[Page 93-86]

Lancut was an outstanding Hasidic city. The impression upon the town of famous Rabbis and Tzadikim was clearly recognizable. The Hasidim of Belz were especially the ruling force. The Hasidic youth studied in the Yeshivot and in the Bait Hamidrash. The connection between the Hasidim and their Rabbis and Tzadikim was like an organization framework of the Hasidic movement.

However, like in many other bigger and small cities, there were in Lancut many Jews outside of the Hasidic stratum. There were religious young people that did not follow Hassidism, and for many reasons mostly economic, could not study in Yeshivot or in Bait Hamidrash, and were forced to work for a living. All these people were outside of any religious framework.

“Agudat Israel” found, among them, their proper human resource that they needed for the party. After World War I, a branch of “Agudat Israel” was founded in Lancut with a membership of a few hundred members.

The chairman of the organization in the last year before World War II was Reb Feivush Adolph who gave room in his home to the party's disposal. Every evening, the members of the Agudah gathered to study Gemara, Ein Jacob, Shulchan Aruch and books of ethics. These students consisted mostly of people who worked daytime. Such activity made a big impression on the Orthodoxy in the city, to those who were outside of the Hasidic movement and could not join the National Zionist movement.

“Agudat Israel” adopted a few more goals in different venues: in charity institutions such as Free Loan Society, the visit to the sick and food and lodging for the indigent. The young “Agudat Israel” were the yoke of good deeds, helping the needy in the above charity institutions, which was headed by Chaim Puderbeitel, of blessed memory. He devoted his entire being to the party that sometimes went as far as colliding with the Zionists.

In addition to the young “Agudat Israel”, a much younger educational segment was founded – the “Pirchey Agudah” from children age 10 to 15 which, in future, would strengthen the ranks of the young “Agudat Israel”. About how active the young “Agudat Israel” was, is the fact that in 1934-35, a pioneer training post was established on behalf of the “Agudat Israel”.

The place for the training post was obtained with the help of the chairman, Reb Feivush Adolph. Many of the town's people like Reb Zelig Kerner, of blessed memory, Reb Meir Estlein, of blessed memory, and Reb Ephraim Krancler, of blessed memory, and others, who gave employment to the pioneers a few days of the week, which helped them prepare for building the land.

“Agudat Israel” had established a fund named: “Keren Hayishuv” to finance the activities of helping settle Eretz Israel. The writer of this column was the treasurer of this fund in Lancut and fulfilled all the obligations that he was entrusted with.

May the souls of the “Agudat Israel” members who perished during the destruction of the Lancut community be bonded in the bonds of the living, as martyrs of the Jewish People. Amen.

Members of Agudat Israel Sitting from is: Leib Biberberg, Mendel Holzberg, Feivel Adolph and Moshe Hamerling Standing from right: Nisan Kenig, Abraham Karpiol, Yoel Adolph, Zelig Feldshtein, Aaron Braun, Yechiel Weinreb, Benjamin Einhorn and Peretz Waser

Universal Zionists

At a meeting of the Universal Zionists in 1928, a new committee was elected: Dr. Abraham Druker, chairman, Dr. Leon Markel, vice-chairman, Tzvi Sauerhaft, secretary. Elected Committee members were: Engineer Abraham Spatz, Yechiel Nusbaum, Shlomo Greenbaum, Dr. David Lotringer, Eliezer Fas, Nachman Kestenbaum. There were two representatives of the young people: Moshe Rosenblit and Michael Walzer.

At the 13^th Zionist conference, the following people were elected to the council: Engineer Spatz, Nachman Kestenbaum and Shlomo Greenbaum. They participated in the congress as delegates.

The local Zionist committee had decided to broaden its activities to rent a location in order to open a clubhouse, the Zionist had done in Tarnow.

The committee organized a big Hanukkah party. The programme consisted of “Akiva” choir, the “Hazamir” band and a one-act play staged by Mrs. Markel. The festive speaker at the party was Dr. Klein from Krakow.

