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He was born in Makow in 1867. His father Avraham Yitzhak Michah's was a simple Jew, his trade was a carpenter, a passionate Misnagid [opponent of Hasidism], which was seen in our city. For many years he was the member of the community council playing the role of purveyor of government highways. In addition, he was a wood–merchant. He received a strict Jewish upbringing, studied in the Cheder from the age of 3 and Gemara with Melamdim. At 12 years old–with the Rabbi in Goverove (Ostralenker municipality)– he excelled in his studies due to his intellect, persistence and piety. Although he persevered to carry the heavy burden of the Cheder, at 13 years old he ran away from home to Vilna. He studied at R' Melech's Kloiz [small prayer hall], in R' Shmuel Peskind's class, and he spent his poverty–years. He endured many hardships in the Yeshiva due to his Polish accent, even though he studied with great diligence. As he was preparing to travel to Volozhin, he reached the age for military service and left for America. He arrived in Boston and peddled, removed snow from the streets. Then he became a tailor, in the meantime studying English, then he left Boston, gave lectures and then enrolled at the Latin University. At the time (1886) he made his debut in the “New Yorker Yiddish–Folk Newspaper”, published by M. Mintz and Dr. Broslovski, about the impressions of the trial of the Chicago anarchists, November 1887, (which made a commotion in the land) thus strengthening his involvement with the anarchists. He began to speak and agitate, since the inauguration of the newspaper “F.A.S[Frayer Arbiter Shtime–Free Workers' Voice]”, June 1890, where he became an active member and at the same time, became a student in the medical faculty of the New York University and left for Baltimore, where he studied medicine, while leading intense agitations on behalf of the Anarchists. He was jailed twice, where he wrote his impressions and other accounts in several articles for “Friends of the Workers”. He became involved with the Orthodox weekly “The Israelite”, which Alexander Harkavy then published in Baltimore. But, because of his collaboration, the printer Zilberman stopped the newspaper, in order not to antagonize the Orthodox, who were bitter towards Kahan and his wife, whom they boycotted. Then he participated in Harkavy's radical magazine “The Jewish Progress”, and became the leader of the struggle against the Jewish

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Orthodox in Baltimore, and for a fiery speech got arrested. Not caring about the consequences or his welfare, he, thanks to his wife, who worked as a seamstress, ended his studies and about 1893, relocated to Brownsville, New York, then several years later to Brooklyn, where he practiced as one of the first Jewish immigrant doctors. He went to Europe several times, studied in Berlin, worked in the Charite and other hospitals. His last trip, 1923, as a correspondent of the important English newspaper “The New–York Evening Mail”, he wrote a series of articles describing the “Frayer Arbeiter Shtime”, the exhibition in Paris of 1900, and participated as a delegate for the Anarchist Congress.

He wrote countless articles in the “F.AS”, (in which he was one of the first members of the Anarchists of America, a member for 27 years of its existence), journalistic, political–economical, sociological, cultural–history, a series of articles “What do the Anarchists Want”, 1921, which tackles the theory and the history of how Anarchism evolved, its various tendencies and representatives of this movement. He also translated [Edward] Bellamy's “Looking Backward” (in the London “Friends of the Worker”, Pytor [Peter] Kropotkin's “Memoirs of a Revolutionist” (in F.A.S.) and a larger collection of songs of I. Bowshover. Also he wrote a book “Religion and Science” and a book “The Measures to the Purpose and What is its Purpose”.

Visit of Ben–Zion Chilinovitch, with associates of “The Moment” , Makow, 1919

1. a. From Zalman Reisen's “Lexicon of Yiddish Literature”, vol. 3 Return

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He was born in Lomza in 1889. His father, Reb Notele, a Jew and Torah authority, founded the illustrious Yeshiva of Makow. He was the head of the Yeshiva and director for a long time, where he made Makow his home with his family. Ben–Zion received, like all the youth in that time, a traditional, religious upbringing. He studied in the Cheder, then in his father's Yeshiva and then in the Yeshiva of Ger and Sochachew, preparing for the Rabbinate. Under the influence of the Revolution, in 1905, he stopped his studies in the Yeshivas and began with secular studies. For this he had to depart from his religious home and went to Bialystok. There he learned to become an agitator. In 1912, he became a contributor for the daily newspaper “The Moment” in Warsaw, publishing journalistic articles, daily–pictures, references and others.

After Poland's Independence in 1918, was the Sejm–correspondent for ” The Moment”, “Vilner Times, Lemberger Daily News” and other newspapers.

He published under the pseudonym Ben–Adam, Ben–Zion, Ben–Zamach, willow names.

During the Nazi occupation he was in the Warsaw Ghetto, was the leader of the so–called Workshop Commission. Together with Kipnis, who led the press apparatus of the “Joint”. In the beginning of 1942 he receives a pass from the regime to publish an evening newspaper in Yiddish, where despite reports, there was also news and information, which lifted the spirits of the Jews of the ghetto. At the Aktion of the summer of 1942, together with a group of Jewish writers who lived in the same house with their families, were sent to Treblinka and there they were murdered.

