Wielun Memorial Book, Poland

Wielun Memorial Book
(Poland)

51°13' / 18°33'

Translation of
Sefer Zikaron le-Kehilat Wielun

Publisher: Wielun Organization in Israel and the Memorial Book Committee in USA

Published in Tel Aviv, 1971

Our sincere appreciation to Yad Vashem
for the submission of the necrology for placement on the JewishGen web site.

Our sincere appreciation to Helen Rosenstein Wolf
for typing up the English text to facilitate its addition to this project.

This is a translation of: Sefer Zikaron le-Kehilat Wielun (Wielun Memorial Book),
Publisher: Wielun Organization in Israel and the Memorial Book Committee in USA,
Tel Aviv, 1971 (H,Y,E, 558 pages)

Note: The original book can be seen online at the NY Public Library site: Wielun

This material is made available by JewishGen, Inc. and the Yizkor Book Project for the purpose of
fulfilling our mission of disseminating information about the Holocaust and destroyed Jewish communities.
This material may not be copied, sold or bartered without JewishGen, Inc.'s permission. Rights may be reserved by the copyright holder.

JewishGen, Inc. makes no representations regarding the accuracy of the translation. The reader may wish to refer to the original material for verification.
JewishGen is not responsible for inaccuracies or omissions in the original work and cannot rewrite or edit the text to correct inaccuracies and/or omissions.
Our mission is to produce a translation of the original work and we cannot verify the accuracy of statements or alter facts cited.

