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[Page 282]
By A. Rotem (Roth)
Translated by Moshe Kutten
I arrived in Zborow in 1922. The town had not been rebuilt yet. Its ruins and the wounds of the First World War and the Bolsheviks had not healed yet. I grew up there, so my childhood and youth are tied to Zborow. From the beginning, I remember the buds of renewed life, destroyed houses being rebuilt, workshops reopening, and the foundations for Jewish public life being laid. The town grew and revived (like all other towns in Galicia), public institutions and vigorous lives renewed, and above all–organized, lively, and active youth appeared.
Zborow was a small town, and the number of its residents was only a few thousand. However, it was a district town where the district court, offices, and other institutional centers were located. Most residents were Jewish. They earned their livelihood from trade, brokerage, and crafts. Zborow was a town like many others in Galicia, where Jewish lives thrived.
When I came to town, I found a Hebrew school where many Jewish children studied. Hebrew became the spoken language, and the youth used it in chorus and theatrical shows. Half of the content in the Gordonia bulletin, published in Zborow, was in Hebrew. Over time, the Davar [Eretz Yisrael labor movement newspaper] arrived in town and served as material for reading, studying, and ideological inquiries; however, first and foremost, it served as a source of direct information about the happenings in the Land of Israel. When the turn of a pioneer to make Aliyah came, they knew the language, which eased any absorption difficulties. The study of the Hebrew language did not replace other studies at the Polish school and for the boys–at a cheder or Beit Hamidrash. Hebrew was also acquired through participation in the youth life at the branch.
This is the place to mention a man thanks to whom the Hebrew language became a living language.
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[Page 283]
That man was teacher Yeshayahu Yavetz, z”l. He had a broad knowledge of Jewish sciences. He was from Lita [Lida, Lithuania], educated and a zealot about the Hebrew language and its culture. He devoted his whole life to a single goal–disseminating the Hebrew language and culture. He arrived in our town toward the end of the First World War, and, from his first moment in Zborow until his last days, taught the Hebrew language. He devoted himself to education and tirelessly taught Hebrew in the school and kindergarten and organized plays and choruses. All that activity was based purely on the live and vibrant Hebrew language. There is no Zborow native in Israel who does not remember him. May this be his reward.
The youth organization was one of the things that characterized our town. The entire youth, or its majority, was organized under the framework of the various movements. Activities were concentrated in a club we called Lakal [an event space].
Before describing that organization, I will devote a few sentences to reviewing the child or youth life in Zborow and the daily routines that I and my friends experienced.
We studied at the Polish school from 8 am until 12 or 1 pm. We spent the afternoon, until 4 pm, on homework. Lessons in the Hebrew school were held between 4 to 6 pm. After that, we had dinner and two hours at the Hitachdut club. Before going to sleep, we completed homework. Those who studied in Beit HaMidrash continued their studies at the Beit HaMidrash or the Kloiz [House of Prayer] until late at night. The little children studied at the Rabbi's Cheder. We could only go out and have fun on Shabbat and Sunday.
The following youth movements existed in Zborow: Gordonia[1] HaShomer HaTzair[2] Stam Chalutz[3] Achva[4] Beita'r[5] and the pioneering youth movement affiliated with Gordonia–Bosliya. The Graduates of Gordonia, HaShomer HaTzair, Stam Chalutz, and Boslia were also members of the Chalutz [Pioneer] that was an umbrella organization in Hachshara [agricultural and craftsmanship training for pioneers] and Aliyah. I will now devote the following section to one of these movements–Gordonia.
In the beginning, there was the Chalutz movement and the Jewish sports club–the Z.K.S. Naftali Katz, Yosef Auerbach, and Nachum Linder, z”l, headed the activities in the Chalutz and in sports.
