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Part B

A List of the Martyrs
Killed in Kosów Poleski

(Arranged in order of the houses and streets)

[[page 40]]

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Libke Amścibowski (the baker) – She and her whole family were in “The Castle” ghetto and were killed there.
Jerszel Choroszczański – After part of the committee was imprisoned and taken to Słonim he worked in the community. The entire family was slaughtered, most likely at the time of the slaughter.
Menasze Prybulski – Lived in the Choroszczański's house in “The City” ghetto with his wife, children and son-in-law (Osnat's husband) and they were killed during the slaughter. It is possible that the children escaped but nothing certain is known.
Icchak Kozak – He was killed in Mohylew. His family stayed in the ghetto and was exterminated.
Perec Derewiański – He, his wife and his daughter were killed.
Likowski[56] (the glassmaker) – Michla, her husband and two children were in the ghetto and were killed.
Wolfowicz (the son of Mosze Wolf) – His daughter Golda worked at the weaving factory at the Tarbut school. The entire family was in the ghetto and was exterminated.
Niame Ratner – With his wife and twin children were in the ghetto and were killed.
Israel Kraszyński – Israel died as a result of a beating that he got. (The Germans forbade the Jews to walk on the sidewalk – and he did not follow this order – [[page 41]] and he did not hear the German calling him; he got a beating that completely exhausted him and he was dragged to the headquarters where they terminated him.) His wife Eidele, his daughter Lea and his son Josef with his wife Raszke were exterminated during the first slaughter. The Germans took Lea's husband ([serving] as a Polish soldier) hostage; at the time he was with Mosze Kunik (son of Jakow) and Lejbel Kuliszewski. The other daughter,

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Fania, worked at the weaving factory, hid in the attic of the Tarbut school during the first slaughter, and was killed during the second slaughter.
Berel Abramowicz – Was killed during the first slaughter; his son Efraim worked in the Słonim camp and was in the ghetto afterwards, he talked about escaping to the forest all the time; Meir Kuliszewski did not see him during the last two days before the slaughter and does not know anything about him.
Jakel Czernichow – His wife was in the ghetto and was killed during the slaughter. One of her daughters, Chawa, was in Baranowicze and the other died from her pregnancy during the Russian occupation.
Jeszaja Dereczyński – The entire family was exterminated during the slaughter. [[page 42]]
Menucha Lisicka (Golde's daughter) – Used to live in her house in the ghetto and was exterminated during the slaughter.
Naftali Klebański – He was killed in Słonim during the second slaughter there; he was then living in his brother Hilke's house. All of his family was in “The Court” ghetto and was killed during the slaughter.
Eliahu Dawidowicz – Was killed with his wife during the first slaughter.
Biniamin Krasnostawski – He and his wife (a relative of Gerszon Kulik) were most likely exterminated during the slaughter; before that he was probably at the Słonim camp.
Icchak Iliwicki – Was with his wife in “The Castle” ghetto; their son Mosze, their daughter and her husband (Icchak Ratner) were in “The City” ghetto. They were all killed.
Awraham Michael Mieszczanin – Was exterminated with his wife during the slaughter.
Mirel Sapożnik – Mirel died during the Russian occupation. Szymon, his wife and children, Jakow Meir with his wife and children and Eliahu-Chaim were in “The Castle” ghetto and all of them

