[Page 228]
The Spirit of Two Fighters
by Moshe Kremenchutski (Ramat-Gan)
Translated by Aviv Tzur, [February 2001]
|
Saynya Keselman & Abraham Margalit
died in the Spanish War, 1937 |
Among all the blessed souls of our community, let's not forget the two freedom
fighters who fell in 1937 Spain while fighting with the Spanish National
Republic against the Franco regime.
Saynya (Yehoshua) Keselman and Abrasha (Abraham) Margalit – both members of
“Hashomer Hatzair” in Kremenets. Both were honest and dedicated to
their view and their life destination. Both [were] humble and following their
life calling. They were among the first to learn “pioneering studies,”
working during the bitter winters in the forests of Poland. Shortly after their
return they made Aliya to Eretz Israel at the time of the 1929 pogroms. They
joined the “Hashomer Hatzair” kibbutz in Binyamina, and were among its
builders. They never shirked any hard labor despite their deteriorating health.
They helped drain the swamps of Kabara, and got malaria.
Once they discovered the ideological contradiction between their position on the
“Arab question” vis-à-vis that of the kibbutz, they felt that
the
honorable thing to do was to leave the kibbutz and move into the city where they
worked in construction and joined the P. K. P.
As the Spanish people started the war of independence, they were among the first
to join the international brigade. From letters they have sent to me, as well as
from Saynya's memorial book, I have learned that they volunteered to be in the
front line, and perished as heroes in the fields of Guadalajara.
[Page 274]
Pinkas Kremenets
[Yizkor Book Project Editor's Note: This is the Title Page of the Yiddish
Section, p. 274]
[A Table of Contents to this Section that begins on p. 451 is at the front of
this translation]
Editorial Board
Mordekhai Otiker, Manus Goldenberg, Toviya Troshinski, Yitskhak Rokhel
Editor: A. S. Stein
Title page in Hebrew section drawn by David Tushinski (Paris)
Other illustrations in Yiddish section by M. Kagan (Israel, Kibbuts Shamir)
Published by the
Organization of Kremenets Immigrants in Israel.
Year 1954 / 12 years after the Disaster
|
[Page 275]
Pinkas Kremenets
Part Two (Yidish)
Historical overview
Yitskhak Ber Levinzon (RYB"L)
Between the two World Wars
Jewish workers' movement
Figures [Prominent people]
Remembrances & customs
Destruction and Holocaust
Kremenets in the world |
[Page 356]
[Translation Editor's Note:
The first half of the first column on page
356 is a continuation from a previous page.
It has NOT yet been translated.]
Meir Goldring
(1886-1942)
Translated by Steven Wien
Among the activists in Kremenets, Meir Goldring, may his memory be
blessed, occupied one of the most prominent places. For more than a quarter of a
century, he held the top leadership positions of the Jewish community and served
the interests of the Jewish people. A man of character, he fought for his
principles and influenced others. He was active in all areas of community
institutions and was an active Zionist. The Jewish community treated him with
honor and complete trust.
In his writings and in his speeches, Meir Goldring campaigned that the Jewish
Community Council should encompass all branches of Jewish life and to become the
truly uniting Jewish entity. As the first step to accomplish this, he sought to
use the full rights the Community Council regulations allowed, even though those
rights were limited for religious activities. He campaigned for confirmation of
the Community Council budget to ensure the needed funds and the takeover of the
cemetery by the Community Council.
Characteristic of him are the following words with which he ended an article in
the “Kremenetser Sh'tema (Voice)” concerning Community Council
queries. “… The Community Council is the kernel of our
self-determination, just as the magistrate, and if we pay taxes to the
magistrate, we must pay taxes to the Jewish Community Council. We will then for
sure show an interest on what these taxes are being spent. We would also want
[to ensure] that the budget of the Jewish Community Council should not exceed
the present financial capabilities of the impoverished Jewish masses on whom we
are depending to sustain the budget.”
