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[Page 241]

Congresses of former Secureni residents in Israel

Translated by Mira Eckhaus

Donated by Roberta Jaffer

 

The First Convention of Secureni Expatriates in Israel 16.7.1951

The convention was organized by the members Z. Egret, Dr. Y. Bider, Dr. Y. Har-Even, D. Riedel and others.

Secureni expatriates came from all parts of the country: old and new immigrants, a large crowd. The KKL Hall in Tel Aviv was filled to capacity. The number of those who remained outside was larger than the number of those who were inside. For this reason and because of the desire of those gathered to have an intimate conversation after years of separation, it was difficult to manage the convention. The desire to have a free conversation prevailed over their desire to listen. Only with great difficulty the presidency was able to take control of the situation, and only after a break was announced, the convention entered the desired course, mainly in the second part.

 


From right to left:
Sitting: Y. Koren, D. Schichterfelt, Y. Bider, D. Riedel, Z. Egret
Standing: Y. Purcell, M. and K. Spector, L. Kuperstein, S. Bronstein, B. Bider

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On behalf of the Center of the Union of Expatriates of Bessarabia, participated the members Y. Koren and L. Kuperstein, as well as a guest from the United States, Mrs. Dora Schechterhalt (Malmud).

The chairman opened the convention and gave the floor to the representatives of the center and to the guest Schechterhalt.

After a short break, a memorial service was held for the martyrs of Secureni by Mr. Yosef Koifman. Mr. Z. Egret gave the eulogy speech for the Secureni community that was perished. At the end of his speech, he proposed to commemorate the name of the community by publishing a book called Megilat Secureni (Secureni Scroll), in which the life of the community before the Holocaust will be reflected, as well as the description of the Holocaust itself. He also proposed to establish a Gmiluth Chasadim (charity) fund for the expatriates of Secureni; and to set the first day of the month of Menachem Av as the Memorial Day for the Secureni martyrs.

The resolutions of the convention:

  1. To set a yearly Memorial Day for the Secureni martyrs in the first day of the month of Menachem Av. On the same day, the annual convention of Secureni expatriates will also be held.
  2. To publish a book called Megilat Secureni (Secureni Scroll) according to the suggestion of Mr. Z. Egret. For this purpose, a considerable amount for the publication of the book was collected at the time of the convention.
A committee, composed of the followings, was elected:

Dr. Y. Bider, Z. Egret, Dr. Y. Har-Even, M.Y. Zohar (Gleer), A. Zelinger (Feldberg), A. Arzon, A. Guzman, Y. Kir (Hadera), Mrs. Spector, S. Bronstein, Y. Rosenblatt, S. Bronstein, A. Yehudait (Haifa).

 

The Second Convention of Secureni Expatriates in Israel
(The first day of the month of Menachem Av, 5712)

According to the decision of the first convention, the second convention was held in the first day of the month of Menachem Av, in the hall of The Center for Education in Tel Aviv.

About two hundred people came from all parts of the country. The convention was opened by Mr. Z. Egret. The chazan A. Ackerman conducted the memorial service. Eulogy speeches were given by Dr. Y. Har-Even, Z. Egret, K. Spector and Dr. Y. Bider. Some of the speakers emphasized the mysterious indifference of the Secureni expatriate organization overseas, which does not even respond to the committee's inquiries to it. The suspicion arose that someone was trying to sabotage the relationship and was slandering the committee before the organization in America.

The financial report was read by the secretary of the committee, D. Riedel, the book editing report was given by Mr. R. Egret, which pointed out the financial difficulties involved in publishing

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The second convention of Secureni expatriates

From right to left: D. Riedel, Y. Bider, Z. Egret, Y. Har-Even, K. Spector

 

the book. He asked the members to come up with material for the book and to continue to support it with financial donations, so that we can face the ever-increasing cost of paper and labor.

On behalf of the committee, he mentioned the donation of Mr. Zeev Berman, who donated 200 Liras to the publication of the book, which will be dedicated to the memory of his wife Eltza, who passed away in the prime of her life.