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(except for Eliahu-Chaim) were killed during the slaughter. Jakow Meir helped bake in the Dylko bakery, which baked for the Poles and the Russians.
Arczyk Ratner – The entire family (except for the son Mosze-Mendel) was in “The Castle” ghetto and was killed during the slaughter. [[Page 43]]
Chajcie Fajnerman – Chajcie died at the time of the Russian occupation already; Eliezer and his wife and his sister Fejgel were in “The City” ghetto and were exterminated during the slaughter.
Pajśke Fajnerman, the shoemaker – He, his wife, his sons Szmuel and Awraham and both his daughters were in “The City” ghetto and were killed. His son Szmuel lived outside the ghetto at first (with his Christian wife) but he was ordered to leave her and return to his parents in the ghetto. His son Mosze went to visit his mother's relatives in Chomsk and was killed on the way.
Sara the butcher – She and her family were in “The Castle” ghetto, where they were killed. One of her sons-in-law, Elimelech, tried to hide during the first slaughter but was found by the policemen and then killed, after he lost his mind. Her second son-in-law, Eliahu, the women's tailor, was taken after the slaughter with the artisans.
Szmuel Bursztajn – He and his wife were in “The Castle” ghetto, he was sick those days as a result of hunger; their daughter Eidele (the wife of Mosze Poloński, who fled to the forests) was in “The Court” ghetto and was then transferred to “The City” ghetto; they were all killed. Zelig Bursztajn and his family were in “The Castle” ghetto and were killed there. [[Page 44]]
Karelic (“the orphans”) – The entire family was in “The City” ghetto with Rabbi Icele. Some of them hid during the first slaughter at the Tarbut school. It is unknown what happened ultimately, but one can guess.
Mieszczanin (the painters) – Mosze lived in Słonim after he got married, and got killed there during the slaughter. Jakow tried to

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flee to Różana about a month before the slaughter in Kosów Poleski, was caught on the way and executed (together with the Ryzykow family and others) in “New Colony.”[57]
Aharon Judkowski – Was with his wife and children in “The City” ghetto and were killed during the slaughter.
Mosze Gerszkowicz – Lived with his wife, daughter and step-son in “The City” ghetto (in Bielawski's cattle shed). Kuliszewski does not remember, but thinks that his daughter Jochewed was also there and that she was the main worker in the weaving factory at the Tarbut school. They were all exterminated during the slaughter.
Tuchman (the shoemaker) – Berel and his wife and two children, his young lover Rysia and his older sister with her husband (Motel Bialski) and both her children were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed. Motel Bialski was in the Słonim ghetto prior to that; another sister got married and lived in Słonim. [[Page 45]]
Josel Bron – He, his son Fajwel and daughter Lea with her husband were in “The City” ghetto (in Trynda's cattle shed) and were killed during the first slaughter.
Jenteczke the baker – Her granddaughter Sara and her husband were in “The Castle” ghetto and were killed there.
Jakow Iser Kobryński – He died during the last days before the Russian retreat. His daughter Sirke, her husband Hercel Chajkin and both their daughters were in “The City” ghetto and lived with the cantor's family in Josef-Chonie Jeziernicki's cattle shed, opposite the Tarbut school; they hid there during the first slaughter; it is presumed that they were killed during the second slaughter.
Alter Reznik – He, his wife and their son Eliahu were killed during the first slaughter; prior to that Alter worked as a tinsmith in a department that opened in the Dworecki's house.

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Szalom Cywin – It is presumed that the entire family was in “The Castle” ghetto where they were all killed.
Kancepolski – The entire family was in “The Castle” ghetto where they were all exterminated. During the Russian occupation the two daughters held important positions.
Eliezer Wołkomirski – He, his wife Chaja, their son and their daughter and his sisters-in-law Joske and Sara Gitel were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were all killed. [[Page 46]]
Chaja Rutkin – She and her son Hilel and her daughter Frejdel were in “The Castle” and were killed; her oldest daughter Henja died before the Germans came.
Szmuel Rubinowicz – He, his wife Mindel and Rywka Fridman (their son Lejbel's wife) and her daughter were in “The Castle” ghetto and were all killed there. A refugee from Prużana tells that their granddaughter Lajke, the daughter of Gerszon Niame was killed in Germany two days before the Americans liberated the camp. She left the line to pick up some potatoes that were lying on the ground; a German policeman noticed and killed her on the spot.
Mejta Kagan – She and her husband were in “The Castle” ghetto and were killed there. Their son Jakow already died during the Russian occupation.
Symcha Kagan – He and his wife Pajcie were in “The Castle” ghetto and were killed there.
Szymon Ryzykow – He died a short while before the war broke out (1939). His wife Zelde as well as Zajdel and his wife and his daughter and Pesze with her daughter fled to Różana but were captured at Kolonia Alba and were led to “New Colony,” a place where they had to dig their own grave and they were killed there. [[Page 47]]
Lejba Borodowski – He and his wife were among the first people killed in “The Castle” ghetto.
Chackiel Strachalski – He and his wife had already died during the Russian occupation. Their son Cadok and his wife were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.