The Zionist people arranged a farewell party for the following members that had emigrated to Eretz Israel: Shmuel Greizman, David Fast and Bluma Kornblau.

Elections to the Zionist congress brought an awakening of the Zionist activities in town. The best of the city sons had harnessed themselves to work for the Orlazorow campaign and for the Kfar Ushishkin campaign which brought in a sizeable sum of money.

A protest meeting was organized protesting the closing of the gates of the Holy Land. Dr. Weintraub from Przemysl, Dr. Druker and the engineer Spatz were the speakers.

Before the elections to the Polish Parliament in 1938, a mass rally was organized by the united list of candidates. So many people came to the meeting that the big Bait Hamidrash could not absorb everybody that had come to hear the speaker, Dr. Bulwa, who presented the platform for the elections. A decision was made to vote for the list of candidates with Dr. Joshua Thon heading the list.

The elections to the city hall took place in 1928. The elections were approved by the Polish authorities in Lwow. The list of the Zionist candidates won a great victory. Januszewski was elected mayor. From the Jewish candidates, Getzel Druker from Mizrachi was elected and so did Hersh Estlein, an independent.

Before the elections to the city hall in 1933, the division of the city into three districts by the Polish authorities was aimed to discriminate against and deprive the rights of the Jewish voters. In order to nullify the scheme of the authorities, all Jewish parties united in order to win four Jewish representatives to the city councils out of a total of sixteen representatives. The citizen's election committee consisted of: A. Spatz, Universal Zionist, Anshel Katz, Mizrachi, Fabian Avner, independent, Leib Krantzler, independent and 8 more members. Three Zionists were elected to the city council, one representative of Agudat Israel and Simcha Sapir, an independent.

In 1929, the Jewish National Funds campaign to redeem the Acco Valley, collected 228 zlotys. The main donors were as follows: Abraham Katz, Esther Wolkenfeld, Berish Wolkenfeld, Pinchos Tzvibel, Dr. Lotringer, Z. Kerner, Dr. Knafel, Leib Kresh, D. Trumpeter, W. Kubek, M. Marder, J. Brawer, G. Estlein and E. Fas.

In 1931, the Jewish national Fund had arranged a festive Hanukkah party with the participation of members from the “Hashomer Hatzayir” and “Hanoar Hazioni”. The play: “The Eternal Fool”, was presented and staged by Helena Shtitzel. One hundred more shekels were sold at that party than the previous year.

In 1933, Dr. Shapiro, a representative of the Foundation fund, visited Lancut and with the help of Dr. Spatz, Mrs. Rachel Druker and Shimon Wolkenfeld, a sizeable sum was collected for that fund. In 1934, with the participation of an emissary from the centre of the Foundation Fund, a meeting took place to plan the campaign. Outstanding in this activity was Dr. Rachel Druker, Abraham Spatz, Dr. Abraham Druker, Pinchos Tzvibel, Moshe Failshus and Leubsh-Aryeh Wiener.

In 1931, by the initiative of Dr. Rachel Druker, a founding meeting of women took place in Lancut where the WIZO organization was founded. Mrs. Dr. Hurwitz from Krakow gave a lecture about the functions of the WIZO organization in the Diaspora and in the Holy Land. The speech was enthusiastically received, after which 80 people registered as members. The following people were elected to the WIZO committee: Dr. Rachel Druker, chairwoman, Dr. Knafel and Beila Bot, vice-chairwomen, Ryvka Bot, secretary and Sheindl Zawada, treasurer. Members of the committee were: Mrs. Markel, Mrs. Spatz, Debra Feier, Kerner, Beili Flashen, Kezshtecher, Elka Kestenbaum, Sabina Fried, Shoshana Lipshitz, Kaner, Frida Greizman, Rachel Anmot, Shoshana Mechlowich, A. Feier and Kartis.

At the Krakow WIZO conference, Rachel Druker was elected President of WIZO. The financial report at a general meeting of the WIZO organization gave evidence on the strong effort that was made by the members of the organization for the funds and cultural activities (lectures and group studying Hebrew), and parties for children. With the help of WIZO, a pioneer training post was established where 12 boys and girls from Lancut received their training.

