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We have reached the last chapter of our Pinkas.
We have taken a rather long tour in our Memorial Book
We have accompanied our great-great-grandparents; those, who centuries ago laid down the genesis of the scared congregation and also lived at the final hour of the death throes of the martyrs of Zamość.
We have gone through all periods and in all places. Through all streets and yards; on all roads and ways; in all schools and clubs; in all the places of Torah and wisdom; in all the places of exertion and labor.
We lived through the joy and suffering of these centuries. Danced along at the joyous occasions of the Altstadt, Neustadt, and Browar; we also took part in the funeral processions – to the new and the old cemetery.
We have also escorted our unforgettable ones during their last journey…
This long journey of the generations was taken by all from Zamość, all over, wherever the fate of the times or wandering of years brought them to.
The sons and daughters of Zamość are scattered and spread out in all parts of the world. Through a variety of ways and circumstances, they were cast out there. They built new homes there; brought new generations up; but they have not forgotten their home city.
This section is indeed dedicated to these children of Zamość, those spread all over all of the continents. Let them not be omitted from our ‘Pinkas Zamość.’
They cannot really be omitted – it is they who have brought this endeavor into its reality.
By Israel Zilber, (New York)
(Their Life and Work in the United States)
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From right to left, sitting in the first row: Elyeh Rachman, M. Aberfersht, Yossel Hecker, Israel Zilber, A. Abersfeld, Y. Bin, Shimon Teich Second row, standing: Izzy Herman, A. Scharf, Y. Pflug, Brandwein, M. Spindle, Third Row: Sh. Silver, Badwitz, Peretz Hackman, J. Fox, Ch. Reiner |
The outward migration of Zamość Jews to America began much later than for other Polish and Russian cities. This fact has to do with the specific mentality of the Jew from Zamość. First of all, the Jew from Zamość did not, in general, pursue and distant golden fortunes in foreign places. The city, as is known, was a genteel one, cultural, and also its external beauty – which was redolent with European enchantment – held the Jew to his home.
Jewish Zamość took pride in its historical past. Each individual had his own ‘golden chain’ and it did not seem worthwhile to set off for so distant a place in the world, where whatever ‘pedigree you had, was in the cemetery,’ and nobody knew who was who…. Apart from this, each Zamość Jew had a little bit of sense of the world, also because of the geographic position of the city – and therefore, many Jews had their savvy-skeptical view of the great boons, about which so much had been told. Their own city, with its memories held him magnetically, at a time when the mystic America was so far away…
When did the first Jews leave Zamość for the journey to America?
I do not intend to try and pin this down exactly, in a scientific way, with complete precision. According to my assessment, that must have been at the beginning of the [eighteen] nineties, of the past century. Mostly, those who left to, as they say, ‘wander across seas,’ were people of middle age. Seeing that in Europe, one heard the name ‘New York,’ these first people from Zamość went to New York, and as the situation was, they took up residence in the Jewish area of the East Side. The reasons for this are well known from Jewish immigration in general: if one had already left home – at least one should be among fellow Jews in the distant America….
It was only with the increased immigration, that our landsleit began to spread out over the entire length and breadth of their new home. One began to hear of Zamość landsleit who had become flung out to a variety of cities in America – also quite deep into the country. But, the largest majority, nevertheless, remained in New York.
The process of naturalization among our landsleit did not look any different from the Jewish immigration in general: The chapter of the sweatshop worker, and the hard exploitation did not pass our immigrants by. Despite this, there was a longing for something higher that a seemingly naked struggle for existence. As soon as there were signs of getting somewhat established, part of the people from Zamość began to think about an organized life in the form of a landsmanschaft. Keeping themselves together had to substitute in a certain measure for home, for which they yearned so intensely. It simply became a spiritual necessity. Meeting with people from home, and living in the same circle, could alleviate the loneliness among the landsleit, who gradually became spread out over all of New York.
The first attempt to organize their own society took place in 1906. The Zamość organization that was established at that time, obtained the long name of ‘Independent Zamość Organized Society for the Support of the Sick.’ Later, the society re-organized itself into the present ‘Zamość Bikkur Kholim.’
The later wave of immigration already consisted of a different element. Young people started to come, with a set view of the world, and with set ambitions to fulfil. By and large, they belonged to the Bund, which was a that time very popular in our city, and made a very strong impression on the young people. This fresh element could not fit into the confined limits of the previously mentioned Society. They could not satisfy their spiritual needs.
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At the end of 1906, therefore, the foundation for a new society was laid down, with the name, ‘Zamośćher Young Men's Progressive Support Society.’ With its establishment, a new level of activity among our landsleit.
Let the names of those first activists and founders be mentioned here, such as: Peretz Hackman, H. Schwartzberg, Ozer Schatzkammer, Ch. Utracht, J. Kruck, Ab. Scharf, A. Arbesfeld, Fishl Weinstein, S. Bassian, and many others.
These pioneers created an institution in the societal life of our landsleit, which is alive and has an impact to this day, under another name.
That young society, in that day, carried on a multi-branched activity of mutual help for its members. It also did a great deal in supporting the institutions in the ancestral home. Its influence increased from day to day, and it had a great influence on newly arrived landsleit. With eating, comes an appetite – and together with the growth of the activities the more progressive members sensed that something was still missing. They perceived that the Society, as a separate institution, cannot do the appropriate work towards which they were striving. Many of the active members carried the thought of how could they lead the Society into the larger multi-branched labor movement.
At an opportune moment, the active (to this day) member, Yossel Hecker, proposed that the Society should join the ‘Workmen's Circle,’ and become a part of the larger and organized family of Labor. Our landsman, Aharon Deitch immediately supported him, and additionally an array of active members. A discussion immediately developed pro and con. As it appears, our landsman Fishl Geliebter had to play a role here as well, who at that time was the assistant secretary of the Workman's Circle.
After a series of debates, the Society, in the end, in the year 1919, joined the large, multi-branched order of the ‘Workman's Circle.’ With this merger, the Society was transformed into a branch with the name ‘Young Men's Zamośćher Progressive Branch Number 375.’ The credit for carrying out this merger must also be given to the previously mentioned Peretz Hackman, Schatzkammer, A, Abersfeld, and many more other activists.
