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Our Fathers' Homes

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1. Shkoolna Street

Shkoolnah Street was the center of the spiritual life of the town. On this street stood the synagogues and lived the rabbis, the religious judges, the slaughterers and the chazans. On this street were the central public institutes like the schools, the Tarbut (cultural), the Yeshiva “Talmud Torah”, the bath house and the hostel for the poor. Most of the town's Jewish-Zionistic events took place on the street of the synagogues: wedding ceremonies, meetings and political quarrels, funerals and eulogies, protest rallies and emergency assemblies in time of trouble. Most of the street served as Jewish dwelling places and only the other end, like a quarter of it, served as dwelling for Ukrainian goyem. This street continued to the Jewish cemetery and the other end led out of the town by the famous bridge that crossed the Horyn River. This street and its adjoining narrow streets, mainly those in the direction of the river, served as the town's Jewish ghetto. Here were concentrated the Jews of the town and the Jews of the villages that were in the vicinity of Stepan in the days of the rule of the Germans.

The Chait Family

Father of the family: Binyamin Chait. His wife: Meral. His sons: Yisroel, Avraham and Moshe. His daughters: Shoshanah, Rochel and Sarah.

Benjamin was busy with tailoring. Near the outbreak of the war he moved to live with his family in the railway station in Malynsk, nearby Stepan. Binyamin and his family escaped from the claws of the Nazis at the time of the slaughter to the forests and they lived among the goyem. His wife found her death in the forests from the ambush attack of the Ukrainian nationalists, while he and his children, who were saved, returned to Malynsk with freedom by the Soviets, in the year 1944.

Binyamin volunteered to serve in the special Soviet police to purge the area of Ukrainian nationalists. In one incident he fell during his guard watch.

Two of his sons, the first born Yisroel and the young boy Avraham - live nowdays in Russia with their family while Moshe and Shoshanah live with family in Haifa; Rochel lives with her family in Tel Aviv, Sarah lives with her family in Be'er Sheva.

In the same house near the bridge over the Horyn, also lived Binyamin's brother, Hershel, his wife and daughters, Raizel and Rochtcha, and another daughter and son. In the same house lived also the old mother of Benjamin and Hershel Chait, and she had another four daughters and a son who emigrated to the United States before the war.

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Israel Nodel - A Widow

His daughters: Nachamah, who lived in Korets with her husband Lazar Rom; her sons Moshe Bear and Shaul and her daughters Chana, Dina and Rochel; the daughter Beila Yostein and her children: Perel Zalman, Yosef, and Moshe Dovid - her son from her first husband; the daughter, Elka, was married to Leibel Pakowitz and bore his children Shaul, Yisaschar, Nachum and daughter Manya. Shaul had a wife named Chana and children. The son Yisaschar had a wife, a son Hertzl and daughter Chana. Leibel had an additional son named Nachum and daughter Manya, who was married to the son from the Chait family.

Rabbi Israel Nodel, his daughter Beila and his grandson Moshe, may he live a long life

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Rabbi Israel, who was nicknamed Sroolkah, lost his legs in the Russian-Japanese War. He was a devout Jew and feared G-d, he enthusiastically supported the hostel for the poor and did a lot in order to enclose the old cemetery that was in the town. From this large extended family, the one who remains alive was the daughter of Beila, who was recruited by the Red Army and lives today in Israel, in Holon, with the children of his family.

The House of Nechamia Geller

His wife: Chaya. His sons: Zalman, Tzodek, Shmuel and Hershel. His daughters: Beila and Tziporah.

Remaining alive: The daughter Tziporah and her husban Konot from Stepan, who immigrated to Israel before the war, and also the son Hershel and his wife Tessie, from the family Wachs, who live in Israel.

Nechamia educated his children in the Zionistic spirit. His daughters and his sons were active in the Zionist youth movement in the town and they had many initiatives to instill the Hebrew language in the young children in the town. Nechamia, with his great diligence, was one of the few in the city who tended and grew a vineyard of grapes in his garden and this in addition to his daily troubles to sustain his family with honor.

The House of Yitchak Moshe Weinstein

His wife: Dovah. The married daughter Raizel, her husband and three children. The married daughter Ainda Torek, her husband and two children. The son Berel, his wife Yocheved and their two children. Sons: Chaim and Nechamia. Daughter: Rochel.

The sons, Chaim and Nechamia, escaped from the killing pits, but Chaim was shot to death in the forests whereas Nechamia lives with his family in Russia.

The daughter Rochel was saved while she was in Russia and lives today with her family in Netanya. The name of her family is Gottfried.

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The House of Altar Novak

He, his wife, two sons and two daughters, his son-in-laws, his grandchildren - all lived in the two story house, one of the few in the town.

Altar was a respected Jew who served as a Stepan representative to the Polish rulers. He was the owner of a store in manufacturing.

The House of the Tversky Family

From the offspring of the Maggid from Stepan. In most of the rooms in the house lived Rabbi Baruch Tversky before he left the town. Afterwards, there lived in the house Gittel and the helper Raizel. This house was also the Beit Medrish in which the Chassidim of the Rabbi learned and prayed. During the time of the Soviets, the house was used by his followers as a Yiddish school. In the ghetto, the house was used as the central kitchen for preparing the meager food for the citizens of the ghetto (see the separate report on the Tversky family).

The House of the Kraizer Family

The father of the family: Rabbi Levi, his wife Chanya, four sons: Shmuel Hirsch, a Yeshiva graduate, Yaakov, Moishele, and Baruch, who served as an officer in the Polish army and used to be the authorized teacher in the Tarbut school. The daughter Gittel was married to a Jew from a neighboring town.

Rabbi Levi Kraizer was the slaughterer and chazan in the great synagogue. He was a well-liked figure and very popular among most of the citizens of the town, Jews and goyem alike.

His son Baruch also used to be the policeman of the water cistern in the men's camp in the ghetto. He was different than the other policemen by his knowledge of how to behave when fulfilling his duty according to the Judenratt and together with this he would be careful not to harden the lives of the confined in the ghetto. His behavior was a shining example and he even curbed the degree of wild behavior of those who served as policemen who didn't know from restrained behavior.

Shmuel Hirsch Kraizer, one of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's sons

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Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Kraizer, the shochet and chazan of the great synagogue in the town

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The House of Yoel Hashochet (the Slaughterer)

In the continuation of the hill that was used for playing by children in the neighborhood, and primarily during the winter for skating on the ice and snow, was found the house of Rabbi Yoel the slaughterer, his wife and two daughters. The name of one of them was Henda.

The House of Berel Rassis

The house of Berel Rassis, his wife Dovah, their son Motel, who was married to Esther, and was born to him Shayna, Abalah and an additional small child.

The daughter of Berel, Sosel the very beautiful, was married to Gavriel Feldman and she moved to live in Kostopol. Berel was the son of Rabbi Yokel the main shamash (beadle) of the synagogue in the town. He was the owner of a carriage, industrious, peaceful and honest. His son Motel, who was an activist in Betar in the town, immigrated to Israel on the eve of the outbreak of the war and he lives at this time in the Moshav Bnai' Zion in Sharon.

The House of Rabbi Chaim Weinstein

His wife, his son Yosef and his daughters Malka and Chayka, who was married to Berel. Rabbi Chaim (his nickname was “L'Chaim - To Life”) used to be the teacher of small children and was a person full of smiles and beloved. Most famous in the family was his wife, who was engaged in buying and selling with the goyem in the neighborhood.

The House of Chana Tzasys

This widow had a family of three married daughters and their husbands: Blumah, Sosel and Beila.

The House of Hershel Gellman

Hershel Gellman, his wife, two daughters and his son.

Hershel was a peaceful Jew, a laborer, who served as night watchman in the flour mill of the Graz family.

The House of the Widow Freida Gellman

Freida Gellman lived together with her married daughter. The nickname “Kaloosh (thin)” stuck with the widow's family, who was busy with peddling and also served as a cryer (at funerals). Remaining alive is the grandson Yaakov “Kaloosh”, who spent the war in Russia and apparently lives in America.

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The Tzokar House

The shaky, small house of the Tzokar family, who had the nickname “Bon”. The father of the family, Rabbi Avraham “Bon”, his wife Elka and three sons.

Rabbi Avraham was known to the Jews of the town by his pleasant voice, while he roused the Jews to say Tehilim and the work of the Creator (prayers) on Shabbat at dawn. Besides this, Avraham worked in peddling.

The House of Hershel Stratz

His nickname was “Tzotzman”. His wife and three sons: Choneh, Yosef and Velvel, who served in the Red Army at the time of the war and apparently lives in Russia.

Hershel Stratz was a butcher and supported his family from the strain of his occupation.

The House of the Widow Adele Weitzman

Her son Motel married to the woman Feigel the daughter of Yitchak Weitznodel. A few of her children emigrated to Argentina and they or their offspring remained alive.

The House of Eliya Novogrodasky

Eliya Novogrodasky, his wife and their son and daughter. He served as a helper to the shamash (beadle) in the synagogues and proclaimed the arrival time of the Shabbat.

The House of Binyamin Wachs

As a tenant in the house of Hershel Wachs lived Binyamin Wachs, his wife Leah, his son and his very beautiful daughter Sofkah. Binyamin was an active partner in the flour mill and the power station with his brother Yosef and the brothers Tachor and Moshe Bebtchuk. Binyamin was active in the Zionist-Revisionist movement.

Before this, they lived in the apartment of Miss Rivka Kemnschein, the first born daughter of Rabbi Moshe Yosef Sheinbaum, and her daughter Aytzenka. After many days the two of them moved to a nearby city, Rovno.

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The Family of Dovid Chait

His sons: Berel, who married Sonya Tachor as his wife; Aharon, who married Perel Stratz for as wife; and Binyamin.

His daughters: Rochel who emigrated to Argentina before the war and Berel who lives apparently in Russia.

The Family of Yankel Chait

His wife Devorah, the daughters Sarah and Gittel and the son Shayka.

The Family of Zalman Hasandler (the Sandalmaker)

Zalman, his wife and his married daughter with the children of her family.

In Zalman's house lived the administrator of the school, Mr. Abarboch and his family.

The House of the Families of Hershel Leib Dov (Hatzerterisker)

His wife Esther (Ethel), his son Yisroel and his wife Roni, and their sons: Yitzchak, Chaim, Bobyl, and daughters: Leah and Perel.

Also there lived in the same house a family of additional relatives: Dovid Moshe Yosef and his wife Golda.

The House of Asher Shechterman

His wife: Chasya.

He served as an advanced teacher and he was even active in the Zionist movement. He was known for the fine preparation of the youth of the city towards their Bar Mitzvah.

Asher's sister - Shayndel of the house of Shechterman (today named Beck) - served as a teacher in the Tarbut school in Stepan. She immigrated to Israel before the war and lives nowdays in Haifa.

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The House of Rabbi Yokel Rassis

A house made of burnt brick, spacious, that before it extended a green, carefully tended garden. He became a widow and married a second wife.

