[Page LXIX]

I made my acquaintance with Moshe Starkman about forty–seven years ago in 1925. I joined a student branch of the newly founded Yiddish Culture League. Starkman was both a member of the student branch and assistant to the executive secretary of the league. Both of us were then very young, but while I was a student who had just entered City College, Starkman was already known as a writer. He was acquainted with many Yiddish writers and was a frequent visitor to the literary cafe, “Europe”. It was he who brought me to the cafe and introduced me to some of the writers; through Starkman I met Dr. Jacob Shatzky, who later became both my teacher and friend.

According to Z. Reissen's Lexicon of Yiddish Literature, Starkman was born in 1906 and came to the United States at the age of fourteen, in 1920. Although he spent a short part of his life in Europe and felt very much at home in America, those early years left a mark on him, and he remained primarily an Eastern European Jew. He brought with him a cultural heritage, knowledge of Hebrew, Yiddish, and “Yiddishkeyt” to which he was attached all his life.

In his new home he attended New York City public schools, the Baron de Hirsch School, and the Jewish Teachers Seminary.

According to Reissen, Starkman began to write in 1922, at the age of sixteen. He contributed to the Yiddish newspapers and journals of the period: Yiddishes Tageblat, Kundes, Dos Yiddishe Folk, Der Amerikaner, Baginen, and Feder. In 1925, he was editorial secretary of the orthodox daily Dos Yiddishe Likht.

He became interested in the history of Yiddish literature and the Yiddish press and devoted a great deal of time to research in that field. He published many studies and monographs which contain both facts and interpretation. Among his many studies

[Page LXX]

are: “Morris Rosenfeld's Beginning”, “Sources For the Study of the Yiddish Press in the United States, 1870–1900”, “Goldfaden and Shomer”, “First Union of Yiddish Writers in the United States”, The Yiddish Press in America, 1875–1885”, “ Philip Krantz and the Journal, Di Proletarishe Velt”, “Philip Krantz's Literary Encounters”, “Important Moments in the History of the Yiddish Press in the United States”, “When Hebrew and Yiddish Made Their Appearance in the United States”, “Yiddish Idioms in Yehoash's Translation of the Bible”, and others of the same nature. All of the above–mentioned studies, as well as many others Starkman wrote are of importance to students and historians of Yiddish literature. They are also accessible to the general public because of the ease and facility of Starkman's style.

Starkman was co–editor of three volumes of the literary almanac Hemshekh (1939–1943) and the Hemshekh Anthology of American Yiddish Poetry 1918 – 1943 (New York, 1945). He edited two Festschriften in honor of Shlomo Bickel and Abraham Golomb. Various Yiddish and Hebrew writers contributed to both volumes, and the materials published enrich our literature.

Starkman was a member of the editorial board of the Biographical Dictionary of Modern Yiddish Literature. Besides editing, he contributed biographies of important Yiddish writers (the seven volumes that have been published to date – the most recent in 1968 – do not yet cover the letter “shin” and therefore Starkman's own biography is not yet available).

Around 1934 he joined the staff of the Day and remained a contributor till the paper ceased publication. He then contributed a weekly article to the Jewish Daily Forward.

The articles and essays that Moshe Starkman published in the Day, the Day–Morning Journal, the Forward and Folk Und Velt (Nation and World) – the latter edited by Jacob Glatstein – were written in a particular style, combining homiletics, didacticism and moralizing. He displayed extensive knowledge of Judaism and devotion to Jewish values, and approached Jewish problems from

[Page LXXI]

a religious and Zionist point of view. He substantiated the opinions he expressed by quoting from rabbinical sources. He addressed his readers in an informal manner and immediately established contact with them. His Yiddish was seminal; he mastered all nuances of the language, and the Hebrew element that he used profusely was natural and unstrained. He wrote in Hebrew as well, and contributed to various Hebrew publications.

The last few times that I met him, I kept urging him to publish at least a selection of his writings in book form. He answered that he was planning to be in Israel, where he would make arrangements with a Yiddish publishing house to publish one or two volumes. I sincerely hope that his friends will do now what he, unfortunately, was not able to do.

