[Pages 323-326]

With a trembling heart I am beginning to bring up detailed memories of the nest of the Hebrew youth “Akiva,” in Lancut, which for many years have become for the young people in our city, a social organizational framework, that paved the way for educating their way of lives. The time that went by may deter the writer and ask, is there a possibility to give a true description of the adventurous youth and their youthful dreams, during their blossoming, which were so of shockingly obscured during the storm of the time.

The beginning of the nest within the framework of the “Hanoar Hazioni” in 1929, and the living spirit in it from the beginning of its foundation, and during the years of its existence was Nachman Kestenbaum. Within his organizational activity in the domain of the General Zionist Movement, sprung forward in his heart the worry about the generational continuity. It so happened that this man, in this age has exceeded the youth's movement ad became “crazy to one thing,” namely, to act and activate others. From the beginning, at the establishment of the nest, he influenced a few elderly comrades to join the guidance activity, and by his initiative, a few members of the local Zionist movement (Dr. Edward Maurer, and Magister Joshua Kneppel) were hitched up to the cultural work during the first steps of the nest.

The nest that had fifty members, when it was founded, and was located in an inconvenient place in the home of Sarah Katz, have later spread their wing more comfortably after they moved to rooms in the house of Ely Oygenbraun. Two rooms were later refurbished by the initiative of the members, on the ground floor of the “Beit Ham” in 1934, when Pesach Gotlieb took up the role of a building contractor. It wasn't exactly very spacious, but at least they stopped being dependent on the mercy of a landlord.

During the evening hours, they were also able to use the other rooms of the Hebrew school, nearby, and during festive events or conventions they used to invade the big auditorium of the “Beit Haam.”

The number of memberships has increased (150), which engulfed the studying and working youths. Young boys, especially young girls from extreme Orthodox families, have succeeded in time to win the approval of their parents about the new ways, especially because of the good mannered behavior. They were also joined by children from traditional “Freiheit,” and “Poaley Zion,” families, and children from nearby villages who came on the Sabbat for the nests' activities.

The first organized kvutzot (Groups) was “Hatikva,” led by Nachman. “Dvora,” led by Kalman Wolkenfeld, and “Shoshana,” led by Rachel Sapir (First secretary of the nest). The number of kvutzot has grown, and in the last years of its existence, guiding jobs were taken over by Mina Failshus, and Mania Engelberg from the “Yehudit,” kvutza, and Leah Langsam from the “Chavatzelet,” kvutza, which was under the guidance of Dvora Lipschitz. In the beginning the girls were in the majority. Boys have later joined according their ages. The devoted member, the ”World's humblest,” Yaacov Derfler joined the “Hatikva,” kvutza, who unfortunately was killed by the Nazis.

The nest was effervescent with life, arranged activities within the kvutzot, and in general in the entire nest. I would like to mention here, the activities of different circles during different times. A circle of Zionist history was led by Dr. Maure, Jewish history by Yitzhak Greenbaum, first aid group by David Fast, and Eretz Israel geography by Chaya Katz. Remarkably interesting was the group who studied the prophets under the guidance of Shmuel Greizman. In the early morning hours, young boys and girls, were leaned over chapters of prophesies, weaving a string, and binding themselves to the generations of their fathers who came to the early morning prayer services in the synagogues. Bialik's poetry has transformed them into the world of poem “The diligent,” and the absorbency of the “Mighty Resources,” from the well of Israel's spirit.

Members of the “Kvutza Yehudit” Seated from right: Esther Ament, Chaya Katz, and Batya Kesten Standing from right: Mina Failshus, Chaim Stempel, Genia Merzel and Mania Engelberg

There was a deeply implanted interest about what was taking place in the movement. The members participated steadily in the central summer camps in Banska Wizina and vicinity, and served there in different functions according to their capabilities. The camps were the place where their shape of the movement was formed. Hitchhiking to the peaks of the Tatra Mountains, they practiced their scouting education, and the unforgettable impressions. The camps were the place where they came in touch with youth of the same age from other places, and their horizons were widened. A great relationship was developed in the winter camps in Elbigowa near Lancut in 1932-1933 years. Our nest has arranged an ending session party, for all participants in the camps and for the central committee members at the closure of the camp.

Members of the Kvutza “Dvora” Seated from right: Motel Fast, Abe Perlmutter, and Gedalja Estlein Second row from right: Melech Gutman, Shmuel Greizman, and Mordechai Mizes Third row from right: Peninah Just, Ita Adler, Sheva Wachsman, Esther Anmut, and Mania Failshus

In the meantime, the organizational activities of the nest have continued, on their initiative, a nest was founded in Grodzisko, which actually was the only Zionist organization there, and it was also helped to establish a nest in Rzeszow. Our ideological material served many times to help other nests. We printed and distributed lectures about Jewish history. Articles of Achad Haam were translated into Polish by the sculptor Zegel, and Chaya Katz, and sent to other nests where Hebrew was not familiar yet.

In the thirties, the “Akiva”, nest was number one among the youth's organizations, not only because of its inward activities, but because of the impressive social-national activities in our city. They out stood in the widespread sale of “Shkalim,” and collecting funds for the Jewish National Fund. We held on in being number one for many years. Our members participated in the work of the “Hechalutz” in our city, in discussions between youth movements, many times with the participation of emissaries from Eretz Israel. We organized regional conventions which took place in our city and gave a chance to the leaders of our movement to speak to a wide range of the Jewish public about actual Zionist problems.

Seated from right: Golda Stempel, Lotka Engelberg, Itka Adler, Mania Failshus, Dvora Lipschitz, and Beila Bot (cousin of the translator) Standing from right: Esther Amant, Sarah Habenshtreit, Masha Zoneblik, Bluma Sauerhaft, Abe Perlmutter, Nachman Kestenbaum, Chaya Katz, Rachel Sapir, Mania Engelberg, and Bracha Laufer

First row from right: Dina Kornblau, Sheva Wachsman, Dov Regenbogen, Motl Fast, Batya Kesten, and Ethel Kornblau Standing from right: Nachman Kestenbaum, Hadas Kesten, Ruth Hilinger, Ita Adler, Ethel Milrad, Henia Shteinreich, Bluma Kornblau, Rachel Sapir, Abe Perlmutter, Leah Sapir, Pnina Just, Shmuel Greizman, Mania Failshus, Chaya Katz, Hena Kalchheim, Esther Anmut, Ethel Kneller, and David Fast

“Akiva,” Organization Unit “Gimel” in 1930 First row from right: Mania Wachsman, Esther Derfler, Hena Anmut, Batya Kesten, and Henia Domb Second Row from right: Otchka Marder, Manka Kezshtecher, Shosha Kornblau, Tema Einhorn, and Mania Engelberg Third row from right: Miriam Wiener, Chaya Kezshtecher, Sprintza Shindler, Mina Failshus, Helka Marder, Esther Amant, and Giza Sapir

[Pages 327-328]

From right: Dr. Natan Kudish, Rivka Bot, [translator's cousin], and Eliezer Fas

Childhood in Shtetl painted by Yosel Bergner

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