[Columns 203-204]

In 1934, young people arrived in Hrubieszow and established a kibbutz.

There were no factories in Hrubieszow, so the young people began to chop wood. Unfortunately, not all the Jews of the town gave the young people wood for chopping. Some said that they felt sorry that the young Jews were working so hard. Others said that non-Jews worked better, and faster. The Bund members said openly that they would not support young people who were planning to go to the Land of Israel. The kibbutz belonged to the Palestine Labor League, which I chaired until the outbreak of the World War.^[2]

At the first meeting, a sponsorship was formed, consisting of Shmuel Brand, Dovid Tenenboym, Leybl Zuberman, Moyshe Yehuda Mernshteyn, and myself as the director of the league. Our mission was to create work, provide better housing, and convince the Jewish population to help these young people as they would their own children. I convened a meeting of the League, and called for each member to do informational work in his own household, so that kibbutz members would be hired for all tasks. Within a few days, conditions in the kibbutz improved; but there was still much to do.

I began talking to the railroad workers, suggesting that they allow the kibbutz members to help them when they themselves had too much work to handle. I also began hiring kibbutz members in my warehouse, near the railroad.

Our town considered itself Zionist. Even observant Jews voted for the Zionist list. Our synagogue had considerable influence on the Jewish population, in addition to the Zionist parties and their youth organizations. All this led to a sympathetic attitude towards the kibbutz on the part of the Jewish residents.

I visited the kibbutz daily, and checked every detail. I saw that they were living meagerly, despite all their good fortune, and would not be able to continue doing manual labor for long, regardless of their good intentions.

At one meeting of the sponsorship, I announced that I had devised a plan to provide them with free meat. The members laughed. How was that possible? I explained that the fee to the town council and the Jewish community for each slaughtered calf was very high, and I would work to abolish those fees. As Jews did not eat hindquarters, I would sell those to non-Jews.^[3] The income would cover the expense of the calf, and the young kibbutz members would enjoy free meat.

My project was approved. I made sure that two members of the sponsorship, Shmuel Brand and Dovid Tenenboym, passed a resolution in the community council to release the kibbutz from the slaughtering fee. I promised to make sure that the four Jews who leased the slaughterhouse from the town council would forgive the weekly slaughtering fee.

These four were my father, Yehuda Pachter, Arn Lerer, Yuzef Tsimet, and Mote Tsimet (may their memories be for a blessing).

I talked with my father (may he rest in peace), and he promised he would convince his partners to provide the kibbutz with kosher meat. This condition helped to make peace with the butchers. They were pleased that the kibbutz was living a kosher Jewish life. Each week, a different butcher would remove the non-kosher parts of the slaughtered calf. Once the kibbutz members could eat their fill, they were always cheerful.

Dovid Tenenboym, of the General Zionists, was so inspired by my plan that he was ready to do whatever I told him to. I suggested that he make efforts to secure electric light for the kibbutz, free of charge. Tenenboym carried out this mission successfully.

Later, I had the idea of providing for the Passover needs of the kibbutz, ahead of time. I heard that the matza bakers wanted to create a cartel. I summoned Dovid Tenenboym, the only one besides myself who remained loyal to the kibbutz and always responded. I proposed that he contact the matza bakers and ask that they employ several kibbutz members. The chief bakers, Yankl Shvarts and Peysekh Beker, provided several slots for kibbutz members. However, when members went to get their work start date, the members laughed. The bakers didn't need them. I immediately let them know that I would open a matza bakery for the kibbutz, with all the necessary machinery, and I would sell the products for ten groschen less. I can still hear the matza bakers laughing loudly. They were sure that their partnership was secure, thanks to the rabbi's announcement in all the houses of study that he would only approve the kosher status of the products made by the bakeries of Yankl Shvarts and Peysekh Beker and their partners. I ask Tenenboym (may his memory be for a blessing) what he thought of it. He responds: “It's hopeless, there's nothing we can do about it.”

I propose that we convene a meeting of the sponsors. Together, we might be able to do something. Tenenboym laughs. The sponsors ignore minor issues, and will certainly do nothing about such a serious matter.

