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It is simply impossible to comprehend that the majority of my friends are gone. It is hard to make peace with this fate, that they are no longer among the living, although I think about them at every opportunity. They appear before me and I see them and talk to them. However the bitter truth is that they were brutally murdered. All that remains are the memoires of the past…

Who can one forget? Can one just wipe away almost 30 years of life? The longing tugs and my heart aches.

We were raised from childhood together, lived together from our days in Heder, later to other schools and then communal organizational life, always together like brothers and sisters, like the children of the same parents in our town, where we lived, celebrated and dreamed of a better tomorrow. Now they are gone.

The great destruction (Holocaust) arrived. The Nazi murderers, without any pity or human feeling killed them, burned and gassed.

I do not know if the traditional Kaddish, mourner's prayer, is appropriate for so many pure, holy martyrs…

They did not die a natural death. They do not have tombstones. Only their ashes soar through the air demanding salvation of the soul and demanding that we never forget.

In all the Holocaust literature we have not yet seen the modern

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Jeremiah, the appropriate mourner who will cry for all the martyrs, the annihilated children, the future and hope of our people.

I am doubtful if I will be in a position to list all of them, but I will try to remember at least a few:

Who can forget!

Yakov Khaim Goldshteyn, the dark haired charming young man, an intellectual, a magnificent speaker, who for years held a respectful place in the leadership of “Hechalutz”, “Hechaluts Hatziar” and other cultural organizations.

Meir Fishl Likhtenshteyn, the successful businessman who ran his father's business and was always ready to help others. He was the permanent treasurer of “Hechalutz”. No trace of his family has remained.

In a postcard written at the time he cursed the day he was born. This shows how terrifying his troubles were.

Itche Segal, the simple Itche, who could not speak loudly, was a regular active member on the committee of “Hechalutz”.

The committee of “Hecahlutz Hatzair”, Makow, 1928

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Hershl Vaysberg, the talented artist, who enriched and brightened all Zionist events.

Sender Hertzberg, my Heder friend, an active worker in YIVO and the Folk University. He was immersed in Yiddish literature. His entire family was killed.

Khaim Leyzer Freshberg, a son of sickly parents, an active member in “Hechalutz”, and one of the founders of “Hechalutz Hatzair”.

Yosef Krukever, filled with wisdom, had great organizational talents, the permanent treasurer of “Hashomer Hatzair”, honest, precise, and worked closely with Berke Hendel of blessed memory.

Khaim Borukh Segal, had a great sense of humour, always prepared with a joke; always made everyone happy and entertained us all.

Henekh Blum, my school friend, a great and serious student. He left to study in Belgium and was killed there.

Moishe Rozenberg, (Shmuel the writer's son) my Heder friend. A quiet boy fluent in many languages. He ran his father's office (writing requests).

Yosef Shamovitch, the talented Yosl, with a great sense of humour. He was an employee at city hall. Not a trace remained of him or his family.

Moishe Yehuda Preshberg, the simple, sincere, gentle Moishe Yehuda, a devoted Zionist. It was never too difficult for him to fulfill a Zionist mission or work toward the Zionist goal.

Yakov Yedvabnik, the devoted worker in the Sholem Aleichem Library and an active member on the committee of the Jewish National Fund.

Yakov Likhtenshteyn, an intelligent quiet student. He was one of the first students to receive a diploma. Later he became a teacher in the state public school.

Leyzer – Khaykl Preshberg, the simple Khyakl, a devoted member of “Hechalutz”, never refused to participate in a flower day fund raiser for the Jewish National Fund. He regularly attended all meeting of “Hechalutz”.

Frida Vengerko, aware and well read, she secretly attended meetings “Hechalutz” against the will of her orthodox father. She was a member of the committee and led a group of young girls.

Alteh Hendel. (Berke's sister), modest, gentle intelligent Alteh, who led a group in “Hashomer Hatziar”. She was also a member of the committee of the Jewish National Fund.

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Esther Piekartchik, beautiful, smart Esther, wise and intelligent. She was a regular member in “Hashomer Hatzair” and sat on the committee of The Jewish National Fund.

Yente Shnayderman had a beautiful voice. She enriched all Zionist programs with her singing; she was a devoted teacher and educator in the public school.

Kaytche Vilenberg (Vaysberg), beautiful Khaytche with her sweet smile. She always worked for the bazars for the Jewish National Fund.

A group of members of the “Yugnt” (“Youth”) movement in Makow in 1924

Gitl Ostri, the intelligent quiet Gitl. She later worked as a cashier at the Jewish Cooperative Bank.

Feyge Soreh Glogover (Kurkover), the charming Feyge Soreh led a group at “Hashomer “Hatzair”. She never refused to participate in a flower day for the Jewish National Fund.

Basheh Platko, an intelligent student, a great martyr who took revenge on a Nazi murderer. Her name will be eternalized among the heroes.

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Who can forget the beautiful youth of Makow? Although most of them did not have higher education, they had inborn intelligence and were autodidacts. They were talented and active in all areas and played an outstanding role in cultural and communal life in our town.

Who knows what personalities they would have become; who knows how large their contributions would have been to Jewish cultural life.

The loss is immense. We will never forget them!

Magnified and sanctified be God's great name…(First line of the mourner's prayer).

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During the great destruction (the Holocaust), pious, spiritual Makow was tragically annihilated by the German murderers together with all the pure Jewish souls from our town. I have taken upon myself the task to write about the great personalities who influenced and led our Jewish community, those who contributed to the spiritual, religious physiognomy and shape of Makow and to where Makow stood among the other Jewish communities of pre–war Poland.

When I received a request from Mr. Yakov Sobol, general secretary of the Makow Association in New York, asking me to participate in the memorial book which people from Makow in America and Israel were preparing for publication, I thought it would be a very difficult task. He asked me especially to dedicate my article to the dear holy souls of the orthodox portion of our town who were so closely connected to me in the religious life of our town. This was a difficult duty for me as I had to bring back to life, in my memory, all my former good friends with whom I prayed, belonged to the same organizations and worked together for Torah and Judaism: in “Agudas Yisroel” in the Heder “Foundations of the Torah” and in “Beys Yakov”. We studied Talmud together at the Ger little prayer house every Thursday night. Oh, how hard it is for me to describe such dear, holy Jews, our devoted friends. We were so completely devoted to God's word and educating the new Jewish generations to continue on the same path as our ancestors. When I remind myself that they suffered such tragic deaths at the hands of wild murderers, may their names be blotted out, some at the sacrificial alter in Treblinka and Majdanek, how could one not break down, how can one stop from wailing? Oy vey, what has become of such pure souls!

Not even a single bone has remained from them,

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their ashes have spread over seven seas. Perhaps, I thought, it would be better for me not to write about them so that during my thought process I won't, God forbid, have any doubts about my faith and the creator of all worlds. But I thought it over and I remembered the commentary about Isaiah the Prophet and Hezekiah, saying we should not ask questions. Therefore it is my obligation, if there is no one else, to give a review about these beautiful Jews, the “face” of our town which they represented.

The “Beys Yakov” School and the girls from Agudas Yisroel in Makow

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Let them learn how the elite of Makow lived and how they tragically died.