The women circle of WIZO

Youth movement “Akiba” Bottom row from right and sitting: Anmut, Feier, Estlein, Kesten, Anmut and Estlein Sitting from right: Batyah Horowitz, Batyah Kesten, Failshus, Esther Amant, Kezshtecher, Mania Engelberg, Chaya Katz, Rachel Sapir and Nachman Kestenbaum Standing from right in third row: Dvora Lipschitz, Ethel Kneller, Dina Kornblau, Bronia Milrad, Dvora Feier, Rachel Shusheim, Chaya Feier, Leah Sapir, Itka Adler, Mania Failshus, Esther Anmut and Pesil Zgil Standing from right in 4th row: Pinchos Fast, Yitzhak Greenbaum, Yaacov Drefler, Motl Fast, Gedalja Estlein, Chaim Stempel, Dov Regenbogen, Akiva Landau and Yehuda Marder

In 1931, a regional meeting of the “Hanoar Haivri” took place where Dr. Yehuda Orenstein spoke about the “goals of the Universal Zionists”. A lot of young Jewish people came to that meeting. In the evening, Dr. Orenstein spoke to a mature audience about “Hebrew and the Jews”.

In 1932, during the winter season, an improvement study was organized in the village of Elbigowo by Dr. Yehuda Orenstein with 150 participants. Days of theoretical studies were held in Jewish science, education and on the political situation in Zionism. During the studies, a convention took place to which 200 delegates arrived. The lectures were given by Dr. Yehuda Orenstein and Yaacov Rand. The festive closing of the convention was in the “Beit Haam”.

In 1933, the Akiva youth movement had a joyful graduation and there was also a meeting of the central committee of the “Akiva” youth movement in which 120 delegates participated. The opening of the meeting was made by Hans Lew and Joel Dreiwelt gave a lecture about the situation in the movement. Secretarial reports on the movement in Poland was delivered by Magister Krigsfeld, Magister L. Salpeter, M. Zinger, M. Hecht, J. Leflhotz and Yehuda Orenstein. After the meeting of the graduates, the “Akiva” organization in Lancut arranged a festive graduation party for all the participants.

The” Akiva” organization in Lancut outstood with its powerful activities by establishing branches in Blazow, Glogow and Grodzisko and this action strengthened the “Akiva” movement in the Lancut District.

The education for self-realization was fruitful. In 1933, the following members of the “Akiva” organization emigrated to Eretz Israel: Joseph Magenheim, Gedalyah Estlein, Peninah Just and Mania Failshus.

The activities of the “Akiva” members encouraged the adults as well to become active. A new club house was opened, a new organization named “Bnai Zion” was founded and a new committee was elected. Shlomo Greenbaum was elected chairman, Berish Wolkenfeld, vice-chairman, engineer Yitzhak Greenbaum, secretary and Dr. Maurer, Herman Bauer, Eliezer Fas and Mendel Zonenshein were elected as committee members. By the initiative of the “Akiva”, a Hebrew speaking group was organized. The members of the “Akiva” participated in many activities organized by the many Zionist institutions and organizations in the city.

(1931). “Hanoar Hazioni” the Zionist youth group was organized in Lancut in 1930. Comrade M. Gotlieb, the general secretary of the “Hanoar Hazioni” movement visited Lancut and conversed with local members. During a general assembly, the secretary called for action to help the national funds and to strive to emigrate to Eretz Israel.

(1932). The Poaley Zion, during a memorial meeting in memory of Ber Borochow, comrade Chaim Henig was the speaker. At the conference of the “Freiheit” organization, Henig spoke about the Poaley Zion and the function of the “Jewish worker”. After a discussion, a mutual plan of activities was established for the Lancut and Jaroslaw Districts.

(1931). “Hechalut”. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the General Workers' Organization in Eretz Israel, the “Hechalutz” had a party where Zeinvel Levadi (Yasem) was the speaker.