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Israel Garbarski – With his entire family, all killed in “The City” ghetto.
Mosze Ragotner – He, his wife Bajlke, their daughter and their young son were in “The Court” ghetto, from which they were led to the slaughter.
Natan Kostrowicki – He, his wife and both his daughters were killed in “The Castle” ghetto; his brother-in-law Lejbel with his wife and children were in “The Court” ghetto and were taken from there to the slaughter.
Szlomo Hofman – During the Russian occupation he traveled to Słonim and during the German occupation returned to Kosów together with his entire family. They lived in “The City” ghetto and were killed during the slaughter. Their son Eliahu was in the Słonim ghetto prior to that.
Meir Kosowski – He and his wife Wichne and both their children lived in “The Court” ghetto; they tried to escape but were most likely killed. And at any rate, Kuliszewski saw Meir Kosowski dead on the road.
Szlomo-Nuta Hofman – He had already died during the Polish period; his wife, his son Josef and his daughter Szejne (Icchak Mudryk's wife) were in “The City” ghetto, where [[Page 48]] they were all killed; Icchak Mudryk was taken with the artisans to Słonim where he was killed.
Efraim Birnbaum – He died during the Russian occupation; his wife (with her son the cheesemaker), Mosze and his daughter were at “The Castle” ghetto, where they were killed.
Peszka Lewkowicz – (the “Bolavitzer”[58]) – She, her husband Lejzer and two girls lived in “The City” ghetto and were taken to the slaughter. Prior to that she held a policewoman position for the community. Her son Icie, an electrician (fathered by her first

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husband), was taken by the Germans before the slaughter. Since then, there has been no word from him.
Awraham Lewkowicz – He, his wife and his children were in “The City” ghetto and were most likely taken to the slaughter. His mother had already died during the Russian occupation.
Dwora Brinker – Her daughter Ester with both her daughters were in “The Court” ghetto, where they were killed. Ester's husband transferred to “The City” ghetto one day before the slaughter, and during the slaughter pleaded mercy, offering his talents and his professions. He was killed there.
Raszkes – The entire family was at “The Castle” where they were all killed.
Ester Bisławska – (Szejne Chajkel's[59]) The entire family was exterminated in “The Castle” ghetto. [[Page 49]]
Mordechaj Jabłoński – He was with his wife, their daughter Zlatke and her young son at “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.
Szalom Berkowicz – With his wife, Meir, her daughter Szejne with her husband Chaim Parecki and Chaja Parecki lived in “The Castle” where they were killed.
Herszel Milikowski – He and his wife (his second one) lived in “The City” ghetto where they were killed.
Szymon Białowiecki – He was taken with the artisans and probably died in the Bliżyn camp; his wife and children died in the ghetto.
Mosze Gursztel[60] – (the tinsmith) – He was taken as a laborer and sent to imprisonment in Słonim and from there to Mohylew where he was shot by the Germans; his wife, children and brother-in-law went from “The Castle” ghetto to the “Old Colony” next to Różana.

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Icchak Wołkomirski (?)[61] – He, his daughter Bajla and his young son were killed during the slaughter; his wife was killed a few hours before them; prior to that, the young son worked in the Słonim and Kozłowszczyzna camps as an office clerk.
Icchak Mosze Wolański – He was taken with the artisans and died in the Bliżyn camp; his wife was killed in “The City” ghetto. [[Page 50]]
Zajdel Krawczyk – He was taken as a laborer to Słonim and from there to Mohylew where he was killed; his wife and both his daughters were killed in “The Court” ghetto.
The “Ślepak”[62] Family – the entire family was killed, except for the oldest son (Mosze?)[63] who was in the Polish army and never came back.
Meir Wolański – The son Szalom-Mosze died in the Polish period and his wife with both their daughters died in “The Castle” ghetto.
Mendel Garber – The entire family was killed in “The Castle” ghetto; prior to that, both his sons were in the Słonim and Kozłowszczyzna camps.
Jakow-Szalom – who was called Szalachman. –The entire family was in “The Castle” ghetto where they were exterminated.
Efraim Goldman – He was killed together with the entire family; his son Judel lived in Byteń and was together with others from Kosów in the Słonim camp.
Szejne Ester – (the killed one's wife), was with both her sons in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.

