[Page 17]

My dear, proud Kremenets brothers! Neither the traces of time nor the great distance that separates me from you, not the horrible pain and suffering that the murderers caused you, erased you, beat you, bullied you, in order completely to obliterate the image of humanity in you, can deter me from seeing how you are engraved in my heart. You had to endure great sorrows; you were oppressed even earlier. But time also gave you pride and joy. I remember you in those hope-filled days of 1917.

All of you, young and old, poor and rich, drunk with victory, spent long hours in the city streets with revolutionary songs on everyone's lips under banners that proclaimed “Freedom, equality, and brotherhood.” These were great, solemn demonstrations over the Balfour Declaration, the opening of the university on Mount Scopus, and other matters.

I will now commit to paper one of those joyous days which even those who were then young, our surviving landsmen, remember well and relive, as I do.

Here is the story:

Kremenets, which was notable for its athletes and gymnasts, had no swimmers. Where would they have come from, since the Potik was small and shallow? The dikes that the children used to build along the stream would create knee-deep puddles. In these, the children, having escaped from school, would play with great pleasure.

The nearest river to Kremenets, the Ikva, was an 8-kilometer walk from the city. In the summer, people, away from their parents' eyes, would sneak out of town to the river via little roads and paths that led over hills and through valleys. Only a small group of daring “good-for-nothings,” as they were called, dared to do this. None of them knew how to swim, and every year a number them would drown.

The mothers of these troublemakers lived in fear for the whole summer. And when suddenly on a summer evening one heard terrible lamenting from one of their homes, the neighbors understood what had happened, and a deep sadness pervaded the city.

[Page 18]

For some young people, the cold, dark ritual bath in the old bathhouse served as a swimming school. On a hot summer day, people would go in through a window so that those in the bath would not notice. Assuming the tortures of Gehenna, they would take slippery steps in the overflowing fresh water. Risking their lives, they beat the water wildly with their hands and feet, like a flock of frightened geese, and made their way over the 3 or 4 meters to the other side.

How they escaped with their lives I cannot to this day understand. But those kids were prepared. And when in their twenties these young people made trips to King's Bridge and Mlinovtsy, they would haughtily swim across the river at its narrowest part, truly no more than 3 or 4 meters. We were truly far from being real swimmers. This we soon realized.

In the spring, between Passover and Lag ba'Omer, at the beginning of the 1930s, we received a letter addressed to the Hasmonean board from a Polish committee that was organizing a swim meet in Mlinovtsy. The letter asked us to submit a roster of Hasmonean members who were prepared to take part in the meet. But this invitation caused us embarrassment. Not long before, in the cold and snow, our members had successfully taken part in ski races and jumping competitions from the high ski jump on Genilaye Aziyera, branches of sport that were totally new to young Kremenetsers. And although they competed in these winter sports against students from the Carpathians, they did not embarrass us. But this invitation seemed like mockery.

Among the “refugees” in Kremenets were several good swimmers. But they had no desire nor preparation to compete with experienced competitive swimmers from Polish college students who would come to Kremenets from all over Poland.

Meanwhile, in Kremenets, preparations for the first swim meet went ahead at a feverish pace. In the city, people said that in Mlinovtsy they were building Pitom and Ramses [a reference to the building projects mentioned in the Passover Haggadah]. Leading this undertaking were the representatives of the garrison and of the civil authorities.

[Page 19]

A couple of weeks before the meet, some of those representatives came into my parents' store and set out a series of medals in gold, silver, and bronze for the future winners. When they had finished, I regarded these medals with envy, since I was sure none of them would end up in the hands of Jewish athletes.

