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“To rescue from oblivion the memory of former incidents, and to render a just tribute of renown to the many great and wonderful Torchiner progenitors, we offer this historical document. We treat of times long past, over which the twilight of uncertainty has already thrown its shadows and the night of forgetfulness is about to descend forever.
With great solicitude had we long beheld the early history of this venerable and beloved city, gradually slipping from our grasp, trembling on the lips of narrative old age and day-by-day dropping piece-meal into the tomb. We hastened to treasure up the recollections of the past so that posterity shall not search in vain, for memorials of the days of our Patriarchs. Determined, therefore, to avert, if possible, this threatening misfortune, we industriously set ourselves to work to gather all the fragments of our history. Happy, therefore, is this, our beloved city of Torchin, in having incidents worthy of swelling the theme of history and doubly happy is it in having such able narrators to relate them. It is they who gathered the scattered fragments and who piously at length recorded them, rearing a triumphal monument for all succeeding time”. |
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| 1948 | Officers | 1948 |
| A.Gershenson | Chairman | |
| M. Tublin | Vice Chairman | |
| J. Barenholtz | Financial Secretary | |
| M. Rosen | Recording Secretary | |
| D. Hochman | Treasurer | |
| S. Stern | Hospitaler | |
| M.Bronstein | Sergeant at arms | |
| Dr. S. Kavaler | Physician | |
| Dr. M.J. Giber | ||
| Dr. S. Kavaler | M. Goldwaber | |
| O. Garber, Secretary | E. Greenberg, Treasurer | |
| B. Chapnick, Chairman | E. Garber, Financial Secretary | |
| O. Risa | B. Chapnick | E. Garber |
| S. Pugatch | A. Berger | P. Sitnick |
| D. Gutz | E. Greenberg | H. Rants |
| O. Gerber | Dr. J. Tublin | B. Tober |
| M. Shapiro | L. Shiffris | Dr. L. Fierer |
| Dr. Samuel Kavaler | Chairman | |
| Dr. Jack L. Tubliin | Vice Chairman | |
| Mrs. Fannie Tublin | Financial Secretary | |
| Abe Gershenson | Treasurer | |
| Emil Greenberg | Editor of Journal | |
| Benjamin Worby | Meyer Tublin | Benj. Tauber |
| Dr. Max Giber | Benjamin Chapnick | Harry Rantz |
| Oscar Garber | Philip Sitnick | Ben Riz |
| Eddie Garber | David Hochman | Sam Wagshuf |
| Morris Goldweber | Jack Barenhotz | Aba Berger |
| Max Rosen | ||
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Chairman of the Banquet |
Dr. Samuel Kavaler, Chairman of the Banquet
To some a prologue - - - to me, an epilogue.
Now that the work has been completed, I wish to state that I feel satisfied that in such a short time so much has been accomplished. Although in the very beginning I felt that the task assigned was greater than my energy would allow, now, in retrospect, I am inclined to view it in another light.
The purpose of this book and, above all, the noble causes to which all the proceeds were allotted, graced the task and made the burden lighter.
Did I say burden? - - reminiscing all the incidents, it turned out to be a pleasure. The numerous meetings of the arrangement committee, preceding the affair, were certainly delightful. The various oppositions and obstacles encountered brought life into our midst and made our gatherings interesting. Besides, the collation, which followed, brought the opposing sides to a harmonious climax and all had a good time.
It is with great pleasure that I give credit to my collaborators: A. Gershenson, Max Rosen, Emil Greenberg, Dr. Jack L. Tublin, Mrs. Fannie Tublin, Dr. Max J. Giber and Edward Gerber.
When I speak of Eddie Garber, I cannot but help recollecting the many nights we spent into the wee hours of the morning, drinking tea in oceans (with lemon, of course, if we only had the aspirin) smoking, puffing one cigarette after another – and it was not until the room was filled with a dense fog, did we agree as to the arrangement of each individual script or page. An orchid to you, Eddie. You certainly earned it. We appreciate your help.
Lest I forget, the diplomatic move, which becomes a necessity of almost every husband if he desires to keep the peace. I must thank my charming wife Raizel who, with her wonderful patience and forbearance endured my constant absence. In fact, the committee asked me to extend their appreciation for the hospitality, which she displayed when the meetings were held at our home. For “they also serve who stand and wait”. Her constant prayers for our success must not be passed without comment. In Tennyson's words: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”.
In conclusion, I wish to state that it was the concerted action of each individual member, lending us a helping hand, which made this huge task possible.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy this book and the evening, celebrating our silver anniversary as much as I enjoyed the compilation and direction of them.