It is worthy and proper that I first write about the spiritual personality of our last rabbi of blessed memory, Rabbi Yitzkhak Zvi Adelberg, may God Avenge his death, who was a close friend of mine. We studied together in the first years after my wedding when I still lived with my father in law Motl Yismakh of blessed memory. He arrived in town to be our rabbi the week of my wedding in 1933. He came from among respectable rabbis in Poland: he was a scholar and knew the language of the land – he spoke a beautiful Polish. I remember when he gave a speech in the middle of the marketplace from the balcony of Meir Ostre's house in Polish, the gentile neighbours were amazed. Also, when the cardinal from Plotzk came to Makow, he went with the delegation, led by the head of the Jewish community Mendl Klyen and welcomed him with bread and salt and made a blessing in Polish before entering the town. His sermons, which from time to time he would deliver in the large House of Study made a great impression.

He was a great community worker in town, both in religious and social spheres, helping people in need. He was a student of the great rabbi Rabbi Tuvye Gutentag (Tovyami) of blessed memory, from Sochotchin[Sochaczew], who was a Talmudic genius and was known throughout the world by the title of his book “Tel Yisroel”. The Makow rabbi was the son–in–law the Yablon rabbi of blessed memory. We left town together on a Sunday, the first night of Slikhes (prayers of repentance) in 1939 after the Nazis arrived. I never saw him again.

Unfortunately it is not known where he and his dear family, his wife and seven children, were killed. May his soul be bound among the living. May God Avenge his death.

Reb Yisroel Segal was the most respected Jew and Hasid in the Ger Hasidic prayer house. He was the president of “Agudas Yisroel” in Makow. He was also a member of the executive of “Agudah” in Poland. He was a student of “Avnei Nezer”,

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Reb Areymele Sokhochover[Sochaczewer] of blessed memory. He did a lot of work for the Heder “Yesoday Hatorah” (“Foundations of the Torah”), and everyone came to him for his opinion on Jewish matters. What can I say about Reb Yisroel Segal? He was a clever man and you could consult with him on all matters, both spiritual and secular. He was a successful leather merchant working all week in Warsaw and returning home only fro the Sabbath. Nevertheless, he never let a page of gemora or the writings of Maimonides out of his hands. You could discuss the most complicated passages with him. He would sit at many arbitrations, with many rabbis, and interpret difficult rabbinic lawsuits. He was a regular at the table of the Ger Rebbe of blessed memory, which was considered a great privilege not many obtained. He came from Mlave. His father was Khaim Shmaya, the esteemed teacher, of blessed memory. He married the daughter of Reb Zalmen Urlik (Zalmen the tanner). At the start of the war we met almost daily in Bialystok and spent a lot of time together, telling each other our problems, how we escaped from the Nazis to this part of Poland which was captured by the Soviets. He was alone then, without his family. Later, when they sent us from Bialystok to Siberia in 1941, I never heard from him again. Right after the war I met his son Shmuel Dovid and one of his grandchildren from his eldest son Reb Leybl who got married in Ostrove. They now live in America, in New York. They are carrying on the traditions, thank God, of their father and grandfather.

Reb Shimom Khilinovitch^[1] and his wife Bas –Sheva of blessed memory were people who did not live at all for themselves, but for others. They earned a respectable living from their poor store. If anyone needed help they neglected their business and busied themselves with helping that person. They both had dear, good souls. He had an important father, Reb Notele of blessed memory the head of the Makow Yeshiva.

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After his father of blessed memory died, Reb Shimon Khaim ran the Yeshiva. He was a student of the Kovner Rebbe and studied with Reb Yitzkhak – Elkhanan of blessed memory, but he was a Ger Hasid. We were very close friends despite a big age difference. He was charismatic. Our friendship did not take age into account. May their souls be bound among the living.

Reb Aron Bulman was dear Jew and a respected Hasid, and guarded every word he said; he taught the daily page to everyone, read from the Torah in the small Hasidic prayer house, had a difficult life in the years before the war, but this man accepted everything with love, was always happy and lived with great faith in God. He had no demands from the Creator. May God avenge his death.

He was a nice young man of illustrious descent, the grandson of the Nowy Dwor Rebbe of blessed memory, and related to the Ger court. He was one of the guards of the Ger prayer house. “Language of Truth” by the old Ger Rebbe of blessed memory, was his main source. A word from the last Ger Rebbe or a letter received by the Hasidim was a holy treasure for him. He would walk into a fire for a word from the Rebbe. He was the director of “Beys Yakov” and spent a lot of time travelling to Ger, to the Rebbe of blessed memory. May God avenge his death.

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Reb Eliezer Likhtig of blessed memory

Reb Eliezer Manker was the father–in–law of Reb Pintche Toyman. He was a member of a prestigious family, the Sherentzker Rebbe's son, a passionate Jew. He would give away his last groshn to perform a good deed. On the eve of Sukkot he would buy his own Etrog and Lulav even though he should not have spent the money on this good deed as he would not have enough money left to celebrate the holiday with his family. He was a great Talmudic scholar and was able to study day and night. He was always preoccupied with Torah. His children had good reputations in town and in Poland.

May his soul be bound among the living. May God avenge his death.

Reb Yerukham Munkarsh, my uncle, Reb Bezalel Vilenberg's son in law, was a man with a large Jewish heart. There was never a time when someone asked him for a favour and he refused. Not willing to help someone was not part of his nature. He was a dear soul of good character, gave charity with an open hand, above his means. He came from the finest family in Nashelsk. The Pultusker Rabbi of blessed memory, Reb Meshulem Koyfman, the well–known genius of the previous generation, was his in–law. His sister was the rabbi's daughter– in–law. The Zamosc rabbi, Rabbi Blum, was related to them. Reb Yekhiel – Fishl died with his entire family among all the martyrs of Makow.

May his soul be bound among the living. May God avenge his death.

Besides all these nice Jews from the Ger prayer house, Hasidim, community workers, and Torah scholars who stand before my eyes is Reb Avrom Yitzkhak, my teacher from Heder. He was a young man, a righteous man. He sat every Friday night in the prayer house until midnight and studied with my uncle Dovid Zomerfeld, Bezalel Vilenberg's son in law, may their memories be blessed. The rabbi and genius, the righteous Reb Dovid Hendel of blessed memory was also a teacher in Heder and was the son in law of the righteous Hasid Reb Moishe –Yosef Garfinkel of blessed memory. He became the rabbi in Volyie, near Warsaw after the death of his great father the Rabbi and genius Reb Avrom – Aron Hendel of blessed memory. His father also came from Makow. He was my brother in law's uncle, Reb Elazar Hendel of blessed memory, who is also no longer here with his family. May God avenge his death.

My uncles, Moishe Vilneberg and Yisroelche Vilenberg of blessed memory, were

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very charitable people and supported Torah study with an open hand and guided their children down the straight path.

Rabbi Velvl Feyntzeyg from the Heder “Foundation of Torah” was a learned Jew and a Hasid who came from Ostrove, where the Feyntzyeygs were one of the most respected families in town. In 1934, after the death of the rabbinical judge Reb Shmuel Yosef Rozental, he was a candidate for the position of rabbinical judge in town. He was the candidate from the Hasidic side but he lost to the other side whose candidate was Reb Shmuel Yosef's son in law, Rabbi Langfus of blessed memory, who was married to the daughter of the judge. He remained the judge in town until it was destroyed. Reb Khaim Dovidl Melamed was a righteous Hasid and modest although he was extremely knowledgeable in Torah and was very devout. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. May God avenge his death.

Reb Kalmen the ritual scribe^[2] was a Jew who understood the world and was known in many towns for his accuracy and protection of his holy task of writing Torah scrolls. He was very learned and devout.

Reb Yakov Leyb Ablodziner of blessed memory was one of the most respected Jews in the Hasidic prayer house. Even though he was a merchant and a busy man he studied a page of Talmud every day.