(1934). Beitar. The engineer Tuchman from Krakow gave a lecture on “political and coincidental Zionism”.

A group of “Poaley Zion” members in 1932

(1933). The Hebrew school committee made a resolution to reorganize anew after the visit of Mandel, the representative of “Tarbut”. The school was thriving and the number of students kept on increasing, and another teacher was hired.

(1933). “Zion” library Magister, Joshua Kanfel, reorganized anew the library. Books were collected and new books purchased on Hebrew, Polish and Yiddish literature. The library served a broad public of readers, young and mature alike.

A lecture by Dr. Natan Kudish, from the Hebrew gymnasium in Przemysl, was given on the subject of “The individual and the public in the new Hebrew literature”.

Hazimir. A general meeting of the “Hazamir Band” took place and a new committee was elected. Berish Wolkenfeld was elected chairman, Simon Wolkenfeld, vice-chairman and treasurer, Leib Shtecher, secretary, Tzvi Sauerhaft, liquidator (?), Yaacov Trumpeter, conductor, Kalman Wolkenfeld, responsible for the instruments. Committee members were: David Trumpeter, Yeshayahu Landau and Moshe Rozmarin. Engineer Abraham Spatz was elected as honorary chairman.

The Sport Club Sitting from right: Dov Turkeltaub, Michael Cufer, Naphtali Just, Eliezer Disha, Dov Regenbogen and Yaacov Trumpeter Standing from right: Shlomo Adler, Israel Just, Shlomo Popiol, Yitzhak Celner, Eliyahu Popiol, Yehuda Marder, David Trumpeter, Abraham Margal, Joseph Shenman, Marsel Spatz, Abraham Halperin, Chanan Ousibel, Otek Markel, Moshe Rozmarin and Menachem Popiol

On behalf of the leadership of the “World Maccabe”, Mr. Landau gave a lecture on the subject: “Jews and Sport”. The ping-pong group played in Rzeszow again the “Bar Kochba” group and won the match 3:4 in its favour. The “Hasmoneams” from Lwow, played against the great players of Poland at the time, Ehrlich and his assistant Kohl, which resulted in 6:0 and with “Maccabe Kolbuszow, 2:0. Football: Trumpeldor played against “Orzel” 5:4, Trumpeldor against “Strzelec 1:2 in favour of Trumpeldor. The referee was Yitzhak Popiol.

Physical exercise group in “Bnot Trumpeldor”

For the 1934-35 years, a new committee consisting of the following people was elected: Reuven Nadel, Dr. Feler, Ruth Hilinger, Manka Mechlowitz, Michael Cufer, Menachem Popiol, Dr. A. Maurer, Nachman Kestenbaum and Israel Gersten. The society had prepared a solemn opening of the new club. A fund-raising campaign took place to help rebuild the burnt down Hasmonean club in Lwow.

(1930). The Beit Haam. A few years earlier, a building committee was elected to build the Beit Haam which was supposed to serve as a cultural public centre for the Lancut Jews. It was a daring idea which was needed by the Lancut Jews. After the public effort, stubborn devotion, the Jews of Lancut had achieved their goal and a Beit Haam was built. The Jews of Lancut were able to boast about this mission, hence bigger and richer communities in Galician cities could not boast about such an accomplishment. It seems proper to point out on engineer Abraham Spatz's activities as well as Eliezer Fas in helping to build this house. Building the Beit Haam was, temporarily, halted because of shortage of funds but there was hope that within a year, the building would be successfully completed.

(1931) The building of the Beit Haam was completed. An adventurous event of the Lancut Jews that would become a factor in strengthening the social, public and cultural lives of the Jewish population.

