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The Tragic Fate of the Volkovysk Jews {cont.}

Ozer Kaplan, a Lumber Merchant (a brother of Zelda Lapin. He also lived in the house of Pelteh the Moditskeh). He died before the war. His family was killed.

Joshua Movshovsky, The ‘Factor,’ had a hotel. His two daughters were killed in Treblinka. His son, Velvel, who also dealt in lumber, was also killed in Treblinka.

Feinsod. He was a very fine Jewish person. He died yet before the outbreak of the war. His wife, Basheh (a daughter of Chaim Yud'l of the Fine Clothing store), was paralyzed for many years. Her daughter, and son-in-law, Ben-Zion Zhukhovsky, who had rabbinic ordination, went to Bialystok, where they were killed together with the Jews of Bialystok. The remainder of the family were killed in Treblinka.

Yanovsky, from the Tobacco Factory, who in the last years, sold herring. His wife, Baylah, died when the Germans entered the city. The son, Moshe, who was a friend of mine, was married to Rosa Kaplan (a daughter of Velvel Kaplan from the Kholodoisker Gasse, and who is now in Israel). When the Germans entered the city, Moshe and Rosa traveled to her mother's family near Podoroisk. Moshe had a heart attack there and died. Rosa brought his body back to Volkovysk, where a funeral was conducted for him, during those trying days. This was New Years of 1942. A sister of Moshe, Ethel, was killed in Treblinka. His brother David was killed in Auschwitz. The fate of his other brothers, Joseph (who was married to Pes'shka Einhorn) and Asher, is described in another part of the book.

 

Fabrichneh Gasse

Dr. A. Shlackman (Lived in Finkelevich's house). Shortly before the outbreak of the Russian-German War, he went to Russia on a vacation, and as a result, survived. His wife and child were killed.

The Tailor from Rosh. His son-in-law, Kleinbaum (also a Tailor) along with his wife and children, were killed in Treblinka.

Shmuel Kaplan, a son of Zundel Kaplan from the Neuer Gessel. When the Russians occupied Volkovysk in 1939, Shmuel Kaplan, among many other Jews, was exiled to Siberia. After the war her returned to Poland, and is today in America. His wife Chasia was killed in Auschwitz. His son, Dr. Marek Kaplan and also his daughter Nunya, survived the Auschwitz camp and are today in America.

Aizik Margolis, the lumber merchant (he was known in the city as a very fine man). His wife, and daughter Dina, were killed in Treblinka. The older daughter, Raleh[26] went to Germany on Aryan papers, together with Rachel Lev's daughter. I do not know, however, what became of her.

Markus, the Tanner. The family was popular in the city, and active in the Bund movement. I think that Markus, his wife and daughter were killed by the Germans among the first 200 people. Their son Dr. Shlomo Markus, went to the forest to the partisans, and was killed there. Shlomo's wife, Nechama (from the Schein family) re-married, and today lives in Rumania. Shlomo's second sister, Adela (a medical doctor who was married to Nakhum Khananovich) was killed along with her husband in Treblinka. Only one son survived from this popular family.

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Enosh, an Orchard Produce Merchant. Nobody remained from this large family.

Berel Press, from the Pharmacy-Storage. His wife was a daughter of Bayer the Teacher. He along with his wife and children, were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Press, Berel's partner. He and his wife fled from the bunkers, but the Nazis caught and killed them.

Shimon Press, a Dental Technician. His wife, Rash'eh Miriam (a sister of Pinchas Steinwax, who lives in America) was killed along with her two children, in Margolis' cellar, during the time of the bombardment of the city. Shortly before the Russian-German war, Shimon went to Minsk in June 1941, and when he returned a few days after the outbreak of the war, he found the dead bodies in the cellar. Out of his entire family there, only his father-in-law remained alive. Along with his father-in-law, Shimon then proceeded to dig out the bodies of his kin from the buried cellar, and buried them. He was shortly thereafter also killed in the aktion against the Volkovysk doctors. His father-in-law, who had managed survive this great family tragedy in his old age, was also killed in Treblinka.

Gurevich, a Grain Merchant (lived near Press's house). He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Berel Kaplan (Worked at Kolontai). The Russians took him to Russia as a tenant farmer, and from what I heard, he was killed there. His wife Baylah, and his daughter Paulia were also taken out, but they survived, and today find themselves in Poland. The second daughter, Nieta fled from the bunkers to the partisans in the forest, and also survived. She is today with her mother in Poland. Nieta's husband, Willi Salz was killed along with their child.

Pin'iyeh Khomsky, son of the Pearl Merchant. His first wife (Hanokh Neiman's daughter) died while still young and left two children behind, a daughter and a son. The second wife was from Bialystok. He personally was a very energetic and thorough individual, and during the time of the Germans, worked in the Judenrat. His daughter, Genya, was a cleaning lady under the Germans, employed by the police. She worked there with Dora Pshenitsky (Rosa Einhorn's daughter). Pin'iyeh with his wife and children, were with me in one train car on the way to Auschwitz, but they were all sent off to the crematoria.

 

The Wide Boulevard

The second side from the stores

Tzapak, from the leather store, a son-in-law of the pearl merchant. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Avreml Lavzovsky, the Pearl Merchant. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Shmeryl Minkovich, a Hatmaker (a son-in-law of the Pearl Merchant). His child was killed by the bombs. Shmeryl lost a foot during the bombardment, and later died, together with his wife, in Treblinka.

Duvchansky, from the Hotel, Zalman Isser's daughter. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Velvel Epstein, from Kolontai, who lived at Werner's house. The entire family was killed in Treblinka. One daughter, who married a doctor in Bialystok, was also killed.

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Yochanan Khasman. He and his wife, Sarah (a daughter of Eliyahu Shykevich), and one son, were killed in Treblinka. The other son was killed during the bombardment. The names of their children were Sholom Shakhneh and Leibl'leh.

Yunovich, the Butcher. He died before the war. His wife was killed in the bombardment, along with her son Chaim, at David Epstein's house on the Rynkower Gasse. Her daughter Masha, who was married to Pesach Grinsberg (Herschel's son), was killed in Treblinka, along with the children. Her other daughter, Gittl, who was married to Zalman Sulkes, a hairdresser, was killed in Treblinka along with her child. Zalman was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there. Yunovich's second son, Berel, went into the army in 1939, and later was killed while under imprisonment by the Germans. While I was in the Auschwitz camp, I learned from people, who came there from Maidanek, that Berel Yunovich was an important individual in Maidanek. However, it appeared that he was, nevertheless, also killed.

Sholom Yunovich, ‘Shalkeh the Miller.’ The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Weinstein, from the Finished Clothing, or as he was called, Der Podriashchik. His son, Abraham, with his family were killed in Treblinka. His daughter Lana, and her child, were killed in Auschwitz. Lana's husband, Avra'sheh Offenberg was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there.

Daughter of Noah the Shokhet. She and her husband (a bookkeeper) were killed in Treblinka.