Only a few days remained before the meet, and we had made no response to the invitation. But at the last minute, a mere two days before the meet, people came to tell me that a young man from Rovno, a Kremenetser's son-in-law, wanted to meet with someone from the Hasmonean committee. We met with him in one of the “iron works,” in the row of shops that had not changed since the Middle Ages and since then had borne the designation “iron.” The young man, in an old, gray suit, could hardly be distinguished from the rope, the flax, the scattered merchandise in the iron works. Everything indicated that we had before us a case that embodied the saying: “He was lured into a pit of fat; and the fat ran out and the pit remained.” He presented himself as Modrik (I have actually forgotten his real name), and he said he would participate in the swim meet representing the Hasmoneans. When we asked him what events he would do, he abruptly answered, “All of them.” Nothing about this fellow, aside from his broad shoulders, led us to trust what he was saying. When we later tried to give the completed entrance form to the clerk of the swim meet, he showed us a skeptical little smile….

The following Sunday showed a bright sun. Everywhere the young, fresh greens of early summer appeared, rejoicing the eyes and filling the air with intoxicating aromas.

The church bells rang out, making one think that they were calling the faithful not to prayers but to the swim meet in Mlinovtsy. A thick stream of young and old were on the broad road to the King's Bridge, some in carriages, some in peasant wagons, some on bicycles, but most on foot.

[Page 20]

Arriving at their destination, people encountered an unexpected picture. Instead of the small, natural pond that had been there, there was a regulation-sized swimming pool. On the east side were wooden benches. They were already crowded with invited, important guests. Around the other sides stood hundreds of spectators who had come from the city and surrounding villages, where the church bells blended in with the tones of the cavalry band. Suddenly the band grew silent. Everything became quieter. The judges approached the judging table, escorted by a group of elegant ladies. Tension increased. Then the first swimmers appeared. Among them we saw Modrik. He was an anonymous presence, but soon, soon, his name would be on everyone's lips. Soon thing started moving, to clear space, the sound of trumpets. The dense, multicolored crowd, the fluttering of the pennants high above our heads. The triumphant echoes made it like a Roman arena. The Jews' nervous eyes sought the gladiator from Judah among the competitors.

A shot–and the first 400-meter contest quickly began. Next to Modrik, on both sides, were accomplished swimmers from among the officers and soldiers from the calvary and students from the agricultural school in Belaya Krinitsa. Each of them had his fans, who urged him on with wild shouts. But there was more yelling for Modrik. His name had quickly become known to the Jewish spectators. When the swimmers neared the last 50 meters, it looked like Modrik had fallen behind. But then he gave a push and left his rivals far behind. “Modrik!!!” rang the cries from all sides. But it was all unnecessary. He was first at the finish. He was greeted by a storm of applause from all sides. The first gold medal was his. Other swimmers were at the start, but Modrik was among them as the second round began, the butterfly stroke. Again, there was yelling, but this time even the Ukrainians shouted, “Modrik!!” not from love for Mordekhay but from hatred of Haman. There followed races in different strokes, and Modrik was always first. And he did it with remarkable modesty and calm. Everyone was amazed to see the stamina and endurance of the young swimming virtuoso.

[Page 21]

The meet ended with strong applause and outcries in honor of Modrik and his many victories. The Jews were, to put it simply, drunk with joy. The storm and outcry subsided when the judges announced the names of the winners. The first, you understand, was Modrik. The elegant, perfumed ladies put the gold medals on his broad chest. Again the crowd quieted. The formerly anonymous young man had “stolen he show” and was the hero of the day. The coachmen competed over whose coach would take Modrik home. All along the long road to the city, the returning crowd cheered him. The coachmen restrained their horses so that in the city people could gather around Modrik. The city greeted the heroic gladiator of Judah in his wagon with the greatest joy. The people poured out into the street, their faces aflame with happiness.

When we brought Modrik to his home, he pulled out a squeaky drawer from an old bureau. In a decorated case we saw a row of gold and silver awards. These he had won in swim meets at the 4th regiment where he had served at Sandomierz on the Vistula. Then, with a broad smile, he put away his trophies.

