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The first Sokolov folk came to Chicago in about 1900. Khayim Yisroel the elder related this, even when he was the only Sokolover in Chicago. But soon after him came the landslayt Khayim Grinberg (Klitske), Shamay Grinberg (Klitske), Khayim Leyb Royznboym, Dovid Royznboym, Leyzer (Rukhne's) Faynberg, Yosef Ber, Dovid Shmilke Koviesers, Perets Naydorf, Gedalye Kardon, Avrom Bornshteyn, Yosef Naydorf and others.

The small group of early Sokolover who first lived there, lived together in a few blocks, grew and dispersed, then spread out into various distant parts of the large city of Chicago, some for business, some for work. They could not see each other as often as before and became afraid that they would become distanced, estranged from one another, and they sought a way, a means, to stay together, and the idea of a union in Chicago was realized in 1910. And it did not exist for long. At a meeting in May 1912, at the initiative of Avrom Bornshteyn, Mendl Vishnie, Moris M, Kahn, Moris Dan Moris Shteyn, D. Veyner and Dovid Glozgold, a new union was founded with the name “American Sokolov Independent Society”, which the large majority of Sokolover soon joined, among whom were the current activists: Khayim Grinberg (Klitske), Dovid Royznboym and these who have now passed away: Yisroel Shults, Louis Gud and Volf Endles may they rest in peace. At their first lunch these also became members: Moris Royznboym, Dovid Shteynberg, Sem Endles, Dzsho Bornshteyn, Volf Endles, Heyman Gotlib, Avrom Rubenshteyn,

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and Yisroel Shults. And officers were elected: Moris M. Kahn, President; Volf Endles, Vice President; Avrom Bornshteyn, Treasurer; Dovid Glozgold, Protocol Secretary; Moris Royznboym, Financial Secretary; Mendl Mishnie, First Trustee; Moris Dan, Second Trustee and Dovid Veyner, Third Trustee. They were the first officers of the “American Sokolover Independent Society”.

The constitution of the society was written in 1913 by Louis Teper, Moris M. Kahn, Avrom Bornshteyn, Moris Royznboym, Mendl Vishnie, Volf Endles of blessed memory, Hery Shults of blessed memory and Ezrielke Naydorf of blessed memory.

The relief committee for the victims of the war in Sokolov was established in 1914-1915 as a self-standing organization under the broader assistance of the society. On the 23^rd of January, the society decided to accept women as members,

The first group of women members were admitted to the society on February 13 1921: Grintshe Manelboym, Line Bornshteyn, Sofia Bornshteyn, Mitke Royznboym, Khane Roznboym, S. Kaliner, Tsipe Endles, Khave Grinberg, Ite Vishnie, Reytshl Roznfeld and Ite Grinberg.

In the summer of 1922 the society bought a piece of land in the Jewish cemetery (Valhaym) where flowers were planted, an asphalt path was laid along both sides of the road, and tablets at gate three noted in gold letters the names of those who had excelled in their activities for the society: Meyshe Mandlboym, Volf Endles, Moris M. Kahn, Avrom Bornshteyn, Moris Roznboym, Ezriel Naydorf, Khayim Grinberg (Klitske), Hayman Kuki and Dovid Gilberg.

At the beginning of 1935 there was an attempt to attract the American-born Sokolover youth into the landsmanshaft. A Sokolov youth organization was founded under the auspices of the society with the leadership of Sam Naydorf as President, and later Sidney Kahn as President and Nathan Mandlboym as Vice President; Yehudis Naydorf, Secretary; Maks and Pauline Naydorf, sol and Yehudis Epshteyn, Ester Tushner, Izidor Ber, Ortur Zigart and others. But it appears that the landsmanshaft idea did not appeal to the American-born youth. The Sokolov youth organization could not survive, it did not breathe the Sokolov air… and after a short time it was liquidated.

We decided to found a aid organization. The committee consisted of a small group of natives: Ezrielke Naydorf,

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Chairman; M. Mandlboym, Secretary; Khayim Grinberg, Treasurer and Yankev Naydorf, A, Barnshteyn, Eyb Vishnie, Volf Endles, Moris Royznboym, Khayim Gotlib, Yankev Taytlboym, D. Gilberg, Kh. Gilberg, Fayvl Grinberg, Tepki and a few others.

In the later years other arrived: Eyb Ayznberg, Sam Tushner, Hinde Ayznberg, Rivke Tushner, Grintshe Mandlboym, Sofia Bornshteyn, Feyge Gilberg, Khane Roznboym, Perl Mindl Naydorf, Heyman Kuki, Moris Kahn the 2^nd; Shayer Ber, Dzsho Zigard, Moris Grinberg, L Vilenski, Kh. Modanski, B. Brenfeld and S. Ber.

Help for Sokolov after a catastrophic fire or after another misfortune was not entirely strange for the Sokolover in Chicago. Thus we collected a significant sum for Sokolov after the great fire on the eve of Shavues in 1910. The aid actions that were carried out in the previous years were inspired by them or other individual cases of need. We collected a large sum, sent it to the rabbi in Sokolov so that he would distribute it according to his discretion and it ended with that. The matter of help for Sokolov, as the newly-created “Relief Committee” designated it, was not so popular among our Chicago landslayt and the so-called founding committee had a little hard pioneering work to establish the necessity for the standing aid-institution for Sokolov.

The longed-for day finally arrived: The First World War ended. But it took a long time until we could finally send money through a secure way to Sokolov. It was impossible to express the feelings that filled our hearts as we sent off the first funds on the 17^th of November, 1919, to Sokolov.

The money was sent to the address of Khayim Leyb Levin's wife, and she turned it over to a committee of ten people in Sokolov who had been selected by us. The committee consisted of Avrom Titshinski, Chairman; Khayim Shmuel Roznboym, Treasurer; Meyshe Moyshezon, Vice Chairman; Avrom Freylikh, Secretary; Khayim Noyakh Tukhlender, Yankl Buzshne, Avrom Yitsik Ruder, Shepsl Preger, Elye Taytlboym and Yudl Zidenberg. The officers had chosen the committee themselves.

In the first years the committee in Sokolov received from the Relief Committee in Chicago $2,407.50.