Children in the age group 10-11 were initially organized in the affiliated Chalutz Tzair [Young Pioneer]. One day, Fischel Werber, z”l, came to us and told us about A. D. Gordon and the movement Gordonia that educated its members according to his doctrine. We then became members of that movement. The name Gordonia sounded strange to us, so we were initially ashamed to admit our membership for fear that we would be mocked by other children. However, we got used to the name very quickly. Additional members joined us; over the years, the movement encompassed most of the city youth, and we became one of the movement's most significant branches in Galicia.
It is most appropriate to dedicate a few words to the image of Fischel Werber, z”l, who accompanied our branch during its initial years. The man was the emissary of the labor movements in Galicia (the Hitachdut and Poalei Tzion). He was among the central figures of the movement. During the first years after the First World War, Werber traveled from one town to another, mostly in a wagon or on foot, his clothing was poor, and his shoes were torn, teaching the movement's doctrine. He organized and spoke at the gatherings of the adults and sponsored discussions at the youth branches. As a side-light, he taught a Chassidic melody and a Hebrew song enthusiastically and dedicatedly. You cannot describe the labor movement in Galicia without Fischel Werber. He made Aliyah (I think in 1933) and attained prominence among the working public. However, he would always remain in our memories as we knew him in Galicia–a leader, guide spurring enthusiasm, hearty and endearing–in short, Fischel Werber.
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And now–a few words about Gordonia in Zborow. As mentioned, the movement center was the Lakal. Children and youth were organized there in groups according to their ages. Every group met 2 to 3 times a week for a discussion guided by a counselor or, as he was called–the “head of the group.” The subjects of these discussions were: Knowledge of Eretz Yisrael, Jewish history, the A. D. Gordon doctrine, and others. At the end of the discussions, singing and games took place. Scouting, knowledge of the Land of Israel, singing, and games were the activities of the younger groups. The older groups conducted ideological inquiries, reading the [Hebrew Israeli newspaper] Davar, and A. D. Gordon's doctrine. However, the main activity was the preparation for the fulfillment of their dream–Hachshara–training for Aliyah. Every Shabbat evening we held an Oneg Shabbat [gathering for the enjoyment of the Sabbath]. The center of the event was a story and a Chassidic song. At the end–Hora dancing and Eretz Yisrael songs.
The branch published a bulletin, printed at the Katograf printing house. The bulletin was issued monthly, partly in Hebrew and the rest in Polish. The bulletin was adorned by paintings and decorations
made by Poldi Auerbach and Levi Remer, z”l. The work was entirely done by the members. They authored the articles, poems, and notes, and copied them, printed, and bound the bulletin pages. That was the only youth bulletin that appeared in Zborow and as far as I know, in the entire province.
Despite being a small town, the provincial leadership of Gordonia resided in Zborow.
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The content contains the following: 1. The time of our freedom 2. “With you the workers” (a poem) 3.“Trumpeldor” ball [?] 4. The conference's graduates [?] 5. Open letter.
[Page 285]
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Our outing to the Hachshara was a challenge for us–we considered it the beginning of our journey and a step toward fulfilling the longed-for goal–making Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael. The trip was associated with a sharp conflict with parents. Preparations for the trip were done under total secrecy, and the trip became a memorable event for the entire town. Over time, the parents got used to it and eventually got used to the very idea that their sons and daughters would leave them and make Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael.
We tried to organize a Hachshara camp in Zborow. In 1925, a group of 25 Bosliya graduates organized in our province, and they came to town. We rented a house for them and arranged work for them. According to the plan, they were supposed to work cutting wood and apprenticing to craftsmen in the winter and helping the area farmers (there was no industry in Zborow) in the summer. It turned out that outside of cutting wood, there were no other jobs, and the income was insufficient to make a living. We organized the help of homeowners who paid the apartment rent and provided produce and food free of charge. At the end of the winter, the farmers did not agree to employ them, and the group was forced to disperse. It was a short experience and not a very successful one; however, for us, it was an exciting experience. We visited them, embraced them, receiving satisfaction that we helped them fulfill their dream.
