[Pages 172]

Berel and Sara Kruglyak

Berel was educated by his uncle Matityahu Globman. He was educated in the spirit of tradition and was connected to it even though he was not observant at all. He would worship with a nice voice and was interested in the cantorate. At a young age, he led the services on the High Holidays as well as the three festivals (Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot) in the Mark-Shuelchl synagogue. He voluntarily took the place of a hired cantor in that synagogue for many years. When he was offered payment, he would donate it to one of the local charities (the hospital or the old age home).

Berel was a contributing member of all of the Zionist organizations, with generosity and enthusiasm. He wanted to check out the possibilities of aliya for his family, and the opportunities for getting set up in an agricultural role in the Land. However this was in 1936 (July 8) when the disturbances were taking place in full force, and of course, it was difficult for him to make a positive decision.

Sarake was like Berel – both had large hearts, were concerned about their fellowman, related well to people and were well liked. They were of a like mind with regard to the doing of good deeds, supporting those in need, feeding the hungry, and donating generously to all social organizations. Berel and Sarake were beloved and pleasant in their life, and in their death they were not parted…

They were a seven-person family, two boys and three girls. The boys were drafted into the army when the Russians entered Bessarabia. The eldest fell in battle. Berel, Sarake and two of the daughters died when the Germans invaded Bessarabia, and the site of their graves is unknown. Of the seven-person family, only one daughter, Mania made aliya to the Land and set up a fine household. G-d blessed her with four children.

[Pages 172-173]

Moshe Ravich

The Ravich household was known to all residents of our city, young and old. This was a family full of activity and full of merits. Its praise was not only heard in our city, but also outside of its bounds.

His father Velvel Ravich earned his livelihood by writing letters of petition to the civic offices and government.

Moshe was educated in his father's house with the conditions that were prevalent at that time. At first he went to cheder, and later, privately with his own initiative, he succeeded in obtaining knowledge of the Russian language and of general studies. He assisted his father in his work, also writing petitions and visiting government offices and the justice of the peace. He became known as a talented and intelligent youth.

At the end of the 19^th century, Moshe was a leader in the effort to establish an agricultural school. To this end, he established contact with Y. K. A. in Paris. In 1898, he stood at the head of the ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of “Firma”. He stood at the head of this institution that he loved for seven years, and fought valiantly for its existence. At the end, he had to liquidate it.

In 1902, M. R. founded the Jewish Public Library, and organized independent intellectual groups for the youth. At the beginning of his communal work, he dedicated himself to the Zionist idea and participated in Chovevei Zion conventions in Odessa along with Borsutsky. With the spread of the workers movement in Russia, he transferred to the Bund, and stood at the head of that movement for many years. He was elected to the Duma along with A. Borsutsky in 1905.

Ravich did not suffice himself solely with local activity. He always desired to spread his outlook on communal matters publicly, especially to large crowds. At meetings, he would speak in poor Yiddish, spiced with Russian words, as was the custom of Yiddish speakers at that time. Even though he had difficulty expressing himself, he won over the hearts of his audience with his content, and with the clarity of the idea that he was presenting. He contributed to the Bessarabian newspapers. His local articles and essays had great influence upon his readers.

Mr. R. saw the cooperative movement as an important popular social and economic enterprise. He invested a great deal of energy to it, and saw in it the solution to many problems that vexed the workers and those who lacked means. He dedicated himself to it with his whole heart and soul and worked for it until it was destroyed at the beginning of WWII.

He was the first of the founders of the two loan funds, the loan and savings funds, in our city (in 1906). He stood at the head of the committee of the fund for the middle class for many years. He worked for many years on the craftsmen's fund with all his enthusiasm, and he was the force behind and the founder of the Jewish cooperative shop in the city. This was an important matter at that time, for the supply of the market was disrupted in the country in general and in Orheyev in particular, and the workers were assisted in their ability to obtain vital necessities and low prices. The enterprise suffered losses, and closed after two years.

M. R. found a wide field of activity in the cooperative movement with the founding of the Union of Jewish Cooperatives in Bessarabia.