Moshe Starkman was very energetic and industrious. He wrote a great deal and it seemed that he enjoyed his writing. He was friendly, sociable, witty, and always ready and willing to extend his friendship and help.

[Page LXXII]

I remember my grandmother's house in Mosty–Wielkie. It wasn't a big house, but there was always enough room for her children and grandchildren. Quite often, a stranger who passed through town was welcomed to spend the night.

Towards the end of World War I, life in Mosty became hard and full of fears. Food was difficult to obtain, and clothing was not available for love or money. My father, Mendel Gruber, was a prisoner of war in Russia. The Poles were meanwhile taking over their newly acquired land and, in the process, robbing the Jews of their valuables and of their last crust of bread.

When my father at last returned home, safe and sound, he spent only a few months in Mosty. He found his property burned, and the hardships created by the new regime prevented him from venturing into a new business. So he left for America, with the hope

Lilian, Max Sigal, Medel Gruber, Ronald, Clare, Shelli, Sidney, Suzy and Jack Silber

that his family would soon join him there. And so it was, though not so soon. Six years later, my mother, my sister Lillie, my brother Lou and I joined my father.

My grandmother, Rejle Gruber, always deemed herself a millionaire. In her daily prayers, she thanked the Almighty for her good health, for giving her everything that she needed to live, and for her grandchildren in whom she took such pride and joy.

In those days, my sister Lillie and I used to rise at dawn. On tiptoe, we would sneak out through the back door, while everyone was still asleep. We would run down a slope covered with grass, to the River Rata. Everything seemed so peaceful at that early hour. The air was filled with delightful fragrance of weeds and flowers, and the shining dew drops looked like diamonds, especially those hanging from the branches of the trees, and mingling in the sunlight with all the colors of the rainbow. We swam and splashed in the velvety soft water, and were filled with delight.

On the way home, we picked daisies and cornflowers as we rushed back to the house where everyone was already awake. We could smell the fresh coffee brewing at a distance. Bread and butter and coffee made a delicious breakfast.

I remember the Hebrew lessons upstairs in the Wechsler house. This was a special treat in the afternoons, under the wonderful tutelage of I. Schönfeld.

I remember the town buzzing with excitement when the Beit Midrash was nearing completion. Rosh Hashana was only a few weeks away. The men made a special effort to raise the extra funds which would enable them to finish the building in time to have the “chanukat habayit” (house–warming) for the new year.

The women formed an organization of their own, which the Rabbi called the “Hutten Ferein” because its members wore fashionable hats. The members of another group, the “Kupkeferein”, wore kerchiefs on their heads. My mother, Cipora Gruber, took

[Page LXXIV]

From left: Jaqueline Merill, Dana Wynne, Suzanne Carrie

David & Judy Silber

pride in having founded the “Hutten Ferein” and Lana Silber was its first president.

All the women devoted their time and effort to raising the necessary funds, as they wanted the women's section of the Beit Midrash to be finished in time for the holidays. Groups of women set out to neighboring towns and villages to raise funds. They also contributed a “Parochet” (curtain of the Holy Ark) which was hand–embroidered and studded with semi–precious jewels.

My grandmother, in her own modest way, engaged a “sofer” (writer of holy books and prayers) who spent a whole year at her house in order to write a Sefer Torah, which was her contribution to the Beit Midrash.

She was constantly busy. Besides taking care of her business, all the meetings of the “Hutten Ferein” took place in her house. She also prepared fruit preserves, plums filled with almonds, wines and liquors, working at it all summer long. When the Sefer Torah was finally completed, she invited all the people of the town to her house, brought up all the goodies from the cellar, cut up the cakes she had baked for the occasion and …. That was celebration!

After everybody had eaten and drank Lechaim, the Sefer Torah was taken out of the house and paraded through town to the synagogue.

Such were the joys that people had of life in those days.

[Page LXXVI]

Mendel Gruber

You were tall and lanky, and had plenty of time for fun and frolic. Fishing, hunting, and milling flour for the neighboring farmers was enough to keep you occupied. “As vus hut dir gefehlt?” Then you married a city girl and moved to Mosty–Wielkie. In Mosty, people ate with forks, and they dressed like city folk, not like farmers. You built a storage house for kerosene on the outskirts of town, then applied for a permit to import it and sell it in the neighboring villages. Before the permit was granted, however, the building mysteriously burned down to the ground. So you tried a little trading: grain, furs, livestock, even vegetables.