Rabbi Yokel had four sons and they had their own families: Berel, Shmerel, Shmuel, and Yadel Leib, who died before his son Leib was born, who was called by the name of his father and lives today in Israel in Kfar Aviv.

Yokel served as the main shamash (beadle) of the synagogues.

On the area of the garden stood the house of Rabbi Shlomo Zolar during the period of the World War I and a little after that (see the separate section). The daughter Chasya and her brothers immigrated to Israel before the war and live in Israel in Kibbutz Nagvah.

In the second end of this house lived the son of Yokel, Shmuel Rassis, his wife Esther, his sons: Yonah and Sroolik, and his daughters: Chaya and Teyva.

Remaining alive is his son Yonah (about the ways that he escaped the fingernails of the Nazis - see the separate section). Yonah lives with his family in Kfar Aviv.

The House of Rabbi Moshe Hazelaznik

His wife, his son Leibel his wife and their children, and his daughter who married a boy from Rovno named Chona.

Rabbi Moshe was owner of an iron store. His house was used as the house of authority in the ghetto and lived in it the head of the Judenratt and his family.

The son Leibel was shot to death during his attempt to smuggle wood for heat while in the ghetto. He was the first sacrifice in the ghetto, before the general extermination. The event caused heavy depression to all of the people of the ghetto, who didn't foresee what would be their bitter future.

The House of the Religious Judge Rabbi Ben-Zion Volinsky, Of Blessed Memory

His wife and the sister of his wife Perel. His son Sandrel and two daughters. The oldest daughter Perel Chaya was married to a young rabbi from a neighboring town, who inherited the position of Rabbi Ben-Zion upon his death, and the daughter Ethel.

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Sandrel - despite that he was a genius in the wisdom of Israel and in Torah - never continued in the way of his righteous father as a scholar and was never attracted to judgeship. Sandrel was though an activist in the Betar movement and Brit Yeshurin, though not exactly with the consent of his father.

The House of Hershel Wachs (the Koroster)

A widow, his wife died at the time of the birth of the son of his old-age, Peretz. Additional sons: Shchana and Shaftal, and daughters: Chaya and Freidel, who was married to Aharon Stoller the famous photographer of Stepan and its surroundings, and another sister by the name Sarah.

The House of Ben-Zion Prishkolnik (the Gott)

A big house having three single, separate accommodations with balconies, and adjoining it a stable and a spacious, green garden.

His second wife Sarah from the nearby village of Zolozneh. The daughter Adele who was married to Zelik Weitchnodel and his little daughter, and the sisters: Ganya and Miriam.

Rabbi Ben-Zion had children from his first wife Sosel. Sons: Yaakov, Gedaliah, who lived with his family in Sarny, and Yoel. The daughter - Raizel, who was married to Mitshilik.

The daughter Adele was an activist in the Betar movement. The husband of Adele, Zelik Weitchnodel, remains alive. He married a second time and lives with his wife and his children in Stepan. Apparently the only Jew who remains there of the survivors.

The middle apartment of the house was rented out and the tenants would change many times. In the second end of the house, the apartment that faced the green garden, lived Yoel Prishkolnik, his wife Taibel from the house of Tzockerman from Barzna which was neighboring, the sons Shaul and Yeshayahu and the daughter Sosel-Sarah.

Yoel was a Zionist activist and in his youth he even belonged to the drama group of the town.

Remaining alive is Yeshayahu Peri, who lives with his family in Ramat Gan, and his sister Sosel-Sarah Kaplan, who lives with her family in Rishon L'Zion. The father of the family, Yoel, escaped from the ghetto, but was handed over to the Germans by a goy from the village of Zilna and taken out to be killed. The son Shaul was taken out to be killed even though he was in the work camp in Kostopol. The mother Taibel escaped to the forest, but froze to death during the time of a hard winter (see the separate section on this family).

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The House of Yitzchak Weitchnodel Hakatzav (the Butcher)

Yitzchak Weitchnodel, his wife his robust sons Avraham and Yonah, and his married daughter Feigel.

Beside his house was a nice, cared-for orchard.

He was transported at the head of the Jewish convoy at the time they were taken out from the ghetto by wagon to the killing pits beside Kostopol, where the majority of the community of Stepan was ended.

The House of Tanya Weitchnodel Hakatzav (the Butcher)

Tanya Weitchnodel, his wife Chaya-Sarah, his sons Zelig and Yonah and his daughter Mindel.

Zelig was married to Adele and they had a small girl. The two sons - Zelig and Yonah - remained alive by serving in the Red Army and the two of them live with their families around Stepan.

The House of the Bebtchuk Family

The daughters: Chana and Batsheva, who was married, and the son Yankel who was nicknamed Tchemach.

Owners of an oil press and crushing mill that was powered by horses. The wheels of the crushing mill also served like circus amusements to the children of the neighborhood.

According to the best knowledge, the son Yaakov remained alive by serving in the Red Army. He lives, apparently, in Russia.

Three children from this family emigrated to Argentina before the war.

The House of Nachman Shenker, the Gabbai of the Synagogue

His wife: Yentel. The sons: Aharon, Reuven and Dovid, and the daughter Chana.

The father of the family, was a glazier by profession and the owner of a well-developed agricultural farm, he served as the gabbai of the synagogue and community representative in the town council.

The daughter Chana escaped from the killing pits and remained alive. She lives with her family in Tel Aviv. The name of her family is Gondelberg.

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The Korzek House

The wife and four sons: Gershon, Yisrael, Shmuel and Chanina, and married daughter.

The children of the family were busy with butchering and the selling of cattle.

The son Shmuel, of blessed memory, was saved and returned to Stepan at the start of the year 1944, with liberation at the hands of the Soviets. In his desire for revenge, he enlisted to serve in the special police to purge the Ukrainian nationalists and fell a hero's death on his guard watch.

The House of Moshe Sofer

His second wife, son by the name Noskeh and a number of additional children.

Moshe was a baker in the bakery of Bongart.

The Brothers Shmuel and Leibel Bazbasha

They were married with children. Among the children were two daughters: Beila and Zelda. The two brothers were butchers and cattle merchants. The families were poor and they lived with great difficulty.

The House of Yitzchak Bongart

His wife and three sons: Hershel, Shimon and Moniya.

Yitzchak was the owner of a bakery and bread store and other baked goods.

Hershel remained alive by his service in the Red Army and lives today in Russia. Shimon, who was a boy of courage and a good heart, was saved by hiding himself in the forests. In the year 1944 he volunteered for the special police to purge the Ukrainian nationalists by his desire for revenge. He continued to enlist in the Red Army to fight the Nazi enemies and from there he didn't return; apparently he fell on his guard watch.

In the house of this family lodged a young boy, a relative of the family, by the name Yerachmiel. He was saved by his service in the Soviet Army and apparently lives in Israel in one of the Kibbutzim in the Jordan valley.

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The Family of Benzion Weitchnodel

His second wife Malka and his two sons - Yonah and Dovid.

Rabbi Benzion was a butcher.

His daughter Slobah immigrated to Israel before the Second World War and lives in Kibbutz Masilot. Another of her sisters, Ritzah, died not long after in Canada, and even her descendants and also another sister and her family live in Canada.

The Family of Meir Tzeizek

His wife Batya, his son Yankel, his daughter who was married to Motel Berel. Two additional daughters: Devora and Golda.

Meir was a sandalmaker by profession.

His son-in-law Motel Berel was imprisoned by the Polish authorities following Communistic activities that were forbidden in those times. Much later, in the time of the war, Motel Berel was called up by the Red Army, and according to the best knowledge, he lives today in Russia.

The House of Rabbi Yaakov Prishkolnik (Yankel Gott)

He was widowed from his wife Margalite, of blessed memory. He had three sons: Yeshayahu, Moshe and Hershel, and five daughters: Chaya, Ethel, Raizel, Sosel and Ganya.

The father of the family was busy in cantorship and, as such, the primary breadwinner was the daughter Ethel, a well-known seamstress in the entire town. She also served as the manager of the household at the death of her mother. Together with her sisters, Raizel and Sosel, they raised the son of the sister Chaya. He was a beautiful child by the name Losik. Chaya herself was a sick woman and she lived in the village Bystrice with her husband Mendel. The sister Ganya studied and worked in the sewing profession in Barnovitz. Her brother Moshe studied in the technion of Vilna and he completed his studies as an authorized technician. The first-born brother, Yeshayahu Prishkolnik of blessed memory, immigrated to Israel in the year 1930 and served as a teacher in Jerusalem. He died from disease in the year 1935, was buried in the Kinneret and left after him a wife and son. Moshe and Hershel served in the Red Army.

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Moshe was injured in his fight against the Germans. He immigrated to Israel and lives in Netanya with his family. The traces of Hershel are not known and apparently he fell in the war. Ganya, who was an activist in Betar, immigrated to Israel and lives in Tel Aviv with her family. From the remainder of the children of the family, not one person remains alive.

In this alley was found The Orchard of Yitzchak Weitchnodel. In the continuation of this orchard stood a building, not too big, that served as a slaughter house of chickens. In this slaughter house three slaughterers found their livelihood: Rabbi Levi Kraizer, Rabbi Hershel Hochman and Rabbi Yoel.

In the continuation stood the House of the Weitchnodel Family. The father of the family was Yechial and he had five daughters: Pasal, Feigel, Mindel, Sarah and Malka. The father of the family Yechial was a butcher and a cattle merchant. His family existed with great difficulty, but the family was strict not to be in need of help from strangers. Yechial himself was a modest Jew, overflowing with humor and even very much helped the theater amateurs in the town. He inspired the young people with his knowledge and talents in the area of popular Jewish folklore. His daughters: Sarah and Feigel emigrated to Argentina before the war and apparently they, or their descendants, still live in Argentina. From the remainder of the children of the family, not one person remains alive.

Facing the house of Yaakov Prishkolnik, on the side opposite the same alley, stood the house of the old, lonely Jew by the name Zeleg. Zeleg worked in carpentry and he used to cultivate the small garden of his house. His one daughter lived in Zdolbunov and before the war he uprooted himself from Stepan to live with her.

The House of Ben-Zion, his second wife Raizel, his two sons: Zecharia and Leibel and his daughter Yacha. His two sons were married and fathers of children. Rabbi Ben-Zion worked in plastering and helped his son Zecharia, while his second son, Leibel, was a carpenter. Ben-Zion was a peaceful man, hard-working, modest and G-d fearing. This family was killed in the quarter by the bombing of the Germans before they entered the town, in the year 1941.

In the house of Ben-Zion lived the tailor Michel Shir, his wife and his two sons: Berel and Heliya. Michel was the son of Rusya the Gabbait, who used to bake cakes in the house for customers for different happy occasions, like weddings and circumcisions. Rusya had a daughter by the name Nachah. Michel Shir worked many days of the week in peddling in the surrounding villages and his family existed with great difficulty.