Bicycle caravan of Hasmoneans in Kremenets, 1925

We extend heartfelt greetings to our noted president Chayim Mordish and his wife Shoshana on the birth of their new grandson Nisen. They should get much nachas and joy from him. We hope his young parents Shimon and Gitel may raise him in the spirit of Judaism so that he should be a proud, nationalistic Jew.–Landsmen's Union of Kremenets and Surroundings in Argentina, Directors and Women's Committee

We extend heartfelt greetings to our treasurer Velvel Oks and his wife Bronye on the birth of their first grandchild, Avishag-Beylke, and we hope that they may live to get much nachas and joy from him. And we hope that the young couple Ruven and Shoshana will raise a healthy Jewish daughter.–Landsmen's Union of Kremenets and Surroundings in Argentina, Directors and Women's Committee

We extend heartfelt greetings to members Moshe and Miryam Pak on the wedding of their beloved son Kharke to Liliana Levi, and we wish them much nachas and joy.–Landmen's Union of Kremenets and Surroundings in Argentina, Directors and Women's Committee

Sad News

Our deepest sympathy to the Shnayder and Gliklis families on the premature death of their beloved Shonye Shnayder, may peace be upon him.

They should draw comfort from his good legacy and know no more sorrow.–Landsmen's Union of Kremenets and Surroundings in Argentina, Directors and Women's Committee

[Page 23]

We will begin in 1926. There was a group of 60-70 Kremenetsers (according to the account of the yizkor book published in Buenos Aires in 1965). In the 1930s, when immigration from Poland was large because of bitter antisemitism and the economic crisis, there were about 300 Kremenetsers in Argentina. When I arrived in Argentina in 1937, I encountered a large number. At that time, many Kremenetsers were mixed up in leftist causes, although some were active in Zionist circles. A certain number who believed that “the Torah emanates from Moscow” brought that faith from Kremenets. Political and economic conditions in Argentina encouraged such movements. The doors of Argentina had closed, and so did emigration from Kremenets, except for a tiny bit: it was up to us in 1946 to rescue 10 families from the remnant of refugees in Paraguay. Then the Kremenetsers, along with those from Pochayev and Vyshgorodok, organized into a strong union of landmen who led a fruitful cultural life and, more important, a wonderful aid society. It was considered one of the best landsmanshafts in Buenos Aires. Since there was no new flow of Kremenetsers, thanks to the slaughterers, may their names be blotted out, we will skip to contemporary times.

Today's Kremenets landsmanshaft, which has just celebrated its 25th anniversary, numbers about 110 families, exclusively Kremenetsers.

There are also 15-20 families who are not officially part of the Kremenets union. As we know, the Kremenetsers came to Argentina for the most part in the 1930s, not counting the 60-70 who were here earlier, of whom few are now left. Since about 40 years have passed since then, we know the average age of immigrant landmen in Argentina. You must understand that today the Kremenetsers are divided into families. Ninety percent of those have two, three, or four children. Their grandchildren have multiplied, but can we count them as Kremenetsers? This is a huge question that is hard to answer.

[Page 24]

Whey they were little, they identified with us, but later they swam away with the general stream and left us alone on the river's shore. But it is important to emphasize a characteristic of many of the children of our landsmen who grew up speaking Spanish. These young people, when they became parents themselves, sent their children to Jewish and Hebrew schools. Moreover, they themselves became active on the boards of the schools and influenced their parents, the grandfathers, and grandmothers, to join in. Our Kremenets landsmen are active in a number of important institutions: the Foundation Fund, WIZO, YIVO, Bialik Schools, Perets Schools, etc.

The older generation of Kremenetsers are for the most part merchants and manufacturers. They do not lack for income. Some are even wealthy (they should be happy). There are a certain number of working men, but they, too, are in good shape. We cannot fail to mention that a few are in need and rely on the community and our organization. As for education, you must know that none of our immigrant landsmen have failed to study. If a few brought with them from Kremenets a diploma from the Pavnechna School or from the School of Commerce, they had to forget about it because the economic situation forced them to work hard just for a bit of sustenance. If people became dejected, it was too late. But their children learned. Most of our landsmen have educated children: doctors, lawyers, engineers, bookkeepers, etc.