On getting older, we began participating in the town's public life. We were too young to accept public roles or political representation. We were not interested in committing to accepting public responsibilities since we knew we would leave and make Aliyah sooner or later. However, we were active in public work for the benefit of the labor movement. We helped our older friends at the Poalei Tzion Union in managing propaganda and organizational activities associated with the election for the Zionist Congress, Community Council, municipality, and the Sejm (the Polish parliament). We stimulated the Jewish public in town. Our part in conquering the public institutions by the labor movement was not insignificant.
When we made Aliyah in 1934, the Gordonia movement with its older sisters Bosliya and the Oved [Worker] movements in Zborow were at their peak.
Translator's Notes:
By Gershon Schneider
Translated by Moshe Kutten
I left Zborow in early July 1939, about 6 to 7 weeks before the outbreak of the Second World War. This period is etched in my memory as a time when Jews were free to live their lives in Poland. I left behind a strong Zionist movement and vibrant pioneering youth movements in which I was actively involved throughout my youth. I left behind a Hebrew school and kindergarten that educated hundreds of our children. I also left behind a generation of followers in the Gordonia youth movement, that wonderful pioneering group in which I was a member from the day it was founded.
Zborow, a town with a rich history, was home to a Jewish community that thrived from the day it founded about 600 years ago. I became deeply interested in this history, especially during my strolls through the Jewish cemetery with my friend Levi Remer (who was even more enthused about the city's history than I); we discovered centuries-old gravestones and ohels[1] of righteous people. These ancient markers served as a testament to the vibrant Jewish life that had flourished in the town.
In 1939, Zborow had a Jewish population of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 Jews living in Zborow and the surrounding areas.
Zborow was the capital of the district that contained three towns (Jezierna [Ozerna], Pomozhany [Pomorzany], and Zalosce [Zaliztsi]) and about 70 villages, making it one of the largest districts in the country.
Similar to many other towns, the majority of the Jews in Zborow resided in the town center. In contrast, the communities that encircled the city center were primarily populated by Ukrainians and Poles (the Ukrainians made up about 80-90% of the population), with just a few Jewish families. The villages were predominately Ukrainians, with only a few having some Poles.
In that vast ocean of Ukrainians lived a few Jewish agricultural families who diligently preserved the Jewish traditions. These families observed Shabbat and ensured their children received a Jewish education. They either kept a melamed at home for their children or sent them to the nearby town to learn. The Jewish literature is rich in stories about these Jews living in Ukrainian villages. This remarkable narrative has been told more eloquently by others who have done a better job than I in conveying it.
Many Zborow Jews emigrated in recent generations to various locations around the world. The author, Reb Binyamin, a native of our town, once shared with me some time ago about several individuals who gained prominence in the fields of education and science, in cities like Vienna, Berlin, and London. Unfortunately, I did not note their names at that time.
The Zionist awakening, which reflected the great Jewish revolt in the diaspora, reached Zborow at its early stages. I heard many stories from our townspeople about their dream of Zion. However, it is my recollection that the actual Zionist activity began upon the arrival of the Radler-Feldman brothers, Bunem and Yehoshua, the latter of whom is known by his pen name, R' Binyamin. These two individuals became involved in Zionism during their early teens. Among stories told, it is said that while they were students in the Beit HaMidrash, they kept Zionist posters hidden under the Gemara on their benches. Whenever an undesirable person approached, they would cover the posters.
It was the Zionist doctrine that promoted the end of life in the diaspora and encouraged the idea of returning to Eretz Yisrael. Following the First World War, the Hit'achdut Socialist Zionist party was founded as part of the world's labor-affiliated Zionism. That led to the establishment of the active, fighting, and fulfilling forms of Zionism in Zborow.
[Page 287]
The Establishment of the Hit'achdut [The Union] Party
In the early 1920s, shortly after the Polish soldiers expelled the Red Army, a Jewish man named Fischel Werber arrived in the city. He traveled on foot from one town to another, with shoes held together by a metal wire. Fischel was a scholar, certified to serve as a rabbi, and a prosperous grain merchant who left everything behind to promote his vision of Zionism, aimed at building Eretz Yisrael. Many of the city youths gathered around him and eagerly absorbed his teachings. Inspired by his vision, they established a branch of the Hit'achdut labor party in the city.