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An additional house was the House of the Becker Family. The father of the family was Yoel Baruch, and his wife Bonyah from the Tachor house, a son Avraham and daughters: Batya and Bryndele, the small, frizzy, curly golden haired. Yoel Baruch, the owner of a manufacturing store and an oil press, was active in public activity and was a supporter of the committee of the Tarbut school. An ardent Revisionistic Zionist. Batya his daughter was saved by hiding herself in the forests among the goyem and Polish and she live nowdays in Tel Aviv, while her sister was saved while she was in Russia.

The last house in the line of these houses was the House of Motya-Styof Weitzman. With him lived his daughter Sosel the redhead, wife of Fesya and their two children. Rabbi Motya the popular Jewish widower, was an unparalleled merry humorist.

The House of the Religious Judge Rabbi Pinchas Gorenstein, Of Blessed Memory

The owner of the nickname “The Yatzer Tov – The Good Nature”, and his wife the Rebbitzin Malka Barucha. They had three sons: Shayka, Hershel and Lazar. The three of them were slaughterers, and the daughters Chasya and her sister.

The first-born son Shayka got to Basravya in the years of the First World War. Hershel with his family lived in Kostopol and Lazar left Stepan, the place of his birth, because of a dispute with the remaining slaughterers of the town and the constant clashes between his supporters and his opponents. He moved to Rovno and served there as a slaughterer.

The daughter Chasya emigrated to Canada during the 1930's. In the sunset of her days, she immigrated to Israel and died in Netanya.

Rabbi Pinchas was a short, chubby Jew with two shrewd eyes. He was very popular with his Chassidic congregation, most of whom were workers and very small merchants. Rabbi Pinchas died at the good, old age of 85, a number of years before the outbreak of the Second World War. His place was inhereted by a young Rabbi from Lonintz, the husband of his granddaughter Sorel.

The Adjoining Houses of Two Carpenters, Yaakov and Avraham and Their Families.

The father of the family Yaakov (Yankel) the carpenter, his wife and their daughter Chaya, an activist in the cell of the Shomer Hatzair (leftist Zionist youth movement) in the town, and also an additional small daughter and a son.

The father of the second family, Avraham the carpenter, his wife and their daughter Mindel, and talented son, an excellent, industrious student. Avraham was killed in a work accident before the war, at the time that he was busy fixing the dome of the Provoslavit church in the town. This caused heavy mourning for all of the town's Jews.

The two carpenters worked as partners with the understanding that through the work of their hands they supported their families, though with difficulty. Not always did an atmosphere of friendship exist between the women of the house and in the common kitchen, but the husbands overcame and therefore persevered in the active partnership between them in their professional work and their shared livelihood.

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The House of Pinya Moteliks. The father of the family Pinya, his wife and their two daughters and son Simcha. He was a G-d fearing Jew. In this house once dwelled the Yeshiva Talmud Torah by the management of the teacher Shaul, of blessed memory.

Their business: owners of a store of candies and soft drinks.

Not one person remained alive.

The Father of the Family of Rabbi Leibesh who died before the outbreak of the war, and this house was inherited by his son Levi, a widower, and his old mother. The daughter of Levi was Gittel Kafka.

Their business: selling lime, guarding the public ice pits of the Jews of the town. He would announce the time of the coming of Shabbat. Thus he roused the Jews of the town to do the work of the Creator (prayers) by his pleasant voice.

The Father of the Family of Baruch Rafal, his wife Fayge, and to them: a married son Velef Rafal, his wife named Blumah and their married children: Miriam, Chaya, Sarah and Sosel.

The daughter of Baruch Rafal, Masya, and her husband Baruch Kartzar lived in a nearby town, Kalban. They had three daughters. Baruch Rafal had an additional daughter, Rochel, and son Zelek. The wife of Zelek was Masya and their daughter Malka. Zelek Rafal the son was saved while he was in Russia. He lives today in Rishon L'Zion.

In this house there lived and died before the war a couple extremely old in years - Yodka and his wife. Yodka, a person of short stature, old age and white, would predict the rain in times of trouble and at every opportunity farmers would ask him and he would anwer them willingly. His wife served as a rebbetzin for the teaching of Torah and Mitzvot (commandments) to the girls of the town.

The House of the Widow Devora, the Gabbait, Bronner (see the separate report, about her public activity). Two sons: Yisroel and Avraham - remained alive due to their service in the Red Army and they live apparently in Soviet Russia. In the same house lived another son who was married with children.

The sons were in the tailor profession.

The House of Rabbi Aharon Baas, his wife Basecha, son Motol and three unmarried daughters. The husband and the son worked most of the days of the week in a tree sawmill outside of the town. The youngest daughter Shayndel remained alive and lives apparently in America or Canada.

The House of Hershel Habader (the Bath House Operator), his wife and his children. His first-born daughter Chaya and other sons and daughters. His house was on the bank of the river, between houses of goyem. Hershel was a hard-working, modest Jew, who maintained his large family with great difficulty while making a living from his public position - manager and operator of the Jewish bath house in the town.

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4. The Alleys Adjoining Shkoolnah Street in the Direction of the Horyn River

In the Hostel for the Poor lived a blacksmith by the name Berel, his wife and their two daughters. One daughter was killed by disease when she was a girl of 18. The parents had bitterness together with all of their surrounding neighbors.

The House of Berel the Cleaner of Chimneys, his wife and their son and a number of daughters. This Jew was the only cleaner of chimneys in the town. This was an attraction in the eyes of the children when he appeared equipped with all of his special tools and accessories: chains together with weights, brooms and brushes. Berel was hard working and most of the days of the week he was covered in soot from his foot to his head. To see him clean was possible only on Shabbat and on the holidays.

In the House of Freida the Cryer Lived Her Son-in-Law, Koven, with the Nickname Kotek

The House of the Shenker Family- the father of the family Tzvi Shenker, his wife Zlata, the sons: Yitzchak and his family, Pesach and his family, and Shalom Shenker and his family who immigrated to Israel before the war and he lives with his family in Tel Aviv.

Berel Greenstein, his wife and daughters: Chana and Michla, and son Shlomo, who was saved by hiding himself in the forests among the goyem. He lives today in Israel.

Berel was a hard-working man and sustained his family with great difficulty. He worked as a watchman and miller in the flour mill of the Tachors.

Moshe the Invalid, the lame, married to one of the daughters of Yachneh. His profession was butchery.

The Zelberberg House - the son of Rabbi Berel Aharon Hershles, his wife and their four daughters and one son. The name of one of the daughters was Chaya.

Nearby the Slope of the River Lived the Two Sisters of Nechamia Geller

One of the central streets of the town. This street continues from the marketplace until the popular state school, a continuation of the way that leads to the nearby town of Korets. This was a paved street with sidewalks and lighting, and on its entire length were dwelling houses with stores in front.

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The House of Rabbi Avraham Bebtchuk (Bravaar, the Brave One), his wife Menucha, the daughters Sonya and Edele, and the son Ben-Zion. The father of the family, Rabbi Avraham, who was the owner of a grocery shop, was a G-d fearing Jew, peaceful and modest.

The son, Ben-Zion remained alive and lives with his family in Haifa, another daughter Edele, who escaped from the claws of the Nazis and was saved by hiding herself in the forests, arrived in Israel, and lived in Ramat Gan with her family and died in the year 1973.

The House of Leib Pach-Gruber - the owner of a carriage by profession. His wife and his three sons: Sheilik, Yeshayahu and Yosef. Sheilik and Yeshayahu were husbands of families. Remaining alive were Yosef Gruber the son and Yosef Gruber the grandson, son of Sheilik. The two of them live nowdays in Russia.

The House of Tzvadya Garber - in the same house lived Aharon Leib the sandalmaker and his family. Berele, the son of Rabbi Tzvadya lives in Argentina - and even his two grandchildren, the son and daughter of Berele, live in Israel in Kfar Saba.

The Family of the Widow Maachlaya Malamud - the daughter Leah, her husband Dovid Gorman, their son Avraham and their daughters Esther and Sonya, lived in the nearby Kostopol; the son Yechial, his wife Rivka, and their sons: Yehoshua and Avraham, lived in nearby Rafalovka; the son Dovid and his wife Sima lived in Pietchyov. The son Yankel, his wife Zelda and their son Avraham and the son Moshe. Remaining alive from this family branch is the son Yehoshua Malamud, who was from the first activists of the Shomer Hatzair (leftist Zionist youth movement) in the town. He immigrated to Israel before the war and lives nowdays with his family in Haifa.

The House of Shmeiril Rassis, son of Yokel the shamash (beadle), his wife Bryndel and two daughters: Golda and Teyva. Shmeiril, the owner of a carriage, was industrious and well-off.

The House of Sander Leibes Bebtchuk. The sons: Hershel, Motel and Yoalik. Hershel and Motel were married and heads of families. The family had a flour mill in a nearby village. Hershel was a fish merchant and Motel was a cattle merchant. The daughter of Motel, Perel, was saved after she hid herself in the forests and she lives nowdays in Ramat Gan. Yoalik, the son of Sander Bebtchuk, lived, at that time, in Argentina.

The House of Yosef Wachs, and his second wife after he became widowed. His son from his first wife - Motek - a learned, intelligent young boy, and daughter from his second wife - Paula.

Yosef Wachs served as the head of the Judenratt upon the entrance of the Jews to the ghetto.

For details on his behavior and personality - see the separate report.

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The House of Shroolik Sheinbaum, his wife Dentza, his sons: Shmuel, Dodel, Itzak, Zevel, and Yankel, and his daughters: Rochel and Golda. Shroolik was busy in commerce. Remaining alive are Zevel and Yaakov (Yankel), they live with their families in America; and also Golda died in Israel. The brother Yitzchak (Itzak) lives nowdays in Israel.

In the same house lived like a tenant the Teacher Kalat, his wife, his son and his daughter. Mister Kalat served as the teacher in the Polish state school (see separate report on this family).

The House of Moshe Bebtchuk, his wife Beila, daughter by the name Tzippah was married to a boy from Rovno, the second daughter was married to a Jew from Tchortorisk and they had two children. The husband of Tzippah lived together with the parents of his wife and erected in the back part of the house a factory for soft drinks. They nicknamed him “the Kobeches“, based on the name of the goy from whom they purchased the plot. This Berel, at the time of his old age, had dimmed eyes, but despite this he continued in his work and as often as every day used to go slowly to the synagogue.

The House of Hershel Kola Hachavalim (the Ropemaker, the Shtikendreir) - he was a widower and had a daughter who managed the household and also a son by the name Yaakov. Yaakov was saved while he was in Russia and lives apparently there until today. Hershel was a craftsman at his work and despite the relatively primitive mechanization in his place of work, he supplied good-looking and excellent products to all of the neighboring goyem by investing the best of his of his energy and personal talents.

The House of Izik Grossman, his nickname Antek, the son of Rabbi Peseiah Harozenyahr. His wife Pasya and their two children. Izik was a cattle merchant. Izik died from hunger in the depths of Russia while he was enlisted.