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Pinie the shoemaker – (the fat one) – The entire family was in “The Castle” ghetto where they were executed.
Chaim Berel – (the teacher) – was killed together with all his daughters in “The Castle” ghetto. [[Page 51]]
Kalman Białowiecki – His wife, his mother and both his daughters and also his brother Mosze with his wife and both his daughters were in “The Court” where they were killed.
Ajzyk Aszer Kunik – He, his wife Dobke and their children were killed during the slaughter in “The Castle” ghetto; prior to that, Ayzik-Aszer was in the Słonim camp.
Mordechaj Josel Jeziernicki – Chaim Lejb with his wife and his daughter, Jeszaja's wife with a son and a daughter lived together in “The City” ghetto and hid during the first slaughter; Jeszaja left with the craftsmen and was killed in Smolensk.
Chana-Fejgel Chajkin – She herself, her daughter Zlatke, her son Herszel with his wife Sirke and both their daughters, her daughter Chaja-Gitel with the children, her daughter-in-law Hinda (Mordechaj's wife) and both her daughters – all hid during the first slaughter. Her daughter Kajle also hid but was discovered and shot. Her daughter Mirel was killed among the first because she said proudly that she was Mordechaj's sister; her son-in-law Jehoszua Baum was shot in the hospital a day before the slaughter. Her son Mordechaj who was the head of the ghetto was the last to get into the car in “The City” ghetto. The German commander [[Page 52] told him that he would like to leave him behind but the city has to be clean of Jews. Her son-in-law Motel Lidsky (Chaja-Gitel's husband) got into the car that led to “The Castle.”
Szabtaj Karelic – His son Dawid was found with his wife, his son and his daughter in “The Court” ghetto after returning from the Słonim camp and they were all taken to the slaughter.
Alter Brutan – The entire family was in the city and was killed there. Cywia was in Baranowicze and Awraham has been found now living in Germany.

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Naftali Grynberg – He, his wife Dwosia, his son Zewulun with his wife and daughter, his sons Mosze and Meir were all in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed. Mosze was in the Słonim camp. Prior to this young Meir lost his mind.
Raszke Chajkin – She with her husband (her second one) and both their children were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed. Her son Mocie got married in Wołkowysk and was not in Kosów.
Chanie Chajkin – He and his wife and both his daughters lived in “The City” ghetto and hid there during the first slaughter; before that he worked in the community. His father and stepmother were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed; two of his sisters got married in Baranowicze and his brother Chaim got married in Wołkowysk and was not in Kosów Poleski. [[Page 53]]
Jakow Iliwicki – He and his wife were in “The Castle”; their daughter Ester lived with her husband Welwil Fajnerman in Iwacewicze; their sons Josef and Zeew were not in the city at all.
Gerszon Abramowicz – He, Nechama, Fejgel and her daughter were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.
Joel Ustowski – Died in Bereza Kartuska during the German occupation; his wife Gruna stayed in Bereza Kartuska.
Rogatyński – He, his wife, his son and his sister-in-law Raszke (Rajsze Hinda's) were all in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.
Lewkowicz – Michel and his wife, Roze and her husband and both their daughters – lived in “The Castle” where they were killed. Eliezer Lewkowicz was killed during the first week of the arrival of the Germans into town.
Herszel Czernichow – He, his wife and Liuba with her daughter were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were exterminated. Their son Mosze was imprisoned and accused of collaborating with the partisans. He was led to Mohylew where he died.
Mosze Grajewski – He and his wife were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.