Ben–Zion Chilinovitch came for Passover and Succoth, often in the hot summer months he would come home to Makow. For the Zionist organization meetings he delivered speeches and lectures on various themes, literary and political. Being very friendly with the great humorist Yosef Tunkel (“the dark one”), editor of the humorous section of “The Moment”, and having as well his own sense of humor and instinct for pranks, Ben–Zion was invited to gatherings and banquets, with his monologues and parodies from Tunkel's rich repertoire. He also taught us to sing Hasidic and satirical songs.

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His older brothers R' Shmuel–Chaim Chilinovitch, May God avenge his death, followed in his father's, R'Notele's footsteps. He inherited the management of the Yeshiva until it was liquidated in 1914, at the outbreak of the war.

Their two sisters Feigel and Leitche were both active in the community. Leitche for many years was involved with Zionist causes. She was involved in “Keren Kayemet” and on the culture committee. In their home, many Saturday gatherings of young people took place, in order to learn Jewish history and literature.

Leitche and her family saved themselves from the work camp and settled in America.

From the book “Tenuvat Zsiyon” by Rabbi Ben–Zion Rosenthal, May his Light Shine, the Rabbi of “Sharai Torah Anshe Ma'arav” Chicago 1961

…It so happened that I married my first wife, the late Mrs. Chaya, may she rest in peace, the daughter of the famous late Hassidic Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ismach, God avenge his blood, from Maków.

After the wedding I accepted my father–in–law's invitation and stayed at his house for about five years while dedicating myself to Torah and work.

For several years I was a pro–bono teacher in the city, since my generous father–in–law and Rabbi Bezalel Vilnberg provided for my needs abundantly.

“If it were not for your Torah as my livelihood [game], I would have been lost to poverty” this saying by King David may he rest in peace, comes to mind when I am writing my painful memories.

When the horrible Second World War broke, we ran away, myself, my wife and our household members, escaping the Nazis, may their name be obliterated. After many wanderings and hardships, we arrived in the Siberian forests of Russia and there we were prisoners for a year and a half. We left by a miraculous intervention and went to Uzbekistan. For more than two months we moved from one place to another on a bumpy road sowed with adversities. On this torturous road my two darling daughters died, suffering from thirst and hunger. After a year of mourning, sadness and pain, my wife, too, passed away, may her soul rest in heaven, and I was left all alone as a stone in a life filled with sorrow and a tortured soul. I again began to study with great devotion so that I would not submit, God Forbid, to depression…teaching Torah to some youngsters.

When I lived in Asia, in the city Raterji near Samarkand, I made many changes for the Sephardic Jewish community who were living there. Since they were Orthodox, they had no one to guide them in Torah's ways… and they trespassed unwillingly[unknowingly] the holy Torah's instructions…now all the improvements and the teachings of the Torah in Communist Russia were dangerous for me and those who followed me.

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When I returned to Poland I was accepted as the head of “Netzach Israel” Yeshiva for the remnants[survivors] of Jews in Lodz and later in Katowice(Poland) until I traveled to France and from there to the USA. In 1948 I was accepted as a Rabbi in the community “B'nai Avraham, Warsaw Jews” in Chicago.

After two years I was nominated as a Rabbi in the community “Sharai Torah Anshe Ma'arav” which sustained me with honor and also helped me come to the USA.

And I remember and lament my daughters who died in the days of the terrible fury, who died in poverty, suffering and hunger in Asia.

My daughter Frida who was 5 years old, went to heaven on October 24, 1941. My daughter Faige, may she rest in peace, was 7 years old and her soul ascended to heaven on October 22, 1942. May their souls be bound together in the book of life.

I want to memorialize the name of their mother as well, my first wife, the modest and righteous Mrs. Chaya, may her soul rest in peace, the daughter of the late Hassidic Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel. She died on January 14, 1943. May all their souls rest in peace.

I wish my head would turn to water and my eyes become a source of tears so that I could cry day and night lamenting the destruction of the people of Israel that were destroyed in Europe– six million saints and the purest of our Jewish brothers and sisters, one million children, the purest of souls, who were burned by the accursed German murderers, may their name be forever erased. They were led to crematoriums, among them the holy community of Maków (Poland); our people were defiled and taken to their slaughter to Majdanek and Treblinka. It used to be a Jewish city; famous Rabbis sat on its throne; the Gaon R' Laibitch Harif, may his soul rest in peace, from Plock, R' Elazar Poltusker, may his soul rest in peace, R' Favael Grizer, may his soul rest in peace, and the late R' Nathan Netta Hilinovitch, the Gaon and the righteous from Lomza, may his soul rest in peace.

I will mention in memoriam the names of my friends: The late Rabbi Gaon R' Ishak Zevi Edelberg, may his soul rest in peace, the last Rabbi of Maków. The late brilliant Gaon, a remarkable Hassid, R' Israel Segal, may his soul rest in peace, and the Gaon Rabbi Ze'ev Finzeg who was the head of the Cheder “Yesodai Ha'Torah” and especially the souls of my family members: R' Yeruham Monkrash and his family, R' Zevi Orlovsky and his wife, R' Mendel Student, the last manager and the Hassidic Rabbi R' Aaron Bolman, R' Yaakov David Hendel, the knowledgeable Hassid R' Shimon Haim, the son of the late Gaon R' Netta Hilinovitch and his late wife Bat–Sheva, may she rest in peace, the head of “Linat Tzedek” and other landlords [elders or prominent community leaders] and yeshiva students– all God fearing, Hassidic and practical men. May God remember them with the rest of the saints and the righteous of the world.

