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Yitzchak Laufbahn

{Photo at bottom of left column on page 65 – Reb Eliakim Getzel Laufbahn and his grandson}

Yitzchak Laufbahn, the talented publicist and one of the leaders of “Hapoel Hatzair”, was a native of our city, and we are proud of that fact. He was one of the molders of the Jewish youth of Dembitz, as well as of the workers' movement, before he made Aliya to Israel and even afterward. For decades after he made Aliya, the beloved name “Itchele” was mentioned with pride among the many in our midst who were influenced by him, and who took his lessons to heart.

He was born in Dembitz on the 9^th of Av 5648 (1888). His father, Reb Eliakim Getzel, was a respected merchant of forest products as well as a learned man, and an expert in Hebrew literature of the middle ages. He was from a long line of Rabbis, whose family tree could be traced to Rabbi Yitzchak Abarbanel ^[77]. His mother Rachel was the daughter of Reb Avraham Leib Polaner, a zealous Hassid and fighter for justice in his community. His paternal grandfather, Reb Yehuda Aryeh Leib was a Misnaged, and one of the first members of Chibat Zion in Dembitz. He was a great scholar, and served as a Rabbinical judge in Dembitz. He was the son-in-law of Reb Yitzchak Silberman, who was very sharp, and had a vast knowledge, and also served as a Rabbinical judge in the city. Laufbahn studied in the cheder and in the Beis Midrash. He was known as a genius from his early days, and his maternal grandfather did not allow him to occupy himself in secular studies, so that he would be able to devote himself fully to his religious studies. During his youth, he was able to debate Talmud and Rabbinical Responsa in the Beis Midrash as an expert scholar. However, the spirit of the times also affected him in the Beis Midrash. He began to read the forbidden literature secretly, and studied privately general knowledge. At age sixteen, he participated in a memorial program for Herzl in the synagogue, even though the Rabbi and the heads of the community were opposed. The conflict between the two sides lead to a brief period of imprisonment on the count of disrupting public order. In 1907, he joined the “Hashachar” movement and was one of its noted leaders.

In 1908, after he had saved a small sum of money for his journey to the Land of Israel, and before he boarded the ship in Trieste to travel to Jaffa, he wrote a farewell letter to his father and informed him of his intention to make Aliya.

In Israel, he began to work as an agricultural worker on a moshav, and he joined the “Hapoel Hatzair” (The Young Worker) movement. He spent some time in Jerusalem with the “Hatzvi” organization, as an assistant to Eliezer Ben Yehuda ^[78]. In 1910, he traveled to Switzerland where he audited philosophy courses at the University of Zurich. He was called to the Land of Israel by telegraph in 1912 in order to write popular science that would be published by “Laam”.

In 5674 (1914), he edited “Hapoel Hatzair” along with Yosef Aharonovitch. When Aharonovitch was exiled to Egypt during the First World War due to his Russian nationality, Laufbahn took his place as the editor of the newspaper. He was allowed to remain in the Land of Israel since he was a citizen of Austria, which was an ally of Turkey. When “Hapoel Hatzair” closed down, he edited various different publications. During the time of danger he gave voice to the feelings of the movement and the Jewish community. During the mass expulsion from Jaffa and Tel Aviv, Laufbahn lived in Ein Ganim.

After the British conquest of the southern portion of the land, Laufbahn was active in the reorganization of the Jewish community, and he was an associate member of the temporary council. When life returned to normal in the land, he was a representative to the elected council aleph' gimel', a member of the education committee of the Zionist executive, a member of the central body of the “Hapoel Hatzair” movement. When it merged with “Achdut Haavoda”, he became a member of the central workers' organization in the Land of Israel.

In 5681 (1921), after he participated in the Zionist congress, he went out to work on the organization and publicity in Poland. He set up the newspaper “People and Land” in Warsaw. Later, he established the newspaper “Working People” in Berlin. He wrote articles in other newspapers in Yiddish, German, and Polish.

During the course of thirty years, the editions of “Hapoel Hatzair” published Laufbahn's essays and articles. They were very well liked by the readership, and served as signposts for publicists for the duration of an entire generation. Laufbahn's essays also appeared from time to time in “Hashiloach”, “Hatkufa”, “Meoznaim”, and other periodicals.

He translated the two volumes of the book “Napoleon” by Emil Ludwig into Hebrew. He edited the book “The Workers' Movement in the Land of Israel” by Ada Fishman, as well as several booklets of the monthly “The Workers Union”, and four books of “Dvarim” (statement) – an anthology of essays of Chaim Weizmann, which was published by “Hamitzpeh” in 1934.

Shortly before his death, he edited and published the anthology “Forty Years”, on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the weekly “Hapoel Hatzair”.

He passed away in Tel Aviv on the 6^th of Elul 5708 (September 10, 1948). After his death, a large volume of “An Anthology of the Writings of Y. Laufbahn” was published as well as the book “Anshe Segula” (Extraordinary People).