Willingly or unwillingly, the question again comes to the fore: can our children be counted as Kremenetsers? Will they maintain the memory of Kremenets? To be sincere and comprehensive, I believe that one must also see the darker sides (where there is light, there must also be shadows …). The common sickness of mixed marriages afflicted our landsmen, though to a small degree. One could count them on one hand. The rest are proud Jews. Some immigrated to Israel, and some are preparing to do so.

Thanks to the rise of the state of Israel, even our non-Zionist youth take pride in being members of such a people. But it seems like this so-called “new generation” likes to think only of their people's victories and not their tragedies. It looks like they will not be part of the landsmanshaft. Naturally, they cannot feel what we feel. Although they respect our feelings, we cannot be certain that they will maintain the memory of Kremenets.

[Page 25]

[Page 26]

To our brothers and sisters from the periphery of Kremenets!

We are calling to the Jews from the shtetls of Vishnevets, Katerburg, Lanovtsy, Belozirka, Yampol, Shumsk, Berestechko, Radzivilov, Pochayev, Kozin, and Berezhtsy, which formed a belt around Kremenets, who warmed us and clung to us–take part in our Kol Yotsei Kremenets booklets. Read us and we will read you–whatever you want to tell us.

We have been and will continue to be one family.

After all, Kremenets and the shtetls are like a home with alcoves. You are all dear and beloved.

More than the other shtetls around Kremenets, Vishnevets was bound to us.

We were more closely tied to you than to all the others. Many of Vishnevets' young people studied in Kremenets. Business relationships between Kremenets and Vishnevets were also close.

In the area of Zionist endeavors, Kremenetsers in word and deed took part in many undertakings there. And Chanokh Rokhel led a Hebrew school there for over half a year in 1919.

Chane Hurvits was sent here by central WIZO to organize a branch of WIZO. Many other things bound our two towns closer and closer. Let us reestablish our brotherly contact and together remember our destroyed communities at every opportunity.

A group of WIZO young women in Vishnevets under the leadership of Mrs. Baran, second from the right, at the visit of Chane Hurvits-Goldenberg, third from the right

[Page 27]

It is now several years that I have corresponded with Mrs. Aleksandra Tarasova, who lives in Dzierżoniów, Poland. There she has an important post in the administrative unit. In her letter of 10/1/1971 she writes, among other things:

…“I very much want to visit Israel. For that I need your official invitation and permission to travel to Israel and back. I myself am not able to obtain them.

I hope that many of the Kremenetsers speak and understand Polish. In that case it won't be difficult for me to communicate with them.

I thank you for your letter and I ask you to give my heartiest greetings and best wishes to all Kremenetsers.

Sincerely, Aleksandra Tarasova”

Our landsmen in Israel and abroad have surely heard about the humanitarian deed of Aleksandra Tarasova, who with the help of two Christian peasants, at the time of the Nazis hid in her home eight Jews, Kremenetsers and non-Kremenetsers, and took care of their needs. We know well what this entailed for her.

The possibility of her visit to Israel is a small reward for her heroic deed.

In light of this, our organization's board decided to honor her formally and take the appropriate steps so that she could fulfill her own–and our–wish.

So far, we have not appealed to our landsmen for help, but several have indicated their willingness to support this noble effort with significant sums.

I have gotten together with the Yad Vashem board of in Jerusalem, which is prepared to name Mrs. Tarasova a “righteous person among the gentiles.”

I have also met with a tourist bureau that will help with travel arrangements.

We are now awaiting an answer from Mrs. Tarasova about her preferred dates for her journey to us.