Do not forget their blood and their cries until God will avenge their deaths and lead us redemption. Amen.

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(Ha–Zfira, July 24, 1903)

We heard the sad news that Rabbi Mordechai Finkel died after a long illness in his city Ostrava next to Lomza district.

Rabbi Mordechai Finkel was a survivor of the Cossack Riots, he was the brilliant son of the late Rabbi Fishly who was the Chief Judge in Maków and spent most of his life in Brisk Litovsk, he was a merchant and a Torah student, and also read secular books, a real Talmudic man, spirited and wise, a son to a distinguished family and for most of his life Rabbi Mordechai Finkel was a prominent and generous landlord.

At the end of his life he moved back to Maków and made her his home again after his father died and he was the first for every public endeavour, combining Torah and work. He was highly regarded by all the city's citizens.

In his late years he became weak and an illness bent his strong spine and although he was not yet very old, only seventy years old – his illness progressed and his life changed, he lived in his brother–in–law's house in Ostrava and there his illness became grave until he surrendered.

He left his saddened son, our distinguished writer Mr. Elazar Dovid Finkel, his sons' descendants, the family of his late wife, may God console them and may his soul be bound in the book of life forever and ever.

They are writing to us from Maków:

On Thursday, August 20^th, we were visited by Rabbi Itzhak Burg and Dr. Yosef Shulman who came to fundraise for “Keren Hayesod”.

The economic crisis and the uncomfortable local conditions could not create a welcoming atmosphere for this important work and the local board even demanded from the Central Bureau to postpone the fundraising. However, the delegation ignored the decision of the local board and came

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to Maków and we were delighted to find out how baseless our previous desperation were, since despite the dire straits, people remained loyal to the idea of the Land–of–Israel and it became crystal clear[our moral duty] during Keren Hayesod Week that took place in our city.

The distinguished guests successfully held three large assemblies and awakened the hearts to the Land–of–Israel idea. The real results of their work exceeded everything we achieved and the number of contributors was 50% percent higher than the previous year.

We find it important to mention the dedicated work of Mr. M. Austri, A. Barenboim, Y.M. Lowe, Sher, and Recanat who assisted the delegation and worked all throughout the fundraising with high energy and great success. The practical work was also assisted by the members: Y. M. Skornik, M. Rosenberg and the members of “HaShomer Hazair”.

The elected members of the new committee were: S. Recanat – chairman, A. Barenboim – vice chairman, M. Austri – treasurer. Y. M. Skornik – secretary, Y.M. Lowe, S. Pianko and M. Rosenberg.

Maków Jews will remember for a long time the impact of such a successful fundraising event for the building of the Land–of–Israel.

All the participants in this fundraising for “Keren HaYesod” mentioned in my letter, except me, the one writing these notes – are all respectful, educated Jews, who worked for the public with faith and diligence, they all perished during the Holocaust. May their memory stay forever.

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His father, Rabbi Mordechai David Finkel, the son of the famous late Rabbi Efraim Fishel was, according to his friend Nahum Sokolow “A wise Torah scholar who read as well secular books, a man of integrity, a real Talmudic man, spiritual and with profound opinions”. During the eighties of last century, the letters of Rabbi Mordechai Finkel were published in Ha–Zfira”, he writes about the city's happenings in good taste and clear language, which testify that he not only was a wise scholar but was as well immersed in languages' intricacies. His son Elezar[Leyzer]– Dovid was born in Maków in 1862, studied in Brisk Litovsk, the city to which his parents moved, he studied Torah and Talmud and was famous as a brilliant student. He followed his father's footsteps, and he too, dedicated himself to research and science. He mastered languages easily and knew well the classics and the spoken languages, including Arabic and Japanese. He translated world's literature into Hebrew. After his grandfather, the late Rabbi Efraim Fishel died, his parents went back to live in Maków.

In “Ha–Zfira” of June 12, 1881, during the riots of Jews in South–Russia, a letter by Leyzer– Dovid was published and these were his words:

Maków.

Distinguished publisher,

Please accept the sum of nine Rubal (silver Rubal) for our robbed brothers in the wilderness' cities, collected by the following people: (here came a list of contributors among them his father, Rabbi Mordechai Finkel, 3 Rubal and from the writer himself 2 Rubal) and he ends the letter with these words: “I hope that by the time this is published my friend Nathan Avigdor will hurry and send the remainder of the funds raised, about 20 Rubel”.

That same year he married the daughter of the distinguished Nahum Halberstat from Warsaw who was a devoted and Hassidic Jew and he chose Elazar[Leyzer]– Dovid as a Torah son and a scholar to marry his daughter so that he could fend for him while he studied the Torah, as was the custom among Polish Jews. But his son–in–law, instead of studying the Talmud, read secular books and learned foreign languages. This caused disputes between him and his Hassidic father–in–law until they separated from him, and he went on with his studies.