 

Millner Gasse

The Side of the Mill

Berel Kaplan, ‘Berel Moteleh's.’ He was killed by the Germans among the first 200 people. His wife and the children were killed in Treblinka.

Zaydl the Policeman. Members of his family had not resided in Volkovysk for a long time already. A son of his was in Svislucz, and was killed.

Milia Khirurg-Goldenberg. She and her son, Kuva were killed in Auschwitz. Her husband, Min'yeh Goldenberg was in the Auschwitz camp. He fell ill there, and voluntarily presented himself to the hospital, and died shortly thereafter.

Khilier from the Mill. No one from this family survived.

Sholom Lev. He and his daughters – And'zheh, Alia and a child, Manya, and her husband, Yud'l Goshchinsky (a son of David the Smoker who worked for many years at the Linat Kholim), remained with the 1700 and were later taken away on the last transport. Manya was killed in Auschwitz. Her husband Yud'l was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there. The oldest daughter of Sholom Lev Rachel, a dentist, was killed in Treblinka together with her husband Yoffeh, and a child.

Mintz. The entire family – Izzy Mintz and his wife Tzil'yeh (daughter of Motkeh Kilikovsky of Hartford [CT], America), with their children, Izzy's brother, Fei'eh, Izzy's sister, Sarah and her husband, Mendel Solomiansky – were all killed in Treblinka. I had a conversation with Mendel Solomiansky on the last night

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before he was taken away to Treblinka. I would travel into the city three times a day then, in order to bring potatoes into the bunkers from the Jewish cellars. A number of wagons would make the trip with about twenty men. That evening, Mendel Solomiansky asked Feivel Yunovich to permit him to take his place on the trip, in order for him to buy a number of items for the journey, for which the Volkovysk Jews were being summoned for that very evening out of the bunkers. Riding along the way into the city, Mendel said to me that despite the fact that a number of Jews would yet [be allowed to] remain in the bunkers, the Germans would exterminate them as well in a short time. This pessimistic view, which was however realistic, was not characteristic of the Jews in the bunkers, who up to the last moment of their lives, hoped that they would still be rescued. It was a frequent occurrence, even in the Auschwitz camp, that when people were being taken by automobiles to the gas chambers, accompanied by the music of an orchestra, they would make a variety of cheerful remarks to the passers by that were being taken from the camp to do work.

Moshe Mendel Schwartz. His two daughters, Matilda (married to Asher Yanovsky) and Riv'cheh (married to Leizer Farber) were killed in Treblinka. More details are presented in the description of the streets where they lived. Moshe Mendel lives in Israel.

Meir Farber, (lived in Schwartz's house). He worked for many years at the Magistrate's, where he was the only Jewish employee. He and his wife, Manya Gandz, and their children, Esther and Emanuel as well as his wife's brother, Simcha Gandz, remained among the 1700 in the bunkers. They later went away on the last transport to Auschwitz, and from there they were immediately taken to the gas chambers.

Israel Pidta of the Radio Business (lived near Schwartz's house). Along with his wife, he was killed in Treblinka.

Salman, the owner of the house in which the Pidtas lived. He, along with his wife, and a son who was sick, were killed in Treblinka.

Latzkovsky the Lawyer. He and his wife went to Grodno at the time of the German occupation. Since she was of the Jewish faith, they were sent to the local ghetto. Their fate is not known to me.

The Turbovich Family. Mush'keh Turbovich, a Corset-maker and her sister, Miriam, an English Teacher, and Chana a Teacher in the Tarbut School, were all killed in Treblinka. The fate of Nakhum Zvi is unknown.

Lifschitz from the Hotel. Nobody from this family survived.

Moshe Lipiak, a Tailor. He and his wife, Feygl'eh (maiden name Shpak, from Petroshovits), were killed in Treblinka. Their son, Yoss'l and his wife and child, as also their daughter Nechama, who was a nurse, with her husband Resnick (a brother of Dr. Resnick) – were all killed in Treblinka.

 

Millner Gasse

The Second Side

Solomiansky. Already written up in the description of the Mintz Family.

Moshe Zilberman. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

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Ephraim Zilberman. No one from this family survived.

Rabbi Yitzhak Rabinovich (lived in Zilberman's house). He was the last Rabbi of the Volkovysk community. At the outbreak of the war, he left his congregation and went with his family to his father in Szczucin. However, they were killed there. Also, the Rabbi's father was killed there.

Mordechai Giller, active in the orphanage and a member of the staff of Volkovysker Leben. He and his wife Henya (a daughter of Zimmel Lev), were killed in Treblinka.

Berman, from the ‘Assayers.’ He and one child were killed in the bombardment in Nakdimon's house in Karczyzna. His wife and a second child traveled to Ruzhany, and were killed there.

Iglevich from the General Merchandise Business. They lived in Khmelnitsky's house. He and his wife (a daughter of Goldberg) and family, were killed.

Marantz, from the Hat Business. He was very well-known in the city. The entire family was wiped out except for one daughter who was in Grodno. However, her fate is not known to me.

Dr. P. Bebchuk. The Russians took him to Russia and he survived. His wife, Emma and their son, Not'keh, were killed in Auschwitz.

Rachel Lev, daughter-in-law of the Koshchilker[27]. She and one daughter were killed in Treblinka. Her second daughter was able to leave Volkovysk on Aryan papers, but we do not hear from her.

Enosh, Dealt in Orchard Produce (He lived behind Lev's house). No one survived from the entire family.

Dr. Schmutz, Veterinarian (lived near Rachel Lev's house). One son, who was a doctor, took poison the very first night that he arrived in the Auschwitz camp. All the remaining members of the family were killed in Auschwitz.

Leibeh Heller, or as he was called, ‘Leibeh the White.’ He died alone during the time of the German occupation.

Dr. Joseph Kaplan. He was killed in Treblinka. His wife, who had broken a foot, and was unable to go with him on the transport, was shot by the Nazis in the bunkers. His son, Gedaliah was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there. His daughter, Nieta, and her husband, Moshe'l Matskevich (from the Pharmacy), and [their] child, fled to Lisokovo on the day before the final transport was to be sent out from the bunkers in January 1943. A Christian, however, recognized them and turned them in. They wanted to buy him off, but they regrettably failed to succeed, and the Germans shot them. One son, Chaim, who was in the Jewish Brigade, is today in Israel.

Bogomilsky. He and his entire family – the daughter, Zhenya (wife of Avreml Shapiro), and children – Grisha, Ben'yeh, Samuel and Volodya – were sent [sic: exiled] by the Russians to Siberia as landowners and wealthy

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people[28]. According to what I heard, Zhenya, Ben'yeh and Volodya survived. I do not know about the others. Avreml Shapiro was arrested by the Russians and sent away from Volkovysk. I do not know what happened to him.

Leizer Bliakher, a Lawyer. He was taken away by the Germans, along with his brother, Anshel, among the first 200 men. His wife, Niu'teh went from the bunkers to Bialystok with her child, and was killed there.