Tenenboym was right about the sponsors. But as to the bakery, I decided to use my own money to set it up. I believed that it would succeed, and the kibbutz would turn a profit, save some money and amortize the equipment in the process. The matza manufacturers would get a good lesson and learn not to ridicule the kibbutz. That same night, I went to the agents who brought merchandise from Warsaw, and gave them a deposit on the spot. At the same time, I asked our comrade, Ruvn Ekshteyn, to put me in touch with his father, Motl, to rent us his matza bakery. Thanks to his son, Motl made an agreement with us, even though he was a

[Columns 205-206]

cartel member. Incidentally, his agreement didn't come cheaply: he wanted a third of the profit.

I agreed to everything, and our deal was done. As I couldn't buy flour in Hrubieszow, I purchased it in Kryłów, thanks to the mediation of the brothers Yisro'el and Me'ir Shiller. Three days later, everything was ready: Motl Ekshteyn's large building, the machines, and the flour. I then had announcements made in all the houses of study: the kibbutz was baking matza, and all the observant Jews could inspect the kosher status, the cleanliness; and the price was ten groschen cheaper per kilo.

Our friends in the Zionist organizations asked people to buy their matza exclusively from the kibbutz bakery. Children said that they would not celebrate the holiday at home if their parents did not buy the kibbutz matza.

It was only later that Dovid Tenenboym admitted that he had not believed in my plan; but it succeeded, as I foretold!

The matza bakery paid for the labor and the location, and we divided the profit between the kibbutz and Motl Ekshteyn. Even the machinery was amortized. The kibbutz's prestige with the population increased; yet many hated the kibbutz due to the Bund's agitation. The Bund was not satisfied with fighting the kibbutz on ideological grounds; it also incited the wood-choppers to drive the kibbutz out of the wood-chopping trade.

I then approached my friend Moyshe Herman, the personal secretary of Attorney Swiatkowski, of the Polish Socialist Party. Thanks to Moyshe Herman, Swiatkowski came to Hrubieszow, and we held a friendly conversation with the wood-choppers at the “Frayhayt” club. Swiatkowski explained the significance and the goals of the kibbutz, and the non-Jewish wood-choppers finally understood that the Jewish members of the kibbutz were working for Jews. They finally stopped attacking the kibbutz members, but could not understand why the Bund was provoking Jews – weren't they, too, Jews?

The kibbutz flourished, and many of its members were able to realize their dream of settling in the Land of Israel legally as well as illegally.^[4]

Members of He-Halutz Organization in Hrubieszow, September 15, 1933[5] Top row, right to left: Yehoshua Tsigel, … Vaksman, Dovid Lindenboym, Leybl Finkelshteyn, Berl Eng, Leybl Tsipel, Shloyme Valdman, Sheyndl Klayner, Perl Royter, Ruzhke Esig, Moyshe…, Beyle Klingel, …, Mendl Moskal, Khayim Morgenshtern, Yeshayahu Gertl, Yashe Hofman Second row: Rivke Hurvits, Rokhl Vertman, Shloyme Luft, …, Dovid Hekht, Itshe Shamesh, Peshe Kliger, Blume Tsvilikh, …, Berl Frost, …, Beyle Fayl, Feyge Dimentshteyn, Itshe Vaynberg, Avrom Bukhtreger, Moyshe Valdman, Yisro'el Eng, Yidl Shroyt Third row: Khayim Kliger, Nakhmen Dikler, Gitl Dimenshteyn, Brayndl Gruber, Ester Bekher, Khaye Rays, Ruvn Kats, …, Toyve Rozenberg, Peysekh Frid, Mendl Frid, Mendl Fayl Fourth row: …, …Frost, Brayndl Vertman, Mendl Goldshteyn, Khaye Bekher, Ester Mernshteyn, Fayge Futer, Feyge Bukhtreger, Leybl Engelsberg, Khayke Goldberg, Hersh Shtokhamer, Yanke Eydlshteyn, …Alt, Yehoshua Harfin, Ruvele Ekshteyn, … Klayner, Ester Shuldiner, … Frid, Beyle Shroyt Fifth row: …, Yisro'el Dimentshteyn, Yehoshua Borovitsh, Moreyn the teacher, Eliyohu Gertl, Shimen Glozberg, Sore Frimer, Zishe Morgenshtern, Urish Rap Sixth row: Me'ir Geduldig, …, Khayim Grinberg, Khaye Kohen, Ester Likhtenshteyn, Yoysef Flaks, Yisro'el Boygn, Sore Luft Bottom row: Beyle Fayl, Reyzl Kats, …, Hersh Sas, Perl Tsimerman, Me'ir Grinberg, …, Kirshner, …