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On the 10^th of December 1920 a letter was sent to the following landslayt: Yankl Tikulski, Shmuel Yankl Elberg, Itshe Gilberg, Aron Kraytman, Leyb Flatner, Yehude Hersh Braverman, Peysakh Meyshe Naydorf, Meyshe Nakhum Taytlboym, Shmilke Bornshteyn, Barukh Roznboym and Dratevki. The letter said, among other things, that we believe that you shot not refuse to attend as a member in the existing committee and help the monies to be distributed. At the same time as that letter we sent out to the committee in Sokolov $1,175.

Barely five years went by and in June 1927 the landslayt Hery Beker and his wife traveled to Sokolov. The several hundred dollars that remained with the society, the few of us did not allow to molder, as the money belonged to those in Sokolov with no resources. The society decided that the funds should be given to those mentioned above, to be distributed in Sokolov. With that money the children of the Talmud-Torah were clothed, the Talmud-Torah was supported along with a few other institutions, and the rest distributed to those in need of help.

In June 1929 we sent $1,000 to Sokolov for various institutions: the cemetery, $350; help for the downfallen, $75; for the professional unions, $75; to the Jewish community, $500; to the loving-kindness fund, $200; to the orphans committee, $200; and to the Talmud-Torah, $100.

In the beginning September 1937 the aid institutions in Sokolov gathered the following persons: Dr. Grodzintshik, Y. Shedletski, P. Lashitski, A. Tshishinski, B. Y. Hokhberg, KH. Hokhberg, Y. Zshetelni, KH. H. Skshidliver, Y. Rozntsvayg, A. Shvartsfarb and Sh. Rubinshteyn.

The “Central Jewish Aid Committee” designated a certain sum for the establishment of a “TOZ” bureau in Sokolov which would be led by a special committee consisting of: Dr. Grodzshentshik, Y. Nelkin, Sh. Rubinshteyn, M. Lashitski, Y. Elenberg, B. Kokhberg, Kh. Rotshteyn, P. Zlotogviazda, Y Zshelianelas, Y Elenberg, B. Kokhberg, Kh. Rotshteyn, P. Zlotogviazda, Y. Zshelianelas and Avrom Yitsak Roznberg.

Very remarkable was the aid work for the children in Sokolov. In the summer of 1938 twenty-five children were sent to the camps in Yarnits, near Vengrov, and in the summer of 1939 sixty-four children were sent. Also in the winter children were sent to the camp in Otwock. From Chicago we sent

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three packages of clothing for the children, each weighting 44 pounds, which we had collected from our landslayt.

For a holiday we sent larger sums, so that the Ts.A.H. committee received, for Peysakh 1938, $1050 from Chicago and New York, and another $75, which the landslayt from Saint Louis had sent in. Several donations were also sent for other holidays that supported almost 500 families, all of whom received their stipends at their homes in sealed envelopes.

The outbreak of the Second World War, the attack by Nazi Germany on Poland, sundered our ties with our hometown Sokolov. Letters stopped coming, the long letters from the aid institutions in Sokolov which had included photographs of our town, and the life there, were now broken.

When the society opened the doors to the women and they became members and soon took leadership positions, it appeared that the wish for social activity by our society was finally achieved, that finally the Sokolov society had found its place, where they could serve the community. Just like the men.

A group of lands-women: Grintshe Mandlboym, Sofia Bornshteyn, Rivke Tushner, Perl Mindl Naydorf, Khane Roznboym, Line Dan, Hinde Ayznberg and some others, later founded a Sokolov women's society under the name “Sokolov Young Women's Club”. The club did not take on special assignments except helping needy landslayt in Chicago and from time to time contributing funds to the Relief Committee for Sokolov.

The Sokolov women in Chicago did not remain without an organization. Rather, in a short time there were two women's organizations. After the Sokolov Young Women's Club officially dissolved, they soon founded the “Sokolov Ladies Aid Society”.

Gitl Gotlib founded the new organization in her home, with Poly Shedlets, Gitl Gotlib, Peshe Zigarn, Rivke Tushner, Khane Royznboym and Mary Endles as the founders and first members. Khane Roznbym was chosen as president and Gitl Gotlib as Treasurer.

And just as the Sokolov Ladies Society, so the Sokolov Young Women's Club did not establish any special goals and did not take

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upon itself any special assignments, and like the previous organization sent help to needy landslayt and through various opportunities supported the Relief Committee for Sokolov.

In 1941 Chicago celebrated thirty years of activity of the Sokolov landsmanshaft and because of the occasion issued a jubilee book. More than 200 members and friends of Sokolov took part in the banquet in honor of the jubilee celebration. Delegates from several other states attended: from New York, the secretary Yankev Fisher; from Saint Louis, Sokolover Mordkhay Zshezshnik and his wife, Ben Fridman and his wife, the Platners and from Charleston Khayim Zelig Vayner and his wife, and Khane Vengrovski.

The orchestra played numerous folk-songs that recalled old memories. And we thought of traveling to our hometown, to our parents and friends. But it did not cheer our friends at the speakers table sitting all the active old members who had already given 30 years of hard work to the Sokolov society. Our aid work in the old home – now at war – was mentioned several times but who knew when we would be able to contact Sokolov again.

The banquet was celebrated with trembling in everyone's hearts. How were our parents living, our sisters, brothers and friends? What pains were they suffering under the Hitler murderers? Meyshe Mandelboym, secretarty of the Aid Committee, spoke about our aid actions so far and appealed to the 150 members to enlist their adult children to join the society. One saved from the Holocaust, Shleye Hokhberg, a former Poalei Tsion leader in Sokolov, described the tragic situation in the old home and appealed for quick help. Then the friends Dovid Gilberg, Meyshe Kahn, Khaymi Kuki and A. Ayznberg spoke, all greeting us and calling us to the good work. Hard and bitter years of war had pulled at the work of the Sokolov society. We received bad news from the press, but could not help. America is in the war and also

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the Sokolov children are off in the army. The Sokolov Society began to support them through buying American bonds for thousands of dollars so America might win the war sooner and Jews could be freed, but unfortunately – we were late. We came to our Sokolov meetings as orphans with broken hearts and sought comfort with one another. The fantasy of many Sokolover after the war to travel back home to the parents and friends also disappeared forever. The Sokolov Society took to the work of collecting money for the survivors, and there was difficulty in the work. The old activist members went off to Los Angeles. Meyshe Mandlboym and his wife, Sholem Tushner, Sh. E. Ber, Khenye Rotshteyn and Akiva Fayershteyn. In 1946 we in Chicago began to receive letters from refugees from Sokolov who had come from Russia and Poland – to Lodz and other towns. They beg Secretary Modanski that the Sokolover would help them in their bitter situation of hunger and despair. And soon the work took on a new strength. The Sokolov Society organization, along with the Aid Committee collected money to send packages of food to the Sokolover.