Zuss'l Kaminetsky, lived on the Millner Gasse. He was an appointed individual overseeing the forests. I do not remember what happened to the family.

 

The Market Street (Rynkowa)

Mottel Rothford, from the Liquor Store. The entire family was killed in Treblinka. Only one daughter, Rivka who was in Russia, survives, and today she is found in Poland.

Asher Stolovitsky, a Flour Storekeeper. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka. His two daughters, Bluma and Tzirel, with her husband Dr. Mashitsky, who were in Volhyn and later in the partisan movement, survived.

Chaim Yud'l Malsky from the Fashion Business.. He and his daughter and son-in-law Zlotagur[a] , were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Boyarsky, a Milliner. He along with his daughter Dvora and [her] child were killed in Treblinka. Dvora's husband, Mendel Rutchik was killed in the second aktion, which took place several months after the aktion against the first 200 men. A grandchild, Chas'sheh Boyarsky, was in the Auschwitz camp and survived. She is today in Argentina.

Yitzhak Bliakher. He and his daughter-in-law, Niu'teh (wife of Leizer Bliakher the Lawyer), left the bunkers to go to Bialystok, but were killed there. His sons, Leizer and Anshel were taken away among the first 200 men. Anshel's wife, Sonya (from the Kovensky family), and their children, were killed in Treblinka.

Bom Bliakher. He and his family were killed in Auschwitz.

Niss'l Bliakher. During the time of the German occupation, he and his wife and child were in Bialystok, and were killed there.

Berel Epstein, the Tank Repairer from the Beer Brewery. His wife, Chas'sheh with the children were killed in Treblinka. The son-in-law, who was a teacher in the Trades School and also an officer in the Polish Army, was wounded during the bombardment of the city, and later died. His wife (Berel Epstein's daughter), was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there.

Kalman Galiatsky, The Shoemaker. He was killed in Treblinka. His son Herschel, an engineer, and his child, and Herschel's; sister Feygl, with her husband, and the other sister Pes'sha (Gam's wife) with her child, and another sister Baylah (Nionia Khvalovsky's wife) – were all killed in Auschwitz. His youngest son, Joseph, was shot by the Poles in the pogrom, of September 18, 1939.

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Markus. The entire family was killed.

Benush the Carpenter. Nobody from this family survived.

Rachel'eh SteinRachel'keh’ the Lady Butcher. She, along with her daughters, son and son-in-law, Taleh Lashowitz (Meshel's son), were killed in Treblinka. A son of Lashowitz, Raphael, an electronic technician was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there.

The Duner Family. They lived together with the Galiatskys. A blind daughter and a grandson with a physical handicap were taken away by the Germans during the aktion against ‘defective’ children. Also, the remaining members of the family were killed.

Joshua Borkowsky. He, his wife Rivka and their sons were killed.

Lev, the Bialystoker Baker. He remained alive together with his son-in-law Chaim Yud'l Shipiatsky, and one grandchild (Shipiatsky's daughter). The rest [of the family] were all killed. More details are presented in the descriptions of the streets where they lived. Their brother, Yaakov Lev was also killed.

Shakhnovich. Nobody from the family remained alive. One son-in-law, Morgenstern, hanged himself at the outbreak of the war.

Volkovysky, a Milliner. He and his wife (a daughter of Bontsheh Slutsky) and the family were killed in Treblinka.

Aryeh David Epstein, ‘The Short One.’ Was an insurance agent for many years. He and his wife Masha and the children were killed in Treblinka. I think that one daughter was in Auschwitz, and was killed there.

Y. Merkin, The Teacher. He was killed in Auschwitz. During the time of the bombardment, The mother of the artist Blinderman and his son Volpeh were killed in his house.

Zelda Tzipkin, from the Wine Business in the market row-stores. She and her family were killed in Treblinka.

 

The Neuer Gessel

Zundel Kaplan, Shmuel Kaplan's father. His wife died in the summer of 1942 under the German regime. He was shot by the Germans on November 2, 1942 when everyone was being driven into the bunkers. I have written about their daughters, Fanya Tropp and Milia Shalakhovich in the description of the streets where they lived.

Krapivkeh The Shoemaker. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Reuven Lev, The Artist. (Rachel Novick's father). He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Leizer Zamoschansky. During the time of the Russian occupation, he fled to Vilna, and in addition, brought his family over there. However, the Russians later sent him off to Siberia. His wife, Mere, and the children: Rosa, Leibl and Geneh'leh, remained in Vilna, but were subsequently killed in one of the aktions there. Leizer survived, and is today in New York.

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Meir Epstein, a Glass Merchant. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka. Both of his children, Hosea and Shosha remained among the 1700 people. The following incident happened to Hosea. When, on the first day, a number of the men were taken away from the group of the 1700 to work in Krisievich, Hosea was in that group. On the way, one of the SS guards created a suspicion and accused someone of having stolen his gloves, and when he fired his gun, Hosea Epstein fell dead. Motya Zilberman was wounded at that time, and died [of his wounds] later. Shosha Epstein arrived at Auschwitz with the transport, and was killed there.

David Epstein of the Newspaper Kiosk (Meir's brother). The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Aharon SolodovnikFreidkeh's’ a Grain and Flour Merchant. He was killed.

Meir Davidson, a son-in-law of Aharon Solodovnik. He and his wife, Esther, and the children: Hodel, Shimon and Gittl were killed in Treblinka.

Shlomo Kvintovsky. His daughter Breineh died before the war from cancer. Her husband, Herschel Galiatsky with their child, were killed in Auschwitz.

Dvora Slonimsky, from the Woodworking Factory (a daughter of Shmuel the Tank Repairer and a sister of Berel Epstein from the Beer Business). She, along with her husband and son, were killed in Treblinka. Her daughter, Gut'sheh was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there.

Smeizik ‘Kvachuk’ from the Horse-hitchers. His son, Itzel was taken away by the Germans among the first 200 men. The rest of the family was killed in Treblinka.

Alter Lev, a Rag Merchant. He, his wife and daughter, and their son-in-law Moritz Piestka (from the lime business), were killed in Treblinka.

Chaim Velvel Lev (Alter's son), an Expediter. He and his wife Shayna (daughter of the Dayan, Yaakov Berestovitsky) and the children, Aryeh and Miriam, were killed in Treblinka.

The Feinzilber Family. They did not live in Volkovysk in the final years.