He begun translating scientific writings from other languages into Hebrew and published them in “Ha–Zfira” and the “Melitz”. He also participated in the translation of[Gustav] Karpeles's big book “The History of Jewish Literature”[Toldot hasfirut haivrit] and many other books into Hebrew, until he became one of the main contributors of “Ha–Tzfira”, where he worked about twenty years. Later he worked for the Yiddish newspaper “Haynt” in Warsaw. At the same time, he published articles in “Ha–Tzfira” weekly. A collection of his original articles and translations were assembled in his book “Chapters of Leyzer's Ways” (Warsaw 1904–1905). He studied the Torah all his life besides working and acquired deep wisdom and knowledge, as his father before him. He was liked and admired by his friends and acquaintances since he was modest and innocent in all his ways. He exceled with an encyclopedic knowledge and frequently turned his attention to philological research.

During World War I, when the German governed Poland, he fell ill with typhoid and died young on June 9, 1918.

There is an Aramaic saying: “It is sad to lose an unreplaceable person”.

G. Karsel: Lexicon of the Hebrew Literature in the last generations, second volume.
“Ha–Tzfira”: July 24, 1903
“Ha–Zefira”: Weekly April 25^th, 1918

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He was born in our city in 1882 to his father R' Mordechai Nyman (the late R' Fishel's grandson) he was a teacher and Chief Justice for many years. (Died in 1914). Efraim Fishel studied in Maków Yeshiva under the direction of R' Nettale and later with his father and with R' Haim Hertz Halperin, the Chief Justice in Bialystok where he learned the state language and the laws concerning the Rabbi and his flock. He studied in Vilna, too, with the Gaon's Beit–Midrash and in Moscow. After receiving

Rabbi Efraim Fishel Nyman may he rest in peace, the author of “Beit Efraim”, the grandson of the righteous Gaon R' Motelle from Maków

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His rabbinic certification in 1920, the rabbi, Batya, his distinguished wife and their two gentle daughters Golda–Raisel and Matil arrived in the US and he was nominated as a rabbi at the Maków People Synagogue in New York.

He served as a rabbi for close to thirty years and was loved and respected by his congregation, always busy with public needs and active in the Rabbis Association in New York as a management member, talented as a writer, he published articles about religion, Judaism and the history of Jews in periodicals that appeared in the USA and Poland in Hebrew and in Yiddish. He also authored books, among them the book “Ways of Life” about the non–Jews' laws, their ways and manners (New York, 1948). In the pamphlet “Beit Efraim” (New York 1922) Rabbi Efraim Fishel writes: “I am sending a greeting and blessing to my native Maków residents who now live in the USA, the distinguished and dear, who excel in the love of Torah and deep faith, who love me and take good care of all my needs”. And the Rabbi concludes: “And I pray for them so that God will repay them as they deserve and bless them with success and grant them all their wishes and fill their hearts with goodness.”

The grave of the righteous Gaon Rabbi Mottele May he Rest in Peace with other righteous in Maków

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He was born in Makow, Poland in 1900. He left for Paris in his 20s. There he passed all the trials and tribulations of the war years. He died in November 1966.

Perhaps the greatest amongst the connoisseurs in the plastics^[1] arts– great art among the Jews was unbelievable on one hand, but real and reachable on the other. His extraordinary group admired him throughout his life. His family name was simple and plain: Aronson. But Aronson simply put it: Khil (probably for Yechiel). In French they called him: Shil–Shil Aronson. He didn't care for these trivialities. He was immersed in the arts in general with a focus on Jewish art. He served as an art critic..and this I don't know very well.

I didn't know him very well. He never approached an acquaintance. He always waited like a shadow until he was approached. It seemed he always had plenty of time. All his problems were art related problems. He didn't take seriously his food, dress, or place of residence–they were only an infection for him–something only foolish folks worry about. Also he–Yechiel Aronson–so be it. And–what is most important–without life one cannot admire the art of Jews and non–Jews.

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How did he–Khil Aronson–appear, do you want to know? Thin like a starving artist, should he open his mouth–it should be only to eat. In order to describe a brief encounter, or to describe part of his art world, while working as a secretary for the society of Jewish journalists and writers in Warsaw– I sat at one occasion immersed in my thoughts–I didn't notice, someone entered behind me and stood there not saying anything: I apologized, but this didn't seem to affect him–Aronson. He had only one problem: he wanted to go to Paris because this was the center of art for the entire world.

He left the office–and left me with this problem…despite all, it was a miracle to receive a visa or pass in those years in Poland–especially for a Jew–one who had to deal with it really knew.

