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Translated by Nate Kolodny
Edited by Sara Mages I will always remember the town of Maytchet. I was born there and there my childhood passed, and there is where I left the dearest to me – my parents.
My father Yonah, blessed be his memory, was born in Maytchet to his parents, Osher and Shaina Orzechovsky. My father was an educated man and a scholar. In his youth he studied in the Novogrudok Yeshiva and later completed his studies in Russian Schools. My mother Kriena, may she rest in peace, was born in the town of Novaya Mysh (Mush) to her parents Leib and Tovah Vilbensky.
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After their marriage, my parents settled in Maytchet together with my father's parents. They had three children--my older sister Hanna-Mara, myself, and my younger sister Chasha. The family earned a living from the iron trade and that was the reason that my grandfather Asher was called “Reb Asher, iron shop owner” (Der Aizenkrammer). Later on my parents became fabric merchants and while my grandparents still dealt in iron, my parents sold fabric in the shop.
Both my parents came from large families. My father's parents had two sons and four daughters. My father lived in Maytchet all his life, but his brother Nathan immigrated to the U.S. shortly before W.W. I. He had a large family and lived to see many grandchildren before passing away in 1964.
Three of my father's sisters also immigrated to the U.S. They are Fanny, who lives near Chicago, Chasha Freyda who lives with her husband Julius Kolodny in Los Angeles, and Chaya Sarah, may she rest in peace, who married Baruch Ross (Razvetzky) from Zhetl in Novaya Mysh (Mush) before immigrating to the U.S. My father's fourth sister was Bedna Margolin who built her house with Reb Aryel Leib in Maytchet.
My mother's parents came from Novaya Mysh (Mush). Her parents Leib and Tova Villenky had seven sons and one daughter. My mother's brothers were Mordechai, Yoel, Herschel, Yitzhak, Dov and Yosef.
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With the exception of Ashe and Yosef who stayed in Mush, the rest of them moved to Baranovichi. All of them were in the meat business. My mother had an aunt in Maytchet, Etta, the sister of grandmother Tova and the wife of Yitzchak Gilrovitch. They (Etta and Tova) were the daughters of Nachum Mordechovsky, who was also called Tseshler because he owned land in the village of Telsia near Slonim. I was named after him.
I did not know all of them very well because I was still young when the Nazis came. I cannot but mention them here, hoping that these few lines will serve as a kind of a memorial to honest and innocent soul that were special in their own way and that in their death left to me and my family a great spiritual heritage.
I was the only survivor from all of my family, except those who immigrated to the U.S. The rest of the family, who are still alive in Israel, are my cousins Nachum Margolin and his sister Freidel Makarensky and Ethel Villensky, daughter of my Uncle Mordechai Villensky. My two other cousins, Rachel and Brania, daughters of Dov Villensky, live in the U.S.
We are the only ones amongst many youngsters in our family who survived the Holocaust. Each one of us went through a long journey of suffering until we reached a safe place.
My own youth in Maytchet was very much like that of any other child. I studied with a Melamed (Jewish teacher) Koppel Gorsky and then continued my education in Horeb School.
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For a short time I was a Yeshiva student in a small yeshiva that was founded in Maytchet in 1935, and later I graduated from the ORT School (vocational institute). I continued my studies in the ORT school in the town of Brest nearby.
W.W. II broke out during that time and, following the Ribenthrop-Molotov Pact, Brest became a Russian territory. The Russians converted the Ort Institute into a government technical institute and I stayed there until June 1941.
On June 7, 1941 some of the students, including myself, went to participate in advanced courses that were given in Vitebsk, Russia. Two weeks later war was declared between Russia and Germany. On that same day I tried to return to Maytchet. I failed, as did all my attempts to go back.
I shall not describe in full detail the path of suffering and blood I've experienced, like other survivors of the Holocaust, until the victory of the allies over Nazi Germany. At the end of the war I joined the Bricha (Escape) organization that took care of refugees.
I arrived in Israel in 1947. The memory of my last farewell from my parents and family in 1941 is still fresh. The days before the war were mentally and economically difficult and so was our farewell before I had left for Vitebsk. None of us knew that this would be our final farewell.
These words are published in the memorial volume for Maytchet community thirty years after the events occurred. Today, in the 1970's and in the State of Israel, I believe that our children should be given the opportunity to learn more about the struggle of the past generations of the Jewish people--especially the terrible period that had so much to do with the formation of the new State of Israel. I am pleased to know that my grandfather's presence in this book will contribute to this educational effort.
Nahum Naor Orzechovsky
Translated by Ron Rabinovitch
Edited by Sara Mages My father, Dov-Ber Dvorzecky, was born in Maytchet. His father, Rabbi Yechiel Isaac Dvorzecky, was also born in Maytchet and lived there until he immigrated to Israel. His grandfather, Rabbi Shemaryahu Yehuda Dvorzecky, lived and died in Maytchet.
The following is the Dvorzecky Family:
Rabbi Shemaryahu Yehuda Dvorzecky was a wood merchant in Maytchet. His wife's name was Sima but some people called her Liba.
Their son Rabbi Yechiel Isaac Dvorzecky was a wood merchant also. He was one of the Zionist activist in Russia who was a delegate to the second Zionist Conference in Basel, Switzerland. You can read about this in the Zionist newspaper - “Di Walt”, by Dr. Theodore Herzl. On the delegate's list he is listed as one of the representatives of the Basel second Zionist Conference. He immigrated to Eretz-Israel and lived in Rehovot from 1926 until his death in 1932.
He married Chana Gele Landoy, daughter of Eliyahu Landoy from Lida. I remember some of her brother's names: Michael Landoy who died in Vilna, Nathan (Natte) Landoy who died in Lida, and Joseph Landoy who died in Rehovot. My grandmother, Chana Gele Dvorzecky, came to Eretz-Israel with my grandfather, Rabbi Yechiel Isaac, and she died in Rehovot in 1928. They had 3 sons and 5 daughters: Dov, Jacob, Isaac, Mechle, Malka, Sonia, Hadassa, and Sima.
I. My father Dov-Ber received his ordination as a Rabbi at the Slonim Yeshiva. He married my mother Tzivia. She was well educated, knew several languages and worked as a draftsman. She was the daughter of the Rabbi and architect, Rabbi Eliyahu Rumanov from Vilna, who dedicated his life to preparing an accurate map of the Temple. He drew sketches of the Temple and its sacred objects, which was published in Vilna. My late father was actively involved in the Zionist movement during his entire life as well as the Jewish community of Vilna. I heard stories that he was imprisoned when the Czar's police saw him holding a blue and white flag in a demonstration which was held 1905. He was an educated and proud Jew and had large library of religious books.
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His first occupation was a wood merchant in Maytchet and the nearby area. Later on he audited the accounts at the Jewish community in Vilna. He became ill while in the Vilna Ghetto and died on the last candle of Chanukah,1941. My mother was transferred at the time of the German Aktion, September 23rd – 26th 1943, to an unknown place (possibly Ponary or Majdanek).
a. Lisa graduated high school in Vilna and the Pharmacology department at Vilna University. She married Zev Lifshitz from Baranavichy and moved to Baranavichy. During the war her husband was transferred to Krasnoye Camp near Maladzechna (Molodeczno) and he died there. Lisa and her daughter Madzia moved to Maytchet and they were killed there with their Uncle Jacob Dvorzecky at the time of the mass killing, July 15, 1942.b. Sima graduated from the Klutz high school in Vilna. She married Aharon Ginzburg from Vilna. During the Soviet regime she was transferred to Siberia. She came back with the “Riphariation” movement and immigrated to Israel in 1948. She died Tamuz 23rd 5728, July 19, 1968. Her son Isaac married Yaffa of the Kleingrob family and they have 3 children: Vardit, Sima and Uri. They are now living in Tel Aviv.
c. Meir (Mark) Yehuda Shemarahu (the author). I was one of the survivors of the Ghetto Vilna and of concentration camps in Astonia, Stutthof and Dautmergen (near Natzviller).
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I received a medical doctor degree from Vilna and a PHD of History from Paris. Presently I lecture about the Holocaust at Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv. During the war I was an officer and fought in the Lvov Defense Battle. Later on I was captured by the Nazis near Krakow but managed to run away to Vilna. I was a member of the underground in the Vilna Ghetto as well as in the camps. I managed to run away from the camps to the Salagav Forest in Germany. I married Chasia Geffen. We have a son Dov who is an assistant Physicist at Ber Sheva University and is married to Esther Artman from Haifa. We also have a daughter Tzivia who has a master's degree in history from Tel Aviv University.
II. Jacob graduated from the High School of Pharmacology and he owned a pharmacy in Maytchet. He was highly educated in the fields of history and literature. He was loved by everyone, both Jews and Gentiles. He married Helena Starlatzki and they both went to their death at the time of the German Aktion in Maytchet July, 1942. I understand that some Chiristians wanted to save him but he didn't want to leave his family and fellow Jews. They had 3 children:
Edie graduated from the Polytechnic in Warsaw. He was an engineer and his wife's name was Ella and their daughter was named Miriam.Vita graduated the high school pharmacology department in Warsaw. Witnesses say she was able to escape from Maytchet and joined the Partisans. Unfortunately she did not survive the war but I am not sure how or when she met her death. Perhaps she was killed in a battle or possibly died from typhus while hiding in the forest with the partisans.