During her time in Israel, she will stay with the Katsman-Teper family in Ramat Gan, with the Kagan-Kagarlitski family and Yehoshue (Shike) Golberg in Tel Aviv, and finally with several families in Haifa.

[Page 28]

In Kol Yotsei Kremenets 7, December 1970, we told our readers the following:

“The RYB”L Library for Enlightenment Literature develops from year to year, and the number of books amounts to over a thousand volumes. A librarian, who visits the library every week, has worked on creating a catalog of all the books. We are still not satisfied with the current state of the library. Readers who need this library–teachers, researchers, students–have still not found their way to the library. In the coming year (5731) we will try to communicate with academic institutions and, with the help of the catalog, try to attract corresponding readers.”

There has been little progress since then. We have worked hard on the collection and sent the catalog to high schools. But our theoretical readers–students of Hebrew literature or Jewish history–have not made their way to our library. It seems that the best place for this library would be a room in a university. So we went to Tel Aviv University, which has a special section devoted to Hebrew literature. After brief negotiations with the university board, we came to an agreement that the RYB”L Library should move to this section as an independent unit. We requested–and the university agreed–that the books should not become part of the general collections but should be in a separate room that should bear the RYB”L name and be called “Library of Enlightenment Literature in the name of RYB”L, dedicated to the memory of Kremenets' martyrs, founded by Kremenets landsmen in Israel and the Diaspora.” In short, the RYB”L Library. The walls of the room will display pictures of Kremenets.

In this university room, the library cannot serve as a club for Kremenets landsmen. The Volhynia Center is also not suitable for us because it is too far from Tel Aviv and because of its financial commitments, which were explained to us.

[Page 29]

Therefore, we came to an agreement with the Kibbutzim College that the room will be reserved for us as a club for Kremenetsers, after suitable alterations.

Thus, the memorial productions for Kremenets martyrs will henceforth be divided in two–the RYB”L Library in Tel Aviv University (the books are already there), and the club activities, as well as the yearly memorial service, will be at the Kibbutzim College, as heretofore.

The agreement with the university will soon be officially signed, with the following conditions: a combined board will oversee the library in order to broaden and broadcast its existence. They will also provide prizes or stipends for essays about Enlightenment literature.

The board's decision about the library was unanimous and had the support of our members in Haifa. In the negotiations with the university and in the formulation of the agreement, an active role was played by Pesach Litav.

In the course of the negotiations, there were disagreements. Some members were satisfied with the Volhynia Center, but after the difficulties were explained, they agreed with the majority. There were also disagreements about whether to hold a general vote on the question. A number of members–especially those from Haifa–particularly wanted it because the library was going to be moved away. But due to technical difficulties, which made it impossible, a vote was not held.

In conclusion: our partnership with the university–believe me–is for us and for the library a kind of “higher level.” It is an honor for our organization, which went ahead and founded a fine cultural institution in memory of our community and has now delivered it into secure hands.

[Page 30]

We give here the impressions of our important landsman from Detroit, Volf Shnayder, who this year paid an extended visit to Israel, along with his wife Ester. They took part in the memorial service and in the consultations regarding the Levinson Library.–The Editor

Detroit, October 4, 1971

It is almost two months now since I participated with you in the yahrzeit for the martyrs of Kremenets, and I still retain the impression, the deep impression, that it made on me. The huge number of people who took the trouble to attend that evening, the honor that was paid to the martyrs' memory, the way the whole program was arranged–all of this moves me to publish a hearty congratulations to the committee that planned and organized the evening.

Allow me, as one of you, to offer a few remarks.

It is surely appropriate to remember on that evening those who have left us for the world of truth–Kremenetsers who lived in Israel and the Diaspora, and that should always be a part of the evening.

But what interests me was our joy, our happiness. I mean that the committee should be informed about weddings and births among the young Israelis, and on these occasions the committee should send a representative with a greeting and a gift (perhaps a medallion from the Kremenets emigrants) for the younger generation–our Israeli children. This, I believe, would tie them to their source in Kremenets.