Bebel Kushnirovsky, The Tinsmith. He, his wife, and the children – one son, Shakhna, a Tinsmith, with his wife Liebeh (a daughter of Joel Shishatsky), and the other son, Yaakov (got married and lived in Porozovo), as well as the younger son (a son-in-law to Sarah Shosha Rutchik) – were all killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Bonchevsky, ‘The Baranovicher.’ (Leizer Ravitzky's brother-in-law). He dealt in Orchard Produce. He was captured along with several others, attempting to escape from the bunkers. The Germans brought them to a place near the barracks, and there, opposite the members of the Judenrat and an assembled crowd, shot them on the spot. In this manner, the Germans wanted to illustrate the punishment that awaits anyone who was captured while attempting to flee. Abraham Bonchevsky's wife and children as also his mother, were killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Ravitzky, ‘Tekeleh,’ from the Shoe Business (in the Market). The Germans [attempted] to gas him along with the sick people in the bunkers. However, when he emerged still alive, they sent him back into the bunker and gassed him to death. His daughter and her family were killed in Treblinka.

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Eliyahu Schwartzbuch, ‘Niezhnik,’ from the Fruit Business. His entire family was killed, partly in Treblinka, and partly in Auschwitz.

Beckenstein from the Shoe Business. The son, Joseph was killed by a bomb that fell on Zamoscheh, near Jesierski's factory. The other son, Boruch went away with Lyuba Gam's daughter into the forest, but their fate is unknown. The remainder of the family was killed in Treblinka.

Meir Pisetsky, a Watchmaker. He was a member of the Judenrat. He was later with me in the Auschwitz camp, but was killed there.

Meir Pisetsky's Brother-in-law, a Shokhet. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

David Beckenstein, ‘Kott,’ a Butcher. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Dov'cheh Pitotsky, from the Food Store. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Pripstein, an Artist. Nobody remained from this family.

Yitzhak Markus, from the Glass Business. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Aharon Pilatovsky, from the Manufacturing Business (a son-in-law of Leibeh Markus). He and his wife, Chana, and the rest of the family, were killed in Treblinka.

Yitzhak Epstein, a Rag Merchant. He was among those who established a Khevra Kadisha in the bunkers. He was an observant and reliable individual. He was killed along with his family in Treblinka. One son was an officer in the Russian Army, and survived. After the war, he found himself in Lodz, and in traveling around Poland on business in 1945, he was shot and killed by Poles.

Rutchik, son of the Zhelenevicher. He and his wife, (Khomsky's daughter) and the remaining members of their family, were killed in Treblinka.

Leizer Kapelyushnik, of the Ironmongery ( a son-in-law of Markus). His wife Sarah, with her son, Aharon, were killed in Treblinka. Leizer with his other two children, remained with the 1700 people and were killed in Auschwitz.

Abraham Uryonovsky, the Leather Strap maker. He, his wife Reizl and their daughter, were killed in Treblinka.

Herschel Uryonovsky, son of Abraham. He hung himself on the day the Germans entered Volkovysk. His wife (a daughter of Kadish Pikarsky, and sister of Yoss'l Pikarsky from New York) along with her children, were killed in Treblinka.

David Uryonovsky. He, along with his wife and child, were killed in Treblinka.

Motcheh Segal, a Grain Handler (a son of Rokheh the lady Baker, and a brother of Yaakov Shmuel from Zamoscheh). He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

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Yocheved (Yokh'eh) Jesierski, the Bandage Maker. She was killed in Treblinka.

Aizik Weinstein, ‘Gisha's’ a Porter. He and his wife (Moshe Meir the Teacher's daughter), with the children, were killed in Treblinka.

Leizer Shaliota, had a large general merchandise business, and a soap factory. He was a well-known speaker in the city. He died during the time of the German occupation.

Tvarkovsky, the Hairdresser (a son-in-law of Yud'l the Carpenter). He was killed in Auschwitz. His wife and daughter ran away. The Germans caught them seven months later and shot them.

Yud'l Beckenstein, The Carpenter. I wrote about his family on the Wide Boulevard, where they last lived.

Zayantzer, the Lady Tailor. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Meir Lashowitz (Meshel's son), a Butcher. He was killed in the Auschwitz camp. His family was killed in Treblinka. Only one son, Katriel survived, and lives today in Israel.

Itcheh the Horse-hitcher. He, his wife and child, and brother, Yankel and his son, were killed in Treblinka.

Yefim Renzon. His wife was killed in Treblinka. He and his son – in Auschwitz.

Shlomo Vant, ‘Panich,’ a Carpenter. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Chaim Vant, a Carpenter (Shlomo's brother). He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Shimon Levkov, a Musician. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Mendel Freidin. At one time, he handled leather (suede), and afterwards had a general store. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Pick, from the Rope [Business]. The entire family was killed in Treblinka. According to what I heard, one son survived.

Zaydl Kotkovsky, The Artist. The entire family was killed in Treblinka. One son, Berel, was shot during the time of the leaving of the bunkers.

Benjamin Lemkin, ‘'Nioma’ from the Dye Business. He, and a son of his, rode together with me on the transport to Auschwitz and they were killed there. The remainder of the family was killed in Treblinka. One son, Daniel was in Russia and survived. Another son was shot when he was found in hiding. His brother-in-law (from the Zuckermans) with the sister, was killed in Treblinka.

Saneh, the Shammes of the ‘Tiferet Bakhurim.’ He was a popular figure in the city. Because he was exotic and so well learned, he was regarded as a Lamed-Vovnik.[29] The entire family was killed in Treblinka. One son

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survived by being in Russia. Today, he finds himself in Volkovysk.

Joseph, the Shammes of the ‘Bet-Din,’ or as he was called, ‘the Gendarme.’ He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Benush Kagan, from the Dye Store (a brother-in-law of Khien'keh Shalkovich). The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Shklavin, Benush's sister. She and her family were killed in Treblinka.

Eliyahu Kovensky. His wife and children were killed in Zhetl, where they lived during the time of the German occupation. He was an active partisan in the forest, and lost a hand there. Now he lives in Israel.

Moshe Frei, a son-in-law of Shustak. He, his wife Sarah, and the children, were killed in Treblinka.

Matityahu, a Porter. He with his family, and also his daughter-in-law, were killed in Treblinka.

Hosea Petritzer, the son-in-law of the Hassid. The entire family was killed in Auschwitz.

 

Novogrudskeh Gessel

It was also known as “Yitzhak Shmuel Jonah's Gessel.”

Simcha Freidin, from the General Merchandise Store, a son of Mendel the Leather Goods Storekeeper. He and his wife (a daughter of Halpert the Taveliner – her brothers live in Argentina), and the remaining members of the family, were killed in Treblinka.

Kaller, the Dyer. He, his wife and children, were killed in Treblinka. His son-in-law, Liss (dealt in shellfish[30]) was killed by the Germans among the first 200 people. Liss' wife was also killed in Treblinka.

Pin'iyeh der Brisker, a Horse-hitcher (a son-in-law of Dreyzel the Marketplace Handler). He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Israel Novick, a Lumber Merchant. His daughter, Chana, and son Irving, live in America. One son, Abraham, lives in Israel. His houses in Volkovysk remained intact after the bombardment. Many families lived in them, until the expulsion into the bunkers. Israel's son, Velvel was killed by the Germans among the first 200 men. Velvel's wife, Rachel, and their two children were killed in Treblinka. Israel Novick died during the time of the German occupation, after they took away his son, Velvel. His wife, Kras'sheh, was also killed.