After joining the ‘Workman's Circle’ – which had branches in almost every American city and town, as well as in Canada – the branch obtained the opportunity to get in contact with our landsleit, outside of New York. This enabled us to perform our support work for our ancestral home in conjunction with one another, during the First World War, and for those of our landsleit who survived after the second global conflagration….
It is necessary to underscore here, that our branch supported not only those who suffered from the war. With a generous hand, it supported the children's school named after I. L. Peretz, the Library, the Loan Bank, and other institutions of our ancestral home.
A special chapter is the great support work of the branch in the area of the united help committee, which did wondrous work after the last national tragedy. Let us recall here just some of the tireless workers: the Chairman, H. Schwartz, Secretary Yitzhak Leib Herman, Shlomo Lubliner, J. Herman, and many others.
Our picture would not be complete, if we didn't at least provide a small part of the activities of ‘Branch 375 of the Workman's Circle,’ during the last decades:
The branch conducts a wide-ranging set of cultural activities, arranges lectures about literary and timely questions from prominent lecturers; it helps distribute books and journals; it supports cultural institutions and help-institutions – especially those of the Workman's Circle, and the like.
To this day, the branch brings together about three hundred families. About 95 percent of the membership are native born in Zamość. In the leadership of the branch, to this day, stand the well known friends: Y. Hecker, Sh. Teich, J. Fox, M. Oberfersht, Finkler, J. Spodek, Sol Silver, Aharon Kruck, and others, committed activists.
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We have no exact statistics as to how many of our landsleit have settled in the United States. We are of the opinion that there are approximately three thousand Zamość families. More than half are in New York, and the remainder are spread all over the country. Larger Zamość colonies can be found in such cities as Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, etc. A number of landsleit can also be found in Montreal, Canada. In those cities, our landsleit are organized in small, but effective landsmanschaften.
For the longest time, Branch 375 brought together the largest number of our landsleit, who are located in the New York area and its vicinity. After the rise of the communist movement the labor movement in America became split. This also had an impact on our branch. A number of our members split themselves off, and went off to join the communist ‘International Worker's Order,’ where they organized themselves under the name, ‘I. L. Peretz Branch Number 75 I.W.O.’ Inn recent times, the ‘International Order’ needed to dissolve itself in America. Part of these former landsleit who went there, are now seeking a means to come back to our branch. Some have already returned from their long journey to their old, time-tested and warm home. The others will also, certainly come back, so long as they have the desire to live out their years in a homey environment.
Our ancient Jewish city Zamość has vanished already from the Jewish map, but those landsleit who remain, in America, exert themselves to the extent possible, to maintain memories of Zamość in their memory, Zamość's past, and its great contribution to the general Jewish culture, which we will not permit to be abandoned.
The tradition of Zamość will be guarded, as far as it is possible to do so, in the large world of The United States.
By Jack Fox
In those years, immigrant life was not yet organized into Societies or landsmanschaften.
The loneliness and dispiritedness of the new immigrant depressed the energy, and it was therefore understandable, that among the newly-arrived, the desire to organize one's self into ‘societies’ and ‘landsmanschaften’ grew, with the objective of providing some care if he got sick, unemployed, or was needy.
There were a variety of ways and means by which this could be achieve. Those who were religiously oriented built synagogues where they worshiped on the Sabbath and festivals; the Jews with some means established ‘Societies,’ where they carried on their social affairs, the radical immigrants sought their place where they could advance their ideals, which they had brought from the old country.
At the beginning of the [sic: twentieth] century, the life of the Zamość landsleit began to get organized. In the month of September on the night after Rosh Hashana, in the year 1906, the Zamość ‘Society’ was founded under the name, ‘Zamośćher Progressive Young Men's Benevolent Association.’ The founding took place at the home of Chaim Schwartzberg, 290 Delancey Street, New York.
The following from Zamość founded the society: Chaim Schwartzberg, Meir Schwartzberg, Peretz Hackman, Izzy Schatzkammer, Sam Schwartz, Izzy Schwartz, Abraham Rosen, Fishl Weinstein, Sam Hoffenwasser, Max Rofeld, Abraham Scharf, Yossel Mayer and Shmuel-Yossel Basior.
The officers were: Abraham Scharf (President) Meir Brown (Vice-President), Max Rofeld (Secretary), Doctor for the Society – M. Bernfehl.
The Society grew in the number of its members. The stream of immigration continuously brought more and more people from Zamość. Among the more modern immigrants, especially among the younger people, a movement arose to merge with the ranks of the Workman's Circle. The idealism and activities in the ranks of the workman's Circle appealed to them. The result was, that a large number of Zamość landsleit in the city of New York, collectively decided to merge with the Workman's Circle, under the name, ‘Zamośćher Progressive Branch 375 Workman's Circle.’
The branch was sworn in on July 11, 1919. Its first officers were: Peretz Hackman (Finance-Secretary), Aharon Deitch (Recording-Secretary); Abraham Abersfeld (Treasurer), Izzy Schatzkammer (Hospitaler).
An intensive movement with momentum began in the branch. The membership grew ever larger in numbers, the undertakings and the various activities had a new life infused in them with the fire of youth, new thoughts, new views.
Officially, the branch was established on July 11, 1919, as a part of the Workman's Circle, it is understood that it incorporated into its activity, all of the work that the Workman's Circle had designated for the branches and gave the members all the privileges to which they were entitled.
Our branch was not satisfied with only those things that Workman's Circle provided, we had our own local events:
Support, Political Activity and help for Zamość. – The branch generously supports all community, philanthropic and cultural institutions in America, and up to the Second World War – also institutions in our ancestral home.
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The entire life of the Jewish collective, here in this country, is reflected in the meetings of the branch, from the different parts of our Jewish life in America, they come to us without invitation, and the most important get our fullest support.
During the years of war, hunger and want in Europe, we always extended a fraternal hand to all who asked for help from us.
When fascism and Nazism began to spread their dark wings over the world, and the contest began with the forces of fascism and Nazism, we, as a part of the Workman's Circle, supported the underground movements who, putting their lives on the line, fought against the reactionary forces.