Having a Beit Haam brought troops of known actors such as: Jonas Turkow, Diana Blumenfeld and Lydia Potocki. Our local theatre lovers presented the play in Yiddish, “Die Puste Kretchme” produced by Z. Rozencweig. The “Habimah” theatre from Rzeszow performed in the Beit Haam. The Osip Dimow play: “Piewca Wlasney Doli” and the Hard troupe, presented the plays “Hadrech Le Buenos Aires” and the “Yearning Heart”. The Poaley Zion drama group played “Shnei Kuni Lemels” from Goldfaden. The public of theatre lovers had filled the hall to its capacity.

Members of the Revisionistic Organization

Just before the WIZO was organized, the drama group successfully presented the play “Lev Haeim”, produced by Nachman Kestenbaum. Outstanding players were: Eliezer Fas, Moshe Failshus, Rachel Anmut, Aaron Kraut, Henia Greizman and Shmuel Greizman. The “Hazamir” orchestra accompanied the play which was conducted by Kalman Wolkenfeld. The same year, 1931, a grandiose Purim party took place in the Beit Haam with a children's masquerade parade which was organized by WIZO.

The chairman of Beit Haam, engineer Abraham Spatz, reported on the shortage of funds which was the reason why the second floor was not completed. The “Beit Haam” Society expressed their gratitude to Count Potocki for donating 7000 roof tiles for the building.

(1932). The drama group presented the comedy of Henrik Zbiszkowski: “Klopoty pana Zlotopolskiego” for which they were greatly applauded. Nice showmanship was shown by Mrs. Sandauer, Mrs. Landau, Jochewed Flashin, Joshua Kesten, Reuven Nadel, Yitzhak Popiol, Emil Goldstein and the Turkeltaub brothers.

The “Support the indigent's society” had elected the previous committee headed by Shlomo Greenbaum. The yearly budget of this important society had reached the sum of 15,000 zlotys.

[Page 100]

Before World War I, the life of the Jewish population in Lancut was flowing without problems and shaking events. A small disturbance happened only during the selection of a local Rabbi or community leadership. The maturing young people which were the reserve for the people's future, followed their parents' footsteps. World War I brought with it the collapse of the Austrian Monarchy and brought fermentation of nationalism and liberated many nations that had become politically independent. The Jews also realized that they were not the grandchildren of Popiol and Piast, the founders of Poland. Attempted assimilation with the Poles resulted in disappointment. The reason for this was the poisoned racial animosity of our neighbours toward the Jews. Jewish national conscience began to penetrate into the ranks of the young people, which raised their statue and rose the flag of national resurrection. The beginning, in our town, was very modest. A Zionist club only. However, after a short time, a variety of organizations had come forth, and just before the war, the young people fiercely harnessed themselves to national activities. When the echo of pogrom in Lwow and other cities had reached us, we organized self-defence in our city. (I, together with Professor Blaszkiewich, organized a night watch in our area consisting of four people. We were armed with rifles that we received from the gendarmes).

In 1919, Isachar Reis, a native of Lwow and brother-in-law of the lawyer Leon Markel, appeared in Lancut. He came from Vienna where he was a student in the Hebrew teachers' seminary and was one of the founders there of “Hashomer Hatzayir”. A wonderful young man, filled with west-European culture and Torah, like a pomegranate. Under his influence and guidance, we founded the organization. His chit-chatting with us on different subjects, was always interesting and it gave us a push to learn and penetrate deeper in order to understand many problems. We successfully created a brotherly atmosphere between us to tighten and become one big family. His influence upon us was tremendous. Our patriotic work was done with a grave approach. Like the entire scouts' movement, we too strove to create a complete, typical Jewish character. We were in constant contact with the Rzeszow organization and regularly corresponded with Chaim Ormian, the secretary of the Tarnow organization. On behalf of my organization, I participated in the “Hashomer Hatzayir” convention in Lwow in 1920 which left us with an unforgettable impression. When I left Lancut in 1921, I left a lovely organization and many of our comrades chose the right path: emigration to our land.