Eliyahu was transferred to Bedzonys near Vilna. (We received one letter sent from Bedzonys to the Vilna Ghetto). He was murdered there during the mass killing in July 9, 1943.
III. Isaac (Isadore) graduated the higher school of pharmacology. He immigrated to Eretz-Israel before the war and there he married Miriam Olkin. They had one daughter, Shoshana and she married Abraham Melnikov. Isaac died and was buried in Rehovot on Tevet 12th 5726 April 1, 1966.
IV. Mechle lived her entire life in Maytchet. She was married to Tzvi Hirsh Barashinsky. They were both killed by the Nazis in Maytchet. Their children:
Shemaryahu – Possibly killed in Maytchet.Elkana – He finished high school and lives in USSR.
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Eliyahu – He was a student in Vilna University and later in the University in Paris. He was killed in Paris by the Nazis.V. Malka was married to Shmuel Rabinovitch, an ardent Zionist who immigrated to Eretz-Israel before the First World War. They settled in Rehovot. Shmuel Rabinovitch died in Rehovot in 1939; Malka died in Rehovot on the eve of Hanukah in 1971 at the age of 92 or possibly 97. Their son Joshua (Chalamish) graduated Hertzelia High School; he lived in Rehovot and was one of the guards in the “Hashomer” and the “Hagana” movements.
VI. Sonia married Zev Liberman. She died in Rumania and her husband died in Rehovot. Their children are:
Arie (Yakir) – he graduated high school in Belgium. At the present time he lives in Rehovot and is the head secretary of the municipality and was a member of the Hagannah. He married Rina Finger and their daughter Gila married Dr. A. Yochtman from Tel Aviv University. They have a daughter Iris and three sons named Ofer, Jacob and Doron.Leyuba was in France during the war. After the war she immigrated to Israel and married an engineer by the name of Eliyahu Solel Soloveitzik. They live in Tel Aviv.
VII. Hadassah (Dashe) married Nachum Rabinovitch from Warsaw. She was killed in the Warsaw Ghetto. Their children were Leyuba and Eliyahu. Hadassa, her husband Nachum and daughter Leyuba were killed in the Warsaw Ghetto. Also Eliyahu moved as a refugee to Maytchet and he was killed there by the Nazis.VIII. Sima graduated high school in Russia, married Shaul Luria and died in the USA in 1970.
I have been told that Moshe, brother of Rabbi Yechiel Isaac Dvorzecky, lived in Drohichin and had two daughters: Sima and Rivka.
The following tale of the immigration of Rabbi Yechiel Isaac Dvorzecki was told in Maytchet:
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On the day after Yom Kippur, Rabbi Dvorzecky's house was burnt down. He didn't allow anyone to stop the fire and said “It is God's way and we have to leave the Diaspora immediately and immigrate to Eretz-Israel.” The next day he packed his possessions and immigrated to Eretz-Israel with his wife.
The people in Maytchet said that he was an ardent Zionist and had planned for many years to immigrate. But he could not afford to do so because of the difficult economic conditions. The long delays disappointed him and many people suspected that he himself burnt the house to enable him to leave the Diaspora.
Sara Rivka, the sister of Rabbi Yechiel Isaac Dvorzecky, married Nachum Abramovski. Their children:
Michael Landoy, the brother of Chana Gele Dvorzecky from Maytchet, had three sons and two daughters: The sons were Isadore, Salomon and Joseph. Joseph settled in Rehovot and had two sons, Eliyahu and Shmuel; both of them became farmers. Michael Landoy's daughter Chasia died in 1962. The daughter of his other daughter (name not given) married Moshe Kaganovitch who came from the Vilna Ghetto. Today he works as a scientist at the Weitzman Institute located in Rehovot.
As recorded in the tales, the Dvorzecky family lived at first in Drohichin and their name was Shlovski. At the time of the Drohichin riots, one relative of the family (Shemaryahu-Yehuda or his father) killed one of the rioters in self defense after he was attacked by them. He had to escape from Drohichin and changed his surname to Dvorzecky. From this tradition all the Dvorzecky family saw themselves as part of the Shlovski family from Drohichin.
After the war I heard about four heroic partisans from the Shlovski family in Drohichin: Avigdor was killed in a battle near Dravnaya road, Sima was a Partisan- nurse and was killed by the Vlasov army, Feige was killed in the forest and Shlomo was killed in a battle in the forest.
The Russian name of “Maytchet” is Molchadz, and the following is the explanation I heard, when I was young boy, of how the town got its name: One day the Russian Tzar, together with
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a convoy of his army, were in the area. The inhabitants went to greet them with water and salt. They complained about their poor life under the squires and about the heavy taxes they had to pay. The Tzar became very upset with the greeting he was given and shouted at them: “Maytchet!” (Be Quiet!) And from that time on the town was called “Maytchet”.
At the time of the First World War my parents, Dov and Tzivia Dvorzecky, moved from Vilna to Maytchet.
I began my education with Rabbi Jacob Ginzburg, who taught me grammar, Bible and Rashi. He wanted us to know all the words in Hebrew, so he forced us to memorize the words that appeared in the book “Gulat Hakoteret”. That book had a lot of letters and in each one there
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were single words. He told us that the pupil who knows all the letters by heart, would know perfect Hebrew.
Every morning we came to his house with lights and every evening we came back with the same lights. I can still remember the running lights in the streets of the town when there was snow.
Later I learned Bible (Eyov, Mishley, and Kohelet) with Rabbi Jacob Liberman who was a serious student of the Torah. He was the father of Zev Liberman who married Sonia Dvorzecky; they are the parents of Arie Yakir (Liberman) from Rehovot. One relative of Jacob Liberman is the famous Rabbi and Professor, Shaul Liberman.
At the time of the First World War there was a Zionist movement in Maytchet and I had the honor of being a member of this group. Its name was “Flowers of Zion” (Pirchei Zion). Some of my friends who were also members of the group were: Leibel Gilrovitz, Eliyahu Borishansky and Arie Yakir Liberman. We decided to establish a Hebrew theater in Maytchet. We performed a Hebrew play “One” (Echad) and we even established a small choir. (I remember one of the songs written by Isaac Katzenelson).
At the end of World War I, some of the men organized a self-defense organization in Maytchet. Among the members were Shemaryahu Borishansky, Shemaryahu Abramovsky and Berl Abramovsky. The secret meetings took place at the home of the pharmacist Jacob Dvorzecky. They bought weapons and were trained to shoot while riding galloping horses. My mother Tzvia transported the weapons from place to place in baskets.
To this day I really do not know where I was born. Some of my documents say Vilna as my birthplace but most of the others say Maytchet was my place of birth.
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Translated by Jerrold Landau A Maytchet personality
{Photos page 218: Nathan Naten, and his wife Chana Lea Naten}
Reb Nathan Orzechovsky (Naten), a native of Maytchet, was a typical Lithuanian Jew[1] - one of the remnants of the previous generation. He had the splendid countenance of a scholar with excellent character traits. He was pleasant in his mannerisms, and very discreet and modest. With him, the words of our sages were fulfilled, “Everyone who meets the approval of his fellow man also meets the approval of G-d”[2]. He was loved by all who knew him, -- old and young, men and women.
Reb Nathan was born in Maytchet around the year 5655 (1884) to his mother Sheina and his father Reb Asher Orzechovsky, one of the town notables, who earned his livelihood in his time by running a shop for iron implements. Reb Asher provided his children with a proper Jewish education. He sent both of his sons to study in the famous Yeshiva of Nowogrodek. Aside from Reb Nathan, Reb Asher Orzechovsky had one other son and four daughters. His son Reb Yonah, may G-d avenge his blood, also studied like his brother in his youth in the Yeshiva of Nowogrodek, and excelled as a great scholar. He married Kraina of the Volinski family
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of Nowa Mysz, and established his family in Maytchet. They had one son and two daughters. All of them perished in Maytchet in sanctification of the Divine Name during the Nazi Holocaust, except for their son who succeeded in escaping from the Holocaust. The daughters were as follows[3]: 1) Mrs. Badana Margolin may G-d avenge her blood, who established her family in Maytchet with her husband Yehuda Yitzchak, who was called Liba Asher's[4]. They had five sons and two daughters, all of whom perished in Maytchet in sanctification of the Divine name, except for one son and one daughter who succeeded in escaping from the Holocaust: 2) Mrs. Feiga Rachel Weisbord who established her family in the United States and has one son and grandchildren; 3) Mrs. Chaya Sara of blessed memory (died on 17 Cheshvan 5724 / 1963) who also immigrated to the United States along with her husband Reb Baruch Ross (Rozovski), a native of Zhetl who lived for some time in Maytchet until they went to the United States. They settled in Chicago where he serves as a shochet, prayer leader and teacher to this day. She left behind three sons, one daughter, and grandchildren 4) Mrs. Chasha Kolodny, the wife of Mr. Yoel Kolodny, who also lives in America and has a son, a daughter, and grandchildren. As noted, all established wide-branched family of righteous people who proudly bear the crown of their pedigree from Reb Asher of Maytchet.