Then came World War I, and you were the first to volunteer. Off you went, for the excitement that lasted five years. You were taken prisoner of war in the siege of Pshemysil and sent to Russia

[Page LXXVII]

to cool off, but you broke away from the lines of prisoners and swam across the Don River to safety. On the other side, in Rostov, you found refuge with a Jewish family and stayed with them till the end of the war. As soon as travel was permitted, you returned to Poland, to your family, to post–war shortages and to frozen potatoes.

A cousin from the United States arrived with steamship tickets. With four others, you went off to try your luck again in a new country. You were a free man and a greenhorn in a land full of opportunity. Six years were to pass before you became a citizen and sent for your family. Proudly, you received them in a nicely furnished apartment in the Bronx.

These were probably the finest years of your life. You brought up a family, educated your children, married them off, and helped bring up their children. You sent sons and grandsons off to war, then saw their safe return. You saw five great–grandchildren born to your flock. This is really an experience had by a privileged few. May your life continue to be a great one for many years to come!

A mugging in the elevator of your own apartment building cause you to have a mild heart attack and started a general decline in your health and well–being. You spent your final days still with your family and their children in your own house and in the care of your second daughter. You remained president of “Gross Moster” society.

On Friday, 17 March 1972, you died at the age of 86. The funeral took place on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.. The prayers after the funeral (Mincha) were led by your grandson Scott and this was the finest tribute of all, truly a royal sendoff to the noble head of a family.

Mendel Gruber: 14 May 1886 – 17 March 1972

[Page LXX]

For ten years, the Jews of Europe were trampled in their own blood. Their cries for help and succor to the nations of the

Avraham Ackner, Chairman of the Society,
presenting A. L. Binot at the tree planting
ceremony of the Mosty Memorial Grove

world fell upon deaf ears, and few were the countries that made any effort to save Jews from the hands of the Nazis. The grim edicts, the hunger and deprivation, the humiliation, and, in particular, the treacherous indifference of the Christian world to the fate of its Jewish neighbors created an atmosphere of depression and despair in the ghettoized folk.

The Germans first carried out their evil deeds in secret, but when they saw that the world kept silent and did not react, they began murdering openly – and thus millions of Jews were killed. They were degraded and tortured, starved in the ghettos and concentration camps, and finally exterminated in the gas chambers. Despite the gruesome conditions in which they lived, despite their isolation and lack of support and help from outside, they managed to recover some of their inner strength and to establish groups of rebels and bands of fighters in the forests and in the towns, proving that it was possible to strike telling blows at the Nazi beast.

Brothers and sisters! Thirty-four years have passed since the Nazis perpetrated their dreadful devastation of our people, and yet the fact that the finest of us have been wiped out has not yet been suitably expressed. No lamentation by Jewry as a whole has yet fully formulated the catastrophe and ruin that befell our folk. No stigma had been publicly attached to the nation of the murderers nor to their helpers among other peoples. We have never made out – and perhaps never will – a national writ of accusation against the great powers that stood aside and kept silent while those cruel murders were being perpetrated.

Today, as our feet stand firmly on the hills of Judea our minds and hearts turn to the valley of slaughter, the killings, the tortures, the obliteration of our families and loved ones. We ask ourselves and the outside world, where is the present-day Jeremiah to put into words the hunger, the terrible suffering, the murders, the conflagration that destroyed the House of Israel in Europe, as the prophet Jeremiah described the destruction of Judah, the

[Page LXXII]

Fall of the Temple of Zion, and the exile to Babylon of the people of Israel?

A legend relates that when the Romans besieged Jerusalem, their legions spread over the hills and valleys around the city and destroyed every tree and plant. On these same slopes that we now inhabit, Jews fought the romans with courage and dedication, inflicting many casualties on them and thus barring their way to Jerusalem. Then the Romans received strong reinforcements and encircled the hill on which the few remaining heroes fought, cutting them off completely. But the Jewish soldiers broke their way through to Jerusalem in the darkness. There, the Roman forces overpowered them: the walls of Jerusalem were broken through, the Temple went up in flames, the heroes of Jerusalem were killed in battle, and the Romans unleashed their wrath on the Holy City and its surrounding areas. They passed an edict that no tree should be planted and no seed permitted to sprout. Yet, here we are, on these same hills. The sun's rays shine on the hills of Jerusalem and warm them. Slopes and mountainsides have come to life again. Trees once more spread their shady branches over them, and flowering bushes cover their bareness.