This was also Meir Goldring's approach to all branches of Jewish and Zionistic
community work. His concern, first and foremost, was for the Jewish common-folk.
He campaigned with energy for his opinions, and it is no wonder that there were
unscrupulous people that fought a nasty battle against him. It came to a point
that approximately 60 representatives from all community-based institutions came
together in the Community Council and decried these attacks. Special resolutions
were then undertaken emphasizing full loyalty to Meir Goldring and these were
publicized in all Synagogues (Houses of Study). Also, a special banquet was
organized in his honor, in which about 300 people participated from over 20
organizations. This banquet was an expression of love and loyalty to Goldring,
the honest and energetic community activist. His 50th birthday was also
celebrated with great pomp.
The “Kremenetser Sh'tema”, whose founder and editor he was, was an
important factor in the lives of Jewish Kremenets. This weekly reflected the
local character, informed about all that happened in the city and province, and
campaigned for Jewish interests. The “Kremenetser Sh'tema” was a part
of his life and also the life of Kremenets. Weekly, he worried about the
uninterrupted production of the paper and for its contents [He] wrote a lot, and
was the living spirit of the newspaper. For years, the newspaper was printed and
honestly served the interest of the Jewish people. Meir Goldring died in the
slaughter of Kremenets. Honestly did he serve the Jewish people his whole life.
[Page 357]
Abraham Yaakov Vaynberg
Translated by Steven Wien
In the year 1931, there passed away the first Community Council
head of the newly established democratic Community Council of Kremenets, Abraham
Yaakov Vaynberg. That position he honestly earned and with honor upheld it until
the Community Council, for various reasons, dissolved. This caused him great
heartache and pain.
A. Y. Vaynberg was a Jew, a scholar with stature and fine character. He was
tolerant and almost never reacted to the injustices against him in the Community
Council.
An industrialist, he was the proprietor of the famous foundry off the highway
near the Vishnavitser city gate, in partnership with Khayim Ovadis and Fishel
Perlmuter. A Jew who was an industrialist was uncommon in those days. He was
quite knowledgeable in the technical side of the production.
A Zionist in heart and soul, all his assets, including his extensive library,
was willed to the Jewish National Fund. Noteworthy to mention is that the Jewish
Community Council remained owing him money and as a result he suffered
financially.
He was a fine role model of a Jewish community activist. In Kremenets they
greatly grieved his untimely passing.
[Page 357]
Khaykel from Kremenets
(Khaykel Bernshtayn)
Translated by Steven Wien
[Khaykel Bernshtayn] was a model of a proper Jewish gentlemen, full
of respect, medium height with a wide beard. He lived in his apartment in the
“Shmoler Gas” (narrow Street), close to Shimeon Beker, on a second
floor. [His apartment had] large rooms that overlooked the “potik.”
[He was] a Jew with a broad hand in giving charity anonymously. His wife was
Khana, Avraham Moshe's [daughter]. Whoever has not seen this couple at a Purim
feast, has never seen a beautiful sight. The table bedecked with all kinds of
goodies, and all the children, cousins and grandchildren were all required to be
at the feast. Reb Khaykel, with a large golden chain on his vest and with a
silken frock, Khana, with stringed pearls around her neck, with kind eyes, which
sparkled with happiness and joy.
[Translation Editor's Note:
The remainder of this section continues on p. 358. It has not yet been translated.]
[Page 450]
My Shtetl Kremenets
by Helena Vaynberg (New York)
Translated by David Dubin
I am after everything nostalgic for thee,
beloved shtetl Kremenets!
my dreams you are oft with me
dreams and in visions without a boundary.
my memory you take the greatest portion,
how can I forget you even for a moment,
my heart beats so hard for you,
each pebble and for prayer-rooms I cry,
a prayer-room, where I first recognized the world.
are you now, my shtetl, my home?
…
[Translation Editor's Note: Translation is not yet complete.]
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