From the first cooperative convention (1921), at which he was elected as a member of the advisory committee, he was constantly active in the headquarters, he participated in all of the conventions, and the delegates heeded his advice and opinions. He especially endeared himself to N. Roitman, his friend from the beginning of the existence of the movement in Bessarabia.

M. R. contributed to the cooperative newspaper “Dos Cooperative Vort.” He published many articles to clarify matters of the movement. He struggled against the destructive influence of the masses of members who were influenced by various passing crises, and who were liable to bring serious damage to the cooperative. He always stood on guard for the matter, without veering from the path that he felt appropriate.

M. R.'s partner in life was his wife Rachel Isakovna.

She was an educated woman, beautiful, a daughter of the noble Suslik family, with a good heart that was open to the suffering of the worker and those who met ill fortune. Rachel dedicated the best of her energy to help the individual and the community. She was also a Bundist like her husband Moshe. She gave her entire essence to the organization of the workers; she urged them to revolution, and first and foremost to self understanding and labor uprightness, especially to the improvement of economic conditions. We recall the complaints that the “well off women” of the city had regarding Rachel's speech as the representative of the “maids” to improve their difficult working conditions. Rachel did not lose her resolve even though there was danger of imprisonment with this matter. She conducted the struggle with might and strength.

The role of Rachel along with another educated and active woman, Rivka the wife of Yaakov Levinson, in their concern for children is a story full of activity.

Even before the U. Z. A. (Uvshtshestova Zdarovia Yevreyev) Jewish hygiene organization was founded, a women's committee (Damen Komitet) under their direction was established. Both Rachel and Rivka organized a wide variety of assistance for children and those in need in a personal fashion.

Rachel, with her comprehensive cultural level, knew Russian literature very well, and she appreciated the popular language, Yiddish. She fought for the upper hand of this spoken language in the Jewish street. She was especially able to influence the community of workers in our city during the years of revolutionary unrest in Russia (1903-1905). The Ravich family was a bastion of opposition to “Reactionary Zionism” for many years, however, when the day of “The hoped for Socialism” arrived, they changed their outlook. As well, as the horn of Zionism rose on the Jewish street during the 1930s, they no longer thought with the same “Ravichist” stubbornness against the masses who regarded the Zionist movement as the solution to their national and social struggle. True democratic minds such as Moshe and Rachel took heed of the wishes of the people…

At the end of their days, they were subject to wandering like the rest of the refugees of Orheyev. There they perished.

[Page 173]

Along with a group of parents, he established a Hebrew kindergarten and also took upon himself the yoke of heading this organization from the outset.

He was modest, upright, and refined. These traits stood out in the eyes of anyone who came in contact with him. People were attracted to chat and exchange ideas with him. People always took leave of him with a pleasant feeling.

Zvi was an enthusiastic Zionist even though he was not able to dedicate much of his time to the movement on account of his economic status. Nevertheless, he worked a great deal toward the establishing of the Tarbut Hebrew School. He bore the burden and did not stumble with obstacles. His wife Ida helped him and also bore the yoke. Both of them stand before my eyes as alive. It is hard to believe that they are no longer living. They did not succeed in coming to the Land. They perished along with their daughter Chasya and the rest of the Jewish people.

May their memories be bound in the bonds of eternal life.

Riva

[Pages 173-174]

Nachum and Feiga Rotinsky

Nachum Rotinsky, his wife Feiga and their daughter Golda died in Ukraine, to where they fled from Bessarabia.

Nachum owned a store in the village of Selishte, where he lived with his family. He was known as an upright man who was careful not to disadvantage his fellowman, even a non-Jew.

Golda Rotinsky

Jews in need would come to the village, and they would find rest and food in his house, presented generously. He was known as a man who tended to his guests. Aside from this, he would send goods to the poor of Orheyev. He had an abundance of lamb meat during the season of the birthing of sheep. He would send this meat to the poor with his sons, along with a list of to whom it should be distributed.