[Columns 207-208]

The B. Borochov Club of the Frayhayt youth movement, Hrubieszow, 1927

A Frayhayt group, 1924 Standing, from right: Hirsh Sas, Avrom Tsigel, and Yoysef Me'ir Lerer Seated: Yoysef Krelnboym (Almogi), Leye Lederkremer, Elka Eylboym, Yisro'el Zak		The First Committee of Frayhayt, 1924 Standing, from right: Moyshe Tsigel, Hersh Ader Seated: Yankl Tshekhovitsh, Zlate Gertel, Avrom Fayer, Yoysef Foygel, Rishe Biterman, and Itsik Haz

[Columns 209-210]

The Frayhayt Organization, Hrubieszow

Syrkin club of Frayhayt, 1927 Top row, from right: Yoysef Krelnboym (Almogi), Yitzkhok Fayer, Leye Griner, Rivke Zayd, Berish Hoz, Yankl Sher, Elke Eylboym, Datshe Lindenboym Second row: Ben-Tsien Giverts, Yosl Shroyt, Motele, Yehoshua Berger, Avrom Foygel, Gitl Fayntukh, Shmu'el Kam Third row, seated: Hersh Sas, Leye Rap, Yisro'el Ritov (then a guest), Teacher Eliezer Polyushko, Yokheved Rozenberg, Yoysef Me'ir Lerer Fourth row, seated: Avrom Bukhtreger, Avrom Tsigel, Shimen Vertman, Me'ir Plat, Khayim Harfin

Frayhayt youth movement members part from members leaving for the Land of Israel, 1933 Top row, from right: Dovid Hekht, Avremele Vayntrob, Avrom Aykhenblat, Berl Frost. Dvoyre Riz, Itshe Epshteyn, Beyle Foyl, Shmuel Flaks, Moyshe Lusker, Leybele Tsipel Second row: Esther Shuldiner, Bashe Ayzn, Itte Veler (?), Beker (?), Dek (?), Bine Gayst, Moyshe Kam, …. Tsukerman, Esther Likhtenshteyn Kahn, Vaynrib, …, Khane Frid, Avrom Pap, Sore Luft, Dutshe Lindenboym, Perl Tsimerman, Tcherne Gayer Third row: Gitl Valdman, …Vaksman, Peshe Nirnshteyn, Sore Goldberg, ….Goldshteyn, Avrom Gertl, Sime Kirshner, Khantshe Vayntrob, Yudl Tsimerman, Shroyt Fourth row: Hersh Sas, Yehoshua Tsigel, Yoyne Langer, Mendl Moskal, Rivke…, Perl Koyfman, Ben-Tsien Retig, Royze Fayl, Reyzl …, Mashe Nodl, Fride Dimentshteyn, Khayim Kluger, Shloyme Valdman Fifth row: Reyzl Kats, Itshe Shamesh, Ben-Tsien Lev, Berl Frost, Moyshe Tsigel, Eliyohu Gertl, Meytshe Hofman, Moreyn the teacher, Rokhl Frost, Rokhl … Bottom row: Yoysef Khayim Fayl, Rivke Fayl, Hodes Lerekh, Yeshayahu Zayd, Feyge Tsigel, Avrom Soyfer, Feyge Bukhtreter, Perl Taytlboym, Sheyndl Zilbershteyn

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