As has been mentioned, Reb Asher sent his son Nathan to study Torah in Nowogrodek with the Gaon and Tzadik Yosef-Yozel Horowitz of holy blessed memory (5608-5680 1848-1920), where he amassed a comprehensive knowledge of Talmud and its commentaries and reached the level of an eminent scholar, to the point where he was numbered among the excellent students of the Yeshiva. In Nowogrodek, he befriended the man who later became famous as a great Gaon and Orthodox leader, Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman, may G-d avenge his death, who later served as head of the Ohel Torah Yeshiva of Baranovichi, and served on the world Council of Torah Sages of Agudas Yisroel[5]. Rabbi Elchonon was his contemporary, and resided together with him in a room that they rented together. They would sharpen each other with Halachic discussions and became very close friends.
As has been mentioned, Reb Nathan was immersed in Torah studies during his youth, and even obtained rabbinical ordination. However, when it became his turn to enlist in the Russian Army (known as Prizev in the vernacular) he was worried about the difficult challenges that would await him with regard to observing religion in the army. Therefore, he quickly left Russia and immigrated to the United States in the year 5671 (1911).
There, he married Chana Lea Ginzberg, the daughter of Reb Moshe Baruch of Riga, who served as a shochet in the community of Chicago. Due to the circumstances of the place, he was forced to seek his livelihood in business. However, first and foremost, Reb Nathan concerned himself with his ability to observe Torah and the commandments appropriately. Therefore, he occupied himself with private business that would not have the issue of Sabbath violation, despite the many difficulties in America at that time. This was considered as a great challenge at that time, and he withstood it with fortitude.
His wonderful family grew with the passage of time. He had six sons and one daughter: Yaakov Yosef, Yisrael, Yehuda, Nachum, Isser, David, and Liba. All of them were well educated and successful, in a way that any Jew could be proud. His acquaintances and relatives appreciated his talents. Even though he was very modest and taciturn, pearls, fine words, fundamental ideas, wonderful explanations on the Torah portion, and the like, came forth whenever he opened his mouth. His Torah and commitment to truth were beloved by everybody, for they were blended together. To his children he was not only a good and dedicated father, but also a friend and a true comrade who tried
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with all his soul to imbue them from his rich spiritual treasury. They returned his love in a boundless fashion.
Like his father Reb Asher, Reb Nathan also attempted to impart to his children Torah and the ways of the world. Despite his difficult material situation, he encouraged all of his children to be diligent in their studies. He would constantly tell them and remind them that as long as they study, he would do everything to ensure that they would not be forced to interrupt their studies. Indeed, all of his children studied, and Reb Nathan could take pride that the adage “The ways of the fathers are a sign for the children” was fulfilled.
{Photo page 220: Baruch and Chaya-Sarah of blessed memory (nee Orzechovsky) Ross.}
In 1964, when he had reached the age of 80, the song of his life was silenced, and his soul departed in purity and joy, in accordance with the verse, “she laughs at the last day”[6]. This took place on the holiday of Purim. That morning, he prepared to go to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Megillah. He walked slowly through his house, and as he passed by his son Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, he suddenly slinked into his arms lifeless, in supernatural peace, as someone who dies through the kiss of Heaven. May his memory be a blessing.
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Translated by Ron Rabinovitch
Edited by Sara Mages My mother, Sima Ben-Hur, was born in the Lithuanian/Polish town of Maytchet, which is near the town of Baranavichy. Her parents were Rabbi Nachum and Sara Rivka Abramovsky. She had a pleasant childhood growing up in a home that was filled with a warm Jewish atmosphere. The town was located at the edge of a forest, which was a resort area for tourists throughout the year. In this pastoral area, people found an escape from their problems. The teenagers especially found the forest a quiet place to gather their thoughts and think about making plans to immigrate to Eretz Israel; for redemption and the revival of the nation of Israel.
My mother's father Rabbi Nachum Abramovsky was a dignified and well educated man, who was a lecturer at the synagogue. He was very bright and knowledgeable in the contents of the Bible. He tested the Torah students in town and arranged for all their needs. Because he was so wise, he was in charge of many important public affairs. My mother, Sara Rivka, was known for her beauty and wisdom. Their house was where the intellectuals and the Zionists gathered to discuss and implement their ideas.
My mother was born into a well to do home filled with a love of Torah; her parents taught her high moral standards. From the early days of her youth she absorbed the importance of education as a path for her life. Her parents made sure she had a good secular education as well. Despite the difficulties for Jews in those days, she was able to complete the Russian high school, culminating her education with a pharmacy course. When she immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1924, she worked in a pharmacy in Jaffa and also in Tel-Aviv, which at that time was a small town.
In Israel she met Elkana Ben-Hur, a descendant of Rabbi Betzalel and Rabbi Dov Yentis from Lodmer (Volodymr-Volynskyy). Elkana also came from a home filled with love of Jewish tradition. An active member of the “Hachaluz”, (Pioneer movement) he was the first in his family to implement the Zionist idea, immigrating to Eretz Israel in 1923. He came with his mother Frieda, who was the daughter of Rabbi Elkana and Chaya-Rachel (Weitzman). In 1927 Elkana and Sima married in Tel-Aviv where they established their home.
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They encountered many difficulties during their forty years of marriage. These years were a period of struggle between the few Jewish people in the settlements seeking to find a way to be a nation and a free country. The few Jews in the land faced Arab riots during the 1920's and 1930's, the German threats during World War II, the invading Arab armies during the War of Independence; and the terrorist attacks during the Sinai campaign. But Sima and Elkana stood together striving to establish a generation that absorbed their thinking and feelings. My mother always gave her children a strong education that emphasized the need of knowledge of the world that surrounded them. Sima, who was born into a wealthy home, always told her children that money is not the unique thing in the world–the real wealth that brings a person happiness is knowledge and education. This is how she directed the path of her three sons: Nachum who is a surgeon, Betzalel who runs the family printing company and Amos who is an engineer.
She was known for her wisdom, her good advice, and her charity. She loved to talk with educated people; especially about the Russian poems and songs she learned in her childhood. She always conceded and gave way to other people and everyone admired and loved her.
She died on 27 Tamuz 5725 (July 24, 1965). A large crowd escorted her body to the cemetery. She left behind a loving husband, three sons, grandchildren and many relatives who would remember her forever.
My grandmother, Sara Rivka, was the sister of Rabbi Yechiel Isaac Hacohen Dvorzecky. She was a very active and temperamental woman who was smart and sharp and made all the decisions in the house.
My mother's oldest sister, Tehila became a dentist, and at an early age moved to the middle of Russia, leading a difficult life.
My mother's brothers that were killed in the Holocaust and left no one behind:
Shemaryahyhu (Shmerel)---he was a very religious man.Shalom---he was very handsome, tall and kind and was loved by everyone.
Dov-Berel--- the youngest brother was a dentist and a beloved man.
Her younger sister, Musya, remained in Maytchet and was a “carbon copy” of her mother. She married Baruch Reiter who immigrated to the U.S.A. She joined him there later. They had two sons; one of them is a Zionist and lived in a kibbutz for 10 years before going to the U.S. to complete his studies. With the publication of this book we were informed that Musya and Baruch Reiter had both passed away.
On Tuesday, 10 of Sivan 5732 (May 23,1972) Elkana Ben-Hur died. He was buried on Thursday, 12 of Sivan 5732. Accompanying his body were his 3 sons, their families and many relatives, including the “The Star” Freemasons of which he was a founding member of.
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Prepared by Myrna Siegel In the west entry of our shtetl Maytchet on the road that leads to the villages Dvoretz and Zhetl my grandfather Reb Moshe Aaron Boretcky's mill stood which he got from his father Reb Meyerim of blessed memory. This area was a small empire because in that area lived the extended family of Reb Moshe Aaron, and the distance between the houses and the villages were one to two kilometers. Between the houses and the post office building there were only a few houses and the Boretcky family home was located in that area.
My grandfather Moshe Aaron and my grandmother Hana Freidl, his wife had had five sons and four daughters. They all lived close to their parents. Only two sons, Jacob and Yizachara, emigrated to the United States. My grandfather Moshe Aaron had a very noble look. He was very handsome with a long white beard. He was very charitable. The elders of the town told how when they would meet him shabbat evening walking to the synagogue a very long distance, they asked him: "It does not matter, on Saturdays and holidays every Jew and even Jews from other villages would come to the synagogue. But on Friday night this is a very long distance. Is it not beyond your strength?" and he would answer: "For distance I will receive a bigger mitzvah. As concern for my age, I receive my rewards during the days of the week. And I am obliged to fulfill my duty and to thank whoever gave me my rewards." And beyond that he would continue and say, "Try to imagine the pleasure I had when I returned from the synagogue to my home Friday night and they all came towards me, the sons, the daughters, the grandchildren, and would receive me and welcome me with shabbat shalom blessing."