Activity During the Wars. – With the entry of America into the First World War, we placed ourselves totally at the service of our county. A number of our members entered military service in order to defend our country. After the outbreak of the Second World War, it was already the children of our members who went into the American Army to defend us against Hitler, may his name be erased.
We stood in contact with them, we sent them packages, and made them feel that we remember them, and we long for them. We carried out a campaign to buy war bonds. Our branch bout several thousands of dollars of war bonds.
After we won the war, and fascism and Nazism were defeated, the awesome destruction of our people became revealed to us, with its six million martyrs…. just like all the other landsmanschaften, we also, those from Zamość, threw ourselves into the work of helping the escaped survivors.
It is worthwhile to recall at this opportunity the sending of packages of food and clothing for those who remained alive, as an instance of how committed out membership was with genuine idealism, under the leadership of friend Jack Herman, working tirelessly to gather clothing and sending food packages to the concentration camps, when and wherever a Zamość landsman asked for help, it was immediately provided.
Thereby, it is worth mentioning, that the Zamość Help Committee was active from the year 1918, when it was founded, until after the destruction of Zamość.
The important leaders of the Help Committee were: from the branch: Joe Hecker, Izzy Herman, Y. Silver, Jack Herman, Yudel Spodek, Shlomo Lubliner, Aharon Deitch, Aharon Krag, and many others. From the Zamość ‘Society’: Izzy Schwartz, Yossel Spodek, and many others.
The Establishment of the State of Israel. – Our branch also did important work in this area as well. We carried out special evenings for Israel. The members of our branch bought about ten thousand dollars of Israel bonds; the branch joined the division of the Workman's Circle that works for the benefit of the State of Israel.
A Home for the Elderly Members of the Workman's Circle. – Our branch also joined the new institution of the Workman's Circle. The is the home for the elderly members, with our permanent branch representative, friend Sol Silver. Under the oversight of the branch, he, and friend Shimon Teich, with several other branch members, carried out an intensive and very successful campaign to generate funds for this humanitarian institution.
Our Cultural Activity. – Everyone certainly must be aware of the maxim: ‘Man Lives Not By Bread Alone.’ All these activities would not be sufficient, if we had not joined all of our assistance work to cultural enlightenment activities.
Various problems arise from time-to-time. Our branch takes a position regarding all of these problems. We feel that our members have to be thoroughly acquainted and have a clear grasp about everything that transpires in the world. We would, from time-to-time, arrange lectures mass meetings, and other undertakings, at which we would develop this enlightenment work. The work progresses. In this fashion, our members have the possibility to be
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acquainted with the general and local questions and can react to them in a knowledgeable fashion. From time-to-time, we hold festive gatherings at which the members can spend a pleasant evening.
The Leaders of the Branch. – It would be a shortcoming on our part if we would not mention the officers and active doers of the branch. These, after all, are the people who for all these years, carried the burden of building, sustaining, and developing the branch, and leading it to the level where it stands today.
The current doers at the branch. – The officers are: Gershon Zisman (Finance-Secretary), Yudel Spodek (Recording-Secretary), Moshe Aberschaft (Treasurer), Yaakov Weinstein (Bronx and Manhattan Hospitaler), Abraham Gettler (Brooklyn and Queens Hospitaler).
The current executive committee: J. Fox (Chairman), Y. Hecker, Y. Brandwein, S. Silver, L. Lubliner, M. Finkelr, Sh. Teich, Y. Edelman, A. Krug.
It would, however, not be proper for us, not to mention all the active doers from the branch, who did the work along with us for all these years, and such of these were the friends:
Joe Hecker, Aharon Krug, Izzy Brandwein, Yudel Spodek, Moshe Schiff (Former Finance-Secretary), Shlomo Lubliner, Shimon Teich, Jack Herman, Abraham Abersfeld, Former Finance-Secretary, Israel Silber, Jack Fox, Abe Gettler, Harry Spindel, Former Recording-Secretary, Jack Weinstein, Shlomo Schiff, the Shoffel brothers, Joe Binn,Former Hospitaler, and many others.
Also, we many not forget all those activists and founders who are no longer with us today, but their names will never be forgotten. Their memory will remain forever. They are: Peretz Hackman, Abraham Scharf, Y. Finkenberg, Max Safian, S. Nakhimov, Gershon Hurdowitz, and many others, may they rest in peace.
The branch must also take note of the good work in organizing a ‘Young Circle League Branch.’ These are the children of our members.
Our Ladies. – We mention our Ladies Club here with great pride. In advance of their existence, they demonstrated a capacity to do good works whether in the ranks of the branch, or outside of its purview. Their undertakings are always constructive, purposeful, and carried out with commitment. It is always festive at their events. It has already become a tradition among the extensive membership to participate in their annual Purim celebrations, Hanukkah festivities, lectures, literary evenings, and concerts. The Ladies Club generously supports those institutions that the general Workman's Circle supports. They also support a war orphan in Paris. The current officers of the Ladies Club are: Sally Krug, Rachel Spodek, Golda Leifer, Jennie Oberfersht, Bessie Brandwein, Paulie Nakhimov, and Gussie Heerman.
Campaign for New Members. – We administer an ongoing active campaign for new members for our branch. When full privileges were extended in general to those saved from the world calamity, who are now found in the United States, that they should join the Workman's Circle, our Zamość Branch 375 also was increased with the addition of a number of young men and women.
Our Idealism. – We conclude with the following, if you want to understand what fraternal support means; if you want to know what deep inner friendship means; if you want to obtain a grasp of how hundreds of people can become united in one, intimate, friendly family, we can tell you with great pride: that this means the Workman's Circle.
The non-members of the Workman's Circle can wonder and ponder: what is the moving force of the Workman's Circle and of the Zamość Branch? – To this, we can reply: The moving force of the Workman's Circle and of the Zamość Branch is – the idealism of its membership.
We offer our greetings to all landsleit in all places that they may be, in general, and to those from Argentina, in particular, for the monumental undertaking to produce the ‘Yizkor Book’ for our city, which produced so many great people in all fields of endeavor, and we wish you great success.
May the ‘Yizkor Book’ remain as an eternal memorial for all the martyrs, who fell as victims through the murderous hands of the Nazi executioners, may their name be erased for all generations to come!