I stayed in Krakow for a year and a half and guided a group of older boys, after which they became group leaders. I was also the secretary of the district organization. In 1923, I spent six months in Buenos Aires. The human element there was very good but, nevertheless, it was hard to lead without a positive direction. Nevertheless, I was harnessed to work which became fruitful after all. I picked agile activists from Eretz Israel, a few good persons from Bessarabia, Poland and Galicia and organized a special group that worked diligently and devotion. They later took up the leadership into their own hands and established a strong “Hashomer” movement with a national background. Also, in Paris in 1925, I made an effort to establish a “Hashomer” movement. I gathered “Shomrim” and “Shomrot” that came from Poland, Romania and Lithuania to study in Paris. We gathered together within a few months. There was an honest desire to continue the work but the hard existential conditions had failed the activities and the package came apart.

[Page 101]

The birth of the “Neurim” library in the Lancut Hebrew school and the chapter of my enrolment into the Hebrew school, is connected with my “Gemara” teacher, David Yona who had his “Cheder” in the “Cheders'” area near the hospital.

As though he were still alive, my eyes visualize David Yona with his reddish beard, mixed with a few strands of grey. He had a nervous habit, often pulling his shoulder upwards.

He left the “Cheder” twice a week to go to the market and be with his two daughters that had a haberdashery and a toy stall. He relied on his daughters during weekdays, except on Tuesday and Friday when the market was full with village people from the surround area and the stall was surrounded by customers. We, the “Gemara” boys, enjoyed these market days because they were our vacation days. We were 20-30 children in “Cheder”, which was one of the two rooms of the teacher's quarters. David Yona and his family were satisfied occupying one room and, in the room, where we studied, there was a big clock with chains on the wall, adjusted according to the spirit of the time.

I got separated from the “Cheder” when I enrolled in the Lancut Hebrew School. A new world opened for me with new teachers and new outlooks. This school was the factory of the Hebrew language and for the Zionist spirit. In time, graduates became pioneers of Zion. Natan Warhaftig was the principal of the Hebrew school, the educator and the Hebrew teacher. He was a scholar and an intellectual whose mouth never spoke a Yiddish word. He only spoke Hebrew and, therefore, brought up a generation of Hebrew speakers in Lancut. (I too obtained the knowledge of the Hebrew language after studying a few months in Warhaftig's school). There I met the comrades with whom I went through a long way in the “Neurim” in Lancut: Moshe Rozenblit, Yitzhak Greenbaum, Tzvi Sauerhaft, Abraham Estlein and others. They were one class higher than I but we were close in spirit and thought. We were good friends.

Hashomer Hatzayir group in 1919 Bottom row from right: Feiga Fast, Gizela Gliksman, Mina Greizman Sitting from right: Dr. Reuven Rozenblit, Hadasa Milrad, Dr. Eliezer Riger and Ryvka Bot (the translator's first cousin) Standing from right: Niusha Lichtgarten, Mundek Landau, Beila Flashin, Chaya Halperin and Sheindl Stempel

Members of “Neurim Society” Bottom row from right: Joseph Shenman, David Fast and Israel Just Standing in first row from right: Esther Yust and Tovah Shtelcer Second row from right: Moniek Kezshtecher, Moshe Marzil, Abraham Weinbach, Michael Walzer, Wolf Milrad, Shimon Strum and Dov Turkeltaub Standing in third row: Peretz Waser, David Trumpeter, Tzvi Sauerhaft, Yitzhak Greenbaum and Moshe Rozenblit

Indeed, the financial help for establishing the library came from presenting the play: “Hatmura” which was produced by Nachman Kestenbaum and its actors were the following: Henia Greisman, the writer of this column, David Trumpeter, Israel and Esther Yust and others. The play took place in the community hall and had an extraordinary success which encouraged the initiators to stage more shows. And that is what happened! We continued putting on plays such as: “Achaswerosh”, “Moses” and other shows.

I remember my performance in the monologue: “Hanesiya Bekisai Begadai” from N. Miflev, a teacher from Krakow who was present at the play. I played the role of a child with many pockets filled with many things. I stood on the stage and emptied my pockets, piece-by-piece, and in fluent Hebrew, explained the valued of every item was for me. Things were coming out of my pockets with no end in sight to the sound of laughter from the audience. I remember the author came over after the play and said: “I don't know if I created the monologue especially for you, or you were created for that monologue”.