Every day we received letters from Sokolov refugees, who told of their wanderings and the horrifying problems they had encountered. The letters were read aloud at gatherings and the members shed tears for them. It was decided to send a delegation to Saint Louis to organize help quickly. Tsvi Madanski, Avrom and Sofia Bornshteyn and a packet of letters and a list of more than 100 addresses of Sokolov refugees located in Poland. The meeting would be held in the home of Secretary M. Zshezshnik. The gathering took place in the evening to create help for those Sokolover who had arrived in Poland, Paris and Israel. A committee was elected: Ben Platner, President; Mordkhe Zshizshnik, Secretary; and a large executive committee. Madanski collected $300 at the meeting to send to Lodz in their names. Each month a meeting took place at another Sokolover's home, for collecting money and sending food packages.

Thus Chicago, Saint Louis and New York sent dozens of food packages and food every month, as well as money. 1948 was the historic era in Jewish life, when the hearts of the Jews in America and in all the world were joyous with the news about the emergence of the State of Israel where all the refugees would have a home.

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The reports about attacks by Arabs struck the American news like a thunder clap. At every gathering there was calls to be prepared to help Israel. And the Sokolov Society created a large war-chest and bought a tank to ship to the Jewish army. And when Israel went to war with the Arab enemies we sent $600 to the then chair of the Sokolov Society in Israel, Kh. Harenshteyn, to help the Sokolover who needed it. When Israel sent out proclamations about buying Israel Bonds the Sokolov Society called a meeting and the members bought Israel Bonds for a thousand dollars. Today our treasury holds Israel Bonds for over $5,000. And this year we gathered more than $3,000 for various goals. Each year the Society sponsors a banquet where money is collected for the same purpose.

In 1950 Secretary Hershl Madanski established relations with the Sokolover in New York, Saint Louis, Los Angeles, Rockford and Canada about collecting more money for aid and joining all the aid work of America, Canada and Israel under a central aid corporation. After a broad discussion by letters with the secretaries of all the states an aid conference was designated for December 24, 1950, in Chicago.

Five delegates came from New York and Chicago and three came from St. Louis and two came from Rockford. Los Angeles send a greeting. The Sokolover in Chicago made all the preparations. On the day's agenda: Opening, Hershl Madanski; Constituary, M. Khayne (chair of the first meeting). He read the greeting from Israel and about working together with America.

In his opening speech Hershl Madanski portrayed the great loss of the Jewish people with the murder of the Six Million martyrs and the destruction of Sokolov. He honored the martyrs in Europe and the Jewish heroes of the Israeli Army who had fallen in the struggle for the liberation of State of Israel. Madanski noted that that was a new generation of Sokolov rising in Israel and called all the delegates to help them. Other speakers were Alter Lewis from Rockford; Penye Brokman, Ben Platner, Motl Gorelnik from St. Louis; Dovid Gilberg, Sofia Bronshteyn from Chicago; and Heri Vaysberg from New York. Khayne was elected as chairman of the conference and Madanski as secretary. The secretaries of each state were called upon for reports.

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Chicago sent $3,000 to Lodz, $200 to Paris, and $600 to Israel. They recently stopped sending food packages to Israel because the committee in Israel was not asking for food for Sokolover but for constructive help. Today there is $1,400 in the aid treasury. M. Zshezshnik from St. Louis reported that they have given out $4,000 from their treasury for food packages to Lodz and other places. Today they are shipping food packages to Israel and they have $2,000 in their treasury.

M. Khanye from New York reported about sending aid to Sokolover in Lodz and also machines for individuals in Paris and Israel. The New York jubilee book brought in $3,500 for the relief fund, and now they have $2,500 in their treasury. Sofia Bornshteyn reported that the women in Chicago are united in their aid work with the relief work with the Relief Committee, and they are ready at any time to help. M. Khine delivered a greeting from his visit to Israel, where he had at met with the Sokolover at a gathering in Tel Aviv about their aid work in Israel. Khanye described the tragic situation of the refugees, and how important our work is for them. The Sokolover in Israel have opened a lending bank, and the refugees have borrowed over 1,000 pounds. There is also a project to build a hotel with the name Sokolov Podliask in Israel. Sokolover from America should build a 40-room hotel in Israel and the hotel should be called “Sokolov Podliaski”. The hotel would cost $40,000; the Sokolover in Israel would acquire the land for the hotel.

At the second part of the meeting, led by Chairman M. Zshezshnik, Rov Shleyme Dovid Morgenshtern greeted the conference and call ed for unity in the good work. Later is was decided to send money not for a construction project for the lending bank. Chicago would send $2,000, St. Louis $2,000, New York $2,000. The proposition to build a community house that would eternalize the old home Sokolov was discarded, and the united air committee of New York, Chicago and Saint Louis dissolved.

Chicago did not pause in its aid work. The Aid Committee began calling for meetings anew, to gather money for the Sokolov refugees located in Israel. Every year we also call the Sokolov martyrs whom the Hitler murderers killed on 12 Tishrey 1942. The Sokolover come together in a mass to the yisker-yortsayt and choke on tears.

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Dovid Gilberg lights the yisker lamp. And we recall how Sokolov looked the day after yon-kiper with its death-march to Treblinka. And we comfort ourselves with those who were saved and the continuation of being in Israel. We are proud of the Sokolover who are so active with their creativity in the communities and literary area in all parts of the world where they are found. Among others speaking on such an evening is Rov Dr. Perlov, a grandson of the Sokolov Rebi of blessed memory, about the greatness of the Sokolov youth who were taken as martyrs in kidush ha'shem, and those who live and create in the Land of Israel; Sokolover in America must be united with the Sokolover in Israel, and recite kadish for the murdered, Such a yisker-yortsayt is organized every year. Today there are 85 members in the Society; the women number 65 members. Their committee directs their good aid work. Mindl Zamlofer is president, Malke Valiski is vice president, Khane Madanski is reporting secretary, Brukhe Kalnik is finance secretary; Serke Gilberg is treasurer and Fene Kuki is charged with hospitality. In 1958 they sent $400 to Israel for distribution; in 1959 $400 was also sent with Serke Gilberg; and we look forward to good work in the future.