We join with all those others who recite the Kaddish prayer, and [those who say] – May Their Souls Be Bound Up In The Bond Of Life, and May They Rest In Peace On Their Biers.
The Committee: Fannie Eidelsberg, Louis Mann, Louis Gross.
Officers: William Markovich, Chairman; Aharon Starkman, Vice-Chairman;
Contributors: Fannie Eidelsberg, Joe Baum, Marshalls Barlam, Louis Gross, Joe Hamburg, Abe Weingarten, William Markovich, Louis Mann, Sam Silverman, Anshel Koenig, Peretz Koenig, Aharon Stakman, Yaakov Starkman, Nathan Schneider.
By A. Schwartzberg & B. Eisenkopf
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At the top is the Presidium, and below is the Assembly. |
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After the war, the escaped survivors of the Zamość settlement forsook Europe and went over the sea. Most of these made aliyah to the Land of Israel, and there, they organized a larger landsmanschaft with two centers: Tel-Aviv and Haifa.
The second part of them took up residence in the United States (mostly in New York) and a smaller stream went further north in the American continent – to Canada.
More than forty families of Zamość origin concentrated themselves here in the city of Montreal, mostly having come from Germany.
Seeing that, there in the camps, memorial services and other gatherings would take place year in and year out, therefore, many of the landsleit also here, in the new country, thought about organizing such get-togethers, and perhaps a permanent organizational entity.
This thought, however, remained ‘under wraps’ until a small group took the initiative in hand.
On Sunday, October 4, 1953, the following friends came together in the home of Mrs. Bluma Stuhl (a former resident of the Neustadt):
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It was decided to bring the program to an open assembly of all the landsleit, which will also be designated as the official founding of the landsmanschaft.
The first general open assembly of our landsleit took place in the hall of the local Workman's Circle, Sunday, November 29, 1953. Forty people attended.
The chair was occupied by Mrs. Sh. Steiner and all 10 members of the founding committee sat at the presiding table. Also, Dr. Zinberg, our most important citizen, was present at this historic gathering, and he participated by sharing recollections from his one-time activity in the Zamość ‘TOZ.’ His anecdotes had in them the character of a sort of respect for the Zamość intelligentsia in general, and of the Jewish doctors in particular.
Mrs. M. Steiner stressed the greatness of our home city on the map of Jewish Poland, and called ‘Once again to continue the chain of the shining settlement of Zamość.’
Mrs. Eisenkopf brought evidence from other Zamość landsmanschaften in the wider worlds, and appealed to create contacts with these, already existing organizations.
All the attendees greeting the initiative of founding a landsmanschaft very warmly, and they elected a committee, in which included almost all of the initiators of the plan.
Chairman – Mottel Steiner;
Honorary Chairman – Dr. Zinberg;
Vice-Chairman – Berel Eisenkopf;
Secretary – Abraham Schwartzberg;
Treasurer – David Scharf.
The Executive consisted of the friends: Mottel Reis-Dresher, Hannan Krantz (today in New York), Yitzhak Zingerman and his wife Gri.
It was in this manner that the foundation for the Zamość landsmanschaft was laid in Montreal, Canada.
General Report of Our Activity
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Being true to the decisions of the founding assembly, every year, a memorial assembly takes place in memory of our martyrs. All the landsleit and their families come to pay their respects to our fallen brothers and sisters.
At appropriate opportunities, a variety of landsleit get-togethers take place, for example: tea evenings, festival celebrations, balls, etc.
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The income from these affairs is dedicated to worthwhile purposes, for example: social help for landsleit, gifts for members and financial subsidies for cultural-community goals.
The committee comes together, from time-to-time, to work out plans of activity and to coordinate the work.
Finally, we make an effort to attract to us the landsleit from the smaller towns around Zamość. The people from Szczebrzeszyn work with us in certain undertakings, and the people from Tomaszow have already joined up with us. We hope that the other towns, such as Tyszowce, Bilgoraj, etc. will also integrate themselves into our landsmanschaft.
At the initiative of Mrs. Rosa Reif, a Ladies Section was founded at the landsmanschaft. During the winter months, the ladies meet almost every week and take up a variety of community activities, in order to lighten the burden of the landsmanschaft itself.
Because of the growth of our landsmanschaft, we have broadened and re-organized the committee as follows:
The Chairman is Y. Zingerman; Vice-Chairman – Eisenkopf; Secretary – A. Schwartzberg; Treasurer – D. Scharf; New Members absorbed: H. Klenner (Tomaszow), Barlenfeld (Zamość), M. Reif (Zamość).
By Yaakov Ne'eman (Neimark)
Foreword
It is worth recollecting, that up to the First World War, only individuals made a visit in order to effect aliyah to the Land of Israel.
The first was R' Hirsch Chaim Geliebter, the well-known Zionist community activist. This was in the year 1908. As a young pioneer, he attempted to settle himself in The Land, and only because of the condition of his health, was he then compelled to return to Poland. He studied for a short time at the well-known ‘Herzliya’ Gymnasium. He returned to The Land in 1933. (His older son, Moshe, works for the stabilization of the country in important posts in the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Most recently, this was in the Israeli Embassy in Paris. His younger son, Elkana, is a capable journalist and is a representative of the labor news daily, ‘Davar’ in France.)
Gershon Hanoch (Rothfeld), as son of the Shokhet of the Neustadt, came to the Land of Israel in the year 1913. As a worker on the land, he lived through the most difficult conditions during the first years, together with other hundreds of Jewish workers of the Second heroic Aliyah. Later on, Gershon Hanoch became known as a journalist and a force in the theater. He edited a variety of periodical publications in the Hebrew language, and in the last years he was a co-editor in the important ‘Knesset’ (a publication of Sokhnut). He passed away on January 15, 1956 and was interred in Jerusalem.