Several weeks later Aronson was in Paris and began his struggle–Jewish art in the art metropolis of art. His dream was–to release a representative album featuring reproductions of many Jewish artists concentrated in the mecca of the art world–in Paris between the two World Wars–he introduced their color, line and dynamics, displaying their God blessed talents, while at the time, others had a bit of reservation for this grandiose plan–Aronson didn't seem to care. He assembled several hundred portraits and profiles of Parisian Jewish artists. He gave each one of them the means to partake in this collaboration, each contributing a minimum of 3 paintings, in total seven hundred oversized pages, a glorious panorama of bohemian Paris unfolds here–its cafes and characters, literary banquets, gallerists, painters, and models. There is something quite Proustian about Aronson's elegiac and detail–laden re–creation of a vanished world. His voice is by turns gossipy and analytical–he had both the curiosity of a tabloid journalist and the mind of a scholar. But above all, this is a portrait of Montparnasse as a Jewish cultural space, Aronson's Yiddish lens brings into sharp focus the common bonds of language and identity that linked in other, overlapping circles–French, Russian, or Polish. Arranged large portfolios with a minimum of three pictures. The profiles are short, clear and especially– are written with great enthusiasm. The books are read and the pictures are admired–because Aronson understands art, especially Jewish art. Among the great artists of the world–that the plan will be realized–was Marc Chagall. A book–no, a fundamental book about and from the most famous Jewish artists in Paris. A book–no, a great work and precisely in Yiddish in print. Just as the commentaries and essays, through this book, became a reality. And so these hundreds of reproductions later were reproduced in black except two. But this should not diminish the value of the book, that only Khil Aronson could bring to fruition. How? You may ask yourself? Quite simply, it's a miracle for the Jewish Montparnasse in between the two wars.

This was a monumental work, let's look at it from the physical side: the book

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weighs 12 pounds…printed on the most durable paper. The colored reproductions were only for two pictures. One from Chaim Soutine and the other of Marc Chagall.

Still like a shadow he arrived from a Polish town to Warsaw–still like a shadow he left for Paris in 1926– and there, still like a shadow he slaved over his life–work–pictures and exhibitions from Montparnasse.

Earlier on Khil Aronson continued his life's work according to his vision– a vision that encompassed his entire life. I corresponded with him for a short period. My letters to him were full of praise of his life's work. But his letters to me–full of bitterness. First–about his work–about his life's dream. Was this a struggle to achieve his goal?

Forty years he wandered in the desert of disbelieving the achievements of the work of Jewish artists, in life of the entire human race–but he had achieved his dream. Through him Jewish artists achieved greatness and world fame.

One of the most renowned Jewish art books and surely the most detailed book of Jewish artists in the plastics period, and even written in Yiddish.

• Khil Aronson, wrote extensively on modern art in Yiddish, Polish, and French. He was a Polish art critic who offered a unique perspective on the Ecole de Paris–the extraordinary constellation of Jewish artists who flocked to Paris in the early decades of the twentieth century. He was an established art critic for the Polish Yiddish press by the time he moved to Paris. He was captivated by the émigré art scene in Montparnasse, he became its devoted chronicler. A gregarious and popular figure, he visited painters in their studios and homes, gossiped with them in cafes, and reviewed their exhibitions.
• Excerpt from the Yiddish Book Center.“The Big Green Book”

Translator's footnote:

1. Plastic arts are art forms, such as sculpture and ceramics. It is also a term used broadly for all the visual arts (painting, sculpture, film, photography) as opposed to literature and music. Return

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From “The Daily Morning Journal” February 4, 1968, the Kotzker writer Menashe Unger writes a story about our town. Printed in the book “Amud Haemet”, page 127

The father of the Hasid R' Yehoshua Yacov of Makow, was a deaf Jew. His livelihood came from playing at weddings. In the regulations of the Makow community it was written that no one can play at weddings, except for this one Klezmer, who relied on this for his livelihood.

When this Klezmer died, the notables of the city wanted to make his son, R' Yehushe–Yekel the Klezmer, to play at weddings. However, he wasn't able to convince himself to play where

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women were dancing. So R' Yehoshua–Yekel decided to go to the Kotzker Rabbi for advice. The Kotzker rabbi said: “…there is more written concerning this, that one should enjoy being in good health, than from piety… but it should be only for the well– being, and the brain should be concerned with spirituality.” So R' Yehoshua–Yekel resigned himself to play at weddings, but he played facing the wall in order not to gaze upon the women dancing. And when the Kotzker rabbi married his second wife, he played at the Rabbi's wedding.

The author of “My grandfathers in Makow”, son of Meir-Shloime Rosenthal, scholar and Ger Hasid, was born in 1904 in Makow. While still a child, his father with his family relocated to Mlawa. Yehuda Rosenthal received a traditional Yiddish upbringing, studied in Warsaw, later in the universities of Berlin and Leipzig and in the College of Judaism in Berlin. In 1939, he arrived in the United States, studied medicine and there received his doctorate. From 1942, professor in the College of Jewish Scholarship in Chicago. In his field, Dr. Rosenthal published research papers in scientific journals in Hebrew, Yiddish, English and German.