 

Kholodoiskeh Gasse

Shayna Chaya Enosh's step-children. No one of them survived.

Abba Bereshkovsky. The entire family, including the son-in-law, Gershon Metchik, were killed in Treblinka.

[Page 444]

One son, Itcheh, a blond, was with me in the Auschwitz camp. I feel a responsibility to write in greater detail about him because he acted well towards me in the camp and helped me out in a great measure. He came on my transport to Auschwitz to the labor camp. But, he was one of the first that were transported to a second lager. A few weeks later, he was again sent back to the Auschwitz camp, in Birkenau, where I was for the entire time. There he was designated to work in a detail that was called the ‘Living Command,’ meaning with the dead [bodies]. In this detail, the workers received better food rations. He was in the habit of slipping me a few potatoes and a piece of bread, every time I passed by there, which under those circumstances literally meant the ability to sustain one's own life. He was later transported from the detail and sent to work in the coal mines for work in ‘Yavonzha.’ He suffered greatly there, and in a short time he was designated by the Germans as a ‘Muslim,’ which was the way the people in the camp referred to those who were emaciated and weakened. When he could no longer go on with the work, he was brought back to Birkenau to the hospital. There, along with Berel Itzkowitz (who is today in America), and a few other men from Volkovysk, such as Joseph Kossowsky, Mulya Zapoliansky, Dr. Marek Kaplan, and Dr. Leizer Epstein, I did all that I could to help him get back on his feet, so that he could leave the hospital where it was dangerous to stay because of the frequent ‘selections.’ We even worked out a deal, through bribery, for him to return to his work in the ‘Live Command.’ However, his condition no longer permitted him to go on with his work, and he was again taken to the hospital. Before he was sent to the gas chambers in a selection, I was the last person to take leave of him. We kissed one another, and he thanked me fervently for everything and wished me that I might survive the Nazi Hell.

Khien'keh Shalkovich, a Dye Storekeeper, and her son-in-law, Chaim Rosenblum from the Soda Water. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Epstein, a son of Itcheh the Smith from Karczyzna. He had a business consisting of wagons. He and his family was killed in Treblinka.

Sarah Peisik, a Dentist, s daughter of Itcheh Shmuel Jonah Novogrudsky. At the outset, she was arrested along with the Volkovysk doctors. She was released from there. Ephraim Barash later helped her to go over to Bialystok from the bunkers. However, she was killed in one of the aktions [there].

A. Turiansky, a Lawyer. I do not remember what happened to him. His wife was killed in Treblinka.

Reizl Farber, had a Liquor Business. One son, Leizer and his wife Rivka (a daughter of Mendel Schwartz), and their daughter Rachel, were killed in Treblinka. Another son, Meir, and his wife Manya Gandz, and their children Esther and Emanuel, were killed in Treblinka. The daughter Sarah, and her husband Meshel Gandz, and their two children, Yud'l and Ephraim, were killed in Treblinka. Sonya, the wife of the other son Avreml, and their only child Lili, were killed in Auschwitz. Avreml left for Bialystok on the last day before the transports left the bunkers, and later came to Auschwitz with a transport from there. According to what I have heard, he survived, but I do not know where he is to be found.

Meshel Lashowitz. One son, Meir (through me), was in the Auschwitz camp. The entire family was wiped out. Only one grandson, Katriel Lashowitz, who was a partisan in the forest, survived, and is found in Israel today.

Misha Krapyuvnik. He worked in the Judenrat during the time of the German occupation. His wife, Chava'keh the Midwife (a daughter of Ozernitsky) and their daughter, were killed in Auschwitz. The son, Saul, was in Russia and survived. He later came to Italy, and from there went to Australia.

Herman Birnbaum. His father-in-law is in America (Yoss'l Poliak Pikarsky is his brother-in-law). Herman

[Page 445]

Birnbaum and his son were in the Auschwitz camp. The son died shortly after their arrival in the lager. Herman was shot on a command duty. I saw how he was being carried after being shot. At that time he worked together with Noah Fuchs.

Bashitsky. The entire family was wiped out. His son-in-law, Moshe Piskovsky from Ruzhany, was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there. I was a witness to this. One son, Katriel, or as he was called, ‘Bish,’ was also together with me in the camp. He died of dysentery. A son, Benjamin, was in Russia, and survived.

Jekuthiel Yunovich, Nakheh the Cheese maker's son. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Stolovitsky, from the Fashion Store. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Joseph Vinogradsky. According to my recollection, I think he died in the bunkers.

Velvel Movshovsky, a Lumber Handler, a son of Hosea the Factor. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Leibl Smazanovich, ‘Kvachuk.’ His son was killed at work during the time of the German occupation. The remainder of the family was killed in Treblinka.

Itcheh Lazarovsky The Baker. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Lazarovsky. His wife and child were killed in Treblinka. He, by himself, was killed in Auschwitz.

Lazarovsky. A son of his was shot, while fleeing, by the Soviets during the time they were retreating. The remainder of the family was killed in Treblinka. One son was in Russia, and survived.

Kovensky. No one survived from the entire family.

Israel Rogov, a son-in-law of Abraham the Tailor. No one from this family remains.

Lisitsky. The wife was killed in Treblinka.

The Teacher. Lived in Lisitsky's house (I don't remember his name). His wife and child were killed in Auschwitz. He was killed in the Auschwitz camp.

Ben'yeh, from the Goats. Nobody survived from this family.

Itcheh Liskovsky, a Wagon Driver. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Meir, a Carpenter (a son-in-law of Gottleib's), his wife was a middleman-jobber for household help. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Bor'eh Shaliota (son of Leizer). He and his wife Leah, were killed in Treblinka. Their two sons, Yehuda and Israel were in the Auschwitz camp and were killed there.

Shammai Padarosky, the son of the Feldscher. He and his wife, Ida (Panter's daughter), and a child, were killed in Treblinka.

[Page 446]

Itzel Berman, a Bookkeeper. He was killed among the first 200 men. His wife and children were killed in Treblinka.

Israel Panter, a Grain Handler. He was killed among the first 200 men. His wife, Tamar, and child, were killed in Treblinka.

Yekhiel (Khili'eh) Panter. He and his wife Chaya, and family were killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Novick, the Shammes of the Kholodoisker Bet HaMedrash. His son-in-law, a stone road paver, was killed by the Germans among the first 200 men. The remainder of the family was killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Eliyahu Scher. Only one daughter survived out of the entire family.

Chas'sheh Boyarsky. She was in the Auschwitz camp, and was among the few women who survived in that camp. From what I know, she is today in Argentina.

Eliyahu Eliyovich from the Guest-house. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Avreml Shereshevsky. He and his family were killed in Auschwitz.

Yaakov Salman, a well-known Lumber Merchant and Public Servant (father-in-law of Shmuel Kaplan). He died in the bunkers. His daughter Chasia was killed in Auschwitz. His two sons live in America.