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Eliezer Chari – He, his wife Rywka, his sister Libe and their daughter Sara were in “The Castle” where they were killed.
Noach Rudnicki – He, his wife Lea-Basie and their little daughter were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed. [[Page 54]]
Welwil Garcowski – He and his wife Gisza were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.
Masza Morocznik – She was in “The Castle” ghetto where she was killed.
Chana-Gitel Nowik – She was in “The Castle” ghetto where she was killed.
Dawid Werdomicki – During the first slaughter he, his wife, his son Benie and his daughter hid; as Szmuel Lejb tells us, Werdomicki was the Jews' elder after the slaughter. What happened with them afterwards is unknown and one would think that they were killed during the second slaughter.
Awraham Icchak Bron (the hairdresser) – He was with his wife Sara in “The Castle” where they were killed; all of the children left for Argentina during the Polish period.
Josel Pakter – He, his wife and his daughter Frejdel (Haim Busel's wife) were killed during the slaughter.
Jakow Pasmanik – He and his wife were killed during the first slaughter; their son Chaim with his wife and their daughter and their son Awraham hid and remained after the first slaughter and were killed after the second slaughter; Berta was killed with her husband in Słonim during the first slaughter there. The young daughter Rywa worked as a maid at the Eastern Orthodox priest and stayed there after the first slaughter; nothing else is known about her. [[Page 55]]
Nysel Szkolnik – He was in “The Castle” and was killed there. His wife had already died during the Russian occupation.
Michael Pik – Alte with her husband and a child were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed. The mother Dwora, the baker, had already died during the Russian occupation.

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Jejazie Szkolnik – The entire family lived in “The Castle” where they were killed.
Pejsach Rubinowicz – His wife was almost the last one to die during the first slaughter; his two sons and daughter were also killed; he was taken with the artisans and died in the Bliżyn camp.
Nysel Kuliszewski – He, his son Jerszel, Etl and both their children Motel and Chenoch lived in “The Court” and were killed during the slaughter; Dawid (the first born) was killed in Iwacewicze. Lejbel was in the Polish army and was captured in Lublin (together with Mosze Kunik). According to rumors, they were put into the gas chambers.
Luzer Iliwicki – Dwora and her three children were in “The Castle” where they were killed. Her husband was among the hostages and was killed in Mohylew. The elderly mother had already died during the Russian occupation. The oldest daughter Cynke was a military doctor and came to visit in Kosów during the Russian occupation.
Jona Abramowicz – He was burnt during the fire that occurred in Kosów with the entering of the Germans. His daughter Hindel [[Page 56]] and her child were in “The Castle” where they were exterminated. Her husband Lejzer, who was a highly ranked clerk during the Russian occupation, stayed in Baranowicze when the Germans entered and could not return.
Pinchas and Szmuel Kadyszewicz – They were in “The Castle” with their families and were killed.
Dawid Porozowski – He was with his wife and two children in Iwacewicze and returned to Kosów during the German occupation; they lived in “The City” ghetto where they were killed.
Mosze Breskin – He, his wife, his sister (or her sister) and their daughter were in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed.
Mosze Wolf Wolfowicz – Mosze Wolf had already died during the Polish period. The rest of his family, except for Zelig, was in “The Castle” where they were killed.

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Meir Chajkin – His mother and his sister Krajndel were in “The Castle” where they were killed. Meir, together with Szmuel Piński and his brother were taken as painters to work at the commander's before the slaughter. Nothing is known about them ever since then.
Mosze Całke Szkolnik – He, his wife with a son and a daughter were in Iwacewicze and returned to Kosów during the German occupation. They lived in “The City” ghetto where they were killed.
Karelic – His wife Hinda, her son Zelig and all of her daughters lived in “The City” ghetto where they were exterminated. [[Page 57]]
Chonie from the courtyard – He and his family, together with his sister-in-law (Zajdel wife – of the Hofman family), were in “The Castle” where they were killed.
Mudryk – The mother and the daughters were in “The City” ghetto where they were killed.
Pikus – The entire family lived in “The City” ghetto and was killed during the first slaughter.
Moszel Szajnkes – The entire family was in “The Castle” ghetto where it was killed.
Jakow Iliwicki – The entire family was exterminated during the first slaughter.
Sara Dawidowska – She and her son Jerszel were in “The Court” ghetto and were killed during the first slaughter.
Hesie Rawnicki – The entire family (except for Szmuel) lived in “The Castle” where they were killed; Meir Kuliszewski does not remember a thing about their son Szmuel.
Josel Kunik – He, his wife and both his children hid at a German commander's during the first slaughter. Rumors say that they were all killed during the second slaughter.