Translated by Yocheved Klausner

YIDDISH

Part One

The history of the Jews in Wielun [H] Dr. Yakov Goldberg 19

The history of the Jews in Wielun Dr. Yakov Goldberg 30

The history of the Jews in Wielun (sources and bibliographies) [Polish] 43

Wielun in the year 1827 [Polish] 44

The Jewish Community in Wielun Fabian Kahn 45

The murder in Pantnew, near Wielun Moshe Mendelewitz 47

The horrible murder in Pontnew 47

Wielun Noah Prilutzki 50

Details about the Wielun history 51

Part Two

I love you, my town [H] Yitzhak Lachman 55

Memories [H] Chaim Kashepitzki 56

Social help during WWI Moshe Mendelewitz 63

Festivities in the cemetery M. Ben–Yosef 66

”Messiah is coming” Yehoshua Eibeschitz 67

Life in the Bet Hamidrash Yitzhak Lachman 68

Figures in Wielun of long ago Baruch Meirantz 69

Chana Avraham Israels – Ite the vinegar–maker Gavriel Kanyarski 71

Spring water for Sabbath Yitzhak Lachman 72

The Bet Midrash for young unmarried men B. Meirantz 73

Memories from my childhood days Rozhke Silberberg 74

The old market Yakov Eliash 76

My parents and my little town Wielun Pearl Rosenberg 78

My town [H] Michael Konopnitzki 81

Promise of a dowry – and its consequences [H] Yehoshua Eibeschitz 82

Farewell, my town! [H] Efraim Besserglick 83

The deportation of Jews from Germany [H] Shlomo Unikovski 84

Events in Wielun I. Eliash & Ch. L. Moscowitz 85

Memories from old days Mordechai Schenitzki 87

The “Clothing the Naked” Society M. H. 90

Family festivities 91

The shtetl Wielun Yaffa Besserglick 92

A story Baruch Meirantz 94

The cemetery in Wielun (photographs) 96

Charitable and pious women [H] Yechiel Gelbard 98

My rabbi Moshe Aharon Shimon Horontchik 99

Types in town Chana Yakobowitz 100

Life in town (photographs) 101

Part Three

The Wielun Jews – a creative and productive element M. Mendelowitz 107

The Small–Businesses Association M. M. 114

The Jewish Craftsmen Association Moshe Mendelowitz 115

Part Four

The Rav R'Menachem Greenberg [H] Yitzhak Lachman 119

My grandfather R'Menachem Greenberg and his family [H] Yitzhak Sela 120

Rav Menachem Greenberg [H] Feivisk Katz 122

The rabbi ADMOR R'Chanoch Heinich Gad Justman z”l [H] Yitzhak Lachman 123

R'Heinich Serbernik z”l Yitzhak Lachman 125

The Rav R'Moshe Besser z”l [H] Avraham Chanoch Besser 126

The Jewish Wielun [H] Yehoshua Eibeschitz 127

The Jewish Wielun Yehoshua Eibeschitz 130

Part Five

Teachers and educators 135

The teacher Lea Mendelewitz Henia Skashinya–Steier 140

Melamdim and teachers in Wielun Yitzhak Lachman 142

Melamdim in Wielun Yehoshua Eibeschitz 144

Soldiers without weapons Batia Gotthilf (Bronka Itzkowitz) 147

Wielun is spreading “Enlightenment” Yehoshua Eibeschitz 149

Jews in Medicine Yitzhak Lachman 150

Kindergartens in Wielun (photographs) 152

Students and High–School pupils (photographs) 153

Young people studying (photographs) 154

Elementary Schools (photographs) 155

Part Six

Chovevei Zion S. Marcus 159

The beginning of Zionst activity and its development Moshe Mendelewitz 160

The Zionist association [H] Karola Shaya 165

The Hechalutz in Wielun Avraham Mendel 170

The Jewish Youth Society Moshe Mendelewitz 171

The first activities of Tzeirei Zion and Poalei Zion Moshe Mendelewitz 176

The Hechalutz organization in Wielun Mordechai Mendel 178

Photographs 180

Tzeirei Zion (Z.S.) Moshe Mendelewitz 184

Renewal of the movement in Wielun [H] Avraham Brom 186

Freiheit [Freedom] Organization in Wielun Yakov Eliash 189

Festive opening of the new Poalei Zion Hall 193

The Revisionist Movement in Wielun [H] Chaim Kshepitzki 194

The Revisionist and BEITAR Movements in Wielun G. Kanyarski 197

History of the Mizrachi in Wielun [H] Yitzhak Lachman 200

Poalei Zion in Wielun Avraham Brom 203

The youth of Poalei Zion in Wielun David Granek 206

Theater in Wielun I. Rozhewitz 210

Borochov's Evening School in Wielun Zev Levkowitz 212

Hashomer Hatza'ir Branch [H] Moshe Mendelevitz 214

The Hit'achdut [Union] party Zev Levkowitz 216

Hechalutz Hacharedi [ultra–religious pioneers] [H] Yechiel Yerucham Gelbert 221

The religious Wielun [H] Yehoshua Eibeschitz 223

The scholarly and cultural Wielun Eliyahu Katz 228

Revolutionary movements in Wielun M. Mendelewitz 230

Part Seven

* * * M. G. 237

God's Justice 239

Two sisters Shimon Horontchik 272

Part Eight

Photo–montage of Wielun newspapers 279

Remember and never forget B. Hermanowitz 280

O Lord, righteousness belongs to You (from Daniel 9:7) Chaim Bronstein 281

Dr. Feitel Levin Yosef Shaya 282

The departure of Moshe Mendelowitz and family to Eretz Israel P. M. 283

The annual meeting of “Linat Tzedek” [sleeping facility for the poor] 284

A priest mentions in his will a cherished memory of a Jewish merchant 284

Farewell, our brother, the commander! [H] 285

Founding the Shekel Committee in town 285

The departure of Avraham Heinich Besser to Eretz Israel Ben–Zvi 286