His great work of 700 pages in 2 volumes “Research and Sources”, published by the Midrasha of Judaic Studies in Chicago in collaboration with Reuven Mess Publishing, Jerusalem. This work received great reviews from genuine critics of the Hebrew press in Israel as well as in other cities. The renowned Hebrew researcher and scientist Ephraim Shmueli offered a great critical dissertation on the book in the “New York Post”, under the title: The research results of a Hebrew historian”. At the end the interesting and scholarly words of Ephraim Shmueli: “Dr. Rosenthal's book is a treasure trove of innovations and summaries of Jewish Wisdom. Dr. Yehuda Rosenthal is one of the luminary students

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of the High Beit Midrash in Berlin (to which he consecrated an informative and important article in the second volume of the book). After feasting on Mishna and Talmud he learned science and combined Torah, wisdom and good manners”. The author of this article adds: “he is one of the only researchers in this country who writes in Hebrew. And who knows, he might be one of the only ones in the last generation of the wise Jews in the USA who writes mainly in Hebrew”.

In the Pinchas of Mlawa one finds a resume of his father Shlomo Rosenthal, which is of interest for all of us from our city. It is told, after the death of the “Magid” the children and grandchildren had to endure burning troubles from the Hasidim. Several times the Makover Hassidim burned the Ohel of the tomb of the Magid. The Magid's daughter, who called the Hassidim, played a prank^[1] on them, on the eve of Pesach [they] smeared the entrance of her house with resin and she smeared her holiday clothes with resin”.

Translator's footnote:

1. Could not verify Return

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Dov Hendel z”l (Berko Hendel z”l)

He came from a well–to–do family, the son of R'Hillel–Hiltche Hendel. He studied in the Cheder, in Perelman's gymnasia [high school], and then he began his revolt against the concepts [what was expected of us] of our small shtetl–he went to learn a profession.

There were few professions in Makow: shoemaker, chimney sweep and tailor. And this is how Berko came to tailoring in a workshop of the best–known tailor in our town, Avraham Melach.

But this was only a small part of his work. The main goal of his life was dedicated to his immigration to Eretz Yisroel; and Zionism, which he expressed through his activities in the youth movement “HaShomer HaTzair”.

The “HaShomer HaTzair” was founded in 1918 in Makow by Meir Kanarek, who then lived in Plotzk and later he became known as the social activist[representative] in Mlawa.

Berko joined “Ha'Shomer Ha'Tzair” in 1918 together with Avraham Rosenthal, Yankel Sheinberg, Alter Kotziak, Vove Reitchik, and other brothers and sisters from the shtetl. At the head of the “HaShomer HaTzair” was Shmuel–Zelig Hendel and Yacov–Moishe Skornik.

Suddenly Berko stands out from the others and becomes one of the leading colleagues in the district membership of Mlawa.

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Later he made Aliyah to Eretz Yisroel, arrived at the Ein Shemer Kibbutz of “HaShomer–Ha Tzair” and here he died from an Arab bullet, in 1938.

He had the features of a talented leader, the soul of an artist with a great love for humanity and nature.

If it were normal conditions, he might have achieved great goals and important deeds. Berko was tormented to lead another life which he did not find in the poor, wooden houses of Makow; he used to wander through fields and forests where he basked in the glory of nature.

If the Heavenly–One had endowed the Kingdom of Poland with lovely landscapes and monuments, a large part of Makow was endowed with this beauty.

This shtetl was in the heart of Mazovia, the sandy, poorer part of Poland, but outside the city beautiful pine forests grew, fields stretching along the banks of the Orzyc river, which snaked and cut through the shtetl itself.

Saturday, early morning, everyone is sleeping, only the young girls and boys of “HaShomer–HaTzair”, under the leadership of Berko, leave the shtetl and go into the forests. Here they discuss Eretz Yisroel, sing Hebrew songs, and dream about a free Jewish life in their own land.

In those beautiful spring–days, which the young poet Menachem sang in praise, these are some of the verses:

Spring has arrived, the sun shines, the skies are blue
The fields are in bloom, and early mornings are immersed in nature
Blooms appear from the black earth,
Looking and wondering: –God's world is great.
The sparrows are arriving and singing without end…

Berko and his friends wandered over hills and valleys, fields and forests.

An artistic soul hid in this young boy Berko. He used to draw, paint, sculpt, dabble in artistic photography and possibly, if he had been given the opportunity to study, he would have developed into an artist, a sculpturer. But instead of this, his life locked him inside a workshop for many hours, every day, [in the tailor workshop], and as a result, he escaped like a bird from a cage. In these outings, or in the garden of “HaShomer–HaTzair” he expressed his entire being through song– his grief, his sadness and his pain.

[Page 438]

Many evenings I remember, when we sat in “Garden” of “HaShomer–HaTzair” and sang songs that poor people sing:

There was a pauper
He didn't have anything to eat and what to wear…

And late at night these songs sung by the members drifted through the wind. They didn't only wander in the nearby village, but also to the surrounding villages: Pultusk, Ruzhan, Krasnasheslk; the Makower “guards”[loyal members] wandered about, they were known for their pranks which Berko organized.

And in the shtetl people would sing this popular song:

Let's go for a walk, a beautiful walk,
The young guards, big and small are following,
Berko is the commandant, Menachem helps him out,
People go hiking in summer, because people do not go in winter…

Years go by. I was a student in the University in Warsaw, and running from one lecture to another, I suddenly saw a familiar face–Berko.

Why are you running, Menachem? he asks me.

Looking at him, I questioned myself: Why am I running?