Asher and Berel Shalkovich, sons of Aharon Shalkovich ‘Koroshel.’ They dealt in flour. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Yitzhak Shalkovich, a son of Aharon Shalkovich. He had a Dye Store. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Baylah Schein, ‘Die Lopenitser[31],’ lived in Aharon Shalkovich's house. She was killed in Treblinka. Her children went off to Russia and remained alive. Dr. Shlomo Markus was killed in the forest with the partisans.

His parents, the Markuses from near the river, were taken away with the [first] 200 people. His wife, Nechama, lives with her second husband in Rumania. Tzirel, Baylah's daughter, and her husband Friedman, went to Australia. Kayla, the other daughter, lives in Poland with her husband Herschel Volsky.

David Weinstein, ‘Der Meshonzhik[32],’ a Horse-hitcher, lived on Tchisteh Gasse. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Volksy, a Glazier from the Tchisteh Gasse. His son Herschel, with his family, were in Russia and survived. Today they are found in Poland. His sister was a partisan, and also survived.

Mulya Shkolnikovich. He and his wife Paulia, and the children, were killed in Treblinka. Also his sister, along with her family, were killed in Treblinka.

[Page 447]

Moshe Movshovsky, the son of Fruma from the Grodno Gasse. He, his wife, and children, were killed in Treblinka.

 

Wilenska Gasse

Kalman Levitt, The Military Tailor. The entire family was wiped out.

The Khvonyik Family. Milia, along with the two children from her daughter Nieta were killed in Treblinka. The daughter, Nieta, left the bunkers and went to Bialystok and was killed there in one of the aktions. Her husband, Joseph Gandz, was also killed in Treblinka. I have already written about Khvonyik's son Chaim and his wife Lolyeh[33] (a daughter of Pelteh the Moditskeh), in the description of the streets where they lived.

Yud'l Novick. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka. Their daughter and her husband, Kiva Ein (a son of Yoss'l Ein, from Kolontai), were killed in Auschwitz.

Yoss'l DavidovskyKhrakun,’ the Vinegar Maker. Already documented in the description of the street where he lived.

Kaplan, the Lumber Handler (a brother of Velvel Kaplan, who is in Israel).The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Berel Narozimsky, ‘Tchistorozum,’ an Ironmonger. He was killed by the Germans in the second party, a few months after they entered the city. His wife was killed in Treblinka.

Feygl Resnick. No one remains from this family.

Rivka Gershuni. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Aizik Werner, last lived at Gershuni's. He died in the bunkers from typhus. His wife, children, and sister, Anna, were killed in Treblinka.

Applebaum. Only the daughter Tcherneh survived out of the entire family. She was in the Auschwitz camp.

 

Gymnasialneh Gessel

Only a few families lived there:

Shlomo Levin, ‘Koval,’ the Smith. Already documented in the description of the Tatarski Gasse, where he last lived.

Herschel Zuckerman, from the Paper Business. Already documented in the description of the Wide Boulevard.

[Page 448]

Ravitzky. Herschel, Reb Teveleh's brother[34]. His wife and children were killed in Treblinka.

Noah Steinberg, Ravitzky's brother-in-law, an electronic technician. He was killed in Treblinka.

Mikhelson. Had a Brick Works. The entire family (two sons and a mother)was killed in Treblinka. His son, Izzy with his wife Buzya Rozhansky (a grandchild of the Bialystoker Baker), were in Pruzhany before the Germans came. Buzya survived, and today is in Volkovysk.

 

Tatarski Gasse

“Pastrigach” (I don't remember their family name). No one of them survived.

Shlomo Weinstein, a Horse-hitcher. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Hosea Moorstein, a Shoemaker (he was also called ‘the fifteen-minute man’). He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

“Alibuder.” The wife and children were killed in Treblinka. The son-in-law, Israel Tzemakh was shot by the Germans on the first day of their occupation.

Khvalitsky, a Tailor from the villages. His son Chaim, a Porter, was wounded in the bombardment and later died. Chaim's wife and children were killed in Treblinka. His brother, a Tanner (a son-in-law of Mordechai the Shoemaker from Zamoscheh), was also killed in Treblinka along with his family.

'Niomka Solkovich – He is written up in the description of the Wide Boulevard.

Abraham Zaklas. He and his wife Myteh (a daughter of Pikarsky), and their children, were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Yanovsky (lived in the house of the son of the White-Haired One) – already documented. His wife Rosa (a daughter of Velvel Kaplan from the Kholodoisker Gasse) was killed in Treblinka with the child.

Leibl Draznin, A Gardener. The entire family was killed in Auschwitz and Treblinka.

Moshe Lastovsky, The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Tzipa Pashinker. She and her son and daughter-in-law (a daughter of Yud'l Rubinstein), and their child were killed in Treblinka.

Yud'l Rubinstein the Locksmith. He was wounded by a bomb on the last day of the bombardment, and died shortly thereafter. His son, Velvel, also a Locksmith, with his wife, Chas'sheh and child, were killed in Treblinka.

[Page 449]

Shlomo Levin, A Smith. His wife and children were killed in Treblinka. His son, Mottel was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there.

Dvora Rokhkin. She, her grandchild and daughter-in-law (a daughter of Sarah Gisha from the Svisluczkeh Gasse) were killed in Treblinka.

Fishl Ozernitsky, son-in-law to Kagan the Shokhet. He, his wife and child, were killed in Treblinka.

Shimon the Rebbe – No longer lived there.

Yaakov Lanievich. During the time of the German occupation, he and his family found themselves in Lida, and were killed there.

Shmuel Bayer, a Wagoner. His wife and children were killed in Auschwitz. He was in the Auschwitz camp, and constantly bemoaned the fact that his entire family was taken away, and he was left behind. After a short time, he became sick, and was taken to the hospital, and from there to the gas chambers.

Leibl Travinsky, A Carpenter, a brother-in-law of Shmuel Bayer. He, along with his wife and children were killed in Treblinka.

Meir Lidiavsky, A Cabinetmaker, and son-in-law to the Pashinkers. The entire family was wiped out.

Shifmanovich. During the time of the German occupation, only the Mother, and daughter Tzil'eh remained in Volkovysk. They lived at the Draznins. Both were killed in Treblinka.

Itchkeh Botvinsky. Immediately at the beginning of the war, he went away to Russia with his entire family. They all survived and are today in Volkovysk.

Shepsel Zelitsky. He, his wife, child, and mother, were killed in Treblinka.

Dr. Yitzhak Weinberg. He was president of the Judenrat during the time of the German occupation. He was a very energetic and heroic man, in whom the entire Jewish population of Volkovysk had great trust because of his endeavors on behalf of the welfare of the local Jews. Sadly, he was among the first of the Volkovysk martyrs, and was killed in the aktion against the doctors in connection with the accusation that a Jewish doctor had tended to a wounded partisan. His wife and child were killed in Treblinka.