Farmers came to the mill with wagons and they would bring with their grain. They would pay for flour with money or barter. Moshe Aaron gave part of his earnings to the poor people of the city.
One son Noach married Alte, daughter of Naftalia Hertz and Sima Dvoretsky. Noach helped in the mill and his wife was a Hebrew teacher. They had two daughters and two sons, Meyerim and Herzyl. Chana Mechtiger was the oldest daughter. Another daughter, FeiglE finished studies in the seminar in Vilna. She was a teacher in Maytchet. She sent letters in Hebrew to relatives in other countries before W.W. II. She dreamed of coming to Israel and studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She was liquidated in the Holocaust with her mother and two brothers, Meyerim and Herzl.
{Picture p. 225 - Noach died 1930}
A second son of my grandparents Reb Moshe Aaron and Hana Friedl Boretsky was my uncle Reb Shmuel. he married Ethel Block and they had two daughters and four sons. Like his brother, Reb Noach, Shmuel also worked with his father in the mill. Reb Shmuel served in the czar's army as an officer and his wife was a very devoted homemaker and also an actress in the local drama club. The entire family of Reb Shmuel was liquidated in the Holocaust apart from one daughter who made aliyah to Israel in one of the earlier Zionist movements "Hashomer Hazier" in 1936.
The third son was my Uncle Benzion who was married to Chasha Sharshovsky. They perished in the Holocaust and their only daughter survived. She was extremely beautiful and the lead actress in the drama group of the city. After many hardships and a miracle, she survived and went to Eretz Israel after the war. There she established her family.
The daughters of Moshe Aaron married and established their own families. My Aunt Miriam lived in Horodishtch, Poland and she was killed there with members of the family.
My Aunt Dvorah who was married to Moshe and my Aunt Henya who was married to Label Lozovsky. Both of them established their families in Maytchet. The son-in-laws worked in the mill and they all lived in the neighborhood until they were exterminated in the Holocaust.
My Aunt Nachama, who was a widow, continued to live with her parents Moshe Aaron and Hana Friedl. She was also killed in Holocaust.
The Boretsky family was large and everyone knew them there were many branches. The children supplied bread to all the farmers and supported the poor people in town. Their good deeds did not save them in the Holocaust. Their end was like all the Jews of that town. May their names be remembered.
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| Alte Boretcky and her two sons Herzyl and Meyerim |
[Page 227]
Here are two letters that were brought to the editor which were written by Feigele from Maytchet before the Holocaust. The letters written in a wonderful Hebrew and lots of warmth, express endless love to Eretz Yisrael and strong desire to make aliyah after finishing her study in the Hebrew seminar in Vilna. But the enemy arrived too soon andended her life dream.
Those letters are being published as they were written and let it be as a memory for her pure soul.
1st Letter:
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Greetings to my dear Uncle and Aunt, After a long silence I take my pen in hand and will tell you what is happening with me and ask to hear news from you. First of all I would like to know how you are doing and how are my Uncle and Aunt, The Americans? How are Shalom, little Batya, and infant Zvi? I send greetings to all my family who are very dear to me. My Uncle and Aunt from America. I want you to always be aware of our fondness. I wish to G-d the time will come for our meeting. "Shevat Achim Gam Yached" -- My beloved Uncle and Aunt, I am thinking that you would like to know who is the one who is writing to you. I am Zippora Feigl who studies in the seminary in Vilna for nursery school teachers. I'm in my second year and in another year and a half I will finish. Then I will get a job. But to my sorrow I find it difficult for me to complete my studies. In my long journey I have encountered many obstacles that are not making it possible for me to arrive at my destination. But despite everything, I move forward with an elevated head, and I will not allow my head to bend and surrender to those obstacles. And I am thinking that you would give me a helping hand. I am writing this letter from home. I came here for the Winter Holidays for 18 days. I have leave to stay home until January 9th. I think I, the unfortunate one, will have to stay longer because my mother cannot afford to send me further. I found the house in disorder. The pale face of my mother and her white hair frightened me. Every corner of the house is full of sorrow. It is not the same house that was joyful and fun. My mother gave all her strength for me and she can't anymore. My little brothers can only add another tear to the glass of misfortune. So my dears, I have decided to turn to you. If you are really concerned for me, please add another brick, another hand, and the building will be completed. I am confident that you will take my letter seriously and you will send me a helping hand. "But if not now, when?" If not you my loved ones who will be interested in me? I have no one to turn to. The gates of heaven are closing in front of me. Once more I am turning to you with a request. You should really understand me and my thoughts. And this letter should not remain with you as a piece of paper that is turning over in the wastebasket. I shouldn't have to stay in the house and be a joke and laughing stock in everybody's eyes. My dear uncle and aunt -- I would like very much to know what impression Eretz Yisrael made on you. Also I, the young one, am longing and hoping for the land of our forefathers. The day of redemption will come for all the Jewish people. We will be as all the other peoples. We will plant, we will plow, and we will harvest. We have suffered enough carrying the heavy load and the hard yoke on our shoulders that the Diaspora imposed on us. There will come the day when we will be free people. For you will hear the voice "Peace will be in the Land," and "A wolf will live with a lamb and a tiger will sleep with a little goat." I ask you once more that you reply to us and also you should send a photo of Batya and little Zvi. Write to us about how the Chanukah Holiday passed in Eretz Israel. I give my greeting to all of you. Greetings to Shifra and her husband. I am inviting you to Poland -- please come. Zippora, who is fighting for a brighter future. |
{Page 228 Picture of Feigl (ZIPORA) Boretsky}
2nd letter:
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Greetings to you my dear ones: My eyes were lightened from happiness, drops of tears dripped, the happiness is big. You my dears answered my request. Thank you very much my dear uncles and aunts, really you were the only ones who understood and know how short the time is and it is important to deliver the help. The day I received your postcard I didn't know what to do, I was confused, I ran to the seminar to let them know that I also may be able to attend the exam, that I am a student as all the others. I was jubilant. Very soon the exams passed by and the day arrived which I matriculated. Dear Uncle and Aunt. It is hard for me to express my happiness and feelings. My poor little pen won't be able to deliver everything on the paper. My heart beats with excitement. I am excited. For three years I was fighting however I won the battle and I worked hard until I arrived to the lightening day. I am a week at home now, and again my happiness is not full, my mom's pale face and her hair that was whitened from problems frightened me and expressed the big change in the house. I felt that I am the guilty in it all, true. I am the one who caused the bad situation in the home. But I did it not out of badness. I wanted to study. And I was forced to run and leave the little isolated village, in my heart two forces are fighting. My heart shrinks from pain as I am looking at my mom. Oh dearest. The human always fight and will never be content with he has. However I will try to be different. My first ambitions I fulfill and I will try to fulfill further. I will stand again to the battle with life and I am forced to step forward. To study further, not to delay. However first I have to be grateful for all of those who knew to appreciate my studying in Vilna and who try to help me in the needed moment. Now I will get a job and I will work, in order to earn a bit, and afterward I would like to make aliyah and to study in the University, if only it will work out for me. My ambitions to make aliyah, because this is the only place for me. With lots of love, Ziporra |
Translated by Jerrold Landau
My mother Ethel of blessed memory was orphaned at an early age. Her father passed away at the age of 33 years. Her mother remarried and was forced to leave her children and move to her second husband. While she was still very young, she bore the burden of tending to the household and caring for her three brothers, two of whom were even older then her. Later, she was accepted at a large hide enterprise. Thanks to her golden hands, she was assigned as the chief cutter and allocated work to many other stitchers. In this way, she earned an honorable livelihood.
My mother was a very wise woman with many talents. She had an unusually sweet voice and was always happy and full of life, with a constant smile on her face. She was also a lead actress in the amateur acting group. She had the lead role in every performance. She played “The Witch” (Mechashefa), “Mirele Efrat” and many other roles of this genre. She read many books. Before I immigrated to Israel she would sit on long winter nights with a book on the table, as she was knitting beneath.
She had a good place in the community, for everyone admired her. Her origins were from a fine, honorable, family. I did not know her parents, and do not know anything about them. However, her mother's brother was a well-known rabbi in Lida. All of his sons were teachers, whereas other cousins were Torah scholars, pharmacists, etc. Mother spent years in the home of this uncle in Lida, where they loved her as a daughter and a sister in every way, and there were sufficient reasons for this.
I remember her from the age of three, when we fled as refugees at the end of the war and lived in one room - mother, Nathan and I. We lived a life of poverty, with simple, unsalted food, and wearing a work dress, albeit nicely decorated in red. I wore shoes that were too large for my feet. I recall that there was only one bed for the three of us, and one day, an additional one appeared, made of two poles covered with burlap. Of course, we took turns sleeping in it at night. Once at midnight, I realized that mother was not beside me in the bed. I searched around in the dark and found mother sitting next to a soldier in uniform, talking to him. I got up with a scream. I chased the soldier away, as I was afraid of him. This soldier was my father whom I did not yet know.