We roamed the streets of Warsaw and talked for hours about our days in Makow. Years went by again. Berko is already in Eretz Yisroel, in the kibbutz and suddenly the dreadful news: Dov Hendel was hit by an Arab bullet in the kibbutz.

In Makow we gathered together with all his friends and acquaintances. I went on the stage of the city theatre (there was a cinema already built at that time) I want to speak, but the words don't say anything. I feel only, that Berko is missing, that no one can replace him.

I pass through the streets of Makow later on, and I feel the sorrow in everything around me due to the death of Berko. It seems to me, the houses are lower, the sun doesn't shines like before, the Oszycz became small and shallow. The forests of the neighbourhood look poor and bare– Berko is missing here!

In the Land of Israel the remnants of the Makov community gathered together at Berko's grave in Kibbutz Ein–Shemer for the yearly memorial.

[Page 439]

I stand and look at the memorial stone, where the words are engraved “Dov Hendel”.

The whole life of this person is concentrated in this stone. And standing at his grave of my young friend and soulmate, I felt, this stone and others like it–this is the foundation of building and freedom, the foundation for our state [of Israel] – our freedom.

May the earth of our homeland bring you strength, dear friend and brother.

May your memory be inscribed in the book of life.

The late Israel Pomerantz Son of Haim and Rachel Died fulfilling his duty for IDF On August 26th, 1951

After the war, in 1946 they arrived, after many hardships, to Ulm in Germany. During the Independence War his older brother, who had arrived in Israel with Aliya B', was enlisted and participated in the bloody battles over Jerusalem. He made Aliya following his footsteps and settled in Ein–Harod Kibbutz, where he stayed until the whole family arrived in Israel.

Israel was a handsome youngster, talented and energetic, he worked during the day and studied at night. He was a loyal son to his parents and was liked by his friends, he sang and played music, was easy–going and content.

In 1950 he joined the IDF and was accepted to the Air Force. Here too, he excelled in his studies and in his duties, and since he could play, he was part of IDF's Orchestra.

In 1951, on his way from furlough to his unit he was killed in a car accident, together with five of his IDF friends.

The pain and sorrow for the lives of these young people were great and Yisroel will never be forgotten by his friends and fellow–citizens of Maków for ever and ever.

[Page 441]

He fell after the Six Days War while removing mines in Ramat Ha'Golan. The late Rani was born in Afula, both his parents were from Maków – Issachar and Zila Weisberg. His grandfather Dov–Berish owned the only printing–house in Maków, and he was the one to organize, with his student Yaakov, a Bible Circle.

Second Lieutenant Rani Weisberg

The late Rani inherited most of his families' (who perished in the Holocaust) characteristics and talents, from painting to woodcarving. He graduated from high school and his teacher said that he was “A young man radiating simplicity, modesty, and earnestness, generous who always craved the beautiful and useful; he excelled in his studies and in drawing, he was active among the other students and was liked by them. He was gifted and had an intellectual curiosity. He was interested in different sciences and used to come up with fast and accurate answers, diving into the depth of problems with wisdom and logic.”

In the IDF he was in the Engineering Corps and during the Six Day War he was appointed as the intelligence officer of his regiment. After the war his soldiers received an order to go out to a difficult and dangerous mission, removing Syrian mines. The late Rani postponed the wedding furlough he was granted and headed out with his soldiers.

And then one of the mines exploded and put an end to his life, the smile remained on his face after his death. He left behind shocked and adoring soldiers and at home – his love and bereaved parents.

His blessed memory will be with us forever.

[Page 442]

My hands shake when I have to write that rabbi Pinkhas Ingberman is no longer among the living. The young and energetic Reb was full of life. Torah and wisdom always sprung from him. To recite the Torah was always his great pleasure. We expected quickly to celebrate his wedding. But instead of joyfully singing “over him” at his wedding, we brought him to be buried.

Still as a young boy, when he arrived in Pultusk, near Warsaw, to the Beth Yosef Yeshiva, to the Rosh Yeshiva rabbi HaGoan Reb Yitzhak Elfand, May God avenge his blood, he already had a reputation: The Makower Genius”. His first teacher- rabbi was rabbi Reb Moshe Turner Schlit'a, today in Brooklyn. He tells that already then when Pinkhas Ingberman was 12 years old, he already displayed great talents with his sharp mind.

Later he arrives in Bialystock at the main yeshiva of “Beth Yosef” which had 36 branches all over Poland, 12 of them I founded. The head Rosh- Yeshiva was the well known Gaon Rabbi Avraham Yaffe Shlit'a, which is today the chief “Rosh-Yeshiva” of the Bialystoker Yeshiva “Beth Yosef” in Brooklyn.

When the young Pinkhas arrives in Bialystock, he draws the attention of all the 400 young boys who were then in the Yeshiva.

Although there was no lack of intelligent students in the Yeshiva, people obviously knew that Pinhkas Makower was an exceptional student. He was a genius in the full sense of the word. In Torah, from memory, he literally performed miracles and as a young lad, the Head of the Yeshiva Schlit'a said about him: “here grows a great Adam” and so he sat and studied with great perseverance and persistance for Torah innovations until the war broke out. Then together with the Yeshiva lads he was sent to Russia, to Siberia. He arrived in a work camp with a group of young Yeshiva boys, one being the son in law of the head of the Yeshiva, rabbi HaGoan Reb Yehuda Leib Nekritz Shlit'a, today R.M. In the yeshiva Beth Yosef in Brooklyn.
In this work camp he was required to chop wood in the forests during the daytime, in the great freezing Siberian winters, enduring hunger and cold, not having the necessary clothing for such cold weather.