The booklets that you issue seem to me unique to Kremenetsers, and the work should surely be acknowledged.

The matter of the RYB”L Library is unique, and I know of no other landsmanshaft that has put together, or even considered, such a thing. I send you my hearty blessings on your important and beautiful work. I assure you that I will always be ready to help you with whatever I can in your labors and further development.

Greetings,
With you, heart and soul, V. Shnayder

Greetings to all committee members

[Page 31]

On August 14, as in every year, Kremenetsers gathered in the courtyard of the Kibbutzim College to unite with the memory of our community.

In recent years we have been ruled by a strange feeling of uncertainty and skepticism that the custom of the memorial service would be ending, that the number of participants was declining, and who knew [what would happen]?

The difficult actualities of everyday life pull and push aside even what should not be forgotten, since each of us has the sorrow and pain hidden deep in our hearts until the end of our lives and for generations to come. Therefore, it is good to affirm that among us are certain generous people with deep faith, who do not take things lightly. And now the day has come that has justified our beliefs.

More than 300 Kremenetsers from Israel, along with a large number of guests from abroad, gathered for the memorial service, among them people who had not seen each other for decades. One of them was in Israel the first time for the memorial. People exchanged memories, like springs from the distant past, from their childhoods in their parents' homes in that distant town of Kremenets. Memories loaded with nostalgia and sharp sorrow over all that has befallen us. It seemed like the distance in time and space disappeared and that together we would be on the road to Israel, no longer separated because so few of us remain.

Also, everything that was said by our members–Mordekhay Otiker, Manus Goldenberg, Duvid Rapaport, Yosef Kerler, and Volf Shnayder–perfected and shaped a comfortable atmosphere of understanding and closeness.

The guests gathered with great warmth thanks to Manus Goldenberg:

• Duvid Rapaport (a writer), the secretary of our landsmanshaft in New York, now active in editing Kol Yotsei Kremenets.
• Volf Shnayder, active in Detroit in Jewish education, a researcher in the era of the Enlightenment, and a fervent follower of Y. B. Levinzon. The RYB”L Library was founded on his initiative.
• The family of Yosef Kelner, a talented Yiddish author. He was condemned to death along with other Jewish authors and writers in Soviet Russia and survived by a miracle. Several months ago, he came to visit Israel with his wife and son.

His wife is from the Barshap family (Dubno) in Kremenets. Soon after his arrival, Kelner received the Yitschak Manger Prize.
• Pesach Gorinshteyn (Shmuel Gorinshteyn's son) with his wife and children from France.
• Avraham Barshap, on a visit from Los Angeles.
• Vladimir Landsberg's wife from Italy, a Christian who hid Landsberg and a group of other Jews in the time of the Nazis. (See the piece about Tarasova in this booklet.)
• Tsvi (Niunye) Kremenetshugski from New York. This is his third visit to Israel. He left Kremenets in 1924.

In conversations with guests from abroad, I learned that it is difficult for them to leave Israel and all of us.

The memorial service was organized and energetically led by member Mordekhay Otiker, one of the “next generation,” from the middle generation of Kremenetsers in Israel.

[Page 33]

We present here an ongoing list of funds that have arrived recently from Kremenets landsmanshaften and from individuals abroad. An earlier list is in Booklet 8.