Some original members included Naphtali Katz, Moshe Jung, Nachum Linder, z”l, Binyamin Reis, Dov Mehlzak, and others. The party was the largest and the most active in all aspects of Jewish life from its inception until its bitter end. New generations of individuals committed to the goals of Zionism emerged around it. The party had many vigorous activists. Notable among them included Zunio Jaeger, Leibush Heiman-Marder, Yoel Auerbach, Benyamin Fleischer, and others I do not remember.
The HeChalutz [The Pioneer] Movement
Two years after the establishment of the Hit'achdut branch, the affiliated HeChalutz youth movement was founded to focus on the younger generation of youths. Their aim was not to engage in local affairs; instead, they participated in Hachshara camps [which provided agricultural and physical labor training for pioneers], preparing for Aliyah. That movement ignited a strong passion in the hearts of the youth and encouraged them to resist the diaspora-based activities of many of their parents.
By examining the historical context, we can fully appreciate the profound impact that the Hit'achdut and the HeChalutz organizations had on our town. Their significance lies in how they contributed to our townspeople's efforts to build the homeland.
The Establishment of Gordonia
A letter signed by Fischel Werber and Pinchas Lubianker (Lavon) was sent in 1924 or 1925 to the local party members. That letter announced the decision had been made to establish a movement in Zborow named after A.D. Gordon. The author of this article, along with several other members who had organized themselves two months earlier as part of the HeChalutz HaTzair [The Young Pioneer] movement, decided to rename the group Gordonia. Among the founding members, I recall Leib Roth (Arye Rotem), Tinka Jaeger, Bella Pasternak, Eva Segal, Moshe Dimand, Yossel Strassler, Hersh Roth, and others whose names I unfortunately do not remember.
We constituted the younger layer of HeChalutz. Members older than we by two or three years served as our counselors and later on registered members of Gordonia.
Gordonia was the primary youth movement in Zborow, and its members participated in Hachshara before eventually making Aliyah.
When I left Zborow, there were 300 youths in the branch, ages 11-12 and above, and vibrant Zionist activities were taking place. The Hebrew language and poetry were celebrated publicly, and all the announcements were made in Hebrew. As the head of the branch, I left behind my unforgettable friend Levi Remer, who was supported by a new generation of counselors–the students of the high school in Tarnopol–who took it upon themselves to continue our mission.
According to the information I received, Levi Remer moved to Lvov, after the Soviet conquest, when all Zionist activities were prohibited. In Lvov, he managed the underground center of the movement. More details about this will be shared elsewhere in this book.
[Page 288]
The HaMizrachi Party
HaMizrachi was the second party organized in Zborow and was part of the religious Zionist movement. In Zborow, the members focused on local activities without prioritizing the establishment of future generations. They did not send people to Hachshara, nor did people from that movement make Aliyah. Despite this, it is important to acknowledge the extensive Zionist activities of this party, as well as its involvement in Zionist appeals and fundraising activities. Its members actively campaigned against the anti-Zionist views held by Haredi Jews and members of Agudat Israel. Avraham Horowitz, who led the local party, was a beloved figure–a gentle soul, and a scholar who contributed significantly to the Zionist movement and its financial initiatives.
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The General Zionists Party and Achva Movement
Yakov Fuchs was the leader of this party, serving as its brain and guiding force from its inception until its bitter end. The formal organization of the General Zionists, also known as Just Zionists, was established later. However, most of its members were active from the beginning of the Zionist movement. Their involvement spanned all areas of Jewish and Zionist life in the city. They excelled, alongside the members of the Hit'achdut and HaMizrachi, in fundraising efforts for special appeals by the KKL-JNF and Keren HaYesod (such as the appeal for acquiring the [Jezreel, Zvulun] valleys). Additionally, they collaborated with Hit'achdut to manage the Hebrew School.