The House of Motel Rocks, his wife and his sons: Hershel, Kotzik and Sander, and his daughters: Adele, Rivka and Raizel. Raizel, a well-known seamstress in the town, was the primary supporter of the family.

The House of Shlomo Rocks, the brother of Motel. His wife, son Yosef and his family, and daughter Adele. Shlomo was the owner of a grocery store.

The House of Shmuel Weisrashtrom, his wife and their son Lozar. Lozar was saved by escaping to the forests and he emigrated after the war to Argentina.

In the house of Shmuel Weisrashtrom lived a neighboring Family of Yisroel Lochselrod, his wife Teiba, his son Pesach and his daughter Mila. Yisroel worked as a forester. The daughter Mila was saved and lives with her family in Hadera.

The House of Hershel Hecht, his wife and son, who lives in a nearby city - Kolk. In Israel lives the grandchildren of Rabbi Hershel: Simon and Boris Cheitchok.

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The House of Berel Aharon Hirsch, his wife and his sons: Avraham and Valka, and the daughters: Tzarna, Leah and Sosel. Rabbi Berel was a leather merchant. Sosel emigrated to Canada with her family.

The House of Rabbi Shlomo Hachazan (the Chazan), his son Yitzchak was married and the father of a daughter and son.

A relative of this family, Asher Glozman, while he was a pacifist, refused to serve in the Polish army and therefore was imprisoned and tortured hard until Asher went out of his mind and suffered from mental depression. He lived nearby his family, in a secluded room.

The House of Rabbi Avraham Feldman (Machles), the teacher, his wife Chaya-Sarah, daughter Masha and three sons. Rabbi Avraham served as a teacher and thus he gave prayer lessons to the children of the town who learned in the Tarbut school. His last son lives currently in Argentina. In Israel lives two of his sons, Aharon and Baruch and the daughter Masha with her family.

The Family of Avraham Zelberberg, his wife Sarah, his sons Leibel and Monya and daughter Sosel. Avraham was a leather merchant.

The Family of Aharon Chait, his wife Perel, two daughters - Sarah and Minkah, and his son Zalman. Aharon was the owner of a shoe store. Perel traveled to America on the eve of the war and it is not known what befell her.

In the House of Yitzchak Chazan lived an unmarried teacher by the name Paparberg, who descended from Warsaw. She worked as a teacher in the state-run elementary school.

The House of Shmuel Sorkin (Hatzyrolnik), his wife, his son Avraham and his daughters: Pasal and Ronya. The healing business was passed to Shmuel as an inheritance from his father, Rabbi Itzik, who was called “the doctor”, because he was a druggist. Additionally, while Shmuel was a druggist, he was the owner of a barbershop and he worked together with his son Avraham.

The House of the Shpelsher Family. The father of the family Alter Males, the son Hershel, his wife Chana, son and two daughters: Manka and Sosel. Sosel remained alive while she was in Russia and lives currently in America. Alter Shpelsher was a tailor. His father-in-law Mops had a handsome son described by the name Pesach, who was married to a woman, Rozka, from the Neiman house. Hershel Shpelsher was an active Zionist and manager of the only bank in the town.

The House of Leibel Candle - the builder. He had a wife, son and daughter. His son was killed in his service in the Polish army in the year 1939, at the time of fighting during the Nazi invasion.

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The Hakozeles House - the brothers Moshe and Baruch Broder and their families. The two of them were iron merchants. Their sister Rivka had a daughter and son - Issar the lame, owners of a candy store. Issar, despite his deformity, was active and energetic. In his extra businesses, he would distribute the newspaper “Der Hint – Today”. From this family one brother remained alive by the name Yosef, who emigrated to Argentina. A daughter by the name Zlatka lives in Petach Tikvah, and son Velvel, lives in one of the kibbutzim.

The House of Mendel Tveiktz Bostos, his wife Gittel, two sons - Yitzchak and Chilke, and a daughter married to Gedaliah Shaftrik. Mendel Bostos was a successful grain merchant. The son Chilke remained alive while he was in Russia. He immigated to Israel at the end of the Second World War, raised a family in Haifa. Chilke died in a sudden manner in the year 1973.

The House of Leibel Hastelmach (the Wheelwright) Rochblatt, his wife Feigel Pales, a married daughter who lived in Kostopol, and four sons. From them Avraham remained, who lives with his family in Ramat Gan, and Yitzchak, who lives with his family in Tel Aviv. The two of them immigrated to Israel before the Second World War.

The House of Peseiah Grossman (Harozenyahr) - a widower and his seamstress daughter, who managed the household, and sons: Moshe, Yonah and Izik. Moshe was married to Raizel and they had three children: Malka and sons: Avraham and Aharon. Moshe worked as a cattle merchant. He succeeded in his work and he was a seller to all of the surrounding villages. The daughter of Moshe, Malka, and his son Aharon were saved by hiding themselves in the forests among the goyem. Malka lives with her family in New York, and Aharon lives with his family in Tel Aviv. He is married to Rachel from the Chait house, who was also born in Stepan.

The House of Issar Hanimovitzar - in his house lived his son-in-law - Hershel Salavotzki together with his wife Chayka, their daughter Feigel and their son Velfel. They were the owners of a large grocery store.

The House of Yosef Shenker. Yosef Shenker and his second wife. Yosef had a daughter from his first wife by the name Yentel who lived outside the town.

The House of Mendel Hanapach (the Blacksmith), his wife Zelda and their married daughter and son by the name Yaakov. Mendel was a craftsman by profession and besides this he was known as a cheerful and amusing Jew. He would participate in happy occasions (simchas) and weddings as a comedian. Also he tried his best at the times of the Ukrainian dances and was also very successful, which brought proud pleasure (nachas) to the community. His son Yaakov succeeding in escaping from the killing pits, but he was caught after a few days in the forest in the neighborhood of Korost and was taken out to be killed.

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The House of Aharon Motel Shimshak, his wife and his two daughters who were married and moved to a town outside of Stepan. His son Dovid was married to a woman, Chana, from the house Kirshner, and they had a son and daughter.

This family had an oil press.

The House of Itzik Meir Kogot, his wife and his three sons: Arye, Gershon and an additional small son, and two daughters: Rena and Ganya. The son Arye immigrated to Israel on the eve of the war together with his wife Tziporah from the house of Geller. He currently lives in Tel Aviv with his family. Gershon served in the Red Army and fell in battle in the year 1944 in the area of Kovel, having exposed himself to danger in the war against the Germans.

The House of Peseiah Bebtchuk, his wife Leah Esther and his sons: Moshe and Avraham, and his daughters: Chayka, Tzilah, and Rozka. The daughter Rozka immigrated to Israel in the year 1936 together with her husband Tzlia Shpritz. They currently live in Tel Aviv.

The House of Motel Bakar, his wife Pasal and their two daughters - Esther and Yentel, and son - Shayka. Motel owned a manufacturing store. The son Shayka was saved by escaping to the forests; he emigrated to Argentina and lives there with his family.

The House of the Tachor Families. Meir, his wife Hennia, and his daughters: Brunia, Sonya, Panya and Batya, and their son - Monya. In their house also lived the grandmother Raizel Tachor and an additional son Michel Tachor, his wife Rivka and his two sons Avraham (Mosik) and Yitzchak. Avraham was saved at the time that he hid himself in the forests, while his father was captured and shot. Avraham currently lives in Tel Aviv with his family.

The House of Altar Bas, his wife Esther, his son Shabatai and his daughter Freidel. Altar was active in the Zionist committee of the Jews of Stepan. This family was killed at the time of the German bombing, on the eve of their entrance into the town, together with another family - relatives of Altar Bas - Motel Kaufman, a sandalmaker by profession, his daughter Asal and sons: Shmuel and Yaakov. Yaakov was saved from the annihilating bombing together with the surviving Jews of the town.

In the house lived a relative of the family, mute but very intelligent, well-liked by his neighbors.

The son Shmuel fell as a German prisoner in the Polish-German War and his consequences were not known.

The House of Yerachmial Gesais, his wife Gittel, his son-in-law Shlomo Neiman, his wife Tzivya and their son Yeshayahu Neiman, a teacher in the Tarbut school and head of Betar in the city. The boy was head and shoulders above the others and served as a shining example for the children of the town. He died from disease at a young age. Shlomo Neiman also had three daughters: Rosa, who was married to Pesach Mopas, Ganya and Reva who was married to Kolodny and apparently lives nowdays in Russia.

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In this house also lived a second son-in-law of Yerachmial - Moshe Kaufman. He had a wife named Adele and son Monya. Moshe Kaufman was the veteran teacher in the Tarbut school since it had been established. He educated a number of generations in Judaism and Zionism. He was very active in the Zionist movement and in the Jewish National Fund.

The House of Moshe Vosrostrom, his wife and their daughter Tanah. He was a devout Jew and feared G-d.

In this house lived as neighbors the Family Rovin - the widowed wife (the Beznke) and her daughters - Raizel and Devora. They were owners of a small grocery store. Devora escaped to Russia, immigrated to Israel after the war and lives in Haifa with her family. Her sister Raizel emigrated to Argentina on the eve of the Second World War and lives there with her family.

The House of Kopel Hakovaon (the Hatmaker). In this house lived his daughter Mishka, her husband Aharon Kessler and their five children: Gittel, Miriam, Batya, Leibel and Michel. Michel was saved while he was in Russia and lives today in Israel, in Holon.

The House of the Brothers Nechamia and Motel Goz. In this house lived Nechamia, his wife and his three children. Likewise, Motel, his second wife Gansal, the stepmother to three daughters and a son - orphans who aroused the pity of the neighbors. The brothers managed a leather and shoe store.

The House of the Shpritz Family. Two brothers from the Shpritz family immigrated to Israel in the year 1936. They were friends of the Betar organization in the town. They were grandchildren of the grandmother Freida Shpritz.

In the house lived Meir Dekelboim, his wife Zlatka and their son. Meir was the owner of a grocery store.

The House of Rivka and Shmuel Leibes (Krakover) - the son of Rivka - Yosef. The wife of Yosef died at the time of the great fire in 1925. They had three children: Berta, who died in Israel, Gershon who lives in Kibbutz Nagvah (see the separate section), and Roza, who lives with her family in Holon. Yosef was married a second time to a woman named Zelda and they had a son named Alykim and a daughter Yentel.

The House of Yitzchak Vastchenah, his wife Mirka, their son Shmuel-Minikal, his wife Chaya and their three children: Yosele, Mirka and Ziskind. The brother of Minikal, Sholom, his wife Kalra and their daughter, an additional brother Yisroel and sister Sosel, who also died in the year 1925. Rabbi Itzik, father of the family, who was known for his pleasant voice at prayer time. His wife died before the outbreak of the war. The only survivor of this family was Minikal, who was expelled to Siberia during the Soviet reign. Now he lives in America with his second wife and their son and married daughter.