 

Tatarski Gasse

The Second Side

Arkin. The mother was killed in Treblinka. The older son, Feivel, a Dental Technician, was in the Auschwitz camp, who hung himself there immediately after his arrival, putting an end to his suffering. His wife Sonya (a daughter of Rutchik the Zhelenevicher), and the children, were killed in Auschwitz. I do not know what happened to Feivel's younger brother.

[Page 450]

Itcheh Shchupak, ‘Der Niezner.[35]’ He and his family, with the daughter, Chana Kaplan, were killed in Treblinka.

Shmuel Sidransky, ‘Kaban,’ A Butcher. He, with his wife and child, were killed in Treblinka.

Israel Tzemakh. The Germans shot him on the first day they entered the city, in his yard on the Tatarski Gasse. The remaining members of his family were killed in Treblinka.

Orlansky, A Tailor (a son of the Odessa Tailor, and a brother-in-law of Shmuel Sidransky). He and his child were killed in Treblinka. He was a son-in-law to the Pashinkers.

Polonsky, A Tailor, known at one time as ‘The Old Bachelor.’ He and his wife Chas'shkeh, from the laundry, were killed in Treblinka.

Meir Pintel, A Carpenter, a son of Chas'shkeh from the Laundry. He and his wife (a daughter of Kadish Pikarsky), were killed in Treblinka.

Tkach. The parents were killed in Treblinka. One son, Itcheh, who was a cinema director before the Soviets, was killed by the Germans among the first 200 men. The second son served in the military, and was captured by the Germans. However, we do not hear anything from him.

Shlomo the Horse-hitcher (Blind Pin'iyeh's son-in-law). The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Berel Milvansky, a Horse-hitcher, son-in-law of Pin'iyeh. He and the family were killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Zernitsky, a Miller ‘Shchavoi.’ He with his youngest son were killed in Auschwitz. During the time of the Soviets, the older son was a director of a woodworking factory. He later fled from Volkovysk to Russia, but nothing is heard from him. The remaining members of the family were killed in Treblinka.

Abba the Shoemaker. He, and his entire family were killed in Treblinka.

Ryder, A Shoemaker. Abba the Shoemaker's son-in-law. He, and the family were killed in Treblinka.

Joseph Nachman Shifran, A Shoemaker. His son David went off to war in 1939, and was killed there. The youngest son Mottel, fought with the partisans and survived. He is found today in Volkovysk. The son-in-law, Gershon Beckenstein was a musician in the orchestra of the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there. Joseph and his wife, Taiba, along with the children Yeshayahu, Dob'eh and Chana, were all killed in Treblinka.

Khatzkel Berlin, ‘The Dancer.’ His son died a sudden death in the movie house during the time of the Soviet occupation. The remainder of the family were killed in Treblinka.

Kimmelman. His wife was in Warsaw during the time of the war. One daughter, Paulia, was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there. I have already written about the older daughter (the wife of Lipa Davidovsky).

[Page 451]

Moshe Leib Levinsky, A Butcher. He, his wife Ethel and daughter Chana (married to Leon Shiff), were killed in Treblinka.

Gisha, ‘Tzatzkehs.’ The son, who had returned from America, was killed with his family in Treblinka. The sister, Pes'sha was also killed along with them.

Leibl Shapiro. He and his wife Tcherneh (a daughter of Rachel Leah Cantor, the Storekeeper), and the children, were killed in Treblinka.

Joseph Yezernitsky,[36]The Gypsy,’ an Artist. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Alter Yezernitsky, A Porter. A son of Joseph Yezernitsky. His son, Mula, was killed in the Auschwitz camp. Alter, and the remaining members of his family were killed in Auschwitz.

Alexander Makov, a Cut Goods Storekeeper. He alone was killed by the Poles on September 18, 1939 during the pogrom against the Volkovysk Jews. His wife traveled to her son, Yaakov the doctor, in Bialystok. We do not hear from them. The younger son is married and lives in Israel.[37]

Yitzhak Weiner, A Butcher. He and his son, a Hairdresser, and the family, were killed in Treblinka. Yitzhak Weiner's other son, a blond, and also a hairdresser, went off to Russia at the start of the war. However, nothing is heard from him.

Walitsky. Nobody from this family survived.

Gainsay. Nobody from this family survived.

Joseph Davidovsky, ‘Khrakun.’ He was a very rich man. Before the Jews were taken out to the bunkers, money was gathered in the hope of succeeding in deflecting the decree. When they came to Davidovsky for his contribution, he argued while giving over the money: “what, money, you know what money is, for money I will buy myself out of death at the last moment.” Regardless, he went off to Treblinka with his wife, and was killed there along with everyone else. His son, Chaim, with his family, were killed in Treblinka. His son Lipa with his wife and child, as also Herschel, were killed in Auschwitz.

[Page 452]

Shmuel Sholom Weiner. His son Israel, a Flour Merchant, was killed along with his wife in Treblinka. The older son went off to war in 1939 and was captured by the Germans. From what it appears, he was killed. The younger son, Moshe, was with me in the Auschwitz camp. There he fell sick, and was killed on the same day as Yeshayahu Mezheritzky. Shmuel Sholom's daughter with her husband and children were killed in Treblinka.

Lev, ‘The Koshchilker’ Most of the family – his daughters, Koritiansky and Goldberg, with their families – were in Piesk at the time of German occupation, where they had a mill. However, later, they were all brought to Volkovysk, and into the bunkers, with the Piesk Jews, where together with the others sent there, were then shipped to Treblinka where they were killed. Only one daughter remained in Volkovysk, Manya, with her husband, Meshengisser. They had a Soda-water Factory. Together with the children, they were killed in Auschwitz.

Leibeh Ein, an old bachelor. He lived at the Lev's, together with his sister, also an old maid who used to carry and sell milk. He used to purchase licenses for the merchants at the Kasse-Skarbova. Both were killed in Treblinka.

Hona Kavushatsky. He and his wife, Frum'keh, went away to Vilna before the Soviets, and from there to Israel.

Dr. Remen, Kavushatsky's son-in-law. He went to Lida, and was killed there. His wife and child were killed in Auschwitz.

Berezinsky, a General Merchandise Storekeeper, an uncle of Israel Gurevich. He, his wife and two daughters, were killed in Treblinka.

Rabinovich from the Herring. The older son, Moshe, was an active Zionist, and a leader of the Volkovysk community. Thanks to the influence of [Engineer Ephraim] Barash, it became possible for him to leave the bunkers and go to Bialystok. However, he was later brought to the Auschwitz camp on one of the transports from Bialystok, where I met him after his arrival. Later, I heard that he had been killed there. His brother, 'Nioma, and the younger sister, as also the older sister, her husband and child, were all killed in Treblinka.

Rivka Einhorn, had a Food Store. Her son, Chaim Ozer went off to Vilna before the Soviets. However, he later returned to Volkovysk when the Germans invaded. On November 2, he did not go into the bunkers according to the German order, and wanted to flee. The Germans caught him, and shot him on the spot. Rivka, and her daughter Dina with her child, were killed in Treblinka.