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To be honest, in my mind the names of Dembitz and Galicia never come to mind when thinking about the name Laufbahn. Even his first name Yitzchak is not on the tip of my tongue when I think of him, and it was not often used during my official and personal contact with him. The people of the second Aliya conducted their lives in a new fashion in the Land, and were not connected to their past or to the events in their birthplace. The late Mr. Laufbahn was similar in that matter. The name Laufbahn, as it stands alone, stood for his essence and manner of conduct for all of his days. Laufbahn was close to me for decades as a friend and as a participant in all aspects of our life in the Land – in “Hapoel Hatzair”, in Zionism, and in the workers movement – from the time of the second Aliya until the time of the establishment of the state. One can sum up his character very simply: a dear friend, with clean hands and a pure heart ^[79].

His modesty concealed him so much that even on the precious day of the jubilee festival of the second Aliya, his name did not appear in any way in the list of the builders and activists of the Hebrew workers' movement He was one of our best publicists, the prime spokesman, the accurate spokesman, who publicized and promoted the thoughts and actions – the pains and accomplishments of the era of Zionist renaissance. His publications were fundamental, rich, and full of nuances. In his years of service in the field of writing, he was the voice for the pioneering effort of the nation, who desired the renewal of the Land and to become a working people.

The omission of the name and memory of Laufbahn during the jubilee festival of the second Aliya was completely unintentional, and was not caused by any disrespect for his position and the great esteem in which he was held, but rather because the blessed publicist, who gave so much in such an honorable fashion to the delineating of the path and deepening of the thinking of the people of the “workers' conquest” of Israel – concealed himself and was completely encompassed by his work.

Laufbahn continued the newspaper “Hapoel Hatzair”, founded by Yosef Aharonovitch, with talent and honor. This was the first Hebrew mouthpiece of the workers of the Land of Israel. He added content to it, and stamped it with his unique signature.

Yitzchak Laufbahn has left us, however his spiritual legacy has not departed from us. His rich literary creations will continue to serve as a rich source of educational material for years to come.

Yehuda Bornstein

Yehuda Bornstein was only fifteen years old when he first appeared on the Jewish public scene in our city, and he was twenty-four years old when he left. Nevertheless, it is possible to state without exaggeration at all that thanks to his activities and many great struggles, the Jewish community of Dembitz succeeded in awakening from the darkness of the time, and to attach itself in an ever increasing manner to the world movement of renewal, which spread among the Jews of Galicia at the end of the 19^th century.

It is possible to state without any exaggeration at all that during these ten years from near the beginning of the 20^th century until one year prior to the outbreak of the First World War, no organization in Dembitz was founded, and no worthwhile public endeavor was organized without the efforts, activism and leadership of Yehuda Bornstein.

There were individual Zionists, and even small groups in Dembitz prior to him. But it was he himself, Yehuda Bornstein, who was the first that saw no other issue in front of his eyes, and no other purpose in his life other than the Zionist endeavor. Even his great thirst for knowledge and his love of literature and science did not distract him from his many activities.

The general state of the Jews of Dembitz at the beginning of the 20^th century was such that nearly all of the Zionist activists were forced to leave the city, due to the scanty opportunities to support themselves. Some left to larger cities in Galicia, while others emigrated to other countries, particularly Germany. Dembitz was slowly emptied of the good powers of its activists. At that time, as the field remained without anyone to plough, as the saplings of the first activists were about to wither without anyone to cultivate, he arose, a youth of fifteen years, and with great self sacrifice he gave himself over to put an end to the desolation that reigned.

Yehuda Bornstein was born in 1888 to his father Shlomo, who was the son-in-law of the contractor Geshwind, and who owned a hotel next to the train station. He chose for his son the dual education which the maskilim of Galicia gave to their children at that time: traditional and Jewish combined with secular and modern. On the one hand, he studied in the cheder and the Beis Midrash, and on the other hand he prepared for studies in the Gymnasia. He did not go beyond the preparations, for as the son was actually about to be sent to Gymnasia, there was fear of persecution from the religious zealots. In any case, it was possible to consider the students of the Gymnasia to be students from the outside, privatists in the vernacular.

Thus Yehuda was caught between two worlds: half of him was in the Beis Midrash which no longer held his interest, and half of him in the anteroom of the Gymnasia, so to speak. At the end, he left the Beis Midrash but did not make it to the Gymnasia. For even more than his desire to become a lawyer or an engineer, the call of communal duty took hold of him, and that determined his path of his studies. He learned a great deal and read a great deal, however the purpose of his studies was no longer in order to obtain a diploma in the future, but rather to absorb the philosophy of the modern world, in which this nation would be Jewish and Zionist.

During the course of his preparations for the Gymnasia, he established friendships with the Jewish students of the Gymnasia of Dembitz, some of whom were from outside the city, and he was like one of them. He was a reader of “Moria”, the newspaper of the Zionist students of the Gymnasia at that time, which was published in Lvov. During the years 1904-1905 he published several essays and bold articles in that paper regarding current events. He also became involved in Zionist activity. A new spirit suddenly broke out in the city. The ice was broken, and fifteen year old Yehuda became more and more involved in his activities. He saw a world of opportunity before him.