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The House of Yitzchak Zilberman - a widower and his daughter Chava from his second wife, whereas from his first wife the sons: Berel, Moshe who died in Israel, Hershel who immigrated to Israel and lives in Hertzlia, and Shlomo who was saved while he was in Russia and remains living there; also daughter Gittel, who lives with her family in Brazil.

The House of Shlomo Filkov, his wife and their three daughters. The name of one was Hennia, and also son Yosef, who lives in Israel after he was saved in Russia. Shlomo was gabbai in the upper synagogue. He was owner of a leather store.

The House of the Brothers Yosef and Betzalel Bebtchuk (Hatzalyokim) - they were merchants. The brother Yosef, his wife Pasal and their three daughters: Raizel, Rivka and Perel, and son Hershel.

Betzalel, his wife and his daughter named Sheva and three sons: Shmiryahu, Yosef and Yitzchak. Shmiryahu was saved by hiding in the forests and he lives today in America.

The House of Fishel Solbotzky, his wife and their daughter - Manya, and son - Chaim who died in Russia during his service in the Red Army.

On the second side of this house lived Moshe Chait (the son of Altar Koters), his wife Raisel and their two sons: Motel and Monya, and daughter Sonya. Moshe was a successful tailor.

The House of Naftali Gornstein, his wife Sosel and their sons: Ben-Zion, Lazar, Yosel, Yankel, Moshe and Zev; daughters: Pasal and Rochel. A merchant of manufacturing and ready-made clothing.

The son Ben-Zion, after his marriage, moved to live in Barzna. The son Yosel continued in the manner of his father in the manufacturing and ready-made clothing store in Stepan. Living in the same house with his family was: his wife Leah and their three daughters: Sarah, Yentel and Freidel, and two sons - Hershel and Yankel. Ben-Zion, Yankel and Rochel lived outside of Stepan. In the house of Naftali remained two of the sons - Moshe and Zev, and the daughter Pasal. The daughter Pasal immigrated to Israel through the Betar movement in the year 1934 and lives today in Netanya with her family. Traces of the son Moshe disappeared during the Second World War. The son Zev was saved while he was in the service of the Red Army. At the end of the Second World War

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he immigrated to Israel and lives with his family in Israel. The daughter Rochel emigrated before the Second World War to Brazil and lives there with her family.

The House of Moshe Yosef Sheinbaum and his wife Mussia, they died in 1934. A merchant of grain crops. He raised sons and daughters - Rivkah Komonshein, Sroolik, Tanchoom, Shabseil, Abba, Esther Baram, Raizel Shuster, Golda Pearlstein, and Nacha Bleiy. In the same house lived the Family Bleiy, Nacha and her husband Berel Bleiy, a wood merchant and shopkeeper.

In the same house lived the family of Shmuel and Raizel Shuster and their daughter and son. A merchant of grain crops.

In the Narrow Alley Lived the Family: The Brother Banah and his Sister Chayka with her husband, whose profession was a painter. Banah and Chayka were albinos and they were called “The Weisse - The Whites”. Banah was a familiar figure, mainly with the children of the town who loved to flirt with him in a good spirit. Banah, while he was short in stature, knew the entire order of the prayers and psalms by heart.

The House of Bonyah Hatoferet (the Seamstress). Banyah and her sister earned a living from the hard work of their hands.

The House of the Gerber Family - the widow. Her husband Izik died before the war. The widow Sarah had two sons. The name of one was Chaim - he also died before the war. This widow earned a living from the baking and selling of black bread. This family was the rentor of a room that was used for the needs of the Tarbut School. The daughters of Sarah: Beila, Devorah, and son - Nechamia.

The House of Teivel Hatoferet (the Seamstress) - her husband worked in the flour mill of the Graz's. In this family was a sister of Teivel with three children. Her husband emigrated to Argentina and after many years of waiting they were taken there. There is the assumption that they remain alive. There was also there an old grandmother who worked at baking bread. The nickname for this family was “Dreikop - Skittish“.

The House of Rabbi Ben-Zion Gonick and his wife Zesol. An old Jew, a scholar, who served many years as a teacher in the town. In his classroom he educated a number of generations of children of the town.

In the same house lived his daughter Chana and her husband Shaul Pakhaveitz and their children.

His son Motel also served as a Rabbi and as a teacher in a nearby town and after that in Stepan. In addition to his great expertise in Torah and in Judaism, he acquired general knowledge. His wife Machla and their son Yosef.

Rabbi Ben-Zion had an additional daughter named Leibah, who was married to Leibka Kraf, a merchant, and they had a number of children.

Nunya Hochman, my God avenge him, with his friend Mordechai Rassis, may he live a long life

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The son Yitzchak Gonick immigrated to Israel in the 1930's. He died after a number of years, leaving a wife and children in Holon.

An additional son, Shimon Gonick, lives in Yugoslavia. It is not known what befell him.

The House of Rabbi Hershel Hashochet (the Slaughterer) Hochman, his wife and their four sons and one daughter. The son Nunya, who immigrated to Israel on the treshhold of the Second World War, fell in the battle in Italy against the Nazi enemy as part of the Jewish brigade (he was injured and transported to Israel by British airplane; the plane was brought down on his way to Israel).

The House of Hershel Feldman (from Hakalenykes), his wife Sarah, daughters: Henda, Faygel and Rivka, and son - Avraham. Owner of a stand for selling fruit. His hobby was fishing with a fishing rod. He served as a violinist with the family of musicians (Hakalenykes) and also appeared as a merry humorist at the Jewish weddings and happy occasions (simchas) in the town.

The daughters and the son were activists in the Shomer Hatzair (leftist Zionist youth movement) and pioneer. The son Avraham was saved while he was in Russia and lives today in Kfar Saba with his family.

The House of Moshe Feldman, who died before the outbreak of the war, his wife, and sons: Gavriel, Avramle, Velvel - a bass player - and another brother. The daughters: Brendel, Rochel, Devorah, Sarah, Golda and Miriam. This family belonged to the musicians. The father Moshe played

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violin and gave lessons for playing the violin. The daughter Brendel was an excellent guitar player.

The son Avraham remained alive while he was in Russia. Nowdays he lives in Poland.

The Waldman Family - they called them Stisel the Mitzker. They had three daughters: Dovah was married to the administrator of the Tarbut school Mr. Kemerman, the daughter Rivka was married to one from nearby Kostopol. and the daughter Rochel immigrated to Israel before the war and lives in Tel Aviv. The son Hershel emigrated to Canada and the son Shmuel immigrated to Israel with the fourth immigration wave, but went to the United States.

The House of Moshe Golprin, his wife Sosel, the son Hershel who was married in Sarna and moved to live there, and daughter Gittel. He worked in the selling of yeast. The daughter Gittel was saved while she was in Russia, immigrated to Israel after the war, but died from disease. There remains the husband and two sons in Israel.

The Kanonitz Family, the son Michel and daughter Freidel. Michel worked as a miller in the flour mill of the Goz family. The son Michel was active in the Betar movement. One day he withdrew from Betar with Moshe Gorenstein and together they served at the head of a faction to the right - the Grossmanists. They even established a Grossmanist cell. This event happened in the year 1933.

The Family of Moshe Bebtchuk, the son Hershel and daughters - Tchrana and Beila. He worked in peddling. The daughter Beila remained alive by hiding herself in the forests with the Polish. She immigrated to Israel with her family, but ultimately moved to the United States.

The Weisman Family (the Motelykes) - a very spacious house. In this house lived together in a friendly way a number of families who led collective lives in still waters. The mother Sosel Weisman, her sons: Motel, who was a superb photographer in his profession (see the separate report concerning this matter) and the son Yitzchak, the young intellectual who was active in Betar, and the sister Michle.

The sister of Sosel Weisman, Esther, was married to Avraham Shochet and they had a daughter and son, and the sisters Gittel and Michle. There also lived in the same house an unmarried adult uncle by the name Motel.

This family had an oil-press adjoining their house and they also managed a grocery store in the front of the house. The son Yitzchak Weisman remained alive while he was in Russia. He immigrated to Israel (see the separate report on Yitzchak Weisman, of blessed memory, and his family in Israel).

The House of Yechezkial Stern, his wife, two daughters - Shayndel and Chana, and sons: Hershel, Yankel, Moshe and Shlomoke. Stern had a medicine warehouse, resembling a drug store, and a perfume store.

The son Moshe was an activist and prominent in his activities as head of the cell of the Shomer Hatzair (leftist Zionist youth movement) in the town.

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The Family of Shimon Gorbitz, his wife, the daughter Chana, the son Pinyah and another son. Pinyah was active in the Shomer Hatzair (leftist Zionist youth movement). He was involved with the pioneering preparation of the movement in Lodz. The aim was to immigrate to Israel at the outbreak of the war. All traces of him were lost.

The Family of David Finkelstein, his wife from the house of Stern and their children. The owner of a store for writing instruments. He was a well-liked man who took care of the students with love and goodwill. He was most popular with the Jewish children of Stepan.

The House of Mordechai Wolpel Hakatzav (the Butcher), his wife and his daughter Esther, who was widowed, and her daughter Rochel Chamar and another sister Bryndele.

The House of the Rosenfeld Family- the father of the family, Dovid, of blessed memory, was killed in a work accident, and Mirel, who remained a widow, and her sons: Pinya, Shmuka and Avraham, and daughters: Raizel, Beila, Chana, Chaya and Fasya.

David, of blessed memory, was an industrious and energetic builder and by the labor of his own hands he owned a flour mill and an oil press of his own. After his death the factory was managed by his sons and sons-in-law.

The daughter Raizel, who lived in the same house, was married to Shroolik Sheintoch and they had a daughter, Chaya, and sons: Avraham and Mordechai. Shroolik Sheintoch was an owner of a grocery store and was successful in his business.

The daughter Fasya emigrated to Argentina before the war and afterwards immigrated to Israel with her family; they live in Banas Tziyonah. The son of Fasya, Michel, volunteered and immigrated to Israel in the year 1967; currently he serves as secretary of the kibbutz Ein Hashlosha. The son Pinya was saved while he was drafted in Russia. Pinya fought in the ranks of the Red Army and fell to German captivity. After great hardship as a Jewish captive in a concentration camp he remained alive. After the war he emigrated to Argentina and lived with his sister Fasya, but died by a fatal accident there. The sister Beila was married to a Jew in Broznitz and they had three children.

In the same house lived the doctor, Dr. Ashkenazi, an adult woman, unmarried and childless. She served as the doctor there in the town for many years.

The House of Aharon Rosenfeld, his wife Brynner and their daughter Leah and son Tzvi, who remained alive by ending up in Russia when he tried to illegally emigrate to Israel through Latvia, with the entry of the Soviets.

Aharon was a plasterer by profession and he supported his family by the labor of his own hands.

Tzvi lives with his family in Tel Aviv.