A council, composed of the followings, was elected:

Y. Bider, Z. Egret, Dr. Y. Har-Even, D. Riedel, S. Bronstein, Mrs. Spector, C. Lisker, D. Groysman, Y. Blinder, Y. Spibach, Y. Brozin, A. Packer (Haifa), A. Lieberman (Haifa), Y. Yakir (Hadera), L. Guzman.

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The Resolutions of the Second Convention of Secureni Expatriates in Israel
(The first day of the month of Menachem Av, 5712)
  1. The convention raises with grief and honor the memory of the Secureni martyrs, most of whom were murdered this month eleven years ago as victims of the Nazi regime.
  2. The convention determines that the Memorial Day for the Secureni martyrs will be in the first day of the month of Menachem Av, which is approximately the day the holocaust began. This date was set as the day of the annual convention.
  3. The convention notes with sorrow and concern the indifferent attitude of our city's organizations in the United States and Brazil to the affairs of our organization in Israel.
  4. The convention states that the committee chosen by it is the only authorized representative to negotiate on behalf of the organization with the public institutions in Israel and abroad.
  5. The convention authorizes the editorial staff to publish the Megilat Secureni as soon as possible.
  6. The convention welcomes the proposal of Mr. Z. Berman to donate 200 Liras to the book publishing fund in memory of his wife, the late Mrs. Eltza Schechter Berman.
  7. The convention obliges all Secureni expatriates to donate to the fund the price of the book, three Liras, in order to be able to publish the book.
  8. The convention asks that all Secureni expatriates, wherever they are, to come up with material to be included book. Short biographies and photos of relatives who were perished, are also welcomed.
  9. The convention sees a need to establish a Gmiluth Chasadim (charity) fund by the organization, of course with the help of Secureni organizations overseas.
  10. The convention welcomes Mr. Egret's proposal to organize every Purim a ball similar to the traditional Purim ball that was held in Secureni.
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The third convention of Secureni expatriates

From right to left: D. Riedel, Y. Bider, Z. Egret, Y. Har-Even, K. Spector

 

The third convention of Secureni expatriates In Israel
(Held in the first day of the month of Menachem Av, 5713 at the General School in Holon).

A crowd of two hundred people or more came to the convention from all over the country. The convention was opened by Mr. Z. Egret, who in his opening remarks noted the historical value of this date for generations. Among other things, he emphasized the importance of the double commemoration of the Secureni community by publishing the book about its history and by planting trees in its name in the Forest of the Martyrs.

After the communion with the memory of the martyrs, Mr. Mordechai Blinder, who was among the

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community activists in Secureni in the past, lit a memorial candle, and the chazan, Mr. Ackerman, held the memorial prayer.

Dr. Y. Bider read the report of the committee for the past year and suggested that a limited committee be chosen. In his opinion, the committee's activity would be more fruitful if it consisted of a smaller number of people.

Mr. Zvi Bronstein spoke extensively about the Forest of the Martyrs, a special film about the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel on behalf of KKL was played.

Dr. Y. Har-Even lectured about “Figure of Secureni”, he mainly expanded his speech about the late Moshe Glazer.

Even though the entrance to the convention was free this time, according to advance notice, nevertheless when the members learned from the report about the lack of means to continue the operation, they volunteered and donated a decent amount for current expenses.

From the Resolutions of the Third Convention
  1. The convention approves the committee's report.
  2. The convention expresses its satisfaction with the results of the traditional Purim ball in 5713 and empowers the new committee to continue this tradition.
  3. The convention appeals to all Secureni expatriates, wherever they are, to commemorate the names of their relatives in the Forest of Martyrs of the Secureni community.
  4. The convention expresses its desire that the Secureni book will be published as soon as possible, in any case no later than during the year 5714.
  5. The convention sets a new committee, which is composed of six members only.
The members that were elected are:

Z. Egret, Dr. Y. Bider, Dr. Y. Har-Even, D. Neuberg, D. Egret-Koipman and D. Riedel.

 

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