Immediately after the First World War, the first group of Halutzim was organized in Zamość by the ‘Tze'irei Tzion’ and ‘HaShomer Ha'Tza'ir.’ More than ten young people and youths went off for training as an organized group, which was called ‘Haviv,’ after Hirsch Chaim Geliebter, who at that time was very popular with the first Halutzim. After many difficulties, the first two – Hirsch Gebett and Yitzhak Beitel – made aliyah to the Land of Israel. This was in the summer of 1920. After this, the other Halutzim of the group made aliyah, Shlomo Reichenstein, Millstein, Abraham Hartz, ז”ל (killed during an incident in transit under tragic circumstances in 1953). Shlomo Reichenstein, or as we used to call him in Zamość, Shlomo ‘Deitsch,’ lived for his entire life in Ein-Harod, always effusively ful of stories about the new life in the agricultural commune. Despite the fact that he grew into and was ingested by the new economy of the Land of Israel, he never forgot Zamość, where he grew up, and dreamed about a more beautiful life in the Land of Israel. In the year 1944, after a serious operation, he passed away in the Emek Hospital, being in the best years of leadership, full of literary plans, which, regrettably, he never brought to realization.
In the year 1922, Matityahu Weiner (today Shalom) came together with additional Halutzim from ‘HaShomer Ha'Tza'ir.’ Matityahu made himself known in the country and abroad as a poet of pastoral compositions and also as a composer of many original melodies and chorales with old-new motifs. Being a shepherd for a longer time in kibbutz Bet Alpha (today kibbutz Ramat Yohanan) he created the most beautiful motifs, which endeared themselves to Israeli youth.
In the 1924 years, people of middle means also arrived by making aliyah. A stronger group of Zamość Jews then takes part as founders of the city of Afula in the Jezreel Valley in 1925. Among them are families that were known to us, Stang, Fein, Eisenberg, Eisenfeld.
Many tens of Halutzim and Shomrim from Zamość were already in The Land at that time, and are taking part in all lines of endeavor, building roads, houses, working in factories, and were connected to the entire development of The Land. Later on, in the year 1926, during the great crisis and unemployment, a part left The Land, and return to Poland, disappointed and broken, because they had nothing to turn to.
In 1929, the aliyah renews itself. Tens of Halutzim make aliyah after the great bloody events that occurred there. They take part in the establishment of new settlements. In 1932, tens come as tourists, in order to remain in the
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country, and also by a variety of other illegal means, also on the famous ship, ‘Vellos’ that for three months, continuously sailed around the shores of The Land, and was not let out of sight, there were a number of landsleit and they reached their goal. Close to the Second World War many came by illegal ships and under the most difficult circumstances. Since 1945, Israel took in many hundreds of fleeing survivors: from the ghettoes, from the forests with the partisan groups, from the tragic extermination camps in Germany, children who hid themselves with gentile neighbors, and in churches, orphaned, without parents or homes, from the deportation camps in Siberia, and other distant locations in Soviet Russia.
Our landsleit, who were emissaries in the camps, or volunteers in the Jewish Brigade in the World War, did everything to discover the remaining individuals and brought them to the Land of Israel, where many of them found a renewed home and built their lives anew.
The Founding of the Society
Only a few days after the Second World War ended, on May 6, 1945, about five hundred landsleit gathered in Tel-Aviv and founded the Society.
As primary objectives we set forth for ourselves:
At the end of the year. A committee was elected apart from the previously mentioned, also, Hirsch Gebett, Joseph Dorn, Abba Spodek-Aharoni, and Aharon Dalkher.
Almost the majority of the committee members were active, and took part in all undertakings and also in organizing landsleit in other places outside of Tel-Aviv, such as Haifa, Jerusalem, Rishon LeZion, Rehovoth, Hadera and Afula. Apart from Haifa, the work in all the other places quickly faded, because there was a lack of persistent people, who could carry on with the work. Tel-Aviv, in the passage of time, of all the years, carried out the core of the work and served as a model for Haifa.
Our Activity
1. Packages
More than one hundred packages of clothing, underwear, medicines and food were sent by us to Soviet Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Austria. We also sent about 60 packages of newspapers, illustrated weekly letters and children's periodicals.
2. On the Island of Cyprus in the years 1946-1947
In the internment camps where the English authority placed the illegal immigrants, there were something under a hundred of our landsleit among many thousands of Jews from the wider world. It turned out that they had to stay there of long months, for periods in excess of a year, under inhuman conditions. Our landsleit organized themselves, and selected a committee, which placed itself in contact with the Israel committee. Friend Joseph (Yosheh) Sobol was the Chairman and Joseph Dickler, Secretary.
Friend Yitzhak Foont and his wife Chaya visited our landsleit on the island, and gave greetings from us and transmitted to us an actionable report about their situation. We organized special help for them, and sent over
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foodstuffs, clothing, blankets, underwear, textbooks, and periodicals. It was in this fashion that we helped in a measurable fashion, to them get through this difficult period.
3. Our Connection with Zamość
As soon as Zamość was liberated, hundreds of those who remained alive, ran to visit the city. Perhaps someone was left, perhaps it will be possible to save something. About 400 people stopped off in the city. They organized a help committee, they arranged a place to provide lodging, and information. Shortly afterwards, as soon as they learned the bitter truth, they fled to the four corners of the world. In the city itself, only 4-5 Jews remained, among them Eliyahu Epstein, Bajczman, and others.
4. Our Connection With Survivors
In 1946-1947, we were in contact with individual groups and their committees. They were headed by familiar activists with youthful strength, who have grown up in the last years. In Lodz, at the time, there were about 80 landsleit, the center of our Polish groups was in Bielowa. By contrast, in Waldstadt (a large camp of refugees in the American Zone), there was for a certain period of time, several hundred landsleit. This was the most organized location with a strong committee, which even took upon itself to try the members of the ‘Judenrat’ that wanted to rehabilitate themselves.
Our young men fro Israel, who were in the Jewish Brigade, and afterwards involved themselves in organizing the so-called aliyah-bet (the illegal aliyah) assisted in putting the contacts in place.
5. Our connection to the American Branch
Our connection with America began from the time that Friend Izzy Herman was the Secretary of the Branch. Later on, when the leadership of the branch went over into the hands of Israel Zilber, the bond was not weakened, rather the opposite, Friend Zilber applied himself energetically, and at the beginning of June 1950, came on a visit to Israel. During the course of his three-week stay, he showed himself in order to take part in gatherings of our groups and also participated in the sessions of committees in Tel-Aviv. In fact, he was the only one of our activists in America, who visited us. It is possible that many misunderstandings between ourselves and America , and in a specific case a lack of trust, were all put to the side thanks to the unceasing contact. Friend Zilber was won over, by seeing our multi-faceted work on behalf of the hundreds of newly arrived landsleit, and the serious preparations for the publication of our book.