The House of Shmuel Silberman, his wife and their five children - sons and daughters. In his house was the only dentist in the town, Dr. Goren. The permanent dwelling of Dr. Goren and his family was in Rovno. Dr. Goren was an active Zionist public worker.

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The House of Hatzevai (the Painter) Pontak, his wife and their son and daughter, and also living in the same house was his brother, Gershon Pontak, and his wife.

Excellent painters who by the sweat of their noses and by honesty they earned their bread.

The House of Itzchak Weistchinah, his wife Aydeh, the son Yossele and his small sister. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Pinchas Goldstein and the owner of a flour mill. He worked in partnership with his father-in-law. The son Yosef was an excellent student, actually a child prodigy.

The House of Moshe Morik, his wife Gittel from the family Weistchinah, and their three daughters: Motol, Mirkah and another one. He was a successful merchant of grain.

The Family of Walkah Feldman - one of the sons of Falya the musician, his wife and his mother-in-law. They had children. The daughters: Maale, Yentel, Rochel, and the sons: Avramle and another son.

He was the owner of a restaurant and also manufacturer of kvass (a drink from pickled cabbage) – a soft drink. The grandmother, primarily, was a seller of baked items and kvass in the marketplace.

Along side their house was a spacious garden and orchard that was taken care of and fostered. It was prominent for its wonderful grapes that grew extraordinarily in the region of Stepan.

The Tarchtarman Family - the Virker - he was the owner of a grocery store in the adjoining Polish village, Virke. His wife, Chofka, and their two sons and a daughter.

The House of Shabbtai Schnoik, his wife, his daughter Manya and three sons. He was the owner of storehouse for wood. His sons, most likely alive, or their offspring, emigrated to Argentina during his time. In addition to his business in wood, he was supported by his sons.

The Weitziner Family, his wife and children. He worked in the forests and was not a Stepaner. He lived in Stepan while he was employed in the proximity of the forests. He arrived from a nearby town.

The House of Chaim Goberman, his wife and their two daughters - Dotzya and Devora, and also a son of their old age. He was the owner of a haberdashery and fancy goods store.

The House of Moshe Feldman, the son of Rabbi Falya the musician. His wife Haydel and their three daughters. He was the owner of a large grocery store. He was a successful shopkeeper in his business.

The Shoftrik Family, their daughter, Holah, and son, Ezrial. He was a merchant of pig hair and mushrooms.

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The House of Yossel Hakeveran (the Gravedigger), a lonely, childless Jew, owner of a large garden beside his house. He made a living as a gravedigger and fulfilled his public duties faithfully.

The House of the Teacher with the Nickname Moneval, his wife Veronica - his death at a ripe old age before the outbreak of the war. They had a divorced daughter, Faygel, and she had a single son, Shlomo.

Rabbi Moneval was the well-liked Rabbi by the students of his class. He was accustomed to take his pupils and lead them to visit the women who have just given birth one day before the brit milah (circumcision), for reading the Shema (prayer). At the same event, the woman who just gave birth would generously distribute cookies and candies to the children of the classroom. The daughter Faygel would collect the money for the lessons from the parents of the students. The son Shlomo remained alive while he was in a nearby Polish town. He currently lives in Poland.

The House of Hershel Gellman (the son of Freida the cryer), his wife and children. He was a merchant of rags. His son Yaakov was saved while he was in Russia. There is an opinion that he emigrated to the United States and lives there.

The House of Helenke Hakatzav (the Butcher), his wife and daughters: Tovah, Malka, and Hennia. Tovah was active in the Shomer Hatzair (leftist Zionist youth movement). The daughter Hennia was saved while hiding herself in the forests among the Polish. She emigrated to the United States and lives there with her family.

In the Unfinished House Lived a Bachelor, Berel Weitchnodel. He had the nickname - Yehofetz. He was a cattle merchant.

The House of the Family of Kolodny Leibel, his wife and daughters: Hennia, Roza, and a son. He was the owner of a factory for soap and soft drinks - kvass and soda.

The House of the Ploshnik Family - Motel, his wife and their children. Yankel, his wife and their children. The brother Izak and brother Ben-Zion. A sister Adele who was married to Yankel Patshnik and lived in a nearby place. Yankel remained alive while he was in Russia, married a second time and he had a son.

The House of the Widower Moshka Brick, her son Eliezer. In the same house also lived a grandmother, whose business was peddling with the goyem of the town.

The House of Baruch Wolf Kershner, his wife, their son Avraham and his wife and the daughter Babah who was born in Israel. Avraham immigrated to Israel during the fourth immigration wave but returned to the town since they were never acclimatized to Israel. The sons Aharon and Benjamin emigrated to Canada and lived there,

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Nachum - a young man active in the Shomer Hatzair (leftist Zionist youth movement) was saved while he was in Russia and apparently lives in Russia. There was another daughter who emigrated to Canada, and the daughters: Esther and Chana, who was married to Dovid Shimshak.

In the same house lived the brothers of Baruch Wolf - Motel - Mordechai Kershner - his wife, the daughter Chasya and two sons. Motel served as the shamash (beadle) in the Tarbut school in the town and fulfilled his duties faithfully during many years, until everything was destroyed by the wicked hands.

The Eisenberg Family – a widower and his daughter Shayna and son Yosef. He was a builder by profession.

The House of Moshe Yosef Dargoff, his wife and his daughter Hennia and other children. He was a community person, who established charity funds in the town, and he served in charge of them.

The House of Yaakov Petashnik, his wife Hodel and their daughter Simma and sons – Sander and Michel. Michel was saved while he was in the forests among the goyem. He lives nowdays in Ramat Gan with his family. Yaakov was an enthusiastic Zionistic public worker for Brit Yeshurin, and he also immigrated to Israel but he returned again to his town because of difficulties with the acclimatization and the lack of work.

The House of Yisroel Zalishnik, his wife Chana and their four children: Pinchas, Miriam, Michla and Chaya. The daughter Chaya was saved while she was in a convalescent home in Russia at the outbreak of the war. Her father, Yisroel, traveled to search for his daughter but never found her and he returned to Stepan to the children of his family. Yisroel was a sheet-metal worker by profession and supported his family with great difficulty, but with honor, without the help of strangers..

The House of Leivik Tzeseis, his wife Shayndel, and the daughters: Machla and Hennia and son Berel. He was a cattle merchant.

In the house of Leivik Tzeseis lived a rentor Hellia Weiner, his wife and daughter Sonia, who was saved by hiding in the forests among the goyem. She immigrated to Israel and continued her emigration to Canada.

The House of Baruch Broder (from Hakozeles), his wife from the Shpatrik house and their three children. He was the owner of a store of iron products.

The House of Zev Chayot, his wife Chaya Leah (from the Dov house), the son Shmuel and the daughter Sarah. Zev was a witness of proof to the killing of the Stepan community in the forests and being thrown into the death pits near Kostopol. He escaped and was saved. He served with the partisons in the Tchepyav regiment. Today he lives in Tel Aviv with his family that he established from new.

The House of Itzik Gooteis, his wife and their son.

The House of Dovid Chamar, his wife Basel from the Srashtrom house and their four children, a son Lazar a daughter Esther and another two daughters. He worked as a glazier and seller of fruit.

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The House of Ben-Zion Peloshnik, his wife and a number of their daughters. He was a cattle merchant.

The House of Mendel Hakatzav (the Butcher), his wife and his children. With him lived in his house his elderly mother Fayga, who was busy baking black bread that was known for its quality. Also living in the same house was the sister of Mendel with her husband Avraham.

The Zilbervelt Family – the mother of the family was a widow and her daughters: Raizel and Henda, and son Shmuel who emigrated to the United States before the war and died there. In the same house lived an aunt with the name Mindel. One of the daughters was married to a Jew from Kostopol, whereas Henda was married to Yonah Grossman and they had a daughter and son named Yossele, who remained alive by hiding in the forests among the goyem. He emigrated after the war to the United States and lives there today.

The Widow Dovah Weingarten (Dobroshkah). In Kolnya, on the other side of the bridge, with the goyem, lived the family of the widow Dovah Weingarten including her daughter Esther, who was married and lived in Manevichi,;the daughter Freidel, who was married to Yossel Maggid and was saved with her two children – Hershel and Eliyahu, who live today in the United States; and also a son, Leibel, who was killed in Russia.

Dovah, of blessed memory, traded with the goyem and was very well-liked among them because of her good heart and giving goods in the surroundings to all the needy without discrimination. Because of this, she also had the nickname “Dobroshkah“ – a good heart. But these good, human qualities were to no avail and she was killed together with the remainder of the Jews of the town in the awful Shoah.

The House of Falya Feldman – the musician, his wife who was famous for the quality of her cooking, especially stuffed fish, and also for her righteous concern for the needy. (For a description of the personality of Rabbi Falya, see the separate section).

The House of Zevel Pras – hatmaker by profession. His son Avraham emigrated to the United States and apparently lives there.

The House of Yekutial Goldberg, gabbai in the supreme synagogue, and his sons: Nissel and Motke, who emigrated to Argentina and apparently live there, and also sons Michel and Hershel and daughter Gittel.

The House of Rabbi Yaakov (Zunieh) Kaufman – a widower, a learned and G-d fearing Jew. (See the separate section).

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His son Dodel and his wife Bryndele and daughters: Malka, Shayna and Sarah. They lived in Dubno. His son Moshe, his wife Hodel and son Monya. His daughter Rivka was married to Michel Tachor, their son Avraham was saved and lives with his family in Tel Aviv. His son Reuven, his wife and their son Mordechai perished in Terspol, Russia. His son Gedaliah – a bachelor. His son Yisroel – immigrated to Israel in 1933 and lives with his family on Kibbutz Ein Carmel. His daughter Nachah, was married to a boy from the town of Totchin.

The House of Moshe Wachs (who was known by his nickname Moshe the Giller), his wife, the son Dodel and his daughters: Rivka and Leiva. He was the owner of a manufacturing store.

The House of Yaakov Wachs (Bocheles), his wife and son Yisroel. He was the owner of a store of groceries and commodities, specializing particularly and well-known for the quality of his sour, pickled cucumbers.

The House of Shaul Weitznodel, his wife and their sons: Gershon, Hershel, and Yitchak, and daughters: Leah, Faygel, and Sonya, who live in Argentina. An additional daughter is in Brazil, and Chaya, who lives in Netanya. Shaul Weitznodel worked as a butcher.

Shaul Weitznode , against the background of his house

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The Family of Michel Bardas (Kootzik –short stature). He was a manufacturing merchant. He had a daughter Rochel who was married to Yaakov Tzukerman from Barzna, a daughter Dovah and a daughter Gittel who was married to Chaim Takas and they had two children. His son Avraham married the daughter of Yankel Partch from the village Krechilsk and he had an additional married son by the name Leibel.

The House of Gershon Weitznodel, a plasterer and owner of a bakery. He had a wife, three sons and a daughter. His son Moshe was married to Golda Rassis, the daughter of Shmerel Rassis.