Many landsmanshaftn in Chicago have long since dissolved and given up their community work. The Sokolov celebrated its 49^th year jubilee with a beautiful banquet where 150 members and friends attended in a holiday mood to greet all the active workers who devote their time and money for the good work of the Society. Soon after the banquet the income of $400 was sent to Israel to distribute for Passover. We are preparing a large banquet with an Israeli film and good speakers. We have set ourselves the task of raising $3,000 for the rescue fund to help those arriving in Israel.

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The committee for the women's organization of the Sokolov Landsmanshaft in Chicago From left to right, sitting: Serke Gilberg, Treasurer; Khane Modanski, recording secretary; Mindl Zamenhofer Standing: Feyge Kuki, Hospitality; Khane Rozenboym, First President; Malka Zalinski, Vice President

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The Sokolov Landsmanshaft in Chicago hands over a check for $1,900 (from Moris Kahn $1,000; Dovid Gilberg, $400; and others, $500) From right: Moris Kahn, Semiyul T. Kohen, Mrs. Kahn and Dovid Gilberg

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Committee of the Sokolov Landsmanshaft in Chicago From left: Ayzik Kamer (secretary), Hershl Madanski (secretary), Shleyme Ber (vice president), Avrom Rubinshteyn (chairman), Leyvi Valinski (secretary), Shepsl Kosover (finance secretary), Yosef Vishni (treasurer). Chairwomen: Hene Kosover, Eydl Ber, Khaye Rivke Roznboym – Executive Committee

The year 1905 is a historic date in the history of the society. In that year the first effort was made to found a Sokolov landsmanshaft in New York. Among the initiators of the effort were Yisroel Yeshaye Grinberg, M. Perlshteyn, Meyshe Heris, Aron Roznboym and Yona Karp.

The effort did not succeed then. The majority of the Sokolover in America were then not “whole” Sokolover, and the idea to create a Sokolov society did not succeed. Five years flew by and in 1910 a second effort was made.

In that year a great fire broke out in Sokolov, which destroyed a significant part of the Jewish homes and shops there. Whole streets went up in smoke. The Jewish settlement in Sokolov was almost wiped out completely. The tragedy was heartbreaking: monumental help was needed.

Here in New York Meyshe Heris received a touching letter from Sokolov, in which our Sokolov brothers and sisters asked their American countrymen to help them, now. Meyshe Heris met with a few friends and it was decided to do something, now.

A few landslayt printed an appeal that called on the Sokolover in New York to a mass meeting in the “HIAS” building. At the meeting – which was well-attended and inspirational – the participants decided to create their own organization. Without that, said the speakers at the meeting, the landslayt were scattered and dispersed. Fortified by a society, the Sokolover here could consolidate their strengths, be unified, improve their own situation

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and distribute aid to their brothers and sisters on the other side of the sea – in an organized, systematic way.

Then a second attempt was made to create a Sokolov landsmanshaft, and this time it did not succeed either. The society had, in truth, caught sight of a bright world, although it was split in to various groups.

The years raced by. In 1914 the group of landslayt gathered at Yona Karp's home and decided to make a new effort.

A temporary committee was voted in, that consisted of the following members: S. Silver, M. Rozengart, H. Feldman, Avrom Vishniye and Meyshe Heris as chairman. The committee decided to create the basis for a permanent Sokolov landsmanshaft in New York, and expressed the hope that the society would by its founding begin a broadly-branched activity that would attract the widest strata of the Sokolov landslayt in New York.

Thanks to the energetic work of the initial committee they succeeded in drawing a large number of members and in that same year, 1914, a permanent committee was elected and charged with three assignments:

1. Organize the society
2. Propose a name
3. Provide the society with a cemetery

At a special gathering in December 1915 it was universally decided that the name of the society should be:

“The Sokolov Young Friends Progressive Aid Society”.

The Sokolov Landsmanshaft in New York could proudly demonstrate a widely-branched relief activity from its grounding until now.

Our first undertaking was a large ball. The ball was a success and the profit from it sufficed for our society to widen its aid to the suffering Sokolover in the homeland.

That help became even more diverse after the end of the First World War of 1914, when the local landslayt got the

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opportunity to unite with their dear hometown Sokolov. Urgent help was needed and our society appealed big-heartedly and stretched out a warm, brotherly hand.

Through mass meetings, theater performances, concerts and other presentations, the society collected the necessary monetary means to help feed, clothe and shoe the war-affected in Sokolov, and provide them with a roof over their heads. In order to increase the income from those undertakings, our landsmanshaft created their own dramatic section. To begin, our new section made up their own one-act plays. The presentations “tore up” and took the audience and we decided to keep the drama section as a standing institution. Over the time of its existence the drama section grew by levels. From one-act plays they went to doing whole pieces. Among others, the productions included Avrom Vishniye, R. Rozengart, M. Silver, M. Rozengart. That project helped in a very large measure to develop dramatic talent among our members and raised the cultural condition of the membership and implanted in them a love for a better kind of theater. The activity of the drama section was a big moral and material success. The whole profit of the productions was sent back to the aid institutions in Sokolov. All the needy people in our hometown benefited from it.

Gradually, our relief activity was established on a firm ground and it was decided that the relief work should be done for a separate branch of the landsmanshaft, so, the society could be able to begin to provide more for the needy and wanting among our own membership.

1923 was an eventful year in the history of our landsmanshaft. Two active members – S. Morison and A. Vishniye – traveled to visit our old home Sokolov. Before their trip the society arranged a special departure evening. Those who enjoyed the well-attended gathering will long remember it. In 1934 another hard-working member of the landsmanshaft –Y. Lentshner – traveled to Sokolov. And in 1935 and 1936 our members Meyshe Rozengart and Leyzer Nofengart went for a visit. In their honor too the society arranged impressive farewell evenings. Returning from their

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visits, the landslayt brought the Sokolover here a lively report about what was happening in the old home.