And Reb Meir of blessed memory and more. May got avenge their deaths. May their memories serve as a blessing.

My father in law, Reb Motl Yismakh of blessed memory was a successful merchant whose word was always trusted. He was not capable of telling a lie, fooling someone or swindle. He was loved by everyone and as was very charitable. Who ever would come as an emissary for the Rebbe of Alexander, or for the Yeshiva, they always stayed with my in laws of blessed memory. My father in law was a man of virtue and had devoted children. May their souls be bound among the living.

Reb Sender Beker of blessed memory was a great Talmudic scholar, always studying Torah. He was highly respected for his knowledge and devotion. My uncle Reb Yosef Vilenberg who died a few years before the was,

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among the most important men in the Hasidic prayer house. He gave a lot of charity for holy causes in town and all around.

Reb Manes Ingberman, the town beadle also prayed at the Alexander Hasidic prayer house. He was a dear Jew whose children were geniuses. His son, who was a rabbi in America was killed in the catastrophe when an airplane flying to Israel over communist Bulgaria and was shot down. He was a young man. They spoke about his ingenuity in all the Yeshivas in America and his great scholarship. There were more noble Jews from the prayer house. May God avenge their deaths.

I would like to mention the extraordinary good Jews from the “Mishnah Society” with whom I studied Talmud for years, every day upstairs in the large House of Study.

Eliyahu Dovid Rishelevsky was a man of virtue. He brought the following with him from Lithuania: Reb Shmuel Rozenberg (Shmuel the candle lighter), a dear Jew; the Freshbergs, Sender, Gedalyie and Moishe and his father. Hardworking Jews. All week they travelled to the villages to do business, but they never missed a Saturday or Sunday to come learn and listen to Mishnah or bible. Of all the other Jews from the House of Study who are racing through my mind, the dear Hillel Shaynberg of blessed memory, a great scholar. He would tell me that even though he was a “Mizrachi” he still studied a page every day from the “Agudah”. He was a Lithuanian Jew who followed the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). He was the brother in law of the great Zionist leader Nokhem Sokolov of blessed memory. They were both sons in law of Mrs. Dobeh Segal, who if I'm not mistaken had her estate in the village Podesh near Krasnosheltz where Nochem Sokolov lived with them after his marriage in Makow. At the same time he founded a bank, but due to financial reasons had to liquidate. Then he left for Warsaw and founded “Hatzfira”. His biography is known to all.

It is worthwhile mentioning a very important Jew, an Amshinov Hasid, Reb Yakov Dovid Hendel of blessed memory. He was a great scholar and spent a lot time learning in his older years. He had good children who held respectable positions in town.

May God avenge his death.

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I hope I will be forgiven by the families of the martyrs, who were among the religious and pious, but I have forgotten to mention here. Everyone should understand that after so many years, and experiencing so many troubles and suffering of my own, it is impossible that the angel of forgetfulness would not control my memory. As much as my memory serves me I accepted this holy obligation to remember these holy souls and I beg forgiveness from all the others and God forbid, they don't think badly of me, or that it was, God forbid, intentional not to mention them. It was only because I do not remember and I ask forgiveness.

It would not be a complete or correct picture of religious life in Makow if I would not show appreciation of these two men: one was a Hasid who was not only well known in Makow, but in the entire region, and perhaps throughout all of Poland for his religiosity, devoutness and good heart. And the second, the wealthiest man in town, who was known for his philanthropy which he displayed his entire life.

Although they left this world before the war broke out, I would like to say words about them from the prophet Isaiah chapter 57: The righteous perish and no one takes it to heart”. Both of these righteous men died before evil befell upon us.

The first was Moishe Yosef Garfinkel of blessed memory, or as we called him in town “Moishe Yosef the baker”. When I came to Makow Reb Moishe Yosef was no longer among the living. But when I was a young student at the Yeshiva in Warsaw, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah I wanted to travel to Amshinov. I simply did not know which train to take. A man with a gentle appearance came to me and said: “come with me little boy”.

Boarding the train I noticed he felt he was already at the Rebbe's. He took off his overcoat and under he was already wearing his Sabbath sleeping jacket. He took out a bit of schnapps and some food. I was also in a different mood swept into another world. When we were in Amshinov I found out who this man was: he sits in Amshinov for weeks and does not leave until the Rebbe calls on him and then tells him to go home.

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He comes to the Rebbe just before Rosh Hashanah and stays until the interim days of Sukkot.

Once, his wife came and went to the Rebbe shouting and asking why her husband was sitting there: “the work in the bakery cannot continue and it is too difficult for me to run the business by myself”. It was also like this in their home. He would pray all night, sometimes until midnight, and when he had time to leave the bakery he would bring poor widows,

The obituary of the deceased Reb Moishe Yosef Garfinkel of blessed memory

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the sick, weak poor people who did not have anything to eat, baskets of his baked goods and distributed them to the needy, saving many from hunger and destitution.

Avryml Malakh the tailor, who was a passionate “Bundist” once told me the only religious Jew he respected was Reb Moishe Yosef the baker. He said that when he learned of his passing he felt they snuck someone out of his household.

This was the type of man Reb Moishe Yosef of blessed memory was. May his soul be bound among the living. May he be an intercessor on behalf of his children. They should be proud to have had such a father.

He was a rare man. I don't know if you would find another like him among one thousand men. He was the wealthiest man in town. More charity left his home than the rest of the town combined. Every Wednesday and Thursday, the poor people in town would receive a few kilos of flour from him for the Sabbath. This went on for years. All the profits he earned from Passover flour he donated to the “Beys Yakov” School. The smallest Jewish sigh moved him. He would always help someone get back on their feet.

I am a witness as I was present when one day when the Broker Rebbe's grandson, Reb Eliezer Broker of blessed memory came to town to collect money. When the old man Reb Bezalel saw on Friday, the eve of the Sabbath he was wearing a torn coat he went to his closet and took out his new silk coat and gave it to him as a gift. He wore his old one.

Every important guest that arrived in town was the guest of Reb Bezalel Vilneberg, room and board. Every week he would send flour to the Radziminer Rebbe of blessed memory in Warsaw to feed the children in his Yeshiva. He was the most trustworthy person in town. He was entrusted with all the dowries, even without writing them down. When the Makow Society in America would send aid, especially on the eve of Passover to distribute among the poor for Passover Matzahs the money was sent only to Reb Bezalel Vilenberg. He was not only the Jews who trusted him but gentiles as well.

When the farmers would com to town on market days to sell their grain, they would not do business with anyone until “the grandfather”

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The Talmud Torah Heder in Makow, 1924

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came out to the marketplace and offered a price, because they were sure the “grandfather” would not try to cheat them even out of one groshn. Before he arrived at the marketplace he would call Warsaw and find out the price. Then he would calculate how much to pay for the wheat.

It is worthwhile mentioning that the day he died in the summer of 1937 there was a fair in town and the Christians asked if the funeral could be postponed until the evening so the fair would be disrupted since so many famers would leave to go to the funeral. And that is what actually happened. Hundreds of Christians came to his funeral walking with bowed heads until the cemetery. Among them were many noblemen with whom Reb Bezalel did business. Even the local judge Olshevsky took part. He was a good friend and did many favours for the Jews thanks to Reb Bezalel. Some of us remember the story about Shimon Meir Rozen of blessed memory. He was sent to jail and Reb Bezalel bailed him out.