The Wielun “Aguda” M. C. 287

The creation of the Aid–Committee for Jewish refugees from Germany 288

A thank–you–letter to Hachnasat–Orchim in Wielun 288

Jewish children helping the refugees 288

Part Nine

Personalities 291

In memory of Carola and David Shaya Chaim Kashpitzki 312

The Golden Era in Wielun Yitzhak Lachman 313

Part Ten

We shall never forget them [H] Yitzhak Sela 327

Remember what Amalek has done to you Slomo Itzkowitz 329

The beginning of destruction Mordechai Seiff 331

Ten Jews sentenced to death 335

In the German hell Moshe Herschberg 336

The last years before the war and the occupation [H] Mela Gewirtz 339

Friendship between Wieluner in foreign lands [H] Beruria Beiski 341

The ruin of Wielun M. Besserglick 343

In the squeeze of the Nazi fist David Chemora 345

The liquidation of Wielun and other towns in 1942 Tova Boraks 347

Tragic experiences Chaim Levkowitz 349

Ten were hanged and one escaped [H] Moshe Prager 352

From my arrest until liberation Godel Boraks 353

Catriel Brom z”l 357

A mother choked her baby to death… [H] Fania Brom–Eibeschitz 358

To report (to the authorities) or to hide [H] Chaim Levkowitz 358

Wandering and staying home [H] Yerachmiel Helfgott 360

Letters from the ghetto [H] Mordechai Brom 363

Tragic memories A. Ehrlich 366

Good deeds of a Wielun Jew during the Hitler regime Eliezer Korn 367

The gestapo murder bath in Wielun 367

Upon the ruins of Wielun in 1966 Tzipora turner 368

A wakeful dream Yoel Kanyarski 370

Lights in the darkness Yitzhak Sela 371

We were five Yakov Rogovski 375

Sometimes it is too late… Ch. Moskowitz 376

After liberation Pinchas Brom 378

The experiences of a Wielun prisoner–of–war A. L. Helfgott 380

A letter from the Wielun Town Council 385

After the liberation, in Germany 386

El Male Rahamim 387

List of Martyrs (Necrology) 389

Memorial 401

ENGLISH

Foreword M. Mendlevitch 4

The History of the Jews of Wielun Dr. Jakob Goldberg 9

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YIDDISH

Part One
The history of the Jews in Wielun [H]	Dr. Yakov Goldberg	19
The history of the Jews in Wielun	Dr. Yakov Goldberg	30
The history of the Jews in Wielun (sources and bibliographies) [Polish]		43
Wielun in the year 1827 [Polish]		44
The Jewish Community in Wielun	Fabian Kahn	45
The murder in Pantnew, near Wielun	Moshe Mendelewitz	47
The horrible murder in Pontnew		47
Wielun	Noah Prilutzki	50
Details about the Wielun history		51

Part Two
I love you, my town [H]	Yitzhak Lachman	55
Memories [H]	Chaim Kashepitzki	56
Social help during WWI	Moshe Mendelewitz	63
Festivities in the cemetery	M. Ben–Yosef	66
”Messiah is coming”	Yehoshua Eibeschitz	67
Life in the Bet Hamidrash	Yitzhak Lachman	68
Figures in Wielun of long ago	Baruch Meirantz	69
Chana Avraham Israels – Ite the vinegar–maker	Gavriel Kanyarski	71
Spring water for Sabbath	Yitzhak Lachman	72
The Bet Midrash for young unmarried men	B. Meirantz	73
Memories from my childhood days	Rozhke Silberberg	74
The old market	Yakov Eliash	76
My parents and my little town Wielun	Pearl Rosenberg	78
My town [H]	Michael Konopnitzki	81
Promise of a dowry – and its consequences [H]	Yehoshua Eibeschitz	82
Farewell, my town! [H]	Efraim Besserglick	83
The deportation of Jews from Germany [H]	Shlomo Unikovski	84
Events in Wielun	I. Eliash & Ch. L. Moscowitz	85
Memories from old days	Mordechai Schenitzki	87
The “Clothing the Naked” Society	M. H.	90
Family festivities		91
The shtetl Wielun	Yaffa Besserglick	92
A story	Baruch Meirantz	94
The cemetery in Wielun (photographs)		96
Charitable and pious women [H]	Yechiel Gelbard	98
My rabbi Moshe Aharon	Shimon Horontchik	99
Types in town	Chana Yakobowitz	100
Life in town (photographs)		101

Part Three
The Wielun Jews – a creative and productive element	M. Mendelowitz	107
The Small–Businesses Association	M. M.	114
The Jewish Craftsmen Association	Moshe Mendelowitz	115

Part Four
The Rav R'Menachem Greenberg [H]	Yitzhak Lachman	119
My grandfather R'Menachem Greenberg and his family [H]	Yitzhak Sela	120
Rav Menachem Greenberg [H]	Feivisk Katz	122
The rabbi ADMOR R'Chanoch Heinich Gad Justman z”l [H]	Yitzhak Lachman	123
R'Heinich Serbernik z”l	Yitzhak Lachman	125
The Rav R'Moshe Besser z”l [H]	Avraham Chanoch Besser	126
The Jewish Wielun [H]	Yehoshua Eibeschitz	127
The Jewish Wielun	Yehoshua Eibeschitz	130

Part Five
Teachers and educators		135
The teacher Lea Mendelewitz	Henia Skashinya–Steier	140
Melamdim and teachers in Wielun	Yitzhak Lachman	142
Melamdim in Wielun	Yehoshua Eibeschitz	144
Soldiers without weapons	Batia Gotthilf (Bronka Itzkowitz)	147
Wielun is spreading “Enlightenment”	Yehoshua Eibeschitz	149
Jews in Medicine	Yitzhak Lachman	150
Kindergartens in Wielun (photographs)		152
Students and High–School pupils (photographs)		153
Young people studying (photographs)		154
Elementary Schools (photographs)		155