Among others, the society at that time supported the following institutions in Sokolov: the Talmud-Torah, the soup kitchen, the support-for-the-fallen fund, the interest-free loan society, and the craftsmen's union, as well as the Jewish children in the Christian schools in Sokolov.

In 1917 a split occurred in our ranks: America was engaged in war against Germany. With the permission of the American government, a Jewish Legion was organized here, whose task was to help England take Erets Yisroel which at the time was held by Turkey. Many of our members – a younger element – enrolled in the legion and traveled to Erets Yisroel. Some of them remained there, became nationally-minded and wanted to join organizations that had in their platforms the demand for the building of a national Jewish homeland in Erets Yisroel. As a result of that, our society developed a stronger sentiment for the Sokolov landsmanshaft to join a branch of the Jewish national workers' union. But although the majority fought that proposal, the opposition – which was in the minority – refused to pay their contribution as a protest; and the society had to exclude them which finally brought them back to our ranks and we started to grow anew. To this day they are loyal, hard-working members of the society.

Perceiving the need not only of our brothers and sisters on the other side of the sea but also of our own landslayt here, was one of the chief tasks of the society since its founding.

The landsmanshaft installed a society doctor for the New York members and later, a doctor for the Brooklyn members.

A second task was instituting health insurance. In case of the death of a member, the inheritors received a payment of $200; when the wife of a member died, the inheritor received $100.

A further important achievement was the loan fund. That fund was created in November 1922, with the small capital of $200. The first treasurer of the fund was Ruven Rozengart, who really excelled in his office.

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His follower, L. Fridman, still holds that office to this day. For his services in managing the fund, Fridman earned the respect and honor of the entire membership.

The women of the landslayt are an important strength and can help the activities of the landsmanshaft to expand. After an unsuccessful effort in 1925 a ladies auxiliary was finally established from our own members, and they have proved to be loyal, devoted collaborators.

The first auxiliary officers were Ale Zshelenets, Chairlady; Yeta Vishniye, Recording Secretary; Bashki Khaynia, finance Secretary; Yeta Vishniye, treasurer; Sheyndl Rozengart, Malka Lentshner and Besie Rozengart, Hospitality.

At the second meeting of the new section they decided to call themselves “Sokolov Ladies Auxiliary”.

With support from the Sokolov landsmanshaft with the details of its founding, the Ladies auxiliary enumerated a list of significant tasks and provided Jewish children of the Christian schools in Sokolov with daily breakfast which consisted of a roll and a glass of milk. It also led a multi-branched organizing action to attract every woman in the Sokolov community to the auxiliary. It undertook a line of social work. It supported a large number in New York, including HIAS, United Jewish Appeal, the trade unions campaign, and others.

In each task that the Sokolov landsmanshaft took on, the sister organization, the Ladies Auxiliary, stood by their side to help carry it out successfully. For their help the members of the auxiliary earned everyone's' respect and thanks.

Like a government, an organization must have a constitution that is its guide and determines how it should be run.

In 1923 the Sokolov landsmanshaft decided to work out a constitution. A committee was elected to implement the project. Members were A. Vishniye, P. Rozenberg, Khane Feldman, A. M. Rozenberg, with Meyshe Silver as chairman, who were thanked for their work in the name of the entire landsmanshaft.

In 1926 the landsmanshaft took on two obligatory decisions of a community character and of great significance:

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1. All members of the society are forbidden from being strike-breakers;
2. No boss – if he wants to remain a member of our landsmanshaft – may take on any scabs (strike-breakers).

The Sokolov Society always big-heartedly supported various Jewish and general community institutions here in America.

Among others, we supported: American Jewish Congress, HIAS, Jewish War Veterans, the League for the Jewish Blind, United Jewish Appeal, the trade unions campaign, Jewish Charity Federation, Los Angeles and Denver Sanitoria, and also the Saratoga Spring House, Red Cross and the USO.

Over the last few decades the Sokolov Society carried out impressive jubilee celebrations that left a deep impression on the attendees.

In December 1924 we celebrated our 10-year jubilee; in 1929, our 15^th; and in December 1934 we marked our 20^th year of life and action.

Our 25^th-year, which took place in December 199, was especially significant. The gathering took place in the Central Plaza hall and locked in an important era: a quarter of a century in our history.

The celebration was a huge morale and material success. But the audience was not happy in their hearts. The fate of the Nazi bacchanalia had overtaken those gathered and the tragedy of the murdered and tortured Jewish people on the other side of the ocean was reflected on the faces of the attendees. The gathering was turned into a huge manifestation of aid. The onlookers gave their promise that they would do everything in their capabilities to help the unfortunate Sokolov landslayt. By their attendance they paid a type of “head tax” for the suffering Sokolover who were already in war camps and on the spot they contributed a significant sum of money for “Sokolov relief”.

We could help the surviving remnant of the Sokolov brothers and sisters in a powerful way and indeed did so.

For the Sokolov martyrs who had been

[Page 594]

murdered by the bestial Nazis, or who had fallen as heroes in the fight against the Hitler tyranny – for them we could do nothing except sanctify their luminous names. It was decided to publish a jubilee book to the 40-year existence of the landsmanshaft.

All the income from the book was designated for helping our unfortunate landslayt in Sokolov.

The jubilee book committee was composed of the following members: M. Silver, Yosef Rosengart, A. M. Rozengart, L. Hofengart, L. Fridman, Y. Shteynberg, Meyshe Feldman, Heri Vaysberg, M. Gordon, B. Vays, M. Heris and Sh. Zshelents, with Mordkhe Khayne as Chairman.

At the end of the Second World War we supported the Sokolover in Russia with food packages; those of our landslayt who were in Shanghai, China, we helped with financial means.

Since America entered the war we had worked to connect with our brothers and sisters on the other side of the ocean – but without success. When the war ended we sent the above-mentioned help to the suffering landslayt. The help reached Lodz, Shtetin, Lignits and other towns in Poland and also Paris.

We continue with that help.

[Page 595]

In the Sokolov landsmanshaft in New York these people have been active since its founding in 1914 up to 1961 as Chairman, Vice Chairman. Secretary and Treasurer:

Hershl Vaysberg, Nakhman Elberg, Shmuel Leyb Zshelenets, Avrom Vishni, Meyshe Feldman, Meyshe Silver, Avrom Meyshe Rozengart, Mordkhe Khayne, Yosef Rozengart and Leyzer Opengart.