[Page 231]
My mother suffered a great deal in her life, but she sustained us with great wisdom and maintained herself until Father returned from the war. My friends were always jealous of me that I had such a mother, progressive and wise, young in spirit, and a good friend. I loved my mother very much.
Our home was always open to everyone. It was always filled with male and female friends of all ages. All of them felt good there, for Mother also joined us, and my friends included her and took advice from her. Six children grew up in difficult conditions in our home, but they received a good education. They were trained to work with their hands, to perform good deeds, and to be involved with Zionism. Five of us were in the Hashomer Hatzair movement. One left, and our parents were also aligned with us. Despite the age difference between my parents, with Mother being 12 years younger, they always had exemplary good relations, without any disputes at all or raised voices. The children sometimes argued amongst themselves, as do all children.
The image and memory of Mother will remain in my heart until my last day.
My father of blessed memory
I do not know very much about the history of my father Shmuel. I did not know him at all until the end of the war, and even for some time after. I knew that there were nine children, and I thought that there were another one or two who died. The entire family lived together with our grandfather Moshe Aaron Boretcky. I do not recall Grandmother at all.
I got to know my father for the first time at the age of five or six. He served as a captain in the Russian Army throughout the entire wartime period. I had no sense of a father, and I always asked, “What is ‘father’? What does he look like?” and other such questions. The family was reunited when he returned. I was six years old. From then, I remember him well. He was a handsome, tall, strong man, with a full head of hair. He was intelligent and good hearted. Wartime stories never stopped, especially on Sabbaths, festivals, and long winter nights when the family would sit around the table. Our parents told us a great deal about their tribulations, and everything connected with the wars.
My father had visited many countries and his stories sprang out as from an overflowing fountain.
Before I made aliya to Israel I hoped that my brothers would follow together with my parents. However, destiny was cruel, and everybody was annihilated without a memorial. They were not even buried like humans.
Their memory will always be blessed and preserved forever.
[Page 232]
Translated by Jerrold Landau
A Jew of Maytchet fell ill with smallpox, was hospitalized, and died. This was during the First World War. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, the Germans ordered that he be buried in the closest cemetery, which happened to be a Christian cemetery. My father of blessed memory did not make peace with this. At night, he snuck into the cemetery along with two other Jews, disinterred the body, and transferred it to a Jewish burial.
When he returned home toward morning, Mother said to him, “You endangered your life!”
Father responded, “So what? Is it possible to leave a Jew buried in a Christian cemetery?”
The good of the community always stood at the center of Father's concerns. Even though he was not a native of Maytchet, he was completely involved with the life of the town. He would serve as a prayer leader on the High Holidays. For a certain time, he served as the gabbai [trustee] of the Beis Midrash, and was a member of the Chevra Kadisha [burial society], charitable fund, and other communal bodies.
My father, Reb Chaim Leib Volinski of blessed memory was born around 1870 to his parents Moshe Naftali and Lea Freidel near the town of Drohiczyn in the Pulsia district of Poland. They maintained an agricultural farm there, which they had leased from a certain landowner. My father had 11 brothers and sisters. The entire family would gather together at every holiday, and they would not be short a tenth man for a minyan [prayer quorum].
My mother Kunia-Rivka of blessed memory was born in Slonim to her parents Reb David and Dvora Shochetowicz, who earned their livelihood from the liquor trade. They had one son and three daughters.
My parents lived in Maytchet from the time of their marriage in 1899. Our family had the nickname “Zawadczyk,” and everyone in the region knew who was meant by this nickname. This nickname was on account of the soda and carbonated water factory that my parents' owned. They also opened a tavern for soft drinks (“Pywiarna”) next to the factory. These two businesses were housed in the wooden building in which we lived, located in the center of town, part of which was purchased by my parents from the landowner of Kleshnyaki. Isser Bilas of blessed memory and Yakov Dvorzecky of blessed memory also lived in this house. Yaakov Dvorzecky ran his pharmacy out of his house.
The building in which we lived underwent many incarnations. During the First World War when Maytchet was conquered by the Germans, the building was expropriated by the conquerors and served as a hospital. Part
[Page 233]
of the family went to live with Hershel Shlovski and another part went to live with Moshe Shevchik until the hospital was transferred to a different location.
My father extinguished several fires that broke out in the building. One of the fires that he put out was when the house served as a hospital. From the house that we were living in at the time, he noticed smoke coming from he building. He hurried to the place and succeeded in controlling the fire. My father also saved the home of Isser Bilas from being consumed by fire. My father was accompanying the Kosterovitzki brothers, the sons of Yehoshua of the village of Sycewicze, who were studying in Maytchet, back home after they had supper with us. One the way, Father noticed fire bursting forth from the house of Isser Bilas. He hurried over and gained control over the fire, which had been caused by a maid who hung up the laundry over a kerosene lamp that had overturned.
As I had already noted, Father was very much occupied in communal affairs and in assisting those in need. In cases of attacks on Jewish girls, my father concerned himself with the daughters of two families who lived next to us. He entered their house, dressed the girls in boy's clothes, and hid them in our house.
We were eight children in the home: five sisters and three brothers: David, Golda, Zelig, Roza, Shifra, me, Leizer, and Lea Freidel.
We all studied - the boys in various Yeshivas and the girls in school. Our studies did not prevent us from helping our parents in their business. I recall that we would not take money from the residents of the town on the Sabbath. Every customer had a page in a ledger. We would put a note prepared from the outset in the appropriate page, listing the amount of the purchase.
Father's death in 1923 was a great blow to all of us. We slowly organized ourselves to continue with life, and we helped even more in running the business. As time went on, the children began to leave the house and establish their own families. My brother David married Teiba Rivka of the Avilev family of the town of Lubcz, and he set up his family there. My brother Zelig got married in Maytchet and helped Mother run the business. My sister Golda got married to Eliezer Polonski and lived near us. They had a sewing workshop and a leather store. My sister Roza married Yitzchak Meir Topoli and set up her home in Maytchet. Her husband served as a shochet, and would also perform shechita for the Jews of neighboring villages. Only my brother Eliezer and my sister Leah Freidel did not get married before the outbreak of the Second World War.
The world war sealed the fate of the Jews of Maytchet, including my family members who remained in Poland. Most of the family members perished in Maytchet. My brother David and his family perished in Lubcz, and my brother Eliezer perished in the Kozlochowa Camp.
Of the entire family, only my sister Shifra and I survived. I made aliya to the Land in 1932 as a tourist with the first exhibition of the Orient Fair[1] that took place in Tel Aviv in those
[Page 234]
days. I married Moshe Kleinshtov, and we have three sons and a daughter, as well as grandsons and granddaughters. My sister Shifra married Yosef Lozovski while still in Maytchet. They made aliya to the Land in 1933 with their baby girl. Their aliya was possible because her husband was a well-to-do tradesman, and the British were only issuing aliya permits at that time to those who had means. They settled in Rishon Letzion, and have two daughters and a son, grandsons and granddaughters.
Our hearts ache over the loss of our most dear ones. May their memories be a blessing.
{Photo page 234: Standing from left: Moshe Kleinshtov, his wife Miriam, Yosef Lozovski. Sitting: Shifra Lozovski and the children.}
[Page 235]
Translated by Jerrold Landau
The son of Shimon Yitzchak “the Magid” who would travel through various towns received his nickname Munia Zushke's on account of his mother Zushke who travel through villages for her fowl business in order to feed her nine children. The father was a native of Zhetl and the mother a native of Maytchet, where they established their home on the Street of the Cemetery, and where Munia and the other children were born.
In 1928, he escaped from the Polish “Priziv” (draft) and moved to Argentina with his future wife, Feigel of the Boshlovitz family of Slonim. They got married in Argentina and established a family. He manufactures mattresses and is successful in his business. He has a married son and daughter.
The Landsmanschaft of Maytcheters in Argentina consists of 65 families, 35 of whom are in Buenos Aires. They gather together annually to memorialize the martyrs of Maytchet, as well as whenever a Maytcheter comes from Israel to visit his family. Almost all of the Maytcheters in Argentina are Zionists with their hearts in Israel, and saddened by the tribulations of Israel. There was a great awakening during the Six day War. They voluntarily donated large sums of money. They will certainly rejoice with the joy of Israel once peace is established.
On the other hand, the youth, that is the Maytcheters who were born here, are somewhat distant from Judaism, and the parents relate to the situation with great worry and doubts about their future with respect to Israel, and with respect to the preserving the memory of Maytchet in their hearts. However, what the mind does not do perhaps time will do, and one must not despair of a miracle during this period when so many miracles took place in Israel.
Maytchet natives in Argentina greatly appreciate the holy task of perpetuating the town and its martyrs though publishing a Memorial Book, in order to thwart the aims of the enemy who wished to wipe out the name and memory of the Jewish towns from beneath the heavens. Now it will be proven before the entire world that “The eternity of Israel will not deceive”[1]!