Part Six
Chovevei Zion	S. Marcus	159
The beginning of Zionst activity and its development	Moshe Mendelewitz	160
The Zionist association [H]	Karola Shaya	165
The Hechalutz in Wielun	Avraham Mendel	170
The Jewish Youth Society	Moshe Mendelewitz	171
The first activities of Tzeirei Zion and Poalei Zion	Moshe Mendelewitz	176
The Hechalutz organization in Wielun	Mordechai Mendel	178
Photographs		180
Tzeirei Zion (Z.S.)	Moshe Mendelewitz	184
Renewal of the movement in Wielun [H]	Avraham Brom	186
Freiheit [Freedom] Organization in Wielun	Yakov Eliash	189
Festive opening of the new Poalei Zion Hall		193
The Revisionist Movement in Wielun [H]	Chaim Kshepitzki	194
The Revisionist and BEITAR Movements in Wielun	G. Kanyarski	197
History of the Mizrachi in Wielun [H]	Yitzhak Lachman	200
Poalei Zion in Wielun	Avraham Brom	203
The youth of Poalei Zion in Wielun	David Granek	206
Theater in Wielun	I. Rozhewitz	210
Borochov's Evening School in Wielun	Zev Levkowitz	212
Hashomer Hatza'ir Branch [H]	Moshe Mendelevitz	214
The Hit'achdut [Union] party	Zev Levkowitz	216
Hechalutz Hacharedi [ultra–religious pioneers] [H]	Yechiel Yerucham Gelbert	221
The religious Wielun [H]	Yehoshua Eibeschitz	223
The scholarly and cultural Wielun	Eliyahu Katz	228
Revolutionary movements in Wielun	M. Mendelewitz	230

Part Seven
* * *	M. G.	237
God's Justice		239
Two sisters	Shimon Horontchik	272

Part Eight
Photo–montage of Wielun newspapers		279
Remember and never forget	B. Hermanowitz	280
O Lord, righteousness belongs to You (from Daniel 9:7)	Chaim Bronstein	281
Dr. Feitel Levin	Yosef Shaya	282
The departure of Moshe Mendelowitz and family to Eretz Israel	P. M.	283
The annual meeting of “Linat Tzedek” [sleeping facility for the poor]		284
A priest mentions in his will a cherished memory of a Jewish merchant		284
Farewell, our brother, the commander! [H]		285
Founding the Shekel Committee in town		285
The departure of Avraham Heinich Besser to Eretz Israel	Ben–Zvi	286
The Wielun “Aguda”	M. C.	287
The creation of the Aid–Committee for Jewish refugees from Germany		288
A thank–you–letter to Hachnasat–Orchim in Wielun		288
Jewish children helping the refugees		288

Part Nine
Personalities		291
In memory of Carola and David Shaya	Chaim Kashpitzki	312
The Golden Era in Wielun	Yitzhak Lachman	313

Part Ten
We shall never forget them [H]	Yitzhak Sela	327
Remember what Amalek has done to you	Slomo Itzkowitz	329
The beginning of destruction	Mordechai Seiff	331
Ten Jews sentenced to death		335
In the German hell	Moshe Herschberg	336
The last years before the war and the occupation [H]	Mela Gewirtz	339
Friendship between Wieluner in foreign lands [H]	Beruria Beiski	341
The ruin of Wielun	M. Besserglick	343
In the squeeze of the Nazi fist	David Chemora	345
The liquidation of Wielun and other towns in 1942	Tova Boraks	347
Tragic experiences	Chaim Levkowitz	349
Ten were hanged and one escaped [H]	Moshe Prager	352
From my arrest until liberation	Godel Boraks	353
Catriel Brom z”l		357
A mother choked her baby to death… [H]	Fania Brom–Eibeschitz	358
To report (to the authorities) or to hide [H]	Chaim Levkowitz	358
Wandering and staying home [H]	Yerachmiel Helfgott	360
Letters from the ghetto [H]	Mordechai Brom	363
Tragic memories	A. Ehrlich	366
Good deeds of a Wielun Jew during the Hitler regime	Eliezer Korn	367
The gestapo murder bath in Wielun		367
Upon the ruins of Wielun in 1966	Tzipora turner	368
A wakeful dream	Yoel Kanyarski	370
Lights in the darkness	Yitzhak Sela	371
We were five	Yakov Rogovski	375
Sometimes it is too late…	Ch. Moskowitz	376
After liberation	Pinchas Brom	378
The experiences of a Wielun prisoner–of–war	A. L. Helfgott	380
A letter from the Wielun Town Council		385
After the liberation, in Germany		386
El Male Rahamim		387
List of Martyrs (Necrology)		389
Memorial		401

ENGLISH

Foreword	M. Mendlevitch	4
The History of the Jews of Wielun	Dr. Jakob Goldberg	9