When representing the Zionist movement to non-Jews, they usually collaborated with the Hit'achdut. In the 1930s, the General Zionists established the Achva Youth Movement as affiliated with their party.
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Like other youth movements, its members viewed their goal, as other youth movements, to participate in pioneering Hachshara and Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael. Indeed, some of this movement's members fulfilled their goal and now live in Israel.
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HaShomer HaTzair
The HaShomer HaTzair movement in Zborow was established a few years after Gordonia. Like the founders of Gordonia, its founders were originally members of HeChalutz. These members split off from their movement and initially called themselves Just Chalutz. HaShomer HaTzair in Zborow was part of the international movement of the same name and saw itself engaged in the pioneering and fulfilling forms of Zionism. In terms of pioneering activity, HaShomer HaTzair collaborated with Gordonia, as it was not [yet] affiliated with a political party. Many of its members participated in Hachshara and made Aliyah.
The Revisionist Party
This party was established in Zborow in the early 1930s. It had only a few adult members and focused primarily on the youth, some of whom advocated Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael.
Agudat Israel
The beginning path of this movement is rooted in religious zealotry and diaspora tradition, based on the continuation of life in the diaspora. With the development of Zionism and the joining of many to those who had already advocated Aliyah and the building of Eretz Yisrael, the resistance of those who opposed the view the nation's salvation would only come with the appearance of the Messiah. The movement also resisted the revival of the Hebrew language as the daily spoken language by claiming that Hebrew is the “holy language” and by speaking it, one is desecrating it.
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When we arrived at the Synagogue or Beit HaMidrash, we often came across proclamations posted on the walls–Kol Koreh [A declaration] signed by tens or even hundreds of rabbis; these declarations called for prohibitions, boycotts, and slander against the Zionists. In particular, these rabbis urged parents not to allow their children to make Aliyah. Undoubtedly, the actions of the members of Agudat Israel harmed the goals of Zionism, especially with their preaching against Aliyah; they can be held accountable for the demise of many who were prohibited from fulfilling the ultimate Zionist goal. The members of Agudat Israel did not collaborate with the Zionist parties in any area and did not contribute their money to Zionist causes.
Fortunately, they did not attract many followers in Zborow. Most of the townspeople, including religious ones, supported the various Zionist parties.
Agudat Israel began to change with the formation of their youth organization, known as “The Aguda's Youths.” This group weakened the resistance to Aliyah and the Hebrew language and even received an allotment of Aliyah Certificates. However, only a few were fortunate enough to make Aliyah and live in Israel.
The Bund[2] and the Communists
Initially, only a few members of the Bund existed in Zborow. Over time, however, only the name remained since its members became Communists. Their views were marked by extreme anti-Zionism and anti-nationalism. Most members came from impoverished backgrounds, primarily among the Barkin (the huts) dwellers. They used the name Bund because the law prohibited the existence of the Communist Party.
The party was led by a Jew named Israel Graff, who arrived in Zborow from another city, likely on a mission to establish a local branch. Engaging in debates with him was challenging due to his strong rhetorical skills. He adeptly employed various Communist slogans to “prove” that Zionism was a utopia. In 1937, he was arrested by the Polish authorities and put on trial for his Communist activities. If I recall correctly, he was sentenced to two years in prison and was released a few months before I left Zborow.
Israel Graff was among the first immigrants from the Holocaust survivors to arrive in our homeland upon the establishment of the state of Israel. Tragically, none of his cadets survived…
Bosliya and HaOved [The Worker]
In 1932, the Hit'achdut Party decided to establish two additional affiliated youth movements. One of them was Bosliya, named after Yosef Busel[3]. This movement targeted young people aged 20 to 30 who had not previously been involved in youth movements but were eager to make Aliyah. Bosliya was also established in Zborow and was considered the “elder sister” of the Gordonia movement. Many of its members received Hachshara (training for pioneers) and successfully made Aliyah.