The House of Motel Tchodler – the owner of a soft drinks factory and a manufacturing store. His wife was an excellent seamstress of women's clothing, his son Yitzchak and daughter Gittel, who was married to a boy from the city of Rovno, and also there were another son and daughter.

The House of Shmuel Derech Harokeach (the Pharmacist), his wife Chayka, two daughters, the name of one was Sheva, and the son Tzodya who was saved by serving in the Red Army and lives today in Russia.

The House of Motzya Waldman – the head of the house was his daughter, a widow, Bryndele Weitznhoyz. The son Zev was the first immigrant from Stepan to Israel, in 1932, and lives in Kfar Sabah. There were another two daughters – Sosel and Chava. The family house was a spacious house that stood in the center of the marketplace.

The Houses of Blumah Kriegel, her sister Mirkah and her brother Aharon Stoller. The widow Blumkah sold ice cream that was famous for its quality and special taste, primarily among the youth. Blumkah had a son – Yoskah Kriegel, who was saved by serving in the Red Army and lives today in Russia. Mirkah – owner of a shoe store – was married and had two daughters.

Aharon Stoller was a well-known photographer and owner of a wonderful studio. His wife Freidel was from the Wachs family, and they had children.

The House of Shmuel Tzodies Garber, his wife and his children. Shmuel was an excellent men's tailor.

The House of Velvel Shmeles Wachs, his wife, and two sons. He was a grain merchant.

The House of Michel Wachs and his wife. The son Yaakov who was saved while he was in Russia immigrated to Israel and lives nowdays in Beer Sheva. The daughters: Gittel and Freidkah.

The House of Nachum Maggid, his wife, and his sons: Leibel who lives in Russia, Yosef who was married to Freida and their two sons: Hershel and Alyah. A son, Pinkah, who was saved while he was in Russia and lives in the United States. A son Bankah and daughter Dotzyah.

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Nachum was a grain merchant and owner of a wheat mill in one of the villages near the town. His sons and daughters were activists in the Betar movement.

The House of Milah Yostein, his wife and his children. The son Ponkah, who was enlisted into the Red Army, passed by the town immediately after its liberation in 1944. He fell in battle against the Germans in the lines of the Red Army in 1944.

The House of the Brother of Moshe Bronstein, his wife and their two daughters. They were owners of a manufacturing store. He also had another son, Yitzchak, who was saved by hiding among the goyem in the forests and lives nowdays in Germany.

The House of Moshe Bronstein, his wife Dovah and their daughter Chava and son Yitzchak. In the same house lived the mother of Moshe. Dovah was an energetic woman, who predominantly managed the manufacturing store, with success.

The House of Chaim Simcha Morick and his wife. He was active in Brit Yeshurin. He was a successful grain merchant.

The House of Yitzchak (Irotzikel) Bebtchuk-Meyers, his wife Sarah and their children: Chana and Meir. Yitzchak was the owner of a restaurant and also a grocery store close to the center of the town.

The House of Chaim Wachs (the Varbetzer – he descended from the nearby village of Varbetze), his wife and their daughter Gittel and the sons: Valkah and Shaptal. The son Shaptal was saved while he was in Russia, and at the completion of the war he apparently emigrated to the United States and lives there. Chaim was a grain merchant.

In the House of Gershon Weitchnodel lived Shmuel Goz, his wife Faygel from the Kagan family and their son.

In the Gorenstein House resided the widow Beila Koshner and her daughters. Raizel, who immigrated to Israel before the war, was married to Aharonov. She ultimately died. Her sister Leibah, also immigrated to Israel before the war, was married to Yagodeh and lives with her family in Tel Aviv.

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The House of the Sokolosky Family, close to the river. Most recently, in this house, lived the widow Pasal.

The House of Dovid Baram, his wife Esther from the Sheinbaum family and their daughters: Chana, Roza and another two sisters, and the sons: Motel and Bobah. With the entrance of the Germans to the town, their house was hit by a direct hit from the German's bombings. Four of their children were killed in this bombing. Dovid Baram himself was blinded and remained disabled in the majority of his body; he and his wife and two children remained.

The House of Motel Weinstein, his wife Blumah and their only son Avraham. Motel was active in public activity. In the same house lived his sister Michlia and her son, Leibel Rassis, who was saved while he was in Russia, and today lives in Kfar Aviv with his family.

The House of Simma Yokelson, his wife and their two sons: Shpatal and his brother, and one daughter. Simma worked as a horse merchant.

The House of Velvel Hachayit (the Tailor), his wife and their only son. Velvel was a tailor by profession. He worked primarily by sewing large and heavy clothing for the villagers and from this he earned his livelihood.

The House of the Yokelson Family – in this house lived three brothers with their families. Ben-Zion and his second wife, the daughter Faygel and another daughter and son. The son Raphael immigrated to Israel during the 1930's. He was the first of the commanders of Betar in the town. He lives today in Israel. Hershel and his wife, and their three children. Berel and his wife and their girl.

The three brothers worked in the iron trade and its products.

There also lived in this house, or nearby, a sister of this family – Chana – who was married to Eli Kaufman and they had a single son, Shaptal.

The House of the Family of Tanchum Sheinbaum, who died before the war, his wife Etta, the son Chaim and his wife Shifra and their two children, the son Ben Zion, his wife Bruniah from the family Tachor with the children Moshe and Tanchum. Ben Zion and his brother Shmuel were saved while they were in Russia and live in Israel with their families.

The sons Yitzchak (today Aron) and Shlomo Sheinbaum immigrated to Israel before the war and live with their families in Tel Aviv.

Tanchum Sheinbaum immigrated to Israel with his wife and daughter Bracha in the year 1934; a short time after they came to Israel he got sick and died in Israel after an operation. The wife and daughter returned to the town at that time and were killed in the Shoah with the remaining Jews of the town. (See a description of these personalities).

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The House of Chaim Gershon Goz, his wife, they died before the war. He was and intellectual Jew. The sons: Michel, Valkeh, Shaul, Shmuel and Motkeh. The daughters: Adele, Chaykeh and Rochel who was the graceful and active one among the daughters.

The majority of the children of the family were active in managing a big grocery store in the town. This store was active seven days a week and the owners of this store were known for their decency and their good service to all the citizens of the town and the surroundings.

The son Motkeh was an activist in the Zionist movement and an activist in the pioneer training of the Betar movement in Katowitz.

The Milstein Family – mother and her son Yitzchak. Yitzchak was a talented boy who worked as a mechanic in the wheat mill of the Goz family.

The House of Pinyah Goz, his wife, who died before the war. This was one of the spacious and pleasant houses in the town. In this house lived two of his sons: Yitzchak and his wife Bracha and their son Shabbtai. His brother Avraham, his wife Hennia and their sons Zalman and Yaakov and daughter Gitteleh. The daughter Pasyah from the Goz family, who was married to Gotzyah Toyev and their daughters Sonya (Sarah) and Gittel, who was saved while she was in Russia and lives today in Haifa with her family.

He was the owner of a large and modern flour mill and the owner of a concession for the selling of firewater (brandy). They were well-to-do people with generous hearts, pleasant Jews and active Zionists.

The House of Baruch Rassis, his wife, and their sons: Shroolkeh, his wife and their children: Zalman, and his wife and children; Erkeh, who was saved while he was in Russia and apparently lives there until today. The daughter Chaykeh and her husband, who emigrated to the United States, and the daughter Rivkeh and her husband Shagrar, a teacher in the “Tarbut” school.

Baruch was the owner of a wagon and a horse merchant. He was owner of a concession for hauling mail from Stepan to the train station in nearby Malynsk.

The House of Alter Zeliks, owner of a clothing store – he had a son Yaakov and three daughters: Manya, who was married to Yasha, and their children. Yasha was the owner of a restaurant; an additional daughter was the wife of Chaim Goberman; and Rivkah, who was saved while she was in Russia and lives today with her family in Israel.

The House of Pinchas Goldstein, the owner of a flour mill on the edge of town. He had two daughters, one who was married to Yitzchak Weistchinah. Pinchas was an active public servant, who represented the Jews of the town before the local Polish council “Hagmenah” in the town.

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13. Nearby the Marketplace Region

The Family of Hershel Siegel Hashan (the Watchmaker), his wife Beila-Gittel, and their sons: Chaim-Moshe and his wife Golda-Chaya; Yosef-Dov and his wife Raizel and their son, Ben Lipman who was saved while he was in Russia and lives in Givatayim with his family. The daughters: Pasya and her husband Noach Zolar, Freida and her husband Yitzchak Bostos, and Devosyah.

The son of Yosef remains alive and lives in Russia.

Hershel was a respected Jew and a great scholar.

The House of Moshe Weistchinah – a two-storied, spacious house, one of a few of its kind in the town. It's front literally faced the center of the marketplace. In the lower level of the house were stores that had big lots that were rented.

Moshe, together with his sons, worked in trading grain and was very popular with the goyem of the surroundings, in whom they gave complete loyalty.

In the same house lived his son Dodleh, his wife Beila (from the Yachanyok family) and their children.

The son Yitzchak was saved while he was in the forests among the goyem. He lives with his family in Givatayim.

In addition to this there lived in the same house one of the daughters who was married to Boaz, the owner of a grocery store and their children.

The daughter Ethele with her husband Dorotchinsky from Slonim – a Zionist activist. Dorotchinsky was saved while he was in Russia and lives today in the United States.

The son Aharon was saved while he was in Russia and apparently lives there.

The House of the Kagan Family – the widowed wife, who by her own resources and with the help of her children managed a manufacturing store. She had a number of children: a son Moshe and his wife and children; the son Pinya; daughter Faygel who was married to Shmuel Goz; the daughter Batya who was married to Avraham Rodnik; the daughter Bryndele who was married to Zevel Kopols Goldberg, the hatmaker; the daughter Raizel was saved in the forests among the goyem and lives with her family in Israel.

The House of Tziporah Gonik, the widow, and her bachelor son Shlomo. They managed a hotel that was distinguished by its cleanliness.

The House of Leibel Bardas, his wife Maltziya and their three children: the daughters – Zlatkah and Sheva, and the son Zalman. They were owners of a store for kitchen utensils in the center of the marketplace.

The Family of Zalman Parlas and his wife Etta. Zalman was an activist in the Zionist committee in the town.

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Feivesh Hasandlar (the Sandalmaker) – a widower and his two daughters. One was married to a man whose name was Chanina.

The Family of Berel Brandfein, his wife Chana and their children. Berel was the owner of a barbershop.

Berel Rozen and his Wife – owners of a manufacturing store.

The House of Yerachmial Goldman, his wife Devora and their daughter and son. Yerachmial earned an honest living from his toil as a wagon owner.

A house of broad measurements with a vacant plot alongside was the House of Pinchas, the Koroster, Wachs, the brother of Hershel Wachs who lived in the proximity of the synagogue.

A devout Jew, pleasant demeanor, and quiet. His wife, two sons and a daughter. This Jew worked in commerce involving pig hair for brushes. One of his sons was saved while he was in Russia and immigrated recently to Israel.

