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[Page 135]
by Dov (Berele) Fater
Translated by Jerrold Landau
| In memory of my father Reb Tevel Fater, my mother Ruchtza; my brothers Eliahu Leib (and his wife Tzlava and their children); Shalom (and his wife Dina and their children); the youngest Tzvi; my sisters: Leah (and her husband Moshe and their children); Mirl – who were all murdered by the Nazis and their assistants. |
My large, prominent family was murdered by the murderers without leaving any remnant in the Diaspora. I will therefore permit myself to describe in detail the influence of the family of Reb Tevel Fater in the life of our town, as well as all branches of business and activities of my father, who excelled in his traits, with his warm home open to all in need. My mother Ruchtza, good hearted and merciful, with few like her, looked after the home.
The life of my family and the connections of love binding it to all groups in the town, without distinction, are still etched in my mind after being in the Land for 30 years. If there was a question about Jewish law, a Talmudic discussion, or some religious matter in the city, our honorable city rabbi, Rabbi Sokolower of blessed memory, would always confer with my father, who was a personality in our city as a scholar who was expert in Talmud and rabbinic decisions. Both would deliberate and debate until the matter became clear. If there
[Page 136]
was a problem in the town, such as a collection for the poor, economic assistance, the setting up of a bank, the construction of a communal building, or any other problem, almost all the city notables would come to our house. These included the head of the community Reb Avraham–Michel Adler, Reb Mordechai Mendel Farbowicz, Reb Bekerman, Reb Avraham Schorr, and many others. They would sit down for a light snack, and discuss all important issues of the world and the city. My father would always be among the first to give an honorable donation for the needs of the city, for my family was known as being well–based economically, and my father was considered to be among the wealthy men of the town.
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Issues of Zionism and the Land of Israel would always be deliberated in our house in the presence of my father, who was one of the founders of Mizrachi, and had been a member of it for many years. He was among those who excelled in love of the Land of Israel and the Torah of Israel. Even after he transferred to Agudas Yisroel in his latter years, issues of the Land of Israel continued to remain very close to his heart. When the Hachsharah of Poalei Agudas Yirsoel was set up on the land of Moshe Czwyrkowski, my father lovingly gave the best of his ability to ensure that the Hachsharah would succeed, as it certainly did. (It was through this Hachsharah that I made aliya to the Land.)
I will take this opportunity to mention my two brothers, Eli–Leib and Shalom, who were founders of Tarbut in our town. They were prominent Zionist activists for many years.
My parents' home also served as a center for assistance and support activities for those in need. My father, assisted by my goodhearted mother, was always ready to offer help. My father was always ready to even leave his business to help the needy. My father served as a member of the town council (ławnik) for many years. He would appear as a representative to the authorities in times of need, and would defend the town's Jewry with great faithfulness.
When one of the Jews of the town died, they would turn to Reb Tevel Fater, for father was also the chief gabbai [trustee] of the Chevra Kadisha [burial society] for many years. Natives of our town certainly remember the large feasts of the Chevra Kadisha that took place twice a year in our spacious home. Delicacies produced by my diligent mother Ruchtza were served. She concerned herself with anything needed in the city. My diligent sisters Leah and Mirl helped Mother in this activity with great dedication. We, the sons, also helped. My sister Mirl was also very active in the Beis Yaakov religious school.
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The tragedy that befell us with the loss of our family, of which it is possible to state that it possessed a blend of Torah and greatness together, merges with our general tragedy of the loss of all the Jews of Chorzele, precious, pure, and good hearted, who were prepared to help anyone in need, and who were occupied in issues of the nation and the Land of Israel.
My destroyed home was one of the typical homes in our town, to each of which the full sense of the word “home” applies. It was a home to the family members as well as a gathering place for communal affairs. Homes such as this in Chorzele, as in other towns in Poland during that era, forged the image of the town and stamped the town with its way of life.
Woe to those that are lost but will not be forgotten.
[Page 138]
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by Moshe–Chaim Rostoker
Translated by Jerrold Landau
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My entire family was tied to our town of Chorzele: my father Shmuel–Yechezkel, my mother Keila, my four sisters Golda (Zahava), Chaitsha (Chaya), Sara, and Feiga (Tzipora), and me, the youngest.
My father was an upright, good hearted, G–d fearing Jew, who distributed charity with an open hand. He died at the beginning of the First World War (21 Elul 5774, 1914), during the epidemic that broke out due to hunger and disease.
My mother remained a widow with her five young children. She toiled on their behalf for many years to raise and educate them appropriately. We moved to Warsaw in 1930 to improve our livelihood. My mother's great hope was to see her children make aliya to Zion. I indeed made aliya in 1933, and brought my mother to live in the Holy Land two years later. Here, my mother worked a great deal for the natives of our town and for various other communal institutions, especially Yeshivas, charitable funds, and Hachnasat Kalah (providing for poor brides). She died on 5 Tammuz, 5705 (1945), and was buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
My sister, Golda, her husband Gavriel, their sons Yechezhel, Yisrael–Shalom, and Yosef, and their two daughters whose names I did not know, all perished in the Warsaw Ghetto. That fate in the Warsaw Ghetto also overtook my other sisters: Chaitsha (with her husband Tzadok and three children Yechezkel, Yitzchak, and Sara), Sara (with her husband), and Feiga.
I am the only surviving member of the entire aforementioned family.
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