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Zundel Karelic – Zundel died during the Russian occupation; his wife Sara, his son Josef and his wife Fejgel and two sons were in “The City” ghetto where they were killed. [[Page 58]]
Baruch the cobbler – His son Mendel and his wife Fejgel (the daughter of Nachum the shoemaker) and his three children lived in “The City” ghetto where they were killed.
Icze Pakter – He, his wife, his son Josel, both his daughters and his father Szalom lived in “The Castle” ghetto where they were killed. The son, Josel, previously worked in the Słonim camp.
Rachel Polońska – She, her sons Niame and Chaim, her daughter Belke (with her husband Mosze Ragotner and their children Awraham, Mere, and the young one), her daughter-in-law Eidele Bursztajn (Mosze's wife) with a child – were at “The Court” ghetto and were killed during the first slaughter.

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Three Generations of Kosów
The Great Rabbi Menachem Mendel Szereszewski
“Of Blessed Memory.”
He served as a rabbi in Kosów for forty years. He passed away on the Seventh of Adar, 5689 [February 17, 1929]

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Three Generations of Kosów
The Great Rabbi Meir Lejkin “May the Lord Avenge His Death” and his wife Eszke, the daughter of the Great Rabbi Menachem Mendel Szereszewski “Of Blessed Memory.”
Rabbi Lejkin inherited the position of his father-in-law and served as the rabbi of Kosów for twenty years. “May the Lord Avenge His Death.”

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Three Generations of Kosów
Reb Zalman Wolański “May the Lord Avenge His Death.”
The grandson of Rabbi Szereszewski “Of Blessed Memory.” The secretary of the Slabodka Yeshiva
[64] in Hebron. He was murdered in Hebron during the 1929 Massacre.[65]

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The Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated
The Great Rabbi Icchak Karelic (the son of the Great Rabbi Szemariahu) “May the Lord Avenge His Death.”
He served as the rabbi of Kosów and founded the Talmud-Torah. Next to him is his student Eliahu Chajkin (Chana-Fejgel's son) “May the Lord Avenge His Death.”

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The Jews' Elder in Kosów
(During the Nazi period, “Damn them!”)
Reb Mordechaj Chajkin (Chana-Fejgel's son)
“May the Lord Avenge His Death.”
The wicked commandant wanted to grant him a travel permit to Germany in order to save his life, but he refused.

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Icik-Josef Rotfort and his family
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”
He was a member of the Jewish Committee during the German occupation and an excellent man. He and his wife never tired of risking their lives for those taken to their death. Everyone loved them. The wicked commandant wanted to give him a permit to go to Germany in order to save his life and he refused!
Icik-Josef Rotfort. 2. His wife Jera. 3. His sister Gniesie. 4, 5. Both his daughters. 6. His cousin Furmański. 7. His cousin Furmański. (Thank G-d she is in Israel.)

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The Great Rabbi Josef Kosower,
son of Rabbi Kalman Berkowicz,
“May the Lord Avenge His Death.”
Head of the Estrog Yeshiva in Vilnius and
author of the book “Chelkas Yosef” (Joseph's Plot)

He was born in 5655 [1894 or 1895] in Kosów Poleski, was shot and murdered in a crowd of martyrs on Saturday the Ninth of Av, 5701 [August 2, 1941] in Vilnius.

“My dear sanctified one! There would never be enough tears to weep for you and mourn your passing. I wish my head was filled with water – it would then be drained by my tears. I would cry for the fate of all my people and you among them, flesh of my flesh, until my brain is stilled.”

The mourner is one of the family.

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With G-d's help.

In the memory of my teacher and my great Rabbi Josef Berkowicz, a Tzadik[66] “Of Blessed Memory.”