During the time, we were visited by many landsleit from America, and not specifically from the most active, who took an interest in our work, and afterwards did not stint on their help. In this manner, we must highlight the visit of Feivel Hornfeld from New Jersey, of Joseph Boxenbaum (today, already a citizen of Israel), in the year 1947 and 1948. In the year 1951, we were visited by Friend Ovadiah Boxenbaum, at the time he took part in the Zionist Congress in Jerusalem.
Also, Friend Yitzhak Foont helped to strengthen the bonds during his longer visit in America. Also Friend Zagel and his wife, Esther Zagel, cemented connections with landsleit in other cities in America.
We received nearly a thousand dollars in the form of contributions from America for our multi-faceted work, already counting the expenditures of our friends in America, at the time that they visited Israel. Apart from this, we received printing stock in the value of $650 dollars, counting the outlays required to send it to us by ship.
We must separately highlight here the time when Friend Fox stood in contact with us when he was the Chairman of the united branch in New York. For us, these few years were the hardest. Especially, during the time when we published our Yizkor Book. Friend Fox fully understood our purposes.
6. Contact with Our Argentina Landsleit
We are in contact with our committee in Buenos Aires for nine years already. The sole question which interested our Argentine friends was the publication of a collected book dedicated to Jewish Zamość, in Yiddish. In this undertaking, they received the maximum level of help from us.
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7. Connection with Individuals
We will not be exaggerating if we say that hundreds were informed through us, regarding the fate of their relatives, comrades and friends, received addresses and this is so to this day. Even in the last days, we receive letters from the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, which request addresses of relatives in The Land, who are being sought through nearby and other countries. In the course of barely two years, six bulletins have appeared, (4 by stencil, and 2 printed), in which we have published letters, addresses, information about people who had been killed, etc.
8. Loans for New Olim
Many tens of olim received loans from our treasury to get themselves settled just as soon as they arrived in the country.
Regrettably only very few saw the necessity to repay, and because of this, large sums came out of reserves. Most of those who arrived got themselves settled with employment thanks to the help of our active members.
9. In-country Assemblies
The first Sabbath after Passover was designated by our society in the country as the Yahrzeit to be observed for the Zamość martyrs. On that day, the Nazis carried out the first aktion against the Zamość Jews.
In 1942, the German murderers began to murder the Jewish population in Zamość. Every year, on the day cited, all the landsleit come together in Tel-Aviv, for a memorial assembly. For the past 5 years, such a memorial assembly also takes place in Haifa for the northern part of the country.
10. The Yizkor Book, ‘Zamość in its Glory and Destruction’
Our book, ‘Zamość in its Glory and Destruction’ appeared in October 1952, nearly 400 printed pages, 80 pictures, and 89 works, longer and shorter, and among others, works from recognized scholars. The run consisted of 1200 copies in Hebrew.
We chose to distribute close to 900 copies, and not only among our landsleit. It cost us 4100 Israeli Lirot to produce this book, and we worked a great deal until we covered all the expenses that we had.
The Israeli Press, and also in individual periodicals in America, dedicated much attention and praise to the book.
The Friends, Abba Aharoni (Spodek), Zvi Gebett, Tova Bruger, A. Stang and Meir Zagel in Israel, and Ovadiah Boxenbaum, Chaim Benditowitz, Israel Zilber and J. Fox (The United States) helped, each in their own way, to enable the book to appear.
Our branch in New York bought the paper for the purpose of printing this book.
The book was edited by the writer, Moshe Tamri.
Closing Remarks
This report concerns itself factually with the activities of the committee in Tel-Aviv for a period of 10 years, approximately to 1955. In that year, the undersigned pulled back from active participation in the committee after such a difficult period of maximal activity. A number of new doers were selected to be on the committee. The Yizkor assemblies take place as they had in prior years. Also, a fund exists for constructive loans for new olim.
In the very last weeks, the aliyah from Poland has risen again, and tens of the survivors are now coming to us in The Land.
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Haifa is the largest port city in Israel, the first city where the new immigrant takes his first steps on the soil of Israel. Among them are many from Zamość.
According to our numbers, there are more than 300 Zamość families found in Haifa and its vicinity, which number about 1,000 souls, may they increase.
The people from Zamość live in Haifa and in the periphery, such as Kiryat-Chaim, Kiryat-Motzkin, Kiryat-Bialik, Kiryat-Shmuel. Gav-Yam, etc., and also in the cities near Haifa, Afula and Acre.
People from Zamość can be found in the kibbutzim around Haifa, such as in Ein-Harod, Tel-Joseph, Ein-Carmel, Ofek, the occupations of these people from Zamość is variegated, such as agricultural workers, factory workers, ‘laborers,’ workers, craftsmen, office workers, and a minimal number of merchants – mostly in small trade.
The new olim from Zamość, that come to the country, are received warmly, by the previous Zamość olim, who are already settled, with advice, with help in finding a place to live, work, and also with a loan (you understand, that is when there is money in the treasury).
From the minutes that we have found, we know of a Zamość committee, that was elected in the year 1947, consisting of these following people from Zamość: Israel Dolikhes, Chairman; Zvi Cooperstein, Secretary; Menachem Zingerman, Treasurer; Committee members: Lieber Wachs, Joseph Baretzky, Zalman Scharf, Hinde Brokh, Glassberg, Yaakov Bokser, and Yehuda Horowitz.
After the great aliyah, that came to the Jewish Land immediately after the establishment of the Jewish State, from the fleeing survivors in Germany and also in Poland, at the memorial assembly of 1951 a new Zamość committee was elected with Chaim Shpizeisen, ע”ה as the Chairman.
When Chaim Shpizeisen passed away, Moshe Schlam was elected as the Chairman of the Zamość committee; Secretary Jekuthiel Zwillich; Treasurer Menachem Zingerman; Committee members: Joseph Luxembourg, Joseph Sobol, Shimon Feldstein, Shlomo Lemberger, Mina Schieder (Rolnick), Gittl Ackerman (Grusser) Joseph Dickler, Leib Kalakh, and Zalman Rosenberg.