There were several Zionist youths in the city who were of the middle of the road, however they were spread out and very few of them were bold enough to proclaim their Zionism openly. All prior attempts at organizing were foiled due to the opposition of the Hassidim. It was necessary to find a means of organization that would not awaken such harsh opposition. Yehuda proposed in his articles the idea of founding a “merchants' union”, that would not proclaim itself officially as a Zionist organization, but would open up the opportunity for Zionist activity among its members. This organization was founded and existed for a period of time. The young Bornstein spoke at its opening assembly. However, this organization was not able to take roots, since there was no real need for a “merchants' union” in such a small city as Dembitz. The leaders of this union included Naftali Eisen, the owner of the large locksmith workshop, Nathan Günspan, the owner of the large drawer factory, and Shmuel Mahler, the son of Chaim Mahler and one of the first Zionists of Dembitz.

At that time Yehuda Bornstein was also behind the establishment of the first Poale Zion group in Dembitz. He wrote the first article about that subject in “The Jewish Worker”.

This was not sufficient for him. That very same year, Yehuda Bornstein came up with the idea of founding the “Debora” women's Zionist organization, which existed in various forms until the outbreak of the Second World War.

The year 1905 was the most fruitful year for the efforts of Yehuda Bornstein in Dembitz. That year, the organization which served as the foundation for the younger generation in Dembitz was founded due to his blessed efforts. From that time on he had the responsibility of overseeing the existence of all of the new organizations, of directing them in their day to day activities, of maintaining the contacts and preventing disputes among them, as well as fighting the battles against the main opposing force to Zionism from its outset – Hassidic Orthodoxy. He conducted his activities without tiring, with great dedication and self sacrifice. When it came to establishing a Hebrew school and a library, and with every external political activity – Yehuda Bornstein was one of the prime volunteers and workers. He was the recognized head of the movement in Dembitz. He represented it externally, even though it was not in need of such representation. He was a delegate to the twelfth congress in Vienna.

The final effort of Yehuda Bornstein was the founding of the “Hashachar” youth organization, which called itself “The Union of Young Students”. It was a branch of the national “Hashachar” organization, which held its convention during Passover of 5678 (1918) in Dembitz, in the Bornstein hotel. Yehuda was one of the participants in that convention.

Yehuda married Ruchama, the daughter of Nathan Günspan in the winter of 1913. She was an activist among the youth of the city. In 1914 the young couple left to Frankfurt, Germany, with the definite goal of making Aliya to the Land of Israel as soon as possible.

Yehuda Bornstein's sojourn in Frankfurt was very short, not more than two months, however he certainly left his mark there: “the Jewish Cultural Union”, which flourished greatly for several years.

In April, Yehuda left Frankfurt for the Land of Israel in order to prepare for his settlement along with Ruchama, and he remained there for three months. He returned to Germany in order to return with Ruchama, however in the interim the skies of Europe darkened. The First World War was looming, and due to lack of any choice, the family moved to Weisbaden, where they resided during the years of the war and the French occupation. Ruchama, who was very astute in organizational and commercial affairs, succeeded in establishing a flourishing business in Weisbaden, and Yehuda gave himself over to his work for Zionism, which won him great recognition among the Zionists of Germany. Among other things, he was very active in the “Organization of Jews from the East” in Germany, which was founded by two Galicia natives, Moshe Waldman from Tarnopol and Ben-Zion Fett from Rzeszow. There was not one Zionist convention in Germany where Yehuda did not represent the Zionists of Weisbaden. At the beginning of the 1920s he was chosen as a member of the executive committee of the “United Zionists of Germany” which was seated in Berlin, Munich, and Strasau.

Nevertheless, the physical success which was due to the changed circumstances, and the Zionist activity did not mitigate the plans for Aliya of Yehuda and Ruchama.


{Page 68}


In 1924, the couple liquidated their business in Weisbaden and moved to Israel, to Haifa, where Yehuda build his home in Hadar Hacarmel. Due to the unstable economic situation, they decided to return to Germany temporarily in order to rescue their wealth there, and apparently for several years he remained there, always hoping to return to the Land of Israel, to his home in Haifa. In the meantime, he continued with his Zionist activity without bounds. Everyone who came to his house did not fail to recognize the great measure of the hospitality of Yehuda and Ruchama, and their willingness to assist whomever required assistance. However, at that time their economic situation deteriorated, and Yehuda, who was straight in his ways and pure in his intentions was not able to continue functioning. On June 30, 1930, the heart of this man, who from the days of his youth only had one direction – Zionism, stopped beating. He did not merit to see the Land of Israel again, Haifa the city in which his home awaited him, and in which he had hoped to educate his two sons. Ruchama, his partner in life did continue on to the Land of Israel, and she keeps his legacy alive until this day.

Translator's Footnotes

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Updated 26 Aug 2006 by LA