On the day of his passing he was fully conscious. He called all his children to his bedside and asked them to pardon all debts owed to him. This is what his children did. There were hundreds of Jews at his house when he passed away including the rabbis from Plotzk, Sokhatchin[Sochaczew] and the rabbi from our town. They delivered eulogies in the synagogue. The rabbi from Plotzk eulogized him at the cemetery. For many years Reb Bezalel was the manager of the Burial Society. I remember when the women from The Society to Spend the Night with the Sick wrote a Torah scroll. They brought the Amshinover Rebbe for the conclusion ceremony. Simultaneously he had to collect money in Makow. Reb Bezalel of blessed memory and other respected men went to greet him. He arrived from Ostrove where he had spent the Sabbath. We travelled to Ruzhan and had a celebratory meal at the home of an Ashminov Hasid. I believe it was Yisroeltche Zilberberg of blessed memory. Reb Bezalel had been to the Rebbe a few times. Later, when I went to the Rebbe in Ahminov he told me that when he returned home, he called his family together and said, that he saw a Jew in Makow that put his respected Hasidim to shame. They could all learn lessons in morality from him.

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Their factories in Lodz operated on the Sabbath on credit and this Jew, Reb Bezalel won't accept this rabbinic authorization. This is how he was his entire life, when he was rich and even before he was successful. He was always a devout Jew and loved scholars and learned men who upheld the Torah. He built the Heder “Foundations of the Torah” from his own money and later signed it over to the central “Agudah”, in the name of Reb Shayke Roznboym who was the president. He paid the rent for “Beys Yakov” school every year of its existence. This man set an example for the town with his great virtues and noble work, for God and for people. May he never be forgotten by us and by anyone from Makow, and by us, his grandchildren who had the privilege of having such a dear Jew as our guide. May his memory serve as a blessing.

One of the most beautiful Jewish communities in Poland was wiped off the map by the despicable, evil hands of the Germans, may their names be obliterated. Along with hundreds of Jewish communities, large and small that were so tragically annihilated. But our community, our town will always be remembered in the books which were created by the important people who lived and held important positions in our town. Like the Rabbi of Makow from more than 150 years ago, the great genius Reb Leybish Kharif who later became rabbi in Plotzk. During his lifetime he wrote 24 books about the Torah. Another great rabbi in Makow was Reb Eliezer Pultusker of blessed memory who was known throughout the world for his brilliance and devotion. Another rabbi in Makow was the genius and righteous Reb Feyvele Gritzer of blessed memory, the first Rebbe of the Alexander dynasty, the father of Yekhiel from Alexander, and he is actually buried in the Makow cemetery. He was a student and follower of the first Vorker Rebbe, Reb Yitzkhak of blessed memory. Makow is also written about in history because of a dispute which took place more than 150 years ago with the preacher Reb Dovid Yerzolimsky. He wrote against the great leaders of Hasidism of the day, against the Koszheniter preacher of blessed memory, against the “Visionary of Lublin” and Rebbe Elimeylekh of Lizensk of blessed memory and other Hasidic leaders. He wrote various pamphlets. Reb Yisroel Segal of blessed memory showed me one of these pamphlets. I don't want to judge the preacher here for his opposition to Hasidism because this is not the place and as we know

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he was misguided together with all the others who opposed Hasidism. Let us not assume the preacher was an ignorant non believer. I heard a story that once, on the morning before Passover, when it was the last chance to sell your goods that were not kosher for Passover, as the law prescribes, he called for the owner of the brewery to come and sell all his liquor. That guy ignored him and did not come. After a short while he sent another beadle to get him, but he did not answer. The preacher said: “the law says all non– kosher for Passover food must be burned”. Moments later there was a fire and everything he had went up in smoke.

The first Yeshiva in Makow was founded in 1897 by the genius and righteous Rebbe of Rabbi Hertzog of blessed memory, Reb Nosn Noteh of blessed memory. My father of blessed memory was one of the first students in this Yeshiva. My uncles, my father's brothers studied at this Yeshiva. This has all remained in the history of our town. Also, such a giant like Nokhem Sokolov, whom I mentioned earlier, grew up in our town of Makow as well as other writers and scholars. And so, our dear Jewish town will remain spiritually and will exist eternally, although physically, the town no longer exists.

All of its holy souls will remain with us forever, for generations, and this must be our oath to these pious souls: we will never forget you and will never forgive the murderers who spilled your innocent blood.

The land will not be covered in blood!

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My grandfather, on my mother's side, was the grain-broker Gedaliah Fridman, (with a characteristic Makow nick-name: Gedaliah Gorgel”). He was an Amshinover Hasid. I remember him as in a fog. We left Makow for Mlawa when I was only a small child. I remember only, that he was very tall and thin. He died several years later, after we arrived in Mlawa. My father said Kaddish [memorial prayer for the dead] for him in the Gerer shtibel. My grandmother Pesia, the widow, survived my grandfather until the end of the First World War.

Several weeks after the outbreak of the war, when the Germans began their offensive against the Russians, we, together with my three sisters, ran from Mlawa back to Makow, where we spent the High Holidays and Succoth at our grandmother's. When the Russians began their counter-attack we returned to Mlawa. I didn't return to Makow anymore, which I regret until today.

Already in America (in 1939) I received news from my brother Baruch Itzel (Bernard) that our grandfather Gedaliah, already in his 80s and had come to America, spent 5 years, peddled, saved some money and returned to Makow. Grandmother, Pesia, had many children. They didn't all survive, they died young. Only my mother survived, Feiga-Rivke. My grandfather returned from America with money for a dowry for their only daughter.

He wanted to buy a “pedigree”; his daughter should find a suitable match, a smart student and that was my father, the son-in-law, Meir-Shloime Rosenthal!^[1]

In those 5 years, in America, he didn't eat meat. Our mother never told us children, about his life in America, it was so wasteful, those years, in her eyes. She was ashamed of this, although she often told us, that half of Makow fled to America.

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But that was the “fate of our people”. She also told an anecdote, how a Jew goes out, that is, in the evening, to close the shutters and takes with him in secret his Talis and Tefilin, knocks on the shutters and yells out: Soreh, goodbye (stay healthy), you should know that I am going to America….

I have no doubt, that the impression that the 80 year-old grandfather Gedaliah returning from America made on my mother. When my brother Baruch-Itzel in his early twenties, wanted to take us all to the United States, she categorically refused. She didn't want to go to the “treifen [non-kosher] land”.

Grandmother Pesia, whose maiden name was Blum, had two brothers who ran away from Makow because of conscription. One of them, Yitzhak, changed his name from Blum to Apelboim. He went to Germany where he married and his children served in the German Army, during the First World War; and then they became wealthy merchants. Yitzhak Apelboim remained very religious. He then went to live in Basel and immersed himself in an Orthodox life. His youngest daughter, (Charlotte), studied in Italy. There she met Dr. Yacov Blobstein (Sale), the brother of the Hebrew poet Rochel Blobstein. She married him, Dr Yacov Blobstein and moved to Eretz-Israel, where he immersed himsef in a cultural-social life, founded the “Beit-Hem” in Tel-Aviv. He knew Latin and Italian. He translated Shlomo Ibn Gvirol's philosophical work “ Source of Life” from Latin into Hebrew. He translated pedagogical works from Italian to Hebrew. Dr Sale died in 1906. Yitzhak's daughter, the widow, lives today in Holon.^[2]

A second brother of my grandmother Pesia settled in Bordeaux, France. I don't know anything about him, only, that after World War 1, two of his unmarried daughters lived in Bordeaux with the family name Blum.