[Page 236]
Translated by Jerrold Landau
I myself was a resident of Dworzec (Dvorets), but I have memories of my youth from Maytchet, where I studied a trade and got to know many dear Jewish families. I especially see a duty to express true gratitude to my aunt and uncle Gedalia and Nechama Yatvicky. This was during the 1920s, and I was about 14 years old at the time, when I came to Maytchet to study the sewing trade with Leizer Polonski (the son-in-law of Zawadcki). I stayed at the home of my Uncle Gedalia.
Incidentally, it is worthwhile to mention the work conditions that pervaded during those days, when no professional organization existed in the town, and every person did what was right in his eyes. During the first year, I worked as an apprentice without pay. During the second year, I began to receive a salary of 250 zloty (50 dollars) a year. The workday extended from early morning until after the Maariv service, and even later[1] in the winter. Others who worked in this trade aside from Polonski included Noach Goldshtein the brother of Rabbi Elchanan Goldshtein, Nachum the Shteper [stitcher] and others.
Uncle Gedalia was a Torah oriented, observant Jew who earned his livelihood honestly. After a hard day of work in his household implements store, he would run to the Beis Midrash to teach a class in Mishna between Mincha and Maariv to the congregation of worshippers. Aside from the commandments between man and G-d that he fulfilled with his entire soul and means, he was also diligent with the interpersonal commandments, and was therefore beloved and accepted in the eyes of G-d and man. In 1935, he was taken hurriedly to Warsaw for an urgent operation by the well-known physician Dr. Soloveiczyk, but he died there and is buried in the cemetery of Praga.
I will now note some incidents that typify those fateful days. When the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939, I was serving as a Polish soldier in Warsaw. As part of the war effort, we took up defense positions behind the monuments of the Praga Cemetery. When dawn broke after the nighttime activities, to my great surprise, I noticed that I was standing next to the gravestone of my uncle. I showed this to my platoon commander, and he found this astonishing. As is known, the defense operations did not last long, and I was taken prisoner by the Germans. I was freed from prison two months later, after the Polish-German agreement[2].
Aunt Nechama was a woman of valor who helped in the business and performed acts of charity and kindness in the life of her husband. She continued with the household implements store after she was widowed. Her home stood on a hill in the town next to the home of her brother Yisrael Belski (Sara's) the baker. When the Germans entered
[Page 237]
Maytchet in 1941, the family of Liba Margolin was forced to leave their house and live with Nechama Yatvicky.
During the aktion in Maytchet, they all hid in the cellar of the house, the entrance to which was well hidden for a long time. However, the residents of the cellar were eventually exposed by one of the gentiles. They were taken to the communal grave in Chwojnik to be murdered.
{Photo page 237: Maytcheters who were partisans. Sitting fro the right: Moshe Ravitz, Mina Levin (Gorski), Dvora Mlishinski, Esther Lozovski, Chaim Kravitz. Standing from the right: Chanan Peleg, Abrasha Chanale's, Baruch Lewin, Meir Lozovski, Freidel Mkronski (Margolin), Moshe Korn.}
[Page 238]
Translated by Jerrold Landau
First of all, I recall my paternal grandparents very well. My grandfather Dov Ber Lozovsky of blessed memory was an educated, honorable Hassidic Jew. He worked as a potter and earned his livelihood from the work of his hands, as was the custom of Maytchet Jews for generations. He also had the generous character traits with which the Jews of the towns excelled in those days. I recall the day of his death, which took place during the time of the First World War. He returned from the synagogue in a merry mood on Purim after hearing the reading of the Megilla. On his way back, he went to his son's house, drank a LeChaim in honor of the holiday, and returned home healthy and hale. A few hours later, they came to Father to inform him of his death. I also recall Grandmother who was very old at the time of her death.
My father Reb Joshua Aharon of blessed memory studied at Yeshiva until 25. Only after filling himself with Talmud and decisors of Jewish law, to the point where he became known as an expert scholar, did he marry 14-year-old Chana of the Skolnikovitz family. They had ten children, of whom they raised four brothers and three sisters[1]. Aside from me, one brother, Meir Lizovski, made aliya to the Land after the war. The rest of the brothers and sisters perished in the Holocaust, may G-d avenge their blood.
My father of blessed memory had a splendid countenance with a flowing beard. He got along well with people, and walked uprightly with G-d and man. He sent his sons to Yeshivas and raised them with Torah and tradition, in accordance with the custom of his fathers. He was a building contractor and a manufacturer of tar, charcoal and bricks. His sons also took part in the business and helped him develop it, even though they were working in their own right.
Due to his flourishing business, he was well off, so he merited two tables - Torah and business. He built a large house, as was fitting for his status. He also knew how to benefit his fellowman from his fortune, his strength, and his voice. As a contractor, he helped build the Chorev School, he fixed up and renovated the synagogue, and performed other such important activities in the realm of religion. He acted benevolently with his fellow by offering assistance to anyone in need. It goes without saying that he made sure to never sit down for a Sabbath meal unless there was a guest eating at the table. Finally, he excelled as a fine prayer leader with a sweet voice that was enjoyed by the congregation.
His wife Chana, that is my mother of blessed memory, died at the end of the first World War. He remained a widower as long as he still had daughters at home. He married a second wife after the daughters got married.
[Page 239]
The writer of these lines was his primary assistant in his many business endeavors. He also built himself a large home and planned to dwell in peace, as is the custom of Jewish men. However, the relative quiet before the great storm that was about to shake the foundations of Diaspora Jewry awakened him to thought and action. One day in 1933, I decided that I could no longer sit upon a quaking mountain. I arose, liquidated my house and business, and made aliya to the Land of Israel where I built my permanent house in Rishon Letzion.
After a short time, my father and his wife came to me, and lived in my house for two years. In 1937, Father desired to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, where he earned his livelihood from delivering Torah classes to the congregation of worshippers and those who studied in the Beis Midrash. He died in Jerusalem at the old age of 89, and is buried on the Mount of Olives. His wife lived a long time after him.
May his soul be bound in the bonds of eternal life.
{Photo page 239: Uncaptioned in the text. Captioned as “Management of Ezrat Cholim” in the Photo list. 1} Chanan Kostininski (chairman) 2) Moshe Belski (vice chairman) 3) Manya Novomiski (treasurer) 4) Yitzchak Gilerovitz 5) Yaakov Novogrodski 6) Yosef Shkolnikovitz 7) Shmaryahu Safir 8) Zelig Volinski 9) Reuven Breski 10) Yosef Lozovski)
[Pages 240 - 241]
Prepared by Myrna Siegel I was born in Maytchet and left as a small child. But I had a very large family who remained in Maytchet. My parents were born in Maytchet and also my two grandfathers and two grandmothers lived in Maytchet. A large part of the rest of our family was also born in Maytchet. They were all buried in the Maytchet Cemetery.
My grandfather Meyerim Lubetcky was born in a little shtetl, Turets. He was married to a Maytchet girl named Doba. They remained in Maytchet and there they lived out their years. They had six daughters and two sons. One of his sons was my father Yitzchack Akivah Lubetcky, may his memory be for a blessing.
My grandfather Meyrim Lubetcky's occupation was leasing land. Later in his life he abandoned this. And while my grandfather was a great scholar and very wise Jew, he was also a messenger for collecting money for Yeshivas. At the same time he became interested in medicine. He learned from the Talmud and Ramban [Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachmon] about medicine. He wrote prescriptions in Latin and also Yiddish. Everything in the name of heaven. He considered this to be a great mitzvah to write prescriptions for healing the people, mainly for poor people. They would come to my grandfather to ask advice, both Jews and non-Jews. They looked to him as an arbitrator for a variety of disputes. When he was out of the country to be a fundraiser, people would wait until he returned so he could arbitrate for them. My grandfather Meyerim was an uncle of the renowned Yeshiva Master [Rosh-Yeshiva] in Grodno, Shimon Shkupof.
My other grandfather was Itzchak Boretcki. And the Bubba was named Sarah Rachel. They were born in Maytchet. They were the parents of my mother Yachne Rivka. My grandfather Itzchak was a brother of Moshe Aaron Boretcki and they each had a mill. The two mills were built by their father Meyerim Boretcki and he gave them to his two sons. My parents Yitzchak Akivah and Yachne Rivke immigrated to America.
We were three children -- me, my brother Eliezer Shmuel and our sister Sarah Rachel (Sylvia). My parents and sister died in America. I left a large family in Maytchet. From my mother's side there was the Boretcky family and the Novomiski family, who was a mohel. His wife Nechama Devorah was a sister to my mother.
On my father's side were his sisters Sivia and Chianke. Sivia was the wife of Chackel Israelovitch and the other sister Chianke was married to Isser Zussman. All had a large extended families.
I am writing what I remember about my family in Maytchet for the Yizkor book; the physical beauty of the area and the good people that lived there. It is important that future generations know their origins and who their ancestors were.