At this very moment, we are dedicating and sanctifying a grove of trees on these hills to the memory of our dear ones, thus uniting our spirits with their martyred souls that remained faithful to the vision of redemption and the eternity of Israel to the last. In honor of their memories, it is worth recalling that our forefathers expressed their sentiments, their experiences and their deep longings for Eretz Israel on Tu B'Shvat. On this day they demonstrated their longings for the fruits of the land of Israel and for the trees growing on its soil. These feelings were translated into customs and traditions that strengthened their spiritual attachment to Zion, its trees and its fruit.

The basic characteristics of a tree have much in common with the character of the people of Israel as demonstrated by its history, a history of constantly interchanging ups and downs, of

[Page LXXIII]

interwoven periods of shadow and of sunlight. For a tree, there are seasons of flowering and blooming, and other seasons during which branches wither and die, though the trunk lives on. Like a tree, renewing itself each spring and sprouting new twigs to replace the old branches that could not survive the winter, twigs that burst forth with leaves and buds and frit, so does the Jewish people, exhausted and depleted by its torturers and tormentors, bring for fresh strength to renew itself as a people, flourishing in a renaissance of youth. The exile two thousand years long failed to age this ancient folk that remains ever youthful. Our timeless people has now founded a young nation, building in its old land a new house that will last to the end of time. The good earth will be revitalized, and we will see the fulfillment of our dream as future generations are firmly implanted in our land and our culture like trees rooted in the soil of our homeland.

This will be our consolation!

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Despite the passage of time, the feeling of loss and sorrow at his untimely death is still deep and painful. He could have continued to contribute to the world, both as a writer and as a productive and active human being, but suddenly, without warning, in the midst of the best and most productive years of his life, death snatched him away.

[Page LXVIII]

His shining image is so clear to me, the image of a fine scholar and intellectual, steeped in Hebrew lore, who loved the wisdom of Israel, the people of Israel, the State of Israel.

From his early youth in Mosty, he yearned to learn and to know. His brilliance, even then, made him stand out among his schoolmates. He shone in the heder, in the beit midrash, in the school, and wherever he was. When he came to the United States of America in 1920, he did not follow in the materialistic footsteps of most other immigrants, but instead immersed himself in learning and knowledge. Quietly and modestly, he sat at the feet of the best teachers and educators in New York, both religious and secular, avidly drinking in all that they had to offer. His thirst for Talmudic wisdom, and his tenacity in acquiring his wide knowledge in the field of Jewish lore derived from a deep personal faith. He was filled with a burning desire to delve deep into the very sources of Jewish erudition, and to draw from it pearls of wisdom and knowledge.

He was a prolific journalist and writer in both Hebrew and Yiddish, with a career that stretched over four decades. His writing was on an extremely high level and of rare quality. It is only to be regretted that not one anthology of his works appeared during his lifetime, not one compendium of gems from the profusion of his writings, which remained scattered throughout the journals and newspapers of the world.

This was a task he had set for himself for his retirement, but when that moment came, the late Minister of finance, Pinhas Sapir, who was well acquainted with his manifold talents asked him to accept a responsible position with the United Jewish Appeal. Moshe could not resist accepting the post, for he felt a moral obligation to serve the State of Israel. He carried out his mission with all his heart and with utter devotion. Every now and then, I would hear of Moshe by way of relatives of mine in Miami, where he used to come to lecture from time to time. His talks.

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were always illuminating and instructive, well-presented, rich in content, and enlivened with the humor typical of him.

Moshe was possessed of special intuition and a discerning eye. He could see what was wrong or faulty, and he was one of those people who cared about setting thns right. Openhearted and honest, he was respected and honored by all who knew him, even people who did not agree with his views. Typical was the comment of one writer, a participant in the Congress of Jewish Writers that took place this year in Jerusalem, “The Congress was lively and sparkling, but Moshe's absence was perceptible.”