My grandfather from my father's side, was called Berel-Itche (Yitzhak) Rosenthal. When my father was born, about 1870, my grandfather was over 50 years old. From this I can see, that he was probably born at the beginning of the 19^th century, that is 1820. The family's leanings' were those of the Mignagdim- [the opposition of Orthodoxy]; this was the family of Reb Dovid of Makow, a Jew, a scholar, a great “Believer”.

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In his elder years, he became a widower and wed a second time, the widow, Dina Malka from Proshnitz [Przasnysz]. And here he died. My father was the “youngest-son” of my grandmother Dina-Malka and grandfather Baruch-Itzel, both had children from previous marriages. As my mother used to tell me, my grandmother Malka was already close to fifty when my father was born. This was considered a “blessing” received from the Ciecanover Tzadik, R'Avraham Landau. The only book I inherited from my father's great library and brought over to America was, “Pamphlet to Fulfill the Shortcomings of the Shas”.^[3] Such a book could only be found in the home of a wise-scholar. On the front page of the book is written: “ Belongs to the “Sage”, Rabbi, who is an expert on Torah, the genius Rabbi Baruch Itzhak Rosenthal, [ May his light shine on], a gift to Meir Shlomo Rosenthal”. In his old age, when he lived in Proshnitz, the Proshnitzers gave him the nick-name “Gotie” for the sake of his “fear of heaven”.

About R'Dovid ben Benzion Yeheskel of Makow, the grandfather of my grandfather Baruch -Itzel, much is written about him as it relates to the history of Hasidim; those that are interested [study] in the “struggle” of the Misnagdim against the Orthodox community.

After he “converted” to Hasidism he became one of the fanatic defendants of Hasidim. Reb Dovid of Makow was first and foremost a follower of Reb Menachem Mendel of Vitbesk, a student of Rabbi Reb Ber from Mezrich. Then he changed course and became a fanatic campaigner for Hasidim and joined the circle of the Vilner Goan's students and played a central role in its struggle, he was a great Talmud-chacham (scholar). [This was also added by his opponents]. He left behind 23 books, of which the largest part were lost. The remaining writings are now being prepared [from the latter period] for print by the known professor Mordechai Vilenski of Boston.

The Magid [preacher] R' Dovid from Makow came from Roznoi^[4]. He got married in 1759, in Makow, where he was judge and Magid [preacher]. He lived from 1772 until his death [in Makow] in 1815. He had 3 sons: R'Yeheskel, who was rabbi in Radzimin. After the death of R'Dovid, he [R'Yeheskel] was the rabbi in Makow for several months and died in the same year, 1815. R'Aron Rafael and Yitzhak lived in Makow, he also had a daughter Rochel, who was engaged to be married to the Magid and Talmud-scholar, Reb Yehushe Rosenthal. Nahum Sokolow, who was a Makower son, writes about Reb Yehushe Rosenthal, the father

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of grandfather Baruch-Itzel, “the great rabbi, the late Rav Yehushe, was a merchant and also a great scholar in Torah, there was never a rabbi who served in Makow who was so sharp and proficient”^[5]

A brother of my grandfather was R'Avraham-Yosel (Yosef) Rosenthal, a scholar with a penchant for secular education. He was a friend of Nahum Sokolow. When Abraham-Yosel died, Sokolow dedicated to him a heartwarming eulogy in the “Hatzfira”.^[6] Our grandfather Baruch-Itzel had a son called Aba Rosenthal with his first wife, who was a Jew, a “Ben-Torah” and patience with children. However, he didn't have any luck in business. He wandered around America in the beginning of the century. After he brought over his family, he was a prayer-leader In the Ciecanower Beit Midrash in New York. He knew all the davening [prayers] by heart. Even the prayers for Yom Kippur. All his children became Americanized and became absorbed in the larger American world.

Our grandfather also had two important sons-in-law, one was Sholom Solarz from Ciechanow, a sugar manufacturer and a parnass. He also became a widower in his elder years. His children, several daughters and a son (Baruch-Itzel-Bernard) emigrated to America. All the children remained pious. Several grandchildren became active in the conservative movement. One son- in-law of Sholom Solarz, Max (Menachem-Mendel) Terkeltaub was privileged to lead a long life. He over a hundred (to a hundred and twenty), is derived from Radziner Hasidim. He still remembers his youth, as a young Cheder boy, going by foot to the funeral of R'Dovid Kotzker ( a son of Reb Mendele). Max Terkeltaub was once a respectable landlord (a husband to his people) and very active in the Orthodox life in New York. Sholom Solarz's children in New York became very successful and integrated. They mostly disappeared [assimilated] into the great American melting-pot and the grand-grand children began to mix with non-Jews.

The second son-in-law of grandfather Baruch-Itzel was the Magid Afroim Perelmuter of Makow. He lived for a long time and died in Mlawa at the old age of 93. Part of Afroim Perelmuter's family saved themselves by leaving for Eretz Israel. Zionism and education were deeply instilled in the homes of his children, in Warsaw, Mlawa, and Makow. One grandson, Baruch-Itzel Perelmuter left for Israel for several years before World War 1, then left for America where he became actively involved in the Farband, [Labour Zionist Association]

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In New-York. A second grandson, Berish Perelmuter, was the spirit of life of the Zionist organization in Mlawa. Chaim Eliahu Perla, a son-in-law of Afroim Perelmuter and a son of the known Talmud genius R'Yeruchim-Fishel Perla, was the “Rosh Hahaim” of the “Mezrichisher” movement in Mlawa.

Berish Perelmuter and Chaim Eliahu Perla enriched and developed modern Jewish education methods in Mlawa, between the two world wars. Afroim Perelmuter”s grandsons were very dedicated to the “Hashomer Hatzair” movement in Mlawa. We can now find all over Israel grandchildren and great grandchildren of Afroim Perelmuter, in kibbutzim, Hashomer HaEmek (Guard of the Valley, Kfar Menachem and others), in Ranaana, Holon, Haifa, Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and others.

Some great grandchildren of Afroim Perelmuter, children who had worked their way up in the Land, now can be found in America.

Some great-great grandchildren of Afroim Perelmuter, those who worked way up in the Land, are now showing up in America.

Several grandchildren of Berish Perelmuter, the pioneer of Aliyah to Eretz Israel, who before World War 1 sent his children to agricultural schools to prepare for Eretz Israel and who was one of the first to leave “exile-Poland” with his entire family to settle in the Holy Land, eventually found their way to the Golden Land of America.

Great grandchildren of my grandfather Baruch-Itzel today live in America (also from my fathers' side). These are the children and grandchildren of my brother Baruch-Itzel (Bernard) of blessed memory. A daughter with her family lives in Mexico and a daughter and 2 sons live in New York and Los Angeles.

And also the writer of these lines, the last grandchild from the 2 Makover grandfathers.

The names of these 2 Rabbis are well known, who gave agreements for their books. One was called Moshe Ben-Gershon. His agreement for “Eliyahu's Letters”, a commentary on the patriarchs (Pirkei Avot) of Eliahu, son of Rabbi Aryeh of Kobrin, printed in Hamburg, in 1715. The book was written in Tishrei 18 [1713].

The second was called Avraham Baruch son of R'Chaim [?]. He gave an agreement for the book “Aven-Shoham”, a commentary by Rabbi Moshe Bar Yehuda Mameschlev, printed in London, 1772. The agreement was written in 1767.

See Index approbationum, Index of agreements, number 34, 2548. Leopold Lowenstein (Berlin, 1923)

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The shame is great and the pain is great,
Which is greater? Tell me, human being! (From “The City of Slaughter” by Chaim Nachman Bialik)
In memory of my father and teacher Yeshayahu, son of Avrom Sobol.
Dedicated to the memory of those from whom not a trace remains.