The work of the committee consists of arranging a memorial assembly every year, 4 days after Passover, for our Zamość martyrs, where almost al of the people from Zamość in the Haifa area and vicinity come together. From time-to-time, the committee arranges a party evening, where an artist is invited in, and one has a good time until midnight, recalling Zamość.
The Zamość people in Haifa and its vicinity have also contributed 400 pounds towards Pinkas Zamość, which was published in Tel-Aviv, these 400 pounds were turned over to the collections committee in Tel-Aviv at the time.
With the strengthened stream of the new aliyah from Poland, the Haifa committee set itself an objective of creating a Gemilut Hasadim Fund, weaving in the tradition of the old Zamość community. The Gemilut Hasadim Fund is called: ‘The Gemilut Hasadim Fund in Memory of the Zamość Martyrs, in Haifa.’
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The committee collected 780 pounds from the Zamość people in Haifa and its vicinity for the Gemilut Hasadim Fund. We also received $100 dollars from the Zamość landsleit in Detroit.
As of this day, the committee has extended 12 loans. Each loan consists fo 100 pounds, to be paid at 5 pounds a month.
In the name of the Zamość committee of Haifa:
By Wolf Kornmass
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When the great wave of immigration from Eastern Europe began, at the end of the prior century, and the beginning of the current century [sic: twentieth], emigration out of Zamość also began. The principal stream went to North America, to the United States. Hundreds of people from Zamość emigrated at that time, some for economic reasons, others because of political persecution after the failed first Russian revolution.
It was first, about ten years later, that South America, first of all Argentina, began to attract a significant number of immigrants, among them also our landsleit from Zamość. Their number was insignificant, and there is practically no trace left of those immigrants. The individuals who came were lost, having not built any sort of landsleit society.
The number of immigrants became meaningful after the establishment of the Polish regime, after the First World War. Between the years 1920-1930 a visible immigration of Polish Jews began to Argentina, and among them people from Zamość.
Need, the difficult economic conditions and the political situation in the country, were the driving factors in the emigration out of the new Poland. The travel to Argentina was a no-choice way out. There was no other place to which to travel, and here, it was easier to get in.
Many who had the idea of going to North America, did this by way of Argentina. The one-time circumstances that made it difficult to enter North America, however, looked like a person who spent two years in Argentina, had a possibility to come into North America. So people traveled ‘for two years’ to the United States, in order to then get one's self into the United States. The Zamość colony in Argentina indeed had its beginning from these ‘temporary’ arrivals.
One of the first that came here from Zamość ‘to spend two years’ was Jonah Introb (Jonah Shmeryl Baker's). He came here to go to the United States ‘after two years.’ However, it was not possible for him to just sit here idly, and temporarily founded a bakery, and then remained until he died. Added to this, he brought his parents here, and his four sisters, the oldest of which married one of the active social activists, the co-founder of the Polish-Jewish Society and the first Secretary Leibusz Weissblatt. The youngest sister married Mordechai Mayerovich (from Czestnochow), who attached himself to our landsleit society, was one of the founders of the society, and is today an editorial member of Pinkas Zamość.
Later on, Yehuda-Leib Messer came to Argentina (also with the intent of then moving on to North America), and then later after this, his brothers, Volvish and Nathan. Yehuda-Leib indeed got the opportunity to travel to New York, the brothers Volvish and Nathan stayed here already.
Later arrivals from Zamość, without anticipating it, with their work and initiative in receiving the new arrivals, laid the cornerstone for the later Zamość landsleit organization.
We will recall two names:
In the first place is Finia Schlein and her husband (even though he was not from Zamość). Their home was the first address, where a new immigrant from Zamość presented himself. Coming into the country, without the language, mostly without a trade, in alien surroundings, he found a true home at the Schleins. Part of them began to make a living in their new home this way, because they were hired by Leibl Schlein to be painters. Leibl worked in repairing and painting houses. He always had a certain number of workers. He would constantly engage the people from Zamość in this work. He gave them their first opportunity to earn something.
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Later on, Herschel Wilder came. I recall that when people from Zamość were getting ready to travel to Argentina, among the other important things that they did, was not to forget to take Herschel Wilder's address along, among the other important documents required, which was put to good use when he arrived in the country. Despite the fact that Wilder lived far from the center, these newcomers would always find him and one would always run into the newly-arrived ‘greenies’ in his home.
Here, they received their first direction and information about the new life – it was here that they took the first steps, were given their first assistance, advice and guidance.
After this, Yossel Karp came, and even later, Moshe Freilich. They lived in the center already.
Until the year 1928, there was no sort of organizational tie that bound the landsleit together; one would get together, talk, obtain messages from new arrivals about relatives back home. Whoever needed help received it. This however was circumstantial, un-organized, and an unplanned set of activities.
Then, in the year 1928, the first attempt to create a landsleit society was made. The society thus created was called: ‘Zamość-Tomaszow-Hrubieszower Landsleit Society, and Vicinity.’ We need to mention those from Zamość who helped found the society: Herschel Wilder, Moshe Wilder, Moshe Freilich, Nekha Rock (today Schwartz), Lejzor Finkman, Shmeryl Korb, Yossel Eilen, Hirsch Elbaum, Jonah Introb, and others.
In the year 1929, a Loan Bank was created in the Society, which would provide loans of 150 pesos (which at that time was a considerable sum of money). Not only one member, thanks to these modest loans, was given the opportunity to bring over their families. The society and its loan bank did not exist for very long. After the integration of our society, in the year 1929, into the Polish-Jewish Society, arguments start, dissension, and both – the society and the loan bank, go under.
Also in the following years – from 1930 to 1946 – help was given to landsleit who needed it. His however occurred sporadically, and in an unorganized fashion. At every given situation, action was taken, literally going house to house and generating the needed assistance accordingly.
It was only first in the year 1946, that the new organization begins, and the Society is established.