And in other offices:

Meyshe Gordin, Asher Grudshitski, Hershl Hokhberg, Meyshe Heris, Beril Vays, Hersh Hileler, Leyzer Zekhter, Avrom Tabatshnik, Mayer Terner, Yosef Lentshner, Khone Morison, Yeshaye Morison, Louis A. Maks, Neyten Svitsen, Meyshe Silver, Beril Flatner, Aysik Feldman, Khone Feldman, Leybl Fridman, Peysakh Rozenberg, Meyshe Rozengart, Ruben Rozengart, Ruben Shults, Sidney Shults, Yisroel Shteynberg, Shmuel Shteyner, Yosef Shpilman.

We mention with sadness the members of the Sokolov Young Friends Progressive Aid Society in New York, who have passed away since it founding in December 1914:

Khayim Yitskhak Bukhbinder, Beni Goldberg, Dovid Goldshteyn, Louis Gorbati, Meyshe Gordon, Mordkhay Garkinkel, Shleyme Grosman, Albert Grinboym, Yosef Grinberg, Eyb Grinshteyn, Berl Hokhberg, Meyshe Heris, Heyman Vapnik, Leyzer Menashe Vaynbrum, Meyshe Vaynshteyn,

Berl Vays, Yankev Vaysberg, Mendl Vaysberg, Meyshe Vaysberg, Avrom Vishniye, Avrom Veber, aron Venger, Yankev Yablon, A. Yablonski, Yankev Yospershteyn, Yosef Lentshner, Yeshaye Morison, Dovid Mur, Leybl Solarzsh.

[Page 596]

Ayzik Silver, Meyshe Silver, Charles Skap, Shabsi Elberg, Khone English, Shmuel Leyb English, Peysakh Fudenberg, Meyshe Perlshteyn, Avrom Kosover, Sol Kosever, Hershl Radzinski, Khone Rozen, Peysakh Rosenberg, Shleyme Rozenberg, Meyshe Rozengart, Ruben Rozengart, Yisroel Rotshteyn, Beni Shulman, Mayer Sheyfer, Ruben Shults, Khayim Shenkin.

K. Orlovski, Feni Goldshteyn, Mashe Grosman, Ayde Grinshteyn, Rokhl Hokhberg, Miryam Volmer, Roza Vapnik, Rivke Vaysberg, Jenny Veber, Sora Veber, Bila Venger, Shirley Venger-Zirl, Mina Terner, Malka Lentshner,

Yenta Morison, Royze English, Sora Finkel, Brayna Feldman, Becky Kohn, Ayda Krashinski, Golde Rozen, Mina Rozenberg, Meri Rozenberg, Khane Toybe Rozengart, Mashe Rotshteyn, Rokhl Rotshteyn, Sofiye Sharp, Khane Shtraus, Sora Shtraykhler.

[Page 597]

Sokolov Memorial Book Committee in New York (from right to left) Yosef Shpilman, Avrom Tabatshnik, Meyshe Feldman, Shmuel Leyb Zshelenets, Treasurer; Mordkhe Kaine, Chairman; Yosef Rozengart, Secretary; Avrom Meyshe Rozengart, Leyzer Opengart, and Asher Grodzshitski

[Page 598]

Officers of the Sokolov Young Friends Progressive Aid Society for the year 1961 Sitting, from right to left: Avrom Meyshe Rozengart, Finance Secretary; Mordkhe Khoyne, Chairman; Shmuel Lib Zshelenets, Vice Chairman Standing, from right to left: Leyzer Opengart, Treasurer; and Yosef Rozengart, Recording and Protocol Secretary

The Sokolov Aid Committee in LosAngeles, which existed from August 1946 to the beginning of 1950, did not have any landsmanshaft tradition behind it as did the aid committees in New York and Chicago or even St. Louis. There were reasons for there not being many Sokolover in Los Angeles, first of all the great distance from New York, as far as Europe is from New York. And in those years before the First World War and soon after it, when emigration from Sokolov to America was going on, the majority went to New York or Chicago, which was then the farthest point.

If one lived in New York one could consider making a “pleasure trip” back home (and many actually did that) - but to travel to Los Angeles which is in the far west of the land by the shore of the Pacific Ocean meant to cut oneself off entirely from the old home; besides that, in those days there was not yet a good method to travel here although the California climate with its all-year summer is a corner of the Garden of Eden. But one cannot make a living from air alone, even the best air. In Los Angeles those days there were no industries or sources of livelihood yet developed. The settlement here consisted mainly of several people who had to settle because of the climate and had saved up some money in order to do that. Then there were only one or two Sokolov families who wandered here to settle.

It was only in the time of the Second World War when large industries rose in Los Angeles, that the general and the Jewish populations began to grow. When they started migrating from all over America, a large number of Sokolov families came too, mostly from Chicago. Among them were such long-time active doers as Meyshe and Grintshe Mandelboym, Sholem and Rivke Tushner, Shaye Ber and others.

At the beginning of 1946 when I moved here from Chicago,

[Page 600]

the repatriation of Polish Jews from Soviet Russia to Poland was ongoing, among them some Sokolover. Some of them were out of their hiding places in Poland itself and from the German camps. That is when the Sokolov Committee in Lodz was founded: I received a letter about collecting aid among the Sokolover in Los Angeles. Knowing that there was such a small number of Sokolover here I felt a little embarrassed. I showed the letter to a few Sokolover and we put together a list of about ten families and decided to call everyone on a Sunday afternoon.

The first gathering was in the home of Tili Eyzas (one of Royze the poultry-seller's daughters). The dream was to be able to send 50 dollars. I came home with 267 dollars from that first gathering, and with the help of Y. Grinberg (then in New York) we easily sent off 250 dollars to Lodz. In the beginning we met every month, mostly at the home of Avrom and Khane-Sora Zonshayn (a sister of the mentioned Tili Ayzus), long-time residents here. In that house too an impressive yisker-evening was held.