The Jews of Makow, the victims of the great destruction, were respectable, simple, kind hearted Jews; poor, middle class and rich; businessmen, workers and craftsmen. Each one live according to his own standard, some better, some worse. They are no longer with us, together with one third of our people.

The great responsibility to eternalize their holy memories lies upon us, the survivors.

Let us remember barely a small amount of individuals from among the murdered. The truth is, that each one had a unique personality, each one possessed goodness and good virtues, the Hasid, the Zionist, the Bundist, the folksy types, and the simple ordinary Jews. All of them together were our unforgettable Makow Jews.

We Will Remember:

Yekhiel Meir Plato, with his majestic appearance, an honest businessman, the permanent chairman of the Zionist Organization, the councilman whose word was respected. Even the gentiles treated him with great respect. His beautiful home was always a meeting place for meetings of a communal nature.

Shmuel Pianko (Shmulke Pianko) the director of the State School for Jewish Children, the quiet intellectual, director of the Jewish Bank, councilman and devoted community worker, always ready to help another.

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Moishe Rozenberg (Rivka Menashe's son–in–law), the secretary of the Zionist Organization, leader of the yearly campaign for the Jewish Agency, city councilman and active participant in all Zionist activities.

Meir Ostri, the devoted member of “Mizrachi”, cashier at the Jewish Bank, energetic volunteer and warm man.

Khaim Mantlok, the successful businessman, a good Zionist, regular contributor the Zionist funds.

Yosef Hendel (Yosl Hendel), the small carefree Yosl, who together with his wife Leah had the best restaurant in town. His inn or candy store was the gathering place for everyone. This is where the Jews discussed politics. This is where they took care of the Jewish situation and town problems.

Yitzkhak Vesolek, the non–partisan modest intellectual, teacher the General Jewish Government Schools, represented Jewish interests in various municipal institutions. He was in general a nice person, friendly to all.

Yosef Rekhtman, Yosl, a good devoted Zionist, participated in all fund raising campaigns for the Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Agency.

The board of directors of “TOZ”, Makow, 1937

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Ezra Rozhanek, the grain merchant, owner of the mill in Smorotzk, devoted Zionist, member of city council, a generous Jew with a warm heart.

Mordkhai Blum (Reb Feyvl's son), a respectable Jew, a smart successful businessman, always ready to lend money to the Interest Free Loan Society, one of the biggest contributors to the Zionist funds, a great philanthropist.

Yitzkhak Dobres, a respected businessman, an active Zionist and was active in t he Merchant's Union.

Avrom Rozental (son of the rabbinic judge Reb Shmuel Yosl of blessed memory) an intelligent young man, a teacher in the General Government Schools.

Dovid Minoga, a leader in the “Bund”, city councillor, a kind hearted fellow, a wheelwright by profession. He was always ready to leave his workshop to do a favour for someone. He was an active member of “TOZ”.

Avrom Malakh, everyone's good friend, the best tailor for men in town, a fanatic Bundist and a happy person.

Henekh Vaysman, a leader in the “Bund”, city councillor, member of the executive of the Jewish Bank, represented the interests of poor craftsmen.

Yehuda Meir Raytchik, one of the younger leaders of the “Bund”, a shoemaker by trade; his parents were poor and sick; a warm, kind person.

Matisyahu Ludvinovitch, his brothers in law were Yitzkhak and Arke Pianko. This was an original family. They were horse dealers. Good hearted proud Jews. They knew all the high officials in the surrounding villages, always ready to represent Jewish honour and defend the Jews.

Let us remember Hershl Khunovitz, Dovid – Berl Kurnik, Sholem Yoine Yonasovitch, Motl Krukover. The last, a pure, tidy, smiling Jew with his Sabbath boots; Notke Kashtan with his round lovely beard, always with his hand in his pocket ready to give charity, always quoting biblical and psalm passages.

Naftali Shuster with a red beard, a decent man with many children, on the Sabbath and holidays he would dress up with a watch and chain. On the Sabbath before evening prayers he would recite psalms at the podium of the old House of Study.

Shmuel Vayntroyb (Shmule the cantor's), a small man with a beautiful handwriting, wrote requests for the Jews to various municipal and government offices.

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Matisyahu Lasko, a carpenter by trade, also dealt in animal skins. He was not simply a carpenter, he was an artist: his hands made what his eyes saw.

Velvl Volfovitch, (lame Velvl), a tailor by trade, a tall man, very poor. During the week he prayed at the podium of the old House of Study.

Avrom Skala, Tuviye Skala, two brothers, honest decent people, good mechanics, talented craftsmen, big jokers, great senses of humour. Avrom Skala was the only Jew who worked as a mechanic in the village Shtshik.

Hillel Hendel (Hiltche), a smart man, a man who required little and was happy with what he had. Active in the Mizrachi Movement, educated his children in the spirit of Jewish nationalism.

Pinkhas Katz, a businessman, always neatly dressed. He was always ready to do someone a favour.

Asher Yosef Grinberg, prayed with all his heart at the podium in the tailor's prayer house and the old House of Study.

Hershl Lasher, Yitzkhak Gogol (the lame Yitzkhak) Shmayee Piekarchik, Avrom Rozonek, Rafael Hirsh Azrielevitch, Hersh – Yitzkhak Getzelovitch, Yankl Dovid Shelsky, Meylekh Vaysgarber were craftsmen, simple, kind– hearted folks.

Eliezer Likhtenshteyn (Lozer) was a businessman, travelled to fairs, did good deeds, never refused a request for charity.

Itche – Meir Likhtenshteyn, always smiling, he was active in the Society to Spend the Night with the Sick. He was the only Jew in town to represent the state lottery, he was in good standing with the gentile officials and use these contacts to obtain favours for Jews.

Yitzkhak Itzkovitch, a small man, a smart businessman, also travelled to fairs. You could always get a loan from him.

Moishe Kleynhoyz, (he was called Moishele the screamer). In fact he was not a screamer, he couldn't even speak loudly. An observant Jew who knew how to study. When the craftsmen were packing up their goods at dawn to go to the fair, you could see him and Reb Yankl Dovid Hendel going to study in the Alexander Hasidic prayer house.

Friday afternoon, long before candle lighting, he began to push his customers out of his manufacturing business in order not to desecrate the Sabbath.

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Mendl Kleyner, a smart educated man, a member of the Jewish town council, an active community worker.

Dovid Goldvaser, a tall handsome Jew, a businessman, active in the Interest Free Loan Society, always ready to help those in need.

Shloime Henekh Albek, a Talmudic scholar. He was a Ger Hasid but also a folksy guy. He was friends with everyone. Anytime there was an arbitration in town he was the arbitrator due to his wisdom and logic.

Mendl Student, a smart Jew, an outstanding businessman, a member of city council, was known in town for his anonymous donations.

Shmulke Yerozlimsky, a handsome Jew a businessman and an active member in the Society to Visit the Sick and the Society to Spend the Night with the Sick.

Moishe Nisn Rubin, a good hearted person, he had a sweet voice, prayed at the podium on the High Holidays in the Alexander house of prayer. People came from other prayer houses to listen to him.

Hershl Orlovsky, a member of Mizrachi, councillor on city council, owner of a saw mill. He was the first to hire Jewish workers in this field. It is important to mention that the first training camp for young Zionist pioneers was at his mill. He donated regularly the Jewish Agency.

Yosef and Yisroel Vilenberg, (sons of Reb Bezalel) were businessmen with good hearts and an open hand to help others.