When I was fortunate enough to stand before him, a Tzadik “Of Blessed Memory,” the fear and concern were not yet felt among the people at large. And we, dozens and hundreds of his students learned from his words, his ways and his doctrine – a way of life, to strive for modesty and a way of life of a man and a world. We searched to discover the welcomed vitality and happiness that accompanied the arrival of the Jewish people to Israel with the light of perfection. And we hoped that with his help he would be blessed to be redeemed in the Land of Israel that is contaminated with many other people.

But then darkness started spreading, fanatic combatant paganism spread in the world, The Wicked One rose to rule the universe and swayed his axe on Judaism and the Jews. At first, only a few felt the danger, but slowly more and more people opened their eyes. And our rabbi “May the Lord Avenge His Death” saw the coming with his eyes and heart, the dark shadow that was slowly covering the sun. But there still remains a serious question that gives hope, that tells the heart, maybe the worst will not come, maybe there will be a miracle. Because what will become of the eternity of Israel? How will the branches survive after, G-d forbid, the root will be chopped off? I saw this on him, a Tzadik “Of Blessed Memory,” during a period of two to three years until I read a letter of his to one of his students, two weeks before the war broke out, “I am concerned that a large fire will burst.” After this we knew what was coming to us… We just did not know the horrific answer that he found to his terrible question. Until he said to me when I parted from him before immigrating to Israel – and the Germans were then in Greece and Crete and were present in Syria in the north and Mesopotamia in the east and their partners in Libya in the west and Ethiopia in the south – he said to me: “Immigrate to Israel in peace and complete confidence and with no fear. The

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Wicked One would not reach the Land of Israel even if he would stand on its border.” And he stayed until the end.

A Tzadik “Of Blessed Memory.” May the Name of the Wicked Ones Rot.

Aleksander Zak

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Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated
(The brothers Icchak Cur Szmuel and Zalman Morocznik are in Israel, “May They Be Set Apart for Long Life.”)
Top row (from right): Josef Morocznik, Lajcia Abramowicz, Maszka Morocznik, Rachel Polońska, Ben Cijon Ryzykow, the rabbi's wife Eszke Lejkin daughter of Rabbi Mendel Szereszewski “Bless His Memory,” Babel Garbarski.
Second row (from right): Mosze Kunik (Jakow Kunik's son), Szmuel Morocznik, Szejne Rajzel Alpert, Chaszka Kraszyński, Icchak Cur.
Bottom row (from right): Josef Kunik, his son and wife, Zalman Morocznik, Perec Morocznik, Maszka Lewin's daughter (Ryzykow), Maszka Lewin (Ryzykow), Symcha Lewin, Babe Bursztajn.

[Page 87]

Some Sacred Kosów Citizens
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”

Reb Efraim Birnbaum, his wife and his daughter Bluma.

[Page 88]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated
1. Reb Awraham Michael Mieszczanin, his wife, his son, his daughter and his child. 2. Reb Icchak Iliwicki, his wife, his son Mosze and his daughters. (The daughter who is next to Icel Ratner is his wife, and the daughter Jehudyt on top is Awraham Rabinowicz's wife and is in Israel, Thank G-d.) 3. Pinchas Kadyszewicz, his wife and children. 4. The Krasnostaver
[67] and his wife. 5. Icel son of Mosze Ratner (next to him, to his right is his wife). 6. Chana Kapłan.

[Page 89]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated
Reb Szmarjahu Rotfort and his family.
The tall one, his son Icek Josef, “May the Lord Avenge His Death,” was a member of the Jewish Committee during the time of the Nazis. His four children next to him on the left, Szmuel, Simka, Ester and Rywa, “May They Be Set Apart for Long Life,” are in Israel.

[Page 90]

The Family of Reb Szmuel Rubinowicz,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”
1. Awraham Rubinowicz's wife. 2. Awraham son of Szmuel Rubinowicz. 3 and 4. The daughters of Gerszon-Niame Rubinowicz. 5. Ester-Hinda the wife of Gerszon-Niame. 6. Lejbel Rubinowicz. Survived and is in Russia. 7. 8. Reb Szmuel Rubinowicz and his wife, “May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.” 9. Gerszon-Niame survived and is in Israel.