[Page 242]
Translated by Jerrold Landau
As I come to describe my family in Maytchet, I must start out by describing the earlier period of my family. In truth, I was not born in Maytchet. My family only began living there in 1923, after the death of my father Reb Mordechai Margolin of blessed memory.
My grandfather Reb Yaakov Yosef Margolin was a native of the town of Zamiechow in Russia, where he served as the town shochet. He and his wife Chasia, may she rest in peace, established their household in that town, where three sons and two daughters were born.
{Photo page 242: Reb Mordechai Margolin}
The eldest son, Moshe of blessed memory, set up his home in Russia like his father. He had three sons and three daughters. One son and one daughter, Yaakov Margolin may G-d avenge his blood and Dvosha Shinovski may G-d avenge her blood moved to Poland during the Bolshevik Revolution. Their final place of residence was Baranovichi. They perished
[Page 243]
in the Holocaust without leaving any survivors. The rest of the sons and daughters of Moshe of blessed memory live in Russia today, and have large families.
The second son was my father Reb Mordechai of blessed memory. During his youth, he served in the Russian Army during the Russo-Japan War (1905). Then he moved to the town of Starobin near Slutsk, where he married my mother Sheina, the daughter of the shochet of Starobin, Reb Gedalyahu Kadoshin of blessed memory.
Eventually, my grandfather Reb Yaakov Yosef Margolin of blessed memory died, and my grandmother Chasia remained a widow. To my great sorrow, my second grandmother, the wife of my grandfather Reb Gedlayhau also died after some time. After that, my grandfather Reb Gedalyahu married my grandmother Chasia, and they both continued to live in Starobin.
After the death of my grandfather Reb Gedalyahu of blessed memory, my father Reb Mordechai continued on as the shochet of the town until the year 5681 (1921). My parents gave birth to three sons and three daughters: Yaakov, Avraham, Abba, Dvosha, Sara, and me.
In 1921, the gentiles perpetrated a pogrom against the Jews of Starobin, killing many victims. Some of the Jews of the town succeeded in escaping the town and saving themselves from the pogrom. My family was among then. Then, we moved to Poland and first settled in the town of Horodziej, where my father of blessed memory also served as a shochet.
The third son of my grandfather Reb Yaakov Yosef of blessed memory was Aryeh Leib Margolin. He set up his family in Maytchet, and married Badana, the daughter of Reb Asher Orzechovski of blessed memory. They had five sons and two daughters. Most of them perished in the Holocaust, with the exception of a son and a daughter who survived the Holocaust and live today in Israel.
The first daughter of my grandfather was Rivka, who married Reb Yaakov Sadovski of blessed memory. They lived in Baranovichi and had three sons and two daughters. My uncle Reb Yaakov Sadovski died in 1941, whereas his daughter Chasha died in her childhood in 1920 due to an accident that took place in their house. Two of his sons live today in the Land. The first one, Moredechai, made aliya in 1936, and the second one, Kalman, survived the Holocaust. The rest of the family perished in the Holocaust, except for one of the grandchildren, the son of the second daughter Chiene, who succeeded in surviving and lives today in the Soviet Union.
The second daughter of my grandfather Reb Yaakov Yosef was Sara. She set up her family in Jekaterynoslaw, Russia. To our great sorrow, we do not know any further information about her.
As has been mentioned, our family moved to Horodziej after the pogrom in Starobin. Two years later, my father became sick with a malignant illness, and was taken to Warsaw where he died on 17 Av, 5683 (1923). After the death of my father of blessed memory, our family decided to move from Horodziej to Maytchet, where my uncle Aryeh Leib Margolin, the brother of my father of blessed memory, lived.
[Page 244]
In Maytchet, we opened an inn for vacationers. At first, we lived in the home of Yaakov Zlotnick, which was next to the house of Yitzchak Liberman. We ran the inn in that house. Later, we moved to a larger home in Podelzan. The inn was run primarily by my mother and my sisters Dvosha and Sara. I only helped them, because I was still studying in Baranovichi at that time. After a few years, I went to a Hachshara Kibbutz, and I made aliya in 1936. My brothers Avraham and Abba worked in leasing dairy enterprises from the landowners of the area, and they manufactured Swiss cheese. My eldest brother Yaakov remained in Baranovichi, married there, and opened a store that sold paints and chemicals. He was killed during the first bombardment of Baranovichi in 1939, and his family perished in the Holocaust.
{Photo page 244: Sheina Margolin.}
Slowly but surely, our home in Maytchet emptied. My brother Avraham got married. He first lived in Baranovichi and moved to Horodziej after a few years, where he perished along with his family. My brother Abba died in Maytchet in 1939 after contracting pneumonia due to the cheese manufacturing that he was engaged in. My sister Dvosha got married in lived in Baranovichi. During the Holocaust, she moved with her entire family to Maytchet, where they perished along with the rest of the family. My sister Sara married Yehoshua Rabinovitch in Maytchet. She continued to run the inn together with Mother until the murderers got the upper hand, and killed them along with the rest of the Jews of Maytchet.
May their memories be a blessing.
[Page 245]
We came for the holidays. It was late in the afternoon and we came to the place where they were excitedly waiting for us. Here they were, our grandfather with his beard and strong body like a farm worker. He joyfully welcomed us and took us into his house. And right in the entrance of my grandfather 's house we see a few Jews eating and drinking. We ask, "who is in the next room." Our grandfather explained to us that it is a mitzvah to help the poor and we have to do it all year round, not only on Purim. And he did this mitzvah not only in theory but also in practice. And this is what the rabbi in the cheder in the city taught the students in addition to learning the Torah. And here we see our grandfather performing the mitzvah in the full meaning of the word, as our forefather Abraham did. In his house he provides two rooms, one is for prayer. I remember how happy my grandfather was to have prayer in his house. We grandchildren always remember how joyful it was in the house of our grandfather at holiday time.
Grandfather was a misnagid. He likes to learn the Torah and it was deep in his heart. And the love of Eretz Yisrael, our nation of Israel, the Torah of Israel was embedded in his blood. He would always tell us that Eretz Yisrael was a very far place. Every child from childhood should wish that one of his days he will be able to live there. And we saw in his fact the sadness that he could not fulfill this. But he merited at least to see his daughter, my dear mother, with her children emigrate to Eretz Yisrael and this made him very happy. To watch her pack all her belongings and accompany her to the train to make aliyah to the Holy Land, I don't ever remember seeing a happier face. His love for Jews was unbounded. I think he fulfilled the saying of Rabbi Akivah that you should love your neighbor as yourself. Whenever he could help someone, it would make him very happy to do that. His love and learning of the Torah was unbounded.
His sons were sent to the Yeshiva to study Torah and the daughters married learned men. And my grandmother, she should rest in peace, she went to yeshivas to find for her daughters the best husbands. And nothing was spared to accomplish this task. This was the only house that all the daughters were married to scholars. Their daughter Michlah married one of the greatest scholars known as "The grandfather of Novogrudok." When he died she married again to the Rabbi from Dabrowice. The daughter Channa married Aaron Pinchuck and he was the head of the Yeshiva in Kletsk.
The daughter, Zipora, married a Rosh Yeshiva from Novogrudok. And the youngest son remained in the house to help all of them with their families. They all perished in the Holocaust. Another son, Rabbi Pesach Aronovitch was able to go to South Africa before the war. There he started a family and studied Torah. He passed away a number of years ago in Johannesburg from a heart attack.
Our mother Fruma Bracha, may she long live, she married our father Yitzchak Aaron Ha Levi Horowitz and he was a descendant of the Shiloh Kadosh. He was an important Chassid from Slonim. In Eretz Yisrael he whole-heartedly engaged in public works until the day of his death. He was an overseer of giving poor people loans interest free and he died the 4th day of Av 5729 in Kfar Saba, Israel.
Some relatives of our dear mother also emigrated before the Holocaust. We children, who emigrated to Eretz Yisrael in the year 5694, were raised in the secular environment that permeated Kfar Saba. Nevertheless through the influence of our parents, we and our parent's grandchildren remained religious and followed the laws of the Torah. We had love for Eretz Yisrael and some of us served in the underground and the army. For the
Love of the land for our fellow Jews we served in the army and the underground. There is no doubt in my mind that through the influence of my parents and with G-d's help that the Torah should never cease from the lips of our children and descendants.
Yakov Horowitz
One of the grandchildren
[Page 248]
Translated by Jerrold Landau Reb David-Hershel the son of Reb Leib, a splendid branch on the Novomiski family tree, was a scholarly Jew, a Hassid, and well educated. He would get up every night for chatzot[1], immerse in a mikva [ritual bath] prior to the prayers, etc. Since he excelled with his exceptional intelligence and his expertise in worldly affairs, the rabbi would include him in rabbinical judgments among disputing merchants. He would come himself before the rabbi with great modesty in order to avert a summons from the beadle, which would have an element of presumptuous.
He was a third generation, famous mohel [ritual circumcisor]. This was a holy tradition of service that he had received from his father and grandfather. He ran a leather goods store, from which he sustained his large family with comfort. As a maskil, he took an interest in modern sciences, especially physics. It was said that when he was lying on his sickbed, he debated a physical law regarding when ice would float on water. He managed to prove his point on the basis of words of Torah.