Shloime Modrikamien with his sons and Zalmen Fogelman, the town Klezmer Band that played at all Jewish weddings.

Zalmen Fogel, a small Jew with a black and white beard, a little deaf, added a lot of charm to the band. They provided great joy at celebrations.

Let us remember the active kind hearted women who donated so much of their time to the Zionist movement in town like: bazars, the Jewish National Fund, fund raising flower days and worthwhile causes. Zvia Fliato, Shayndl Rekant, Khaye Shuldenreyn, Raysl Mantlok, Feygl Dobres, Khave Ribak, Khaye Pianko, Sotche Blum, Rivka Rekhtman, Golde Vilenberg, Mrs. Rozhanek, Yakhet Sheynberg, Gitl Vilenberg, Frimet Azrielevitch, Rivka Blum, Perl Skurnik (we called her Perl the righteous) who were dedicated to visiting the sick, poor women,

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bringing a Challah to a poor family for the Sabbath and making a sick person feel better with a bit of homemade jam.

Let us remember the Sabbath in Makow. Jews would return from prayers from the synagogue, the old House of Study, the new House of Study, and small Hasidic prayer houses, all dressed in their best. Faces shone. Throwing aside their financial worries, carefree Jews with pure souls, as if the Divine Presence was resting upon them. The Hasidim in their silk long coats, the craftsmen wearing polished boots, the Yosls, Dovids, Yishayahus, Moishes, Avroms, Mendls, Shmuels, Meirs, Hershls, Khaims etc.

These are the Jews of Makow, these were the community activists, the businessmen, the craftsmen, these were our fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers.

The oak trees fell, but their roots have remained. Their spirit is our inheritance. We will never forget the genealogy of our fathers. The will remain forever in our memory, and engraved in our hearts.

May God avenge their deaths.

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My soul was connected to his with deep love, so much that parting with him was painful when I left this city, especially this last parting…

With an aching heart and shaking hands I am writing these few notes to commemorate this Jew, so that I, and maybe some others could appreciate his worth.

The readers are not used to read bitter eulogies for the death of people they did not know in their lifetime and they have not heard their names, but the wise ones recognize that sometimes these people “who are hidden and unknown” are better than many famous people, and one of those special personalities was the late R' Avraham Yosef! He combined all the merits and gifts that the old generation possessed, and he was a brilliant genius for all who knew him.

His grandfather was the sacred and admired genius who was named by his contemporaries R' David “The Maggid from Maków” a scholar of the late Vilna Gaon known for his devotion and abstinence and his strong objection to hypocrites. His father, the great Rabbi R' Yahushua, was an important merchant and at the same time a great scholar of the Torah, to the point that not one of Maków's Rabbis could argue with his brilliancy and knowledge.

The late Rabbi Avraham Rosenthal was a faithful descendant of these two greats. He did not have an air of importance, did not feel superior to the Landlord's Party, but was by far more exceptional, due to his spiritual merits.

He was busy with Torah and commerce, wisdom and work all his life and his heart was open to every resource. His wisdom was pure and honest, the kind you cannot find among thousands of men. His judgment was brave and outstanding. His views about the world and in people's eyes were those of a great man's views and it was amazing to hear this man, who spent his life in a small town, talk with sharp logic and words that resonated with wisdom and leaned on experiences[life's lessons]for his teaching, so that he was considered by the masses a wizard of advice, and his rhetoric were like words of an enlightened.

R' Avraham Rosenthal, the late righteous, was the epitome of pure glory, an enlightened orthodox Jew, educated and devoted to God, who combined deep faith and love for people with all the might of love for his people and the country where he was born, a loyal citizen and many of his own people craved his friendship and were attracted to his light.

R' Avraham Yosef was a modest man, who deeply resented laziness, pride, luxuries. He had the Stoics'[characterized by tranquility of mind and certainty of moral worth] merits and their spiritually.

He was seventy-seven when he died and until the day he fell ill, he was healthy body and soul, his eyes sharp and his manner young. At nine o'clock, the second day of Elul he was led to his resting place accompanied by all the city's people, they all wept and the Grand Rabbi of Maków eulogized him.

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Let us hope that his spirit, the spirit of faith, wisdom, education, peace and patience still lingers in the mourning city. There is no telling how great was the loss of the late R' Avraham Yosef Rosenthal.

On March 25 the “Zionist Lodge” was opened in Maków in its special abode. That same evening the establishing meeting took place under the presidency of Mr. M. Bejozo, this, was too the general meeting of the previous Zionists Youth. According to the report given by the chairman it was clear that the Zionist endeavor in the city progressed excellently, materialistically and spiritually. The number of members increased to eighty, and participants to 104. Throughout the year the association organized seventeen important lectures about Zionist and Hebrew subjects, which helped propagate the Zionist idea among the youngsters, seven balls were held to celebrate different occasions, and one Flower Day in the last Lag B'omer.

Mr. Isenberg, the representative of Zionist Youth in Warsaw, on his visit to Maków in 1917

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The association's income for the year was 1512 Mark for Zionists goals like planting trees in Herzl's Forest, helping the Hebrew workers and for the benefit of those hurt by the war in the Land-of-Israel, 641 Mark for a local charity and the rest to assist different public establishments like Beth-Yaakov, evening Hebrew classes, Bit-Haam etc.

After the meeting a farewell ball was held in the honor of Mr. Bejozo who was leaving the city. The best of the Zionists participated in the ball and while toasting and praising his devoted work for Zionism, which he headed for seven years with unparalleled courage devoted to its success with his youthful energy. All the assembled decided to establish a Hebrew Library bearing his name and many of them contributed large sums.

A second useful establishment was opened in the city lately, it is the soup kitchen that distributes around tree hundred meals a day for free. The young Zionists are doing most of the work in this kitchen and they deserve deep gratitude.

*

“Ha-Tsfira”, May 31, 1917
Maków

On the last Lag B'omer the committee held in our city a special Flower Day, raising money for the National JNF, where they sold JNF's tags with blue and white flowers.

The revenue was 237 Marks and half was allocated to a local charity.

That same day the “Zionist Lodge” organized a great event and a day trip to the forest in which the three Hebrew Schools participated and there were three hundred students, all the students, girls and boys, of the Hebrew evening classes, the members of the Zionist Lodge and the members of the Hebrew Book Club, around five hundred people.

On Saturday of Lag-B'omer Mr. Kirshenbaum visited our city, invited from Warsaw by the local Zionist Lodge.

At noon on Saturday Mr. Kirshenbaum spoke in Hebrew to a small group of young men and women about “The role of the Hebrew Woman in general and the Hebrew Daughter in particular”.

On Saturday evening there was a big public meeting in Beit Haam, the hall was full to capacity and more than 200 people attended. Mr. Kirshenbaum gave a meaningful speech about “The situation of the Zionist Movement nowadays”. His words, delivered in popular and coherent way with lots of enthusiasm, made a huge impression and were loudly applauded by all attendees.

Afterwards Mr. Bejozo read the two famous resolutions about demanding equality in Poland and guarantees to free Jewish colonization in the Land-of-Israel, which were unanimously accepted.

The meeting ended in high spirits and with the singing of “Hatikvah”.

A few weeks ago, the election for the municipal consultants were certified and from all three districts nine Jews were elected, among them three Zionists, Mr. Meir Austri, Shlomo

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Gernevitz and Aba Birnbaum, the three consultants are members of the Zionist Lodge and among the rest of the elected there are three permanent members.