A meager, short house and along side a spacious, horse stable, this is the House of Yisroel Hatzerterisker, owner of a wagon. The man was widowed and a son and two daughters remained orphaned. Afterwards, he married a second time with a woman from outside Stepan, and contradictory to the general worry from the fear of the fate of the orphans under the rod of the stepmother, in the course of time it was well known that this woman cared for the orphans with a soft hand.

Shroolik, owner of the wagon, made a living from his profession: the transport of travelers and merchandise to Malynsk, the nearby train station to Stepan, and to the district city of Rovno. Also there were additional horses in his stable beyond the two in active service. These horses served for exchange and trade in the horse marketplace that was in the town. On the whole, this was a poor family, but they existed by their own resources.

In the Polish-German war, in 1939, Shroolik was recruited into the Polish army. This event evoked great worry over his fate. His relatives and acquaintances remember the departure shaking the family. The heart forebode evil. But this war ended quickly and the Soviets entered the town. After a short time, Shroolik suddenly appeared, having fled in some manner from German captivity. At this time when the Jews of the town were living in a state of an uncertain future, this thing brought happiness to the heart, that a completely healthy man returned from hell, to the bosom of his family.

The Family of Velvel Zev Feldman (from Hakalenykes) - short in stature, the son of Rabbi Moshe the musician. A barber by profession, but he didn't own a store. He would journey

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among the houses of the goyem and would cut hair as needed. In exchange he would receive small coins and commodities that were barely sufficient for his families existence. His wife Esther, and their four or five children.

The Single Jewish House in the Neighborhood of the Goyem with the addition of a spacious stable, was The Shilik House, the son of Leibel Gruber – owner of a wagon, and his wife. He earned a living from his profession and in addition they cultivated a plot of land, apparently rented, and they existed in some sort of fashion. They were very industrious people.

His son, Abba, was a talented and very industrious student. A second son, Yossel, was the most industrious, and also there was a daughter. The children of the house and the wife worked hard, particularly during the time of the harvest. This is the portion of goods that they promised themselves: potatoes, cabbage and carrots, during the winter period. The son Yossel was sent to professional school outside of the town during the time of the Soviet rule and all traces of him disappeared. There is the opinion that he lives in Russia.

To Akiba the Blacksmith Was a Young Partner by the Name Chaim Kottler – a young person, dynamic, with a wife and two children. He excelled in the profession as a superb blacksmith, and together with this he was an intellectual young person, with leftist tendencies. With the coming of the Soviets into the town, he was chosen by them to be the head of the town council and served in this capacity until the coming of the Nazis.

The House of Ariyeh Kottler Hastolmach (the Wheelwright) – a special carpentry for the building of wooden wheels for wagons, wheel rims for wagons, and barrels. Like the rest of the Jewish professionals in the town, he was an expert in his profession and the goyem from the town and the surroundings flocked for the delivery of the repair and manufacturing work. The name of his wife was Ronya, a son, Eliezer, and three daughters: Sarah, Miriam and Leah. Sarah immigrated to Israel in 1932 and lives today in Kfar Sabah, Miriam remained in Russia with her family, but died recently. Leah was saved while she was in Russia and lives today in Holon with her family.

The Family of Alter Pollack, his wife Beila, four children: Meir; Feivish; a daughter Manatzia; and a brother, by the name Yaakov Schwartz, who remained as a survivor while he was in Russia and lives nowdays in Israel.

Alter was an energetic owner of a wagon and his family carried on respectfully.

The Family of Simcha Pollack, his wife, and around ten children: Feivish, Berel, Itzik, Meir, Zelik and others. Baruch remained as a survivor while he was in Russia and lives in Israel with his family. A child was born in old age to this family by the name Yosele. The name was given to him based on the name of Marshall Filasodsky, head of the Polish government, who died at this time. This thing caused waves throughout the town. Simcha, the wagon owner, was from the wagon owners who made their livelihood with great difficulty by the performance of transporting within the town itself, because his horses were lean and too old to be used for transporting between municipalities.

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An Additional Wagon Owner in Stepan – The House of Mashke Goldenbelt – his wife and two sturdy sons – Avale and Izik. The two sons, and especially Avale, were strong-armed.

The brother of Mashke was Yaakov Hapotzter (the Postman), a wagon owner who lived on the river slope, his wife and a number of their sons and daughters. The name of the family was Goldenbelt, the nickname Potzter came to this family because, apparently, their father would transport the mail between Stepan and the train station in Malynsk.

Akiba-Kiba Gilbert Hanapach (the Blacksmith) – the owner of a large smithy nearby Hagoyem Street, his wife Rochel-Chaya and their children. The sons: Yechial, Moshe-Nissel, and Leibel. The daughters: Rivka and Devora, who immigrated to Israel before the war and lives in Netanya. The name of her family is Kemachi.

This Jew was an excellent skilled-worker and was known as such in this capacity among all the goyem who would flock to his smithy to shoe their horses or to fix their wagons, ploughs and other things. He was a man of labor who supported his blessed family by his talented hands, indeed not with excessive comfort, but respectfully.

The town of Stepan served as the center of trade for the close surrounding villages. In these villages lived isolated Jews, some of them originated from Stepan and some of them were Jews whose origin was from nearby towns.

These Jews worked in shopkeeping and trade and their lot was also as owners of flour mills, beverages, and spacious agricultural farms who cultivated their lands with great success and their products were up to the quality of the neighboring Ukrainian products. The village Jews were mainly miserably poor, although among them there were extraordinary capability and great means. At any rate, they preserved their living connection with the Jews of the town that served as the spiritual center. Their children were sent to the town in order that they would learn and absorb a little Judaism, whether in “cheder” or in the “Tarbut” school. The children would be lodged with relatives or with merely Jews, and the exchange of payment was expressed primarily in commodities and agricultural products. The children of the villages were courageous, robust and tanned in contrast to the children of the town who had pale appearances.

Sometimes the Jews of the villages would come and bring with them roosters to the shochet for slaughter; likewise they were accustomed to come to the town on the weekend or towards festivals and holidays, and this in order to stay with the Israel community and to pray together in the synagogue.

With the coming of the Nazi conqueror, his fiendish hands caught up with also these out-of-the-way Jews and gathered them together with their brothers, the citizens of the town, in the Stepan ghetto. Their bitter fate was not long in coming and they were liquidated by the Nazis.

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Jews lived in the following villages: North of Stepan – Korost and Krechilsk; Northwest – Varbetziah; Southeast –Verkhi; South – Kosmitzov, Zolotolin and Trostenets; East – Kazimirka, Zolozneh and Yavalinka.

In Korost there lived the following families: The Yechaniyok Family. Father of the family – Yaakov, his wife Ayde-Blumah, the daughters: Beila, who was married to Dodleh Weistchinah and she had a son by the name Yitzchak Weistchinah who remained alive and lives with his family in Givatayim; Shoshana, who was married to Tzvi Gondler and she had a son by the name Yosef; and also there was Sarah, Ayde and Leiba. There were four sons, the first-born Yosef and after him Aharon, Manya and Avraham.

Yaakov, the father of the family, was an intellectual and well-to-do Jew. He was the owner of a great amount of land and flocks of sheep. On his agricultural farm he would employ many goyem. Yaakov was also a cattle merchant in a big way. His cattle were known by the citizens of the nearby cities.

Yaakov Yechaniyok worried about providing his four sons and his daughters with both a Jewish and general education. The four sons succeeded in escaping to the forest and were liberated from the yoke of the Nazis in 1944. Today they remain alive: Manya lives with his family in Israel in Kfar Aviv, and Avraham emigrated to the United States and lives there now with his family. Yosef was murdered by the Ukrainian craftsmen on his way back to Stepan, whereas his brother Aharon fell during the Second World War at the time he was serving in the Red Army.

The Weistchinah Family – the father of the family, his wife, and daughters: Leah, Sonya and Devora; and son Moshe.

Leah, Sonya and Moshe live today in Canada, whereas Devorah remains still in the Ukraine and lives under the Soviet rule.

The Bebtchuk Family – the father of the family, Rabbi Sander, his wife, daughters and sons. The father was a relative of Rav Avraham Brauer of Stepan.

There were additional people from Korost: Meizel Mordechai and Chana and their Family, Lazar Rim, Leib Bender, Sarah and Leah Bender.

In the village of Trostenets lived a number of Jewish families –

The Litvak Family, the Schectman Family, the Nezben Family, the Family of Avrahm Wachs, his wife Rivka, his brothers and his sisters: Tesya, Pasya, Faygel and her husband Dovid Reichman. They had a son by the name Yitzchak and daughters: Blumah and Esther.

The father of the family, Mr. Avraham Wachs and his sister Tesya Geller, live today in Israel.

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In the village of Yavalinka were two Jewish families by the name Bebtchuk.

The Family of Tanchum Bebtchuk. Tanchum Bebtchuk arrived after the war with his family to Israel and he died in Israel. His sons live today in Israel.

The Family of Moshe Bebtchuk – the brother of Moshe, he immigrated to Israel before the outbreak of the war and lives today in Tel Aviv.

In the village of Zolozneh lived the sister of Sarah, the wife of Ben-Zion Prishkolnik from Stepan. This sister, whose name was Chemkeh, managed alone a flower farm.

In the village of Krechilsk lived a well-off Jewish family with rich assets – the Family of Yaakov the Krechilsker Partch – married off a daughter to the house of Avraham Bardas Kootzik from Stepan. This man succeeding in escaping to the forests with one of his grandchildren, but also there the cruel hands of the Nazis caught up to him and he was murdered.

An additional Jewish family that lived in this village was the Family of the Wife of Avraham from Kortzon. His wife Blumkeh, who was a relative of Sarah Prishkolnik, survived alive and lives today in the United States with her husband and children. The mother of Blumah – Perel – and the rest of the children of her family were killed in the Shoah.

In the village of Kazimirka lived the family of Rabbi Peyseh Bebtchuk – his wife and first daughter were killed by the Germans, and also he himself; his second daughter Chana and his granddaughter escaped and remained alive. The daughter lives in the United States.

An additional family that lived in this village was the Family of Chaim Trachter, who was a relative of Rabbi Avraham Bebtchuk, Bravaar (the Brave One), from Stepan.

In the village of Varbetziah lived the Wachs Family. This branch of the family was generally had many sons, the majority of whom were murdered by the Nazis. Two of the sons – Chaim and Avraham – were killed at the time when they chased after Nazi collaborators, the Ukrainians, in the year 1944, after their liberation. Two additional sons remained alive. Mordechai lives in Canada and Yitzchak in Israel.

In Varbetziah lived an additional family – the Family of Golda Shwartzblatt – the children of the family were Shaul and Asher.

An additional family was the Zelishnik Family. The father of the family was called Pesach Zelishnik, his wife Tzivyeh, his son Yosef and his daughters Beila and Zelda. Zelda was saved and lives in Israel.

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