For the benefit of Kol Yotsei Kremenets
7/2/71	Mordekhay Katz, for the booklet	$200
10/6/71	William Kogan, New York	10
11/22/71	New York Landsmanshaft, via William Kogan	25
1/27/72	Moshe and Miryam Pak, Buenos Aires, on the wedding of their son Kharke	50
1/31/72	Argentine Landsmanshaft, via Mordekhay Katz	100
		$385
For the benefit of the Levinzon Library and other necessities
6/20/71	Gershon Shkurnik, New York	20
8/20/71	Pesach Gorinshteyn, Paris	10
10/1/71	Dr. Zev Chasid, Berkeley, in memory of his wife	50
10/12/71	Volf Shnayder, Detroit, first installment of $900 for prizes and stipends for Enlightenment literature in the name of his father, Sh. Shnayder, of blessed memory	300
		$380
		$765

[Page 34]

Yosef Trastenietski

A year ago, Yosef Trastenietski died in Poland. Several weeks before the Six-Day War, he visited Israel and met with his landsmen.

In Kremenets, Trastenietski was a noted leader and was very much involved with all levels of young people.

Several years before the war, because of his underground activities for the communist movement, he was arrested and sent to the well-known camp at Bereza Kartuska.

We have just received news of his death.

Dr. Elka Lerer

As we have been told, Dr. Elka Lerer has passed away in Kremenets. She was the daughter of the fine carpenter Moshe Lerer, of blessed memory. Thus, our small remnant there has grown even smaller.

Dr. Yakov (Yasha) Landsberg

On December 15, 1971, in Tarnopol, Dr. Yakov (Yasha) Landsberg passed away. He was the son of Dr. Yosef Landsberg, of blessed memory. He was buried in Zaleshchiki, where he had worked in the hospital. His two sons from Leningrad attended, as well as several Jews from Kremenets. The deceased was a prominent doctor and had published important medical work.

Asher Kagan

As we were concluding this notebook, the radio brought the sad news that Asher Kagan, son of Moshe Kagan, had died tragically.

We share in the family's grief. May his memory be for a blessing!

[Page 35]

At a solemn reception, our landsman Avraham Abir (Biberman) was awarded the Feferman Prize for the Builders of a New Jerusalem from the Organization of Jerusalem Contractors.

The prize was awarded to Abir for activities over many years in building monumental buildings, such as the Jewish Agency and the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, as well as hundreds of homes. He was also the instigator in organizing the contractors' union. At the reception greetings were sent by the mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek, and his aide, the secretary of the Workers Council in Jerusalem, David Aloni, Knesset member Brem, and others.

Avraham Abir immigrated to Israel with the first group of pioneers from Kremenets in 1921. His activities in his trade are manifold. Much of his effort benefitted the community, both before the establishment of the state and throughout its history.

We wish our important landsman Abir-Biberman many healthy years of useful activity.

At the wedding of Arye Tsizin, son of Yehoshue (Shike) Tsizin, which took place in the Lawrence Hall, the board of the landsmanshaft in Israel took part. Shike Tsizin is a farmer from the village of Mele'a in the Jezreel Valley. His son Arye is a sergeant in the Border Patrol. In addition to the many guests at the wedding were many officers and soldiers from his unit, including a number of Druze.

On the first anniversary of the death of Chanokh Rokhel, of blessed memory, his family and several score of friends from his kibbutz assembled at his grave in Kibbutz Tel-Yosef. In the evening, people gathered at the apartment of his wife Rachel. There people read excerpts from his literary works (see his publication in this issue of Kol Yotsei Kremenets). The guests heard a tape recording of his voice from 1967 when, as founder of the Labor Battalion, he spoke of their activities.

At the end, a film was shown in which people could see the honorable welcome Chanokh received at the home of the Hebrew writer Tsvi Preygerson, of blessed memory, in Moscow in 1965.

[Page 36]

Among the invited guests, one could see the author Yosef Kerler and his wife from Kremenets, Ani Barshap, with his son, and Preygerson's wife and son, now with us in Israel.

As a result of the move of the RYB”L Library to Tel Aviv University, our member Avrashe Argaman (Buts) and a member of Kibbutzim College board have planned alterations to the interior of our hall in the college. They will try to strengthen the Kremenets atmosphere in the room. (See a special section on this theme in the current issue.) Members Yitschak Rokhel, Avraham Argaman, and Pesach Litov (Litvak) are taking part in a similar committee from the RYB”L Library at Tel Aviv University.