The Jews, whose number mounts to seventy-five percent of the city's citizens, bargained with the Poles before the elections and were willing to give up three or four mandates, but the Poles declared in no uncertain terms that if they will not get a leading majority in the city's council, they will not participate in the election. And indeed, they did not and hence only Jewish consultants were elected in our city.

Still, the Jewish consultants opted to elect four members to the magistrate: two Poles and two Jews (one of then a Zionist).

In the last meeting of the city's council, while they were approving the city's Polish and Jewish school's budgets the consultant Meir Austri raised the question: what is the difference between the Polish and the Jewish schools “since there are no special Hebrew studies in the Jewish schools” and demanded to implement such Hebrew studies. The Pole Stach Artifikwitcyh supported this suggestion, but the “Orthodox” consultants were against the proposal claiming that although Hebrew studies have their place in the Cheder, not so in schools where girls study as well. Yet, the majority decided that the Jewish teachers who until then taught general studies, will in the future teach the Jewish language and would make an effort to include for the next scholar year a special Hebrew teacher for Hebrew studies.

*

“Ha-Tsfira”' July 5^th, 1917
Maków

By the initiation of the local Zionist Lodge two weeks ago a Hebrew “Kindergarten” was opened, headed by the expert teacher Mrs. Oshorovsky from Warsaw.

Last Saturday a general meeting was held with all the children's parents under the management of Mr. Bejuzo. After an update and in light of the educational and social value of the kindergarten a PTA was elected including Mr. Y. M. Pliatoi, I. Recanat, S. Gerenevitz, I. Muskin, Y.M. Vilenberg and Mrs. P. Birnbaum and L. Vilenberg.

By initiating this Kindergarten, where around thirty children are now studying, once again a step forward was taken in the normal development of the Hebrew language in our city. Let's hope it would grow and improve with time and will reach the level it deserves.

This past week a new department of beginners was opened in the evening's classes.

On the second day of Passover a general assembly was held in Beit-Haam's hall by the association of the local “Tzeri Zion”. From the report given by the chairman one can see that the Zionist work is growing

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In our city in an excellent way materialistically and spiritually. The number of members is already hundred and the number of interested is close to one-hundred and seventy.

During the summer the association organized thirteen public lectures that helped to spread the Zionist idea among the youngsters. Five balls were held to celebrate two holidays and two Flower Days; on Lag B'Omer and on the Fifteen of the month Av last year.

The association's income in the last six months was 1202,76 Mark out of which 615,25 Mark were allocated to JNF and war refugees in the Land-of-Israel and the rest to establishing a Zionist Lodge and supporting Hebrew evening classes and Beit-Akad.

In the meeting were discussed as well the program for the future Jewish Confederation and the outline for the Zionist work in our city. A few important decisions were accepted among them: 1) to assist in establishing a Mizrahi Association in our city. 2) to open in the beginning of the winter a shelter for the tree-hundred destitute children who became beggars. 3) To establish a “Zion Flowers” Association for young members, boys and girls, from the age of thirteen to eighteen. Lately a Zionist Council was elected whose members are: Zevi Orlowski, Gittel Vilenberg, Favel Bloom, I. M. Skornik, Nathan Muntchkovsky, Haim Montliak and Shimon Rosenthal. The council elected six committees: for income, JNF, Hebrew Language, publicity, charity and supervision.

Bazar for JNF in Maków, 1934

To the Zionist Convention that will take place in Warsaw on October 28 were elected two members who will represent the Zionist Lodge of our city: Aba Birnbaum and Moshe Bejozo.

*

“Ha-Tsfira” June 6, 1918
Maków

Beit-Haam in our city became during the last days part of the Zionist Council together with its library that contains around thousand books. This increased the value of “Tzeri Zion” Association and the number of members is already higher than one hundred and fifty. Different lectures are given every now and then at “Beit Haam” about national issues. Lately the lecturers were: Mr. Lipman and Dr. Miralas from Poltusk, Mr. Israel Stern from Ostroleka and the local members: Mr. Moshe Bejozo, Teacher Kochiak, Favel Bloom, Israel Munshkovsky and others. The committee of the National Pound works diligently, they committed to raise this year two thousand marks and they already collected half, while till now they collected for JNF around three, four hundred Marks per year. The “Zion Flowers”, whose members are teenagers thirteen to eighteen years old, is also thriving and the number of members exceeds eighty. In the evening classes that were opened there are eighty-four students, young men and women, who study Hebrew with two teachers. The association has its own lodging and a library for the youngsters. Heading the association is a council with several committees.

The Zionist Union of Poland organized in the summer of 1917 a petition collecting signatures for a declaration that The Land of Israel is for the People of Israel.

Each one who signed committed to contribute for the war refugees in the Land-of-Israel. In our city 1034 signatures were collected and the sum of three-hundred and ninety Marks.

In his days the Gaon M. Moshe Hacohen was the Maggid in our city. (From Kohelet Moshe).

[Page 420]

In the following years the Gaon R' David was Maggid in our city. He died in the year 1815. A bitter eulogy was held for his memory by Moshe Ze'ev of Bialystok and it was printed in his book “The Ezov Association” (Bialystok 1924 in “Alon Bechot”).

The famous Gaon R' Aryeh Lieb Zuenz who wrote the books: “Ya'alat Chen”, “Get Mekushshar”' “Penay Aryeh” and others. In his book “Penay Aryeh” he writes: “We were debating this question in our holy community in Maków in 1827… he died in Warsaw on September 25, 1833”. Thousands of Jews accompanied him on his last way. In the book “Even Habohan” by the speaker R' Nathan Haim from Ural. These are his words eulogizing the late righteous Gaon R' Lieb Zuenz.

The holy Rabbi, R' Nathen' the son-in-law of the holy Rabbi R' Haim Haykel from Amador, a disciple of the holy Rabbi from Lublin (“The Prophet from Lublin”) had many students (in the forward of his book “Life and Grace” and “In Name of the Greatest”).

The holy Rabbi R' Avraham Avli Rosen, the author of the book “Avraham's Blessing” about the Kabbalah was the student of the Holy Rabbi from Amador, the Gaon Mr. Favel Danziger, the disciple of the holy Rabbis of Simcha Bonham from Przysucha and Rabbi Yehuda Ben Bezalel from Warka (mentioned in the book “Hemdat Shlomo” Shulhan Arouch Even Haezer, page 8) and he is the father of the late righteous Rabbi R' Yehiel from Alexander.

At the end of the forward in the book “Avraham's Blessing” by Rabbi Avraham Avli it says: “And this composition is completed, on a Tuesday, when it was said it is twice as good, on February 22, 1820 in Maków close to Warsaw.”

The Gaon R' Moshe Zevi Zinger was the author of the book “The novelties of R' Meir of Rothenberg”. In the second part, on page 28 he writes: “Most of these I preached in Maków when I was accepted there as a Rabbi. This was a community used to greats of Israel and hence I had to prove my worth.” In the forward to a book written by his son he writes: “Many were drawn to his pleasant ways, stemming from his pure heart in three courts: in Maków, later in Sokolow, and then in Siedlce.”

The Gaon Mr. Eliezer Hacohen who wrote the book “Fathers of Rabbis Elazar” was at the end of his life the head of the court in Sochaczew.

The Gaon Efraim Fishel Solomon, a greatgrandchild and grandchild to the luminaries Meir of Rothenberg and Solomon Luria, served here from 1856 until his soul ascended to heaven on January 20, 1881. He was not just a genius in Torah and famous all over the world, he was generous as well, and was always the first to help with each charity in his city and was the initiator in every establishment and charity endeavor.

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