[Page 91]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated
The lady Maszka Morocznik, “May the Lord Avenge Her Death,” and her son Perec, who escaped and disappeared.

[Page 92]

Some of the Kosów Citizens,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”

Reb Mosze Gerszkowicz and his daughter Jocha.

[Page 93]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”

Reb Jehoszua Chajkin, his wife Szosza and their children

[Page 94]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”
Top: Reb Mosze Wolf Wolfowicz. His grandson Zelig Wolfowicz. Fajwel Najdycz, Zelig's cousin from Motol.
Bottom: Reb Awraham Wolfowicz and his 60-year-old wife Jenta.

[Page 95]

Some of the Sacred Kosów Citizens,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”

Old Nowik, her son Mordechaj, his wife and both his daughters.

[Page 96]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”
Reb Menasze Prybulski, his wife Jenta and their children Israel and Szoszana, “May They Be Set Apart for Long Life,” who are in Israel.

[Page 97]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated.
Efraim (the son of Szamaj) Karelic and his family.
He was the Elder Jew in Byteń during the time of the Nazis.

[Page 98]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated.
Meir (the son of Szamaj) Karelic and his wife,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”

[Page 99]

Some of the Kosów Youth Who Were Exterminated
Mosze (the son of Reb Icchak) Iliwicki
“May the Lord Avenge His Death.”

[Page 100]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated
Lejbel (the son of Reb Jehoszua) Chajkin,
“May the Lord Avenge His Death.”

[Page 101]

Some of the Kosów Citizens Who Were Exterminated
1, Chaja Lea Chajkin. 2. Ajzel Epstein. 3. Szejne Fridman (is in Israel, Thank G-d). 4. Herszel Krawczyk. 5. Chaja Iliwicki (Icel Ratner's wife). 6. Rywka Fridman. 7. Icel Ratner. 8. Sonia Horodyszczer. 9. Elazar Iliwicki (is in Israel, Thank G-d). 10. Chaja Krawczyk. 11. Rutka Fridman (is in Israel, Thank G-d).

[Page 102]

A Youth Group That Was Exterminated in Kosów,
“May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths.”
Only H. Himelfarb survived and is in Israel.
Standing: Chaim Parecki (right), Mina Iliwicki (left). Sitting (right to left): Fejgel Iliwicki, Himelfarb, Wiera Szycgal, Nysel Dąbrowski.

[Page 103]

Flower Day in Kosów Benefitting
the Jewish National Fund, in 1921.
From right to left:
Sitting: Szmuel Ben-Gershon (Wolański), Chaja Buniwicki, Herszel Krawczyk.
Standing: Hinda Ustowski, Mosze Wolański, Minia Iliwicki, Lea Abramowicz, Icek Josef Rotfort, Awraham Cywin, Ajdele Stuczyńska.
All of them were exterminated, “May the Lord Avenge Their Deaths,” except for Ben-Gershon and Cywin, “May They Be Set Apart for Long Life.” [[Page 59]


Footnotes

  1. Translated as printed, but based on records at at Yad Vashem and a 1930 business directory, this surname is probably “Liskowski.” return
  2. See footnote number 29 regarding this place. return
  3. The word, which is not written with Polish spelling, suggests that she came from nearby Bielowice, Poland. return
  4. This is a reference to Szejne Chaja Wegodska, her mother. return
  5. Some sources indicate the surname might be Gersztel or Gurstal return
  6. The question mark appears in the original text. return
  7. From the way this is written with quotes, it is possible the family name is unknown and they were peddlers or movers, from the Yiddish word “shlep.” return
  8. The question mark appears in the original text. return
  9. [A Yeshiva] is a Jewish institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. The branch of the Slabodka Yeshiva was opened in Hebron in the 1920s. Wikipedia return
  10. [A] series of demonstrations and riots in August 1929 when a long-running dispute between Muslims and Jews over access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem escalated into violence. Wikipedia return
  11. Tzadik is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous, such as Biblical figures and later spiritual masters. Wikipedia return
  12. Meaning a person from Krasnostav, Ukraine. The word does not use Polish spelling. return

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