A Kremenetser in Israel–a crossword puzzle author. Our landsman Zev (Velvel) Kligman has an interesting hobby. For over 20 years he has created charades for “The Word of the Week” and for various journals in Jerusalem. He has set out a crossword puzzle for our booklets. We are now considering the matter. Meanwhile, the editors wish him success in his cultural hobby.

Recognition for William (Volke) Kogan. Before Duvid Rapaport, who was active as the secretary of the Kremenets Landsman Union, came for a lengthy stay in Israel, he voluntarily gave up his post to William Kogan.

Member Kogan fills his position with the greatest devotion and judgment. He stays in close contact with us via his frequent letters. His remarks about the monument for the Kremenets Landsman Union in New York are very thoughtful.

After William received our last booklet, he expressed appreciation. Here is an excerpt from his letter:

“…I maintain that your issues of Kol Yotsei Kremenets get better with every notebook. Their effect on our landsmen in the Diaspora is huge. Whoever reads them, wherever he may be, will feel drawn to Kremenetsers and will seek tighter connections to his former city…”

We thank member Kogan for his energetic and generous work toward our important goal. Our deep appreciation goes to you, Volke Kogan!!

[Page 37]

We send hearty congratulations, and we wish much pride for our friends Miryam and Moshe Pak in Buenos Aires on the marriage of the son Kharke with Miss Liliana Levi.–A group of Kremenets landsmen in Israel

Our landsman, Nachman Desser, who is in the United States, asks every Kremenetser who knows the whereabouts of Tova (Teyvka) Bat, to let him know via the editors of Kol Yotsei Kremenets.

Teyvka worked in the manufacturing business of Nachman's father, Yoel Desser, of blessed memory. She came to Israel in the late 1920s or early 1930s.

Greetings

• Yemima and Yosef Avidar in Jerusalem on the birth of their sixth grandchild, Natan, to their daughter Dana and her husband Duvid (Dudu) Zota.
• Alina and Fayvel Rayzman in Kiryat Hayyim on the engagement of their daughter Bela to Tovye Gros, in Haifa.
• Bronye Shteynberg-Biberman and her husband, Yosef, Tel Aviv, on the birth of their fourth grandchild, Dine, to their daughter Ilana and her husband Yitschak Levanat, Kiraoun.
• Rive and Yitschak Biberman, Tel Aviv, on the birth of their fifth grandchild, Oded, son of Sore and Shimon Reviv (Biberman), Haifa.
• Miryam and Yehoshue (Shike) Tsizin, Moshav Mele'a, Jezreel Valley, on the marriage of their son Arye to Miss Fanye.
• Gitel and Yosef Shifris on the marriage of their daughter Bela to her beloved Emanuel.
• We greet our landsmen from abroad who are now visiting Israel. Welcome!

As this booklet was going to press, we heard from New York that our prominent landsmen Genye and Yitschak Vakman have a grandson who got married, the son of their daughter Fifi and Rabbi Karasik.

The wedding was officiated by Rabbi Soloveichik.

Rabbi Karasik, president of the Union of Orthodox Congregations in America, like his married son, was a student of Rabbi Soloveichik.

We wish the families of the young married couple, Linda and Matityahu-Eliezer, much nachas and a hearty mazel tov.–Organization editors and board

At first there was– darkness on the face of the deep, and with my sinful, bony body I chiseled away at the darkness as if with a lamb… I broke through to the sunshine and to the beautiful couple in the shadow of the tree. And dark before my humble reality the beautiful dream remained– comfortable, fresh, as if after rain the land of my grandchildren lies before me.

This poem concludes Yosef Kerler's book Song through Clenched Teeth, with a generous introduction by Professor Dov Sadon, from the Perets Press a couple of months ago.

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