The second movement was called HaOved, which aimed at organizing working members and artisans who were not otherwise affiliated with any political party. The branch in Zborow was very active, and some of its members made Aliyah.
The Hebrew School
One of the most important institutions in our town was the Hebrew school. After the end of the First World War, one of the initial activities by the founders of Zionism in Zborow was to hire a teacher and establish a Hebrew school. The school operated almost continuously until the outbreak of the Second World War. It would be difficult to describe Jewish Zborow without mentioning the school, as it served as the great educator of Zionism in the town.
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When I left Zborow, the school and the kindergarten served about 300 children and had two teachers and a kindergarten teacher. The staff played a crucial role in introducing our revitalized language and the ideas of our nation to the ears and hearts of the children.
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The school was revitalized in 1937 after going through a deep crisis that lasted two to three years following the departure of the old teacher, Yeshayahu Yavetz, from our town. A new management team was put in place. It was led by Yakov Fuchs and included representatives of all parties. The author of this article was fortunate to be included in the school's management during that time. I dedicated my energy and time to the development of the school until the day I made Aliyah.
The Election to the Zionist Congress
The campaign, propaganda, efforts to encourage people to vote, the competition among the parties, and the commotion associated with the election accompanied us in Zborow, like in other cities. We participated as citizens of the “country to be,” even though we did not yet have a country. Everything was done appropriately and voluntarily, without any payment. This voluntary involvement made us approach this situation more seriously, leaving a lasting impact on our hearts.
Zborow excelled in generating revenues for the general appeal and national funds, surpassing cities with larger Jewish populations. This success was also evident in the donations for the KKL-JNF and Keren HaYesod funds. Our efforts in this area became a substantial part of our life. A few lines in an article can hardly capture the various methods we used to encourage and increase donations. Here are some of the ways we engaged in fundraising.
We positioned ourselves at the cemetery with the donation boxes on the mornings of Selichot Days[4], stood at the houses of prayer on the evening of Yom Kippur before the Mincha prayer, and collected at weddings. We sought every possible opportunity to boost our city's contributions to the general appeal and national fundraising efforts to benefit Eretz Yisrael and its salvation.
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This is the place to highlight the celebratory atmosphere that existed during significant fundraising events (such as the campaign to secure funds for acquiring the Valley region in Eretz Yisrael). A remarkable detail that stood out in our Jewish community was how the city's prominent individuals passed solemnly from store to store, with every Jew contributing in some way–some more, and some less–but nobody refused to donate.
One touching example was Moshe Stock, the elderly man who owned a stand at the vegetable market and barely made ends meet. When the fundraisers overlooked his stand, he felt insulted and, with heartfelt words, asked why they had not approached him: “Do I not deserve to fulfill that Mitzvah of bringing salvation to the Land of Israel?” With that, he took 5 zlotys from his pocket–a significant amount of money for him–and handed them to the fundraisers.
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About the Poverty and the Poor in Zborow
There was a significant amount of poverty in our town that we cannot overlook when discussing the lives of the Jewish community in Zborow.
We were young, with all of our aspirations and dreams concentrated on making Aliyah, and we turned a blind eye to the brothers, the poor Jews. We must express remorse about not doing enough to bring the poor youths of our age closer and encourage them to join our youth movements. This may explain why many of them fell into the trap of Communism. No children who grew up in the “Barkin” [huts] ever joined the Zionist movements. Should we not take some of the blame for this?
About a third of the Jewish population depended on Kimcha DePascha [the assistance provided to those in need before the Passover holiday]. This percentage was typical across most Polish cities. Among those in need were individuals who were not well-known in the community. These were all good, honest Jews; despite their poverty, there were no thieves or criminals among them. They instilled Jewish values of justice and honesty in their children and educated them in the Jewish traditions.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to these people who lived and died in anonymity. Alongside their fellow Jews, they were tragically consumed by the hateful fire that swept through our city.
May their memories be for a blessing.
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