I know of no better way of expressing my sentiments to all the members than quoting the immortal Rudyard Kipling:
“It ain't the guns nor armament nor fund they can pay
but the close co-operation that makes them win the day.
It ain't the individual nor the army as a whole,
but the everlastin' teamwork of every bloomin' soul”.
Emil Greenberg, Editor
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It is traditional to note milestones as they are passed and to mark the occasion by celebration. A full generation ago, this Torchiner Society of ours commenced its formal existence. Now, rejoicing in our Silver Jubilee, and still a “Young Men's Association”, we pause to take stock, while we recount the episodes and the anecdotes of this significant period, an era of transition
Our inventory of accomplishments must first be the relief given in such full measure to Torchiner here and abroad, to fellow-Jews everywhere upon the face of the globe, to the war drives, to Israel and to every need – whether the desperately needed anonymous gift to the hapless individual, requiring emergency aid or the requirements of Yeshivas, hospitals and other philanthropic institutions.
However, the growth of character, which is the inevitable accompaniment to good deeds, has been in all directions. It is particularly impressive to observe that firm and sturdy taproots in the soil of America have taken hold and spread from these Torchiner. Devotion to the concept of the old home and its attributes has in no way detracted from devotion to this country. Their families personify the finest in American life. The startling uniformity of high scholarship and achievement by their children could furnish fascinating material for a researcher in the record of this small town in the Ukraine. Torchin – which contained the potent seeds of so fertile a development in human values.
It has been a rare privilege and a constant pleasure for me to be identified with this – our Torchiner Association. Each personal friendship formed over the years of common endeavor – like old wine, mellows with time and the bouquet of its flavor is priceless.
Who can omit reference to the characteristic intimate, personal friendships formed by each of us with our Association Physician? Similar organizations have similar medical facilities but there the similarity ends. Trouble does not have to be of a medical nature to elicit the sympathetic interest of our Dr. Kavaler. From founding, the loan fund to creating this journal and doing the innumerable but indispensable details required to make our banquet a success, Sam Kavaler typifies
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the devoted member who has established the reputation of the Torchiner Association
One of the pleasant privileges of editing is the opportunity for a preview of the contents of a publication. This journal contains some of the fascinating items, which have brought about my preference and enthusiasm for these fellow-members, arising out of my close association with them over the last twenty years.
It will be a tremendous treat for those who read Jewish – (or have translated or read to them) – to experience the emotional uplift of Meyer Tublin's article on the Torchin of his time; to share the nostalgic research of Dr. Giber's article; to feel with Dr Tublin and with Benjamin Chapnick the pride of accomplishment, as set forth in their report on the relief drives of our association.
You cannot afford to miss the splendid poetry of Max Rosen or the impressive literary ability of his comments on the world scene and the writings of both Eddie and Oscar Garber Our sage – Osher Riss – maintains his consistently high standards of scholarship.
The start realism of the eyewitness account by Mrs. Jean Chapnick of the last days and martyrdom of Torchin can compare only with the saga of the Warsaw ghetto. This chapter alone is an authentic historical document.
Impressive indeed is the high caliber of the article by Dr. Samuel Kavaler and Mrs. Fannie Tublin.
I state in all sincerity that the well-written items by each of our contributors can compare favorably with those by literary professionals. May I urge you not to miss a line or skip a word? It would be your serious loss.
Let us humbly hope that the milestone called the Golden Jubilee, twenty-five years hence, may also be marked in similar fashion by us, our ranks un-thinned, our friendships firmer our deeds yet greater.
By Emil Greenberg
As the respected physician, ministering to Torchiner members and their families, Dr. Samuel Kavaler needs no introduction But any observance honoring the twenty-fifth anniversary of our Society could not be complete without a short profile of him, not only as a doctor but as a teacher, as a friend and as the mainspring of our banquets, of our journals and of so many undertakings by our organization.
The Talmud appropriately requires us to respect our teachers even more than our parents How many of our most distinguished members, such as Dr. Tublin, Dr. Giber and the late Harry Dreizin, owe their basic education to Dr. Kavaler? The scope of his teaching tactics extended far beyond preparation for their professional careers.
His lecture on “Geriatrics”, the care of the aged, displayed more than a very complete and competent knowledge of this field of medicine. His affectionate attitude towards the elderly folk of whom he spoke, embraced all mankind, young as well as old.
His erudition is frankly amazing. An authority on Shakespeare – “a mathematical scholar – an enthusiast in literature – his interests cover so many fields. Patients, plays, poems and even Einstein are part and parcel of his pursuits! The versatility of his activities has never diluted the warmth of his sympathies.
Our Torchiner organization is proud to present this profile as an expression of its collective opinion of its Dr. Kavaler.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow aptly described him:
“The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden fight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upwards in the night”.
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