His wife Nechama-Dvora was known in town as a righteous woman, who was the helpmate of her husband in acts of charity and benevolence, in running a Jewish home immersed in Torah and tradition, and in educating her children to Torah and commandments in the best tradition of the Novomiski family, whose name was known in a praiseworthy fashion in Maytchet and other places. She died in 1918 of the typhus epidemic ,which spread after the First World War.
Reb-David Hershel and Nechama-Dvora had many children. They raised a righteous generation of seven children - five sons, and two daughters. They are as follows:
Avraham-Yosef was the eldest son, who was ordained as a rabbi at the age of 18. He studied shechita [ritual slaughter] and immigrated to Argentina. He raised a family there and works as a shochet. He visited Israel in 1965.
Meirim-Max is a journalist who also immigrated to Argentina. He visited his sister in Kfar Azor, Israel in 1966.
Yehoshua is a confectionary merchant who immigrated to Argentina, where he established his household and family.
Meir received a national Hebrew education in the Tarbut School. He lives in Argentina.
[Page 249]
Pua (Poya) studied in the Tarbut School and married a refugee from Germany. She perished in the Holocaust with her husband and their two children Chana and Feitel, along with our father and his second wife Esther-Rachel.
{Photo page 249: Pua (Poya) Novomiski.}
Sara is the writer of these lines in memory of her family. She married Aryeh Aharonovsky who came from Eretz Yisrael to visit his family in Mir. There, they met, got married in father's house, and traveled to Eretz Yisrael in 1935. They are among the first who settled the land in Kfar Azar. They established a home and ran a farm. They have a son and a daughter.
Sara Aharonovsky (nee Novomiski).
[Page 250]
Translated by Roslyn Sherman Greenberg
At the age of 17 she joined her brothers and sisters in America, where she worked days in a shop and at night she studied further in school. In her early years she wrote songs and short stories, but her works were not published until 1925 in the “Free Workers Voice,” New York. She authored a succession of pieces that were staged in Yiddish theaters in various countries since 1916.
Through the years she published songs, childrens' stories, in America in the following publications: “Free Workers Voice”, “Yiddish Day Page”, “The Day”, “Morning Journal”, “Forward”, “The Future”, “The American”, “Childrens' Newspaper”, “Childrens' Journal”, “New Yorker Weekly”, and others in New York; “The Yiddish World”, Philadelphia; “The Yiddish Courier”, Chicago; ” Canadian Eagle,” Montreal; “The Yiddish Journal” Toronto, as well as in the Yiddish newspapers in South America.
In book form were printed: “In the Struggle of Life”, two volumes of stories with a prologue by Gershon Bader. Volume I, New York, 1943, 253 pp.; Volume 2, 1949, 287 pp. With reviews by S. Niger, Z. Shniourk M Vities, A. L. Baron, A Almi and Abraham Reisen. Of her 25 plays the following were performed on the stage: “Victims of Love” (1916); “A Name after my Mother” (1918); “Open Your Eyes” (1920); “Before the Wedding” (1924); “Secrets from Every House” (1926); “For Parents' Mind” (1927); “Girl of my Heart” (1930); “Why Girls Run Away” (staged by Ludwig Zatz in 1932); “Hello, Molly” (staged by Molly Picon in Argentina in 1932); “The Lucky Widower” (1964) performed in Israel. Ready to be published now are two volumes of prose, titled “My Life in the Theater.”
Until 1930 she worked in a dress shop. Later she supported herself through her plays that had been performed. She lived in New York. Her husband was Gershon Bader. Her descriptions of her childhood are fraught with idealism and with drama. (S. Niger) “She portrays her old poor home faithfully and honestly.” (Abraham Reisen). For a rich bibliography, see : Lexicon of the New Yiddish Literature, sixth volume, New York, 1965.
By Tova Polonsky Shomroni
Translated by Amir Shomroni
My family has deep roots in Maytchet for many generations. My paternal grandmother Libe is the oldest member of my family that I can recall. She was blessed with many children and unfortunately became a widow at a comparatively young age. Only two of her many children remained in Maytchet; my father Avraham Polonsky and his sister Sara Melnikovsky; the remainder of the children emigrated to the New World. Their descendants have integrated themselves into the new life in America and in the summer of 1966 I visited them in their homes.
My father Avraham Polonsky was attracted to Mushe Edlin and not long after their meeting, they married. My mother Mushe was the daughter of Hinde and David Edlin, my maternal grandparents. My grandfather was a committed Jew and and a Torah scholar. From my birth both my maternal grandparents sheltered me and were intimately involved in my early upbringing offering wise consul. In my early years we lived together with them and although I do not remember exactly how long, I do remember I was attending school. My younger brother Pesach had difficulties distinguishing between an Aleph and a Bet when he started school and my grandfather would belittle him as he watched me trying to help him learn. Comments from my grandfather such as “Er hot a farshtopte kop, zi haut a kop” (he is thick headed and she has a good head). My memories of my maternal grandparents are vague because they unfortunately passed away when I was a child. My paternal grandmother Libe Polonsky lived a longer life and I was a married woman when she passed away.
The relationship between my immediate family and my aunts and uncles on both sides were strong. My maternal grandparents, Hinde and David Edlin, had seven children; four girls and three boys. Haya Perl, Sara Malke,, Hana Ida, my mother Mushe, Haim Yehoshua, Avraham Yitzhak and Yehuda (Yudil). My aunt Haya Perl emigrated to the U.S.A. and married Margolis. My aunt Hana Ida married Yehoshua (Yoshe) Polonsky who was my paternal uncle. They prospered in the U.S.A. and I am in close contact with their descendants. My aunt Sara Malka got married in Tiktin. Their son Yehezkel and daughter Shoshana live with their families in Israel near us; their other daughter live in the U.S.A. My uncle Haim Yehoshua settled in a shtetl near Warsaw. My uncle Yehuda (Yudel) emigrated to the U.S.A.
My uncle Avraham Yitzhak's journey from Maytchet was more twisted and he ended up living in Glasgow, Scotland where he became actively involved in the Jewish community. When I was a student at the Teacher's Seminary I lost contact with him and he died in 1930. 40 years later, with much research, my youngest son Amir succeeded in locating all of my uncle's six descendants, their children and grandchildren. They were living in the British Isles in various cities, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester. I only had vague knowledge about them and they knew nothing about me. I was thrilled to discover first cousins and they were no less excited to find me, a cousin living in Israel!
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My father and mother were the loving parents of seven boys and girls. Their first born was my elder sister Freidl. While she was still in diapers, my brother Moshe Haim was born. Not too long after his birth, the cries of my brother Yehezkel filled their home. It did not take long for my parents to be blessed once again with my birth and they named me Tova. Along came another brother, Pesach followed by my youngest sister Peshe and then David who was the last child to be born. In our house on Beit Olam Gass (the Cemetery Road) all seven of the children, mom, dad, grandma and grandpa Edlin and later on my grandma Libe.
In 1928 I was studying in Vilnius where I had completed my first year of studies in the Dr. Tcherno Hebrew Teacher's Seminary. I received the news of my father's death and returned to Maytchet. My mother was left a widow with four children who were still living at home. My older sister Freidl had already married and my brother Moshe Haim was living in Argentina. Because of difficult circumstances at home it was agreed that my brother Pesach would emigrate to Argentina to join Moshe Haim. I would return to Vilnius to complete my studies and Peshe and David would remain at home with our mother. For some unknown reason Pesach's departure to Argentina was delayed and the ship he was supposed to be on sunk in the Atlantic Ocean. He eventually made his way to Argentina, married and raised a family. In 1965, after many years of separation, we had a reunion in Israel; two years later I visited the family in Argentina.
After my father's death life was very difficult for my mother. I completed my studies in Vilnius and in 1936 I made aliyah to British Mandate Palestine with my late husband Yehoshua Shomroni (of blessed memory). Our son Shmulik was born in 1939 and when he was 6 months old, at the request of my mother, I mailed her some of his curls and tiny cut fingernails. After the war our neighbor in Maytchet, Freidl Margolin, who now lives in Kibbutz Negba in Israel, told me that my mother died from a disease and was buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Maytchet. I never will know if my mother received the package I sent her.
Yehezkel and his wife Menuha (nee Mordokovich), and their daughters, Esther, Sarah., Dvora, Freidel and her husband Israel Moshe Izralevich, Reizelle and Asnale, their daughters and their son Issar, Peshe and her husband and my brother David who was still a young boy, were all murdered, holy and pure. May the Lord revenge their blood.
Oh Maytchet, a little piece of land, forgotten by G-d, on the highway between Baranovichy and Lida, in between the windings of the Molchadka River and the Blotes (Swamps). A shtetl bustling with Jewish life and activities; what has remained of you? A foaming grave in the “Chaboynik” or perhaps only a holy memory that urges us to praise you on the leaves of the Memorial Book.
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