After the successful plays, packages with Hebrew books began to arrive for the “Neurim” library. We bought books on credit, relying on the income from future shows. We applied for discounts from different publishing companies and ended up with a lot of property. The first bookcase was made by the city cabinetmaker, Mordechai Faster (he passed away in Israel). We soon became a library with 500 Hebrew books. Lending out books was done twice a week. Many adults joined the library. We also arranged lectures in Hebrew which was given by Natan Warhaftig and Nachman Kestenbaum.

The library and the shows were a factor which gave birth to the idea of building the “Beit Haam”. In the meantime, after staging several plays in the community building, the Orthodox community rebelled against us. The city Rabbi declared a boycott and the shows were stopped. The Rabbi claimed that the hall was located on top of the ritual mikvah and disturbed the women that came there in the evenings. Of course, we could not oppose such “rational claims' and more so, because of the shows, the community committee could not hold their regular meetings in the building. In fact, the community committee was also confronted with the same claim about the mikvah disturbance. In the end, we were forced to wander with our theatre – a factor that ended our carrier and it gave us even a bigger push to build the “Beit Haam”.

A similar skirmish was encountered on the problems of Hebrew which ended with our victory. It was an episode in connection with the location of the Hebrew school which was located near the home of Berl Waser. People who were responsible for the school had decided that it was time to move the school to a more spacious location and selected the “Hekdesh”. (A lodging place for indigents) which seemed to be just the right place for a school. The moving operation was connected with a “Sacrifice” not literarily a human sacrifice, but pain that we caused to one of the Orthodox people, a pain that we caused involuntarily. It was one of those dark nights when we decided to move the school and to move it into the “Hekdesh”. It was a cold winter and snowy night. We worked anxiously, afraid that any minute someone would appear and would disturb the transfer of our equipment. We knew that if we would succeed in transferring our equipment during the night, without disturbance, it would be a success and all the screaming that would follow in the morning, would not change the ‘fait accompli'. Suddenly, we encountered Jomchale'h Brand, a pious extremist, a man of short statue that fell into the affair unexpectedly, and he was liable to destroy here the entire “History”. We had not choice to do what we did. A few of the “gangs” approached him from the back, covered his head with a sack to prevent him from seeing what was going on, and in order to scare him off, a bucket of cold water landed on his head. Of course, the man was scared out of his wits, thinking he had been attacked by gentiles. He ran home screaming and was sick for several weeks from this episode. We regretted our action but what was done, was done! The move of the Hebrew school to its permanent location became a reality.

The next day, of course, the city was in uproar. The moving act had not ended peacefully. A suit was filed against us in court, demanding to clear the “Hekdesh”. The trial aroused a lot of curiosity in the city which kept the people busy talking about for many days. In the end, we won and the school did not have to vacate the place. The Orthodox people hired a gentile lawyer, Mr. Liza, and on our behalf, a young lawyer appeared – Dr. Yitzhak Shwartzbard, a known Zionist leader.

Among the most outstanding figures in the “Neurim”, I still visualize, in front of my eyes, those that devoted their time to resurrect the Hebrew language in Lancut. They were pure and untainted figures that did not merit to see with their eye how the Hebrew language is alive in resurrected Israel. I remember Yitzhak Greenbaum, one of the “Neurim” activists, grandson of the intellect Hebrew writer, Yitzhak Weisman. He was a correspondent of the periodical “Hashachar”. Yitzhak Greenbaum was murdered in Lwow during the war. He could have escaped but refused to abandon his family. He was a gentle soul with a noble mind. Tzvi Sauerhaft, the chairman of the “Neurim” society also perished in the war. His main service was devotion to the Hebrew culture and to the Jewish National Fund.

Reminiscing about the “Neurim” society that served the foundation stone for the Jewish youth in our city, let us remember the pioneers that stood at its cradle but did not live to see the ripe fruit.

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