In time many Sokolover left Poland and began their migration through the camps in Germany, Austria, Italy and other countries. Letters began to arrive from them, and we sent “care packages” to every one of them, and we did not stop until the majority of them had located in Israel. In the meanwhile we sent 150 dollars over to Lodz, and later another 200 dollars, several packages of clothes as well as 100 dollars for the Sokolov Committee in Israel and in Paris (and 50 “care packages” to the camps).

That continued until the beginning of 1950, when people all over America began moving from one part of a state to another. And with that came the difficulty of meeting together. Also the committee in Lodz ceased to exist, so that our own aid committee dissolved as well.

From time to time, when there is a joyous occasion among the Sokolover, or when a Sokolover comes to visit from another state, people come together and relive in conversation our one-time hometown Sokolov.

[Page 601]

Committee of the Sokolov Landsmanshaft in Los Angeles Sitting at the table (from right) Secretary Khanina Rotshteyn, Chairman Meyshe Mandlboym and Treasurer Shaye Ber

The first immigrants from Sokolov arrived in Paris shortly after the events of 1905. Among them were Nakhum Kopels Fodemberg, Yankev Goptarnik and his brother Yoel Leyzer Dratevskes; Tsviya Kotshol and her brother Hirshl, Mikhalke Fridman and others. Almost all of them stayed here, because they had opportunities to settle here. There was no close contact among the landslayt and they did not create any communal life. Later, between 1920 and 1921, when the need and the savage excesses began to rage in Poland, a large number of landslayt immigrated from Sokolov to Paris. They had no difficulty in legally organizing themselves, but the problem of finding places to live was not easy. In general the laboring element fit in more easily that those in the free professions. Once all the difficulties were eventually settled, people began to think about a community life. That was when the idea of creating a Sokolov society was born. But nothing positive was done in that area until the years 19128-1930 when a large number of landslayt arrived in Paris, the majority of them young, when the contact become closer. The successful Sokolov Society was created later. The initial group included Yehoshe Gutman, Avrom Tshernovitsh, Eliahu Shteynberg, Leon Goldfeder, Ayzik Goptarnik and Yudl Goptarnik.

In 1937 Avromtshe Rubinshteyn arrived in Paris from Toulouse (he was a student at the university there), and became the general secretary of the organization. Around the same time we received reports that in Sokolov antisemetic Poles were making anti-Jewish excesses against Jews and also attacking Jewish businesses. That made an enormous impression of the Sokolov landslayt in Paris. The Society decided quickly to raise an aid action to benefit those suffering, in particular the children.

[Page 603]

Several undertakings were carried out and a large sum of money was soon sent to Sokolov. At the same time we received a report that Dovid'she Fridman, who was sitting in jail for several years for political activity, was free and in a terrible state of health that threatened his life. The Board promptly decided to bring him here and settle him in Paris, which was also possible to carry out. In 1938 General Secretary Avromtshe Rubinshteyn had to interrupt his Society activities due to legal difficulties with the government. He was replaced by Itshe Garfunkl (Mayer Kartser's grandson), who conducted the work of the Society intensely.

So the work rolled along until the outbreak of the Second World War. After that any other community work was impossible, as most of the active members were mobilized in the army. Those remaining in Paris were Avrom Tshernievitsh, Eliye Shteynberg, Yudl Goptarnik, Leon Vaknshteyn, who carried on the social aid for the needy landslayt. In June 1940 Paris was occupied by the Nazis. The same group of members continued with the work until the mass deportations.

After the liberation of Paris we were happy to see the landslayt who were left to us, and stood fast with them in sadness, for those missing. Of the nearly 200 families that were in Paris before the war, barely 70 remained. Among those who returned from deportation were: Avrom Rubinshteyn, Meyshe Khayim Yoselzon, Yankl Kviatek, Eliye Shteynberg, Motl Buzshni, Suzan Zilberman and her children, Avrom Rozenshteyn and Velvl Litera (Khayim Yirsoel's Rayzman's son-in-law) and the woman Sukenik. Those who were German prisonors of war: Natan Zilberman and Yosel Itshe Sukenik. One can imagine the joy at the first reunions of the Sokolov landslayt in liberated Paris. And the deep pain and hot tears for those who would never come back again.

The Sokolov Society renewed its activities with its freshly-elected board, consisting of the follwing membes: Avrom Rubinshteyn, president; Nosn Zilberman, vice president; Ayzik Goptarnik, treasurer; and Dovid Fridman, secretary. Board members were Yudl Lashitse, Eliye Shteynberg, Yankl Yospirshteyn, and Yudl Goptarnik.

We soon established contact with our landslayt in Poland and in the American lands. At our request we received from Chicago and New York 20 packages of food and 200 dollars, which was quickly

[Page 604]

distributed to the widows and orphans of those who did not return. A little later we received 50 dollars from Kh. Rotshteyn of Los Angeles, which was also distributed to the same group.

We began a large action of collecting a large sum of money in Paris in order to be able to receive the freshly-arrived surviving landslayt who traveled through Paris. At one such gathering of the Sokolov group in Paris with the freshly-arrived the joy was indescribable. Among the speakers who were presented then were: Pintshe Rafelovitsh, Eliezer Rubinshteyn, Avrom Grinberg (“Lessers”) and the teacher Grinberg.

The pain for our murdered did not let us rest. We decided to build a monument to memorialize the names of our martyrs. This was certainly not light work. At a general meeting a new board was elected with the following members: Ayzik Goptarnik, president; Yankl Yosfershteyn and Yudl Goptarnik, vice presidents; N. Zilberman, general secretary; Kolina and Sore Goptarnik, secretaries; Khone Kirshnboym, treasurer; Leybl Khane-Rivke's, Moris Kalina, Efroym Itsl Sterdiniak, Tsviya Bekerman and Ms. Berze as board members. They worked energetically to create the significant sum of one million francs. In that regard we must mention our oldest borad member, Khone Kirshboym.

Sunday the 20^th of October 1950 saw the solemn unveiling of the monument that the Society “Friends of Sokolov Podlaski” in Paris had erected to the memory of all our murdered martyrs in France and in Poland. Attending were almost all the Sokolov landslayt in Paris, as well as a large number of friends of the surrounding towns of Shedlets, Vengrov, Sterdin and Kosov.