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The bloody Second World War came to an end, and news began to arrive about our homes. One piece of news was more terrifying than the other. Everyone wants to know about the relatives they left behind back home. All of the landsleit organizations are called back into life, which now have a substantive mission – to be the ones who receive news from those who remained alive. The ‘address table,’ which began to fined and connect the families; the possibility is opened up for offering help to the fleeing survivors. A great deal of activity begins, both in the central landsleit organizations, and in the separate societies of the Polish cities and towns.
There was not a day when there was not some sort of a call in the Jewish daily papers to specific landsleit that they should appear in the interest of their near ones. It was in this way that a call went out to people from Komarow, Szczebrzeszyn, Tyszowce, and Hrubieszow. Zamość was still not seen yet. It was only on one Saturday, that a call appeared that the Zamość people should come to the local office of the Federation of the Landsleit Societies.
On that Saturday, June 29, 1946 at 1165 Velasco, the first gathering did indeed take place for the people of Zamość. It appears that those who called the people from Zamość were Moshe Wilder and Ozer Mittelpunkt. A representative of the Federation opens the conference, clarifies the importance of organizing the Society, the pressing goals and after the introductory remarks leaves it to us to arrange the work.
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A Chairman is then selected, the Prof. Wolf Kornmass. The selected Chairman then asks Moshe Wilder to be Secretary, and we approached the task of working out a program for future activities. At this meeting, the primary program is discussed roundly – Help for the remaining survivors after the Nazi slaughters.
Immediately on the spot, a gathering is put through for an assistance campaign.
Seeing that those who were supposed to belong to the newly created Society, were not too distant, it was decided to elect a provisionary directorate, which will call together an assembly of all the people from Zamość. The following were elected to the provisional leadership:
Wolf Kornmass (Chairman);
Max Mayerovich (Vice-Chairman);
Moshe Wilder (Secretary);
Yitzhak Baum (Pro-Secretary)
Mekhl Rasch (Treasurer);
Ozer Mittelpunkt (Ozer, Shmuel Hershelikhes – Pro-Treasurer).
As speakers: Aharon Erbesfeld, Abraham Scheid, Zechariah Kossoy (himself local, husband of Feiga Weintraub), Herschel Wilder, Israel'keh Nir, Cooperstein, Leibl Schlein.
Audit Committee: Yaakov Schatzkammer, Shia Eisenberg.
The first work, which we divided up into pairs, who had to visit all of the landsleit and invite them to a tea, which we had decided to arrange, at which the proclamation of our Society would occur. It was also decided that the Society will be called: ‘Zamość Landsleit-Society and Vicinity, in Argentina.’
On July 14, 1946, the founding of our Society was observed. The tea was attended by a large number of people from Zamość. Here, the first large assembly took place, for the Assistance Campaign. The sum generated enabled us to think about sending out a significant amount of help to our Zamość people, who remained alive after the sorrowful era.
The same night, a group of young people undertook a discussion, children of our Zamość people, and decided to assist the older folks with this sacred work of help for their grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts and uncles, who remained alive. In a second room in the Federation, a consultation took place of the youth, where it was decided to create a Youth Commission within the Zamość Landsleit Society.
It was decided to call a general assembly of the young people, where this question could be dealt with. In August 1946, the youth assembly did indeed take place. The Chairman of the Society, Wolf Kornmass, clarified the nature of the life of the youth in Poland to the young people, up to the Second World War, about the terrifying Hitler Holocaust, how the Nazis annihilated the millions of Jews, among whom thousands of people from Zamość are to be counted, their near ones and relatives.
The young people decide to join the Assistance work of the Society. A leadership of the youth is elected that consists of the following children of the people from Zamość:
Yaakov Mayerovich (Chairman); Ida Mittelpunkt (Vice-Chairman); Leibl Weissman (Secretary); Feiga Karp (Acts-Secretary); Rosa Harfen (Treasurer). Speakers: Shimon Mittelpunkt, Sholom Freilich, Leon Rubin, Feiga Meiseles; Audit Committee: Frieda Eisenberg and Feder.
The Youth Commission worked for a longer time with the Society leadership, and was indeed of help, through a variety of undertakings, in order to strengthen the landsleit organization.
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However, this Youth Commission did not exist for very long. Internal discussions began about socio-political questions. Many parties and groups wanted to influence the youth circle, and this led to the fact that it ceased to exist.
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The first general assembly took place on October 13, 1946. At that time, the first legal leadership was elected, in the following order:
Wolf Kornmass (Chairman); Ozer Mittelpunkt (Vice-Chairman); Moshe Wilder (Secretary); Yitzhak Sobol (Pro-Secretary); Zechariah Kossoy (Acts- Secretary); David Fingergut (Treasurer – he personally was from Rewic, husband of Golda Oberfersht); Itcheh Schwartz (Pro-Treasurer).
Speakers: Alexander Tzitzman, Mekhl Rasch, Max Mayerovich, Aharon Erbesfeld, Aharon-Shimon Zeidweber. Audit Committee: Brandwein, Lejzor Finkman and Shmeryl Korb.
At the same meeting, it is also decided to join with the ‘Central Assistance Commission’ and that our help should be sent through this organization. Then we sent off several containers with clothing. After that, we receive profuse thanks from our Zamość survivors, who remained alive. The reports that came back also indicated that the material was divided in a proper manner. For this period, we also sent a series of individual packages and help in the form of foodstuffs.
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The second leadership was elected at the general assembly on May 7, 1947. At that time the following were elected to the leadership: Wolf Kornmass (Chairman); Shaya Eisenberg (Vice-Chairman); Yitzhak Sobol (Secretary); Aharon Erbesfeld (Pro-Secretary); David Fingergut (Treasurer); Alexandra Tzitzman (Pro-Treasurer); Zechariah Kossoy (Acts-Secretary).
Speakers: Aharon-Shimon Zeidweber, Mekhl Rasch, Itcheh Schwartz, Yitzhak Baum.
Audit Committee: Moshe Freilich, Shmeryl Korb.
At that same meeting, a Ladies Commission was elected, which will help in the work, especially to create the material funds in order to anticipate the demands of our landsleit. At that time, there was also a request by the remaining survivors from Zamość, that we should help them bring together the scattered victims on the roads, in the fields around Zamość, in order to give them a proper Jewish burial.
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