His sons in the Land of Israel awaited the arrival of their parents to the Land, but this did not happen. They died among the martyrs along with their daughter Golda.

[Page 174]

Yitzchak Shapirin

Yitzchak the son of Efrayim Shapirin was born during the 1880s in the village of Chinisheutsy in the region of Orheyev.

He studied privately with a teacher in the village, and was a classmate of the late Meir Dizengof (Dizengof was from the adjacent village of Akimovitchi). He attained a wealth of knowledge in ancient literature. When he got older, he decided to leave the village because of his desire to expand his spiritual and social horizons. He met his wife in Orheyev and established a family with five children, four daughters and one son. He educated them in the spirit of the times.

He became involved in the Zionist group in our city. He was one of the regular visitors to the Borsutsky house. He was active and dedicated, faithfully bearing the yoke of duties to the movement. At the time of need, he took upon himself the role of commissar of the Keren Kayemet in our city. He filled this role tirelessly.

He was sensitive to all that happened on the Jewish street. He rejoiced at the news of the Balfour Declaration, and was upset at the news of the murder of Arlozoroff. He could not be comforted over this tragedy for a long time.

He was the type of activist who did not push himself to the head of the line. He never wished to take an official role, however when the community asked him to do so, he took it upon himself from an internal sense of duty.

When the social and financial crisis took place with the loan fund of the small scale merchants of our city, he took upon himself the leadership of this fund. He held this role for many years, despite the social and financial difficulties and obstacles. He had a unique character trait of being able to listen, to pay attention to and to talk with the bitter of heart and those who had a downturn. Therefore, he was beloved by the people.

He was quiet by nature, but he explained his ideas and opinions in such a fashion that even the few words were able to convince the opposing side. For his words were upright and penetrated the heart. He was asked to mediate any dispute, whether between individuals or with communal affairs.

Yitzchak Shapirin, the quiet and modest man, bore a great tragedy upon his heart for many years. His only son rejected the national Zionist tradition, and transferred to the Communist movement. He estranged himself to everything that was so holy to Yitzchak. He was finally imprisoned and sentenced to ten years of hard labor in the Doftana prison in Romania. After he was freed, he was forced to move to Russia. The last hope of the father that the only son would set up his home alongside the family was destroyed.

[Page 174]

May her memory be a blessing!

Her grandchild Moshe Ziserman

[Pages 174-175]

Moshe and Rivka Shaiovitz

Avraham Shaiovitz

Liebe Shaiovitz

Moshe Shaiovitz and his family moved from Lalova on the banks of the Dniester to Orheyev in 1920.

The home of Moshe Shaiovitz in Lalova was dear to the people of Orheyev, who often visited Lalova.

They not only found a place to sleep, but also to visit at all hours of the day, without expectation of monetary payment. For the commandment of “Hachnasat Orchim” (tending to guests) was the constant wage of this family.

When this family moved to Orheyev they did not desist from the commandment of Hachnasat Orchim. For the Jews of Lalova and Stodolna would often visit Orheyev, and they were their constant guests.

In 1941, when the German and Romanian murderers destroyed Orheyev, the family was forced to flee for their lives along with most of the residents. The family wandered along the way for three months until they reached Tashkent in central Asia. The authorities did not permit them to remain in Tashkent even on a temporary basis, and they were forced to move on to Kokand.

Moshe, the head of the family, died in May 1942 when his energy was spent. His wife Rivka died a short time thereafter in Tashkent. Their son, the lawyer Avraham Shaiovitz died two days before the death of his father. Liebe Shaiovitz, also a lawyer, died in the Red Army in battle against the Nazis.

Four victims of one family, in such a short time!

The lawyer Yosef Shaiovitz, his brother Yitzchak (Izak) and their families, and the sister Miriam (Mania) arrived in the Land along with the refugees. Motel (Mordechai) Shaiovitz , an engineer, remained in the Soviet Union.

The wife of the late Avraham Shaiovitz along with their son Natan also arrived in the Land.

Y. Ben Moshe

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