The line of the gathered crowd formed at the main gate of the Jewish cemetery, headed by the former deported Sokolovers from Auschwitz: Albert Rubinshteyn, Yankev Kviatek, Rozenshtyen and Litera who carried a large Star of David composed of white flowers. Right behind them two Sokolov children carried a large banners written in Yiddish to the memory of the martyrs. In the first row walked the members of the committee and after them, the landslayt and friends. The line made a big impression on all onlookers and passersby. The line marched to the monument that was draped with a black curtain. The dais was also veiled in black. After the opening words from the president of the Sokolov Society in Paris, Ayzik Goptarnik, he asked for

[Page 605]

an absolute silence in the name of our dear martyrs. In a moment of deep feeling the monument was unveiled by our landslayt the former deportees - Albert Rubinshteyn and Ms. Zilberman from Bergen-Belsen. Afterwards general secretary of our Society N. Zilberman spoke. He dwelt widely on the great devastation set on the Jews of Poland and particularly in Sokolov. After mentioning what the little town of Sokolov had symbolized with its beautiful, multi-branched community life, that was exterminated by the Nazis in a most savage way, the speaker went on to talk about the great difficulties the Sokolov committee in Paris had in carrying out so holy a work as erecting the monument to the memory of our dear and near. But “we did not bear any difficulties”, he continued, “that touch the debt that we owe them”. The cantor of Paris then read a prayer in Hebrew and French to the illuminated memory of our murdered ones. The audience was deeply moved and could not hold back the tears. Weeping could be heard from every side.

The last word went to Elye Shteynberg, former deportee to Auschwitz. He spoke about how our hometown looked before, with its beautiful youth organizations and societies. He also recalled the horrible suffering of the deportees who survived the Nazi camps, and ended with a call to all Sokolov landslayt in Paris to group themselves around our Society. Another minute of silence in honor of our murdered members, and our oldest landsman Mordkhay Stirdinak recited kadish. Sad and broken from the mention of all our lost souls whom we would never see again, and also with pride in the small group of landslayt who survived against all odds, could manage to prepare the installation of the monument - the crowd diverged.

We then heard from the committee that had organized and carried out the enormous project: A. Goptarnik, President; Efroym Yudl Stirdiniak, Vice Presidnet; Nakhum Zilberman, Secretary; Khona Kirshnboym, Treasurer; Tsviya Bekerman, Vice President; Ayzik Goptarnik, Yankl Yasfirshteyn, Board Members.

In June 1951, after paying off the large expenses for the monument at the common grave, there was a meeting of the newly-elected committee for the year 1951, comprised of A. Goptarnik, Efroym Yudl Stirdiniak, Nokhum Zilberman, Khona Kirshnboym, Eliye Shteynberg, M. Kalina, Yudl Goptarnik and Tsviya

[Page 606]

Bekerman. After a discussion they decided unanimously to begin an aid-action for the newly-arrived Sokolov landslayt in Israel. To that goal the committee came to an understanding with Nosn Koyfman - who was known to us from Poland as a social activist and was then located in Tel Aviv - to put together the addresses of the neediest landslayt in Israel in order for us to send food packages and clothing directly to their personal addresses.

The activists in Paris succeeded in collecting 400 kilos of clothing.

In the summer of 1953 we had the pleasure of having as our guest from Israel Yitskhak Nehuri (Mendezshitski), for whom we held an intimate banquet with our activists.

In 1954 we celebrated with his family the 60^th birthday of our treasurer and inexhaustible activist Khona Kirshnboym, who successfully saved his six children in the horrible Nazi war years.

We organized a separate large aid action in 1956. During the Sinai-action we made a majority decision to send our contribution to the young brave Israeli Army that was in a hard battle at the time, and we gathered about five hundred dollars.

At the call of the Sokolov Irgun in Tel Aviv we organized help for several desparate families in 1957.

In August 1958 our president Ayzik Goptarnik and his wife and Nakhum Zilberman traveled to Israel. The Paris members had several meetings with the responsible activists of the Irgun Sokolov in Tel-Aviv, where they received a warm and brotherly welcome. Permanent contact was established between our landslayt in Paris and those in Israel. Upon the return of the Paris members they conveyed the brotherly, heartfelt greetings to all the landslayt in Paris at the general meeting, from the landslayt whom they had after thirty years finally had to joy to see. They also conveyed the large and beautiful realization that the young state was already succeeding in every area.

In October 1958 we in Paris had as a guest the Sokolover Mendl Brot (from the Yiddish Theater in Poland) and Nekhe Kats and her husband.

These are some random dates and facts from the multi-branched activities of the small society of Sokolov landslayt in Paris.

[Page 607]

Committee of the Sokolov Landslayt Society in Paris, 1959 (From right) Yankl Kviatek, Sore Goptarnik, Bashe Kirshnboym, Khona Kirshnboym (treasurer), Tsviye Bekerman (vice president), Ayzik Goptarik (president), Nakhum Zilberman (general secretary), Blanche Kalina (secretary), Yudl Goptarnik (vice president) and Moris Kalina

[Page 608]

On the way to the monument

[Page 609]

At the cemetery by the monument

[Page 610]

Yiskor! Remember!

[Page 611]

From right to left first row: Henri Bekerman, Dvorah Goptarnik, Avromtshe Rubinshteyn, Shosha Vakshteyn, Shleyme Shvel, Ms. Tshernovitsh Second row: Khava-Sore Shtshak, Shabsay Goptarnik, Motl Goptarnik, Simeon Flatner, Ms, Rozenshteyn, Shaye Gutman (first president), Itshe Garfinkl, Pese Kershnboym, Yisroel Ratinovitsh, Avrom Tshernievitsh Third row: Dvorah Litra, Yankev Goptarnik, Mayer Titltsvayg, Yisroel Sterdiniak, Manye Polatitska, Hershl Shteynberg, Emil Zilberman, Shmuel Karpnik, Rokhl Tshernnievitsh Fourth row: Ms. Bizshni, Daniel Yasfershteyn, Elye Goldfeder, Elye Tsibulski, Velvl Goptarnik, Shimshon Leshnik, Leybl Vakshteyn, Teme Goptarnik, Dovid Yasfershteyn, Shaye Futerman Fifth row: Rivke Karpnik, Louise Futerman

[Page 612]

The monument with the names of the martyrs

[Page 613]

In memory of Sokolov martyrs soon after the war:

In Lodz

In the D.P. camps in Germany

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