With Moshe's death a vacuum has been created within his family, within the circles in which he was active, and among his fellow townsmen who thought so highly of him. Only memories, overlaid with sorrow, are left in the hearts of his many friends and acquaintances. One consolation will be the appearance of his collected writings, now being edited by his dear friend, Professor Dov Sadan. This publication will serve as a memorial to the life work of the notable and unforgettable Moshe Starkman-Hazkoni.

From left to right: Professor M. Silber, Dr. Jacob Roth, Moshe Starkman

[Page LXXVIII]

In the late 1930's I became a member of the Gross Moster “Landsmanshaft” in New York, an act which enriched my life thereafter. The association was of a high level and was extremely fortunate in its leadership. With the greatest respect, I should like to mention the name of a number of its leading lights with whom I had the fortune to work. These include: Harry Rosengarten, Abe Schwartz, Sam Sperber, Sam Reiman, Moshe Schuster, Simon Brockner, Hayim Silber, Moshe Brickner, Rose Jakofsky, Moshe and Sheva Starkman, Sophie Gruber, and Ann Rosengarten. Also noteworthy are Max Gruber, Isidor Elfand, Dr. Maurycy Silber, Clara Silber, Lillian Sigal, Max Alfant and his son Bernard, the present secretary of the organization and others.

Our meetings were extremely interesting and very well attended. Understandably, not always did everything go smoothly, but the association's affairs were dealt with seriously and with great responsibility at all times.

Our activities were many–sided. For example, we practiced “Me'ot Hittin” – the giving of money for the purchase of holiday food to poor families. Every winter, we made an appeal and a collection and sent money for Passover to needy families in our home town, Mosty–Wielkie.

We also took an active part in all the American–Jewish fund raising campaigns, including the United Jewish Appeal, State of Israel bonds, and Ort Federation campaigns. We supported homes for the aged, Jewish schools, and hospitals as well as other worthy causes. And last but not least, we never forgot to help the needy among our own people, both in America and in Israel.

[Page LXXIX]

The assembled Mostyites at the 50^th Anniversary celebration of the Gross–Moster B.S.A. in America (1901–1951)

Sitting, from left to right: Sam Reiman, Rec. Sec'y, Ex–Pres. Isidore Elfand, Chairman of Banquet, Sidney Silber, Pres., Morris Spitzer, Vice–Pres. Irving Margulies, Fin. Sec'y Standing from left to right: Ex–Pres. Simon Brickner, Hospitaler, Ex–Vice–Pres. Dave Lemel, Counsellor Sol Reiman, Toastmaster, Ex–Pres. Max Gruber, Ex–Pres. Morris Schuster, Sam Sperber, Chairman Advisory Board and Loan Fund, Joseph Adler, Treasurer

Our greatest efforts were made in the tragic period after the great Holocaust which decimated our folk. As soon as we became aware of the heart–rending events which had taken place in Europe, a special meeting was called to decide how to deal with the situation. It was agreed that we would do our utmost to lend a brotherly hand to the refugee remnant of Mosty Jewry who had managed to survive somehow. An Aid Committee was immediately organized. Its members included Clara Silber, Morris Starkman, Abe Schwartz, Harry Rosengarten, Hayim Silber, and others. This committee cared for the needs of our homeless fellow townsmen in every possible way, supplying them with food and clothing parcels, as well as with money. Every family which reached the United States was given $100 upon arrival and other help later on.

Our sincere and devoted Hayim Silber, may he rest in peace, saw to it that a number of newcomers found permanent employment, thanks to which they were able to adjust quickly to the new land.

One of my warmest recollections is the celebration of the organization's fiftieth anniversary, the Jubilee of our Association, representing an important stage in the settlement of Mostyites in America. We gathered in a well–appointed hall and enjoyed an evening together in a homey, brotherly atmosphere, parents and children together. Fellow townsfolk came from near and far; friends from days gone by experience an exceptionally pleasurable reunion. Long afterwards, the event was remembered and discussed.

The endeavor was headed by Isidor Elfand and myself, who was president of the Association at the time. the great amount of preparation involved should be stressed at this point. Our Jubilee took two years to organize – but the huge success of the evening brought joy and satisfaction to all of those who participated in it, making all the effort worthwhile.

