and Chaimke, may G-d avenge your blood!

She was a communal personality immersed in her day-to-day activities. Throughout all the years of her work, she had almost a single theme: cultural work among the group of mothers and friends. Musia was what is called in our community a “Tarbutnik” … and she lived up to this name. She worked in it with all the strands of her soul, with her understanding and love of the human spirit. Her intellectual talents were suffused with a deep humane attitude. This was the charm of her personality and her force of influence upon those who came in contact with her. I see her as then, as a girl flying through the storm of influence. She was self-assured, chic, but also simple.

Her love for the homeland was strong, but she did not merit actualizing this… May her memory be a blessing.

Among the other members of the Y.L. Peretz Library committee, the following especially stood out with their dedication and activity – Chaichik Lansky, Sheindel Ziporin, and Rachel Ziporin who worked in all areas, as librarians, organizing performances, plays, celebrations, flower days, etc. with the income dedicated to the maintenance and growth of the library.

Coordinator's note: According to my research, the women pictured are, from left to right, Sheindel Ziporin, Chaichik Lansky, and Rachel Ziporin.

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In addition to the activities in the library, they also devoted their time to party work for the Keren Kayemet [Jewish National Fund] and the League for Workers in the Land of Israel, especially during the times of the Zionist Congresses. Even at a later time, when they were already busy with families and children – to whom they gave a proper Zionist education – they did not stop their activity. Until the final period, they planned to make aliya to the Land, but they were unable to actualize their dream.

May their memories be a blessing.

Translator's footnotes

1. A quote from the Nishmat prayer, indicating that one praises G-d with all one's limbs. Return
2. This is evidently referring to the beginning of the main part of the Shacharit service on the High Holy Days, which starts with a loud shout of Hamelech [the King]. Return
3. This prayer, in the Musaf service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, looks forward to a time when all people will be united in the service of G-d. Return
4. This prayer, recited after the shofar sounding in the Musaf service on Rosh Hashanah, connects the holiday with the creation of the world and asks G-d for just and compassionate judgment. Return
5. This Sabbath hymn praises the Sabbath and those who properly sanctify the day. Return
6. The words of this Sabbath hymn evoke longing for the sweetness of the Sabbath. Return
7. Genesis 49:22 Return
8. Ata Echad [You are one] is from the Sabbath Mincha Amida. Dror Yikra is a Sabbath hymn. Ata Nigleita is the opening of the Shofarot section of the Rosh Hashanah Musaf. Return
9. The former is from the Selichot service two days prior to Yom Kippur, as well as from the Neila service, and the latter is from the chazzan's petition at the beginning of the Shacharit Amida on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Return
10. These are quotes from Yareiti Biftzoti, a liturgical poem said at the beginning of the repetition of the Shacharit Amida on the first day of Rosh Hashanah Return
11. Referring to the monthly visit to the mikveh following a woman's period of menstruation. Return
12. Habakkuk 2:4. Return
13. Isaiah 14:12. Return
14. From Tractate Nedarim 81:a. Return

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