[Page 443]

Going to the forest he took several pages of Gemara with him, and when he completed these pages he exchanged them with a friend for other pages. When Friday arrived, he would make an eruv [a ritual halakhic enclosure made for the purpose of allowing activities which are normally prohibited on Shabbat, like carrying objects], so that he could go on the Sabbath from his village to another village, where the other Bialystoker Yeshiva lads were working. They got together to celebrate the Shabbat day in Torah and Mussar.

He took care not to fail in the desecration of the Sabbath or eat forbidden foods. We can say about him as King David eulogized Abner: “ thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put in fetters; as a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him”. ^[1] (Samuel ll, 3: 34)

Also, for the young and saintly rabbi one can say: “with your hands thou hast written months of Torah and carried pages of Gemara; with your feet you walked to study Torah and you fell down at the hands of a criminal act which tore apart your blossoming young life”.

After Liberation he arrives, in 1946, in America, to the Yeshiva Beth Yosef in Brooklyn, where he continues to teach for several years and becomes a rabbi in Plainfield, New Jersey. He remains there two years as a rabbi in “Tiffereth Israel”- Brisker synagogue in Brooklyn, where he earns a great reputation among the rabbis and students. The 35 year old Rabbi reached a level in his studies as seen in the older generation of rabbis.

We are certain that God will not remain silent for the innocent spilt blood “for the blood of his servants shall rise, vengeance shall return upon his adversaries, and he will be return to his people”.

1. https://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt08b03.htm Return

[Page 444 - Hebrew] [Page 446 - Yiddish]

I recognized her even before I saw her face. Even in a photo. This testifies to the special merits of her personality.

Mindl Rajczyk–Frydman

In her letter she invited me to visit the USA and stay for a while to change the atmosphere and release the anguish. All this without flowery language nor pathos. The simplicity of the words, so sincere, trustworthy, so captivating.

[Page 445]

I could not accept her cordial invitation at once. Many months had passed, years, until I had the privilege of seeing her in real life, this figure I conjured in my imagination based on the letters she sent me and her real image surpassed the one I imagined.

I saw her in her home, at the restaurant which supported her, surrounded by her big family, in her relationships with friends and acquaintances and at her public activities – American style, it was impossible not to respect, cherish and love her.

Her house was an open one, welcoming each and every guest. When I arrived, I found there another Israeli descendant of Maków, who spent most of his time in New York at her home. And before him there was another Israeli, one I recommended, and he had the house key and came and went at will, ate, drank and left when he wanted and his presence was felt… the refrigerator full of food and different goodies…and it went on for many months, until this man found himself a wife and made a home in America, but he did not return the key…

Needless to say, that I felt at home in this house, from the very first moment, as did each person who entered that place. This woman knew well the secret of welcoming guests!

Soon I saw her working at the restaurant, while it was still dark outside, she went to work and came back at night. The work was relentless, she had to take care of shopping, organizing the restaurant, bills, managing the workers, the clients – and day after day, hour after hour with no break. Where did she find the physical strength for it all, being a small, short woman and as it later became clear – the terminal disease, which shorthanded her life, and was already nesting inside her.

And after a day of labor – a long trip, to visit the old mother, her mother–in–law. And very often the parties of the “Farband” Circle in her home, if you haven't seen her preparations for these parties you haven't seen the sacred work done with love and trembling soul. She stood for hours and prepared different delicacies: tiny sandwiches in diverse geometrical forms, filled with varied cheeses, meat, sausage, all set up nicely on plates and decorated with many colorful vegetables – a feast for the eyes. All this set on tables decorated as well with greens and flowers and bottles, a real masterpiece. So, is it any wonder that there was a special ambiance that affected each one who entered the house? Needless to say, all expenditures came from the Frydman's pocket and the entire income – was consecrated to the working Land–of–Israel.

And when the party was over – a long time to rearrange and clean the house, till after midnight and the day after, before dawn, back to work.

She had an unconditioned love to the Land–of–Israel and admiration for its people, especially to its pioneers. More than once I thought, while watching her work, that if she worked as hard in our country, she would have made a good living no worse than there, and I thought that some of our friends in Israel do not appreciate the loyalty and dedication of our friends in America, whose work

[Page 446]

has a good dose of pioneering – although American Style. Mindl was one of the best friends of the working class of the Land–of–Israel.

Her dream came true at last, she and Yehoshua visited Israel in 1960 and their happiness was bonding. I accompanied them when they toured the Upper Galilei and to other places. They spoke a lot about making Aliya. They went back to America but their hearts remained in Israel. We believed that they would come to us, become Israeli citizens and we would enjoy their good company – but then one day we received the bitter news that the good and generous Mindl had died.

A terminal disease ended her life, and she was taken from us.

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