Harry Rosengarten, may his memory be preserved, was the first of our fellow townsmen to visit Israel. Nearly all our members

[Page LXXXXII]

Officers and Arrangement Committee 40th Anniversary Gross–Moster S.B.A.

took part in the farewell gathering given in his honor. We banqueted together in good spirits and wished him a “bon voyage”. In my address, I told him, “Go and see Israel though the eyes of the two spies, Caleb, son of Jephunne, and Joshua, son of Nun”. And indeed, so it was. Upon his return, he gave a report that surpassed all expectations. He made a number of important recommendations which were carried out as far as our circumstances permitted.

We also had the honor of entertaining at our meetings, important personages of our town from Israel such as Abraham Ackner, Simon Silber, and Zwi Silberman, may he rest in peace. It was a delight to have them as our guests. Moshe Starkman, of blessed memory, usually gave the official greeting to the guests, which was enjoyed by all, members of the Association and guests alike.

And thus the golden chain has been forged through all the years of the existence of the Gross Moster Association. To this day, the organization is one of the finest of its kind in America. It is not large in terms of membership, but those who belong to it are people who are personally and actively involved, especially the present secretary, Bernie Alfant.

In these lines, I have tried to express my deep feeling for my Gross Moster brothers with whom I spent so many years. together we worked towards the achievement of fine goals which we set ourselves. I am certain that when the story of “Landsmanshaft” organizations in America will be written, the Gross Moster Association will be at the head of the list, for it has certainly merited the honor.

[Page LXXXIV]

A half century has elapsed since Simchath Torah, 1901, when a small group of determined youths from Gross Mosty (Mosty Wielkie) decided to establish their own organization.

Accompanied by the heartfelt best wishes of their loved ones, these young people emigrated to the far shores of the United States, that magnificent democracy, which beckoned with the promise of freedom and material fortune.

In order to experience anew the familiar atmosphere of their hometown and overcome the loneliness of this new country, these youngsters drew closer together. The organization which they founded was Mosty in miniature – Sabbath and Holiday services were conducted in accordance with the age old traditions of far–off Mosty.

In order to assist one another, sick benefits were introduced; to remain together with loved ones and friends in the hereafter, cemetery grounds were acquired. However, these were but a pretense, the better to consolidate and insure the continued existence of our society. The organization grew steadily. A continuous stream of young blood flowed into the country. Young girls of Mosty soon followed and as could be expected, marriages among the youth transplanted Mosty seed on New York ground.

In the light of the happiness radiating from the faces of dear friends greeting each other at our fortnightly meetings, the handicap of assembling at first in quarters which were of necessity cramped and unsuitable went unnoticed.

The years following the First World War saw the successful execution of one of our most difficult tasks – we sent relief help to the distressed victims of the conflict. This noble work was extended during the period between the two World Wars to include sending packages every Passover to the needy of Mosty.

After the great tragedies of the Second World War, which destroyed the Jewish way of life overseas, when Moster Jews perished in the flames consuming the Holy torahs and the Batei Medrahsim,

[Page LXXXXV]

our society aided the survivors of the catastrophe living in the many D.P. camps; and when they found secure haven in Israel, our society together with its counterpart in the Jewish homeland helped in the settlement of these newcomers.

With the commencement of the Housing Campaign in Israel we contributed our share by erecting a dwelling place in the name of our society. Thus have we maintained the spiritual beauty of our birthplace which no longer exists.

In this way our humanitarian endeavors have branched out widely. In the long run, we have joined and distributed aid to many large and small Jewish national institutions. Wholeheartedly and with consistent generosity, we support the United Jewish Appeal, Histadruth, Hias, Federation of Jewish Charities as well as Homes for the Aged, Talmud Torahs,, Yeshivahs, etc. It has never yet happened that anyone knocking on our door should be turned away without having received aid in full measure. We have thereby succeeded in attaining an enviable record which may well serve as an example for other landsmanschaft organizations.

Today, when welcoming our brothers and sisters to our 50th Anniversary Jubilee, we call upon their children to join our organization and help us augment the meritorious work and glorify the name of Mosty to all eternity.

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