Yud'l Gershuni, An Expediter. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Nakhum Gershuni. He was captured, along with nine other men attempting to escape from the bunkers, and they were all shot.

Shlomo'keh Davidovsky, ‘Shustak,’ and his brother. They had a Guest House and a Tavern. Both families were killed in Treblinka.

Leizer Kossowsky, a Tavern Keeper. He, his wife and children were killed in Treblinka. A son, who was blond, fled from the bunkers to Pruzhany. However afterwards, as a result of a selection that took place there, was

[Page 453]

sent to the Auschwitz camp, where I met him. He was killed in a selection there, a short time afterwards. One daughter, who was married to Milikovsky's son, also went off to Pruzhany with her husband, and was killed there on one of the transports.

Meir, ‘The Blond,’ An Ironmonger. His son, with his wife and child, were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Karashinsky of the Tea House. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe'keh Yunovich, Tamara's son. He, his wife and son, were killed in Treblinka.

Weissenberg, from the Paper Store. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Golub, a Stone Paver, a son-in-law of Moshe Poliak the Butcher. He and the family were killed in Treblinka.

Feivel Yunovich, the son of Joseph, Tamara's from the Ironmongery. He with his wife and children, were killed in Treblinka. In the month of December 1942, when he was being taken by the Nazis on his last journey, he said to me, that if I could hold out until March of the following year, then I will survive, because the war could not continue any longer than that.

 

Grodno Gasse

Die Bontzerkeh, from the Grain Handlers. (I don't remember their name). Nobody from this family survived.

Feinzilberg, from the Boineh The son, Yoss'l was shot by the Germans immediately after they entered the city. The remaining members of the family were killed in Treblinka.

Krum, from the Lock Factory. The entire family was killed – part of them in Treblinka, and part in Auschwitz.

Meir Krum. He, his wife (the daughter of Pin'iyeh Weinberg) and his two children decided, on the last day prior to the intent to drive them into the bunkers, to hide themselves in the home of a friend, who was a Christian. The Germans caught them, and shot them on the spot.

Hananiah, a Miller. One son was in Russia, but we hear nothing from him. His son, Chaim with his family, were killed in Treblinka.. The remaining members of the family were killed in Auschwitz.

Tzal'keh Liss, a Porter. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Shmuel Kravchik, a Shoe Merchant. His daughter, Mereh, and her husband, Lev, a Hairdresser (a grandson of Yehuda Hirsh'keh), were killed – he in the Auschwitz lager, and she in Auschwitz. Shmuel and his second wife Hinde, and her children: Ahareh, Hanokh, Pin'iyeh and Henya – were all killed.

Leibl Kravchik, a Hairdresser (Shmuel's son). He was in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there.

Yoss'l Shkolnikovich. He, his wife and daughter, were killed in Treblinka. One son, Avreml, a Carpenter, was in the Auschwitz camp. He became sick with dysentery there, and decided to present himself to the hospital, but unlike the majority there, decided not to go to work. He didn't come out of the hospital, and was killed in the gas chambers.

[Page 454]

Moshe'l Shifran, a Flour Merchant, he used to be called ‘Peretzess’ (he was stout). He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Zimmel Wand and the brothers. They dealt in calves and orchard produce. All the brothers with their families were killed in Treblinka.

Schaja Shifran, a Locksmith. His wife was known as ‘Shayna die Bontzerkeh.’ One son was shot by the Germans trying to flee from the bunkers together with Abraham Bonchevsky, from Baranovich. Shayna and the daughters were killed in Treblinka. One son, Ephraim, who was a Russian prisoner of war, survived.

Itcheh Gurevich, from the Bontzers was known by the name, ‘Koya.’ He played the drum in the Fire-fighter's orchestra. He, his wife and children were killed in Treblinka.

Herschel Gurevich, a Food Storekeeper and also a member of the Fire-fighters. He, his wife and children were killed in Treblinka.

Grunes, The ‘Metches,’ Wagon Drivers. He, his son and the family were killed in Treblinka.

Yud'l Orlin, a son-in-law of Grunes. He, and family were killed in Treblinka.

Meir ‘Metch,’ a Wagon Driver. A son-in-law of Grunes. He was shot in the bunkers over a quarrel about a few potatoes. He was shot in front of my eyes. His family was killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Golubovich, ‘Kindzhuk’ the Miller (he was very stout). He, with his children and their families were all killed – a part of them in Auschwitz, and a part in Treblinka.

Sholom Golubovich from the Fashion Corner. His family was killed in Treblinka. He was with me in the train car on the transport to Auschwitz. However, along with other hundreds of Volkovyskers, he was immediately sent to the gas chambers.

Nos'keh Shifran, a Shoemaker. He, his wife Taiba, and family, were killed in Treblinka.

Mattes Schur, a Manufacturer-merchant. He had not lived in Volkovysk for many years before the war.

Berel Milvansky, a Horse-hitcher. He and his wife (a daughter of Tzipa Pin'iyeh's) and the family, were killed in Treblinka.

Barishansky, a Storekeeper of Cut Goods. A son-in-law of Palteh. He died before the war. His wife and children were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe TchopkinPalteh's’ from the Brick Works. His sons – Alter, Israel and Ephraim – did not go into the bunkers on November 2, in accordance with the decree. They hid themselves in the brick factory in a previously prepared bunker. They were however informed upon, and the Germans took them out of their hiding place, and shot them on the spot. The remaining members of the family were killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Tchopkin, ‘Palteh's.’ He had the concession for waste removal from the Jewish houses. Also, in the bunkers, he also had horses, and he would take out the waste and horse manure from the bunkers. Thanks to

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his work, he would come in contact with the free world and [was able] to bring a variety of foodstuffs into the bunkers, for which he used to get very high prices. He would also take out the corpses of the dead, and hide those living people underneath them, that wanted to attempt to save themselves from the bunkers. Shortly before the liquidation of the bunkers, he fled to Bialystok with his children, but they all were killed there in one of the aktions.

Weinstein, a Rope Merchant. He lived at the Tchopkin's. He, his wife and child were killed in Treblinka.

Leibeh Schein, from the Inn. Thanks to the fact that his son, Nakh'keh worked in the Judenrat, he remained with his wife among the last group of the 1700 in the bunkers. However, he later died there from typhus. His son's wife, Khien'keh (Yitzhak Galansky's ‘Koshmetch’ daughter), was shot in the bunker on January 26, 1943, at the time the lager was being liquidated, because she was sick with typhus, and was unable to go with the others in the last transport. Also, Noah Khantov was shot at that time for the same reason. Leibeh's son, Nakh'keh, his children, and Leibeh's wife were killed in Auschwitz.

Malka Perel's from the Restaurant. Her daughter Tcherneh, with her husband, Pomerianetz, and their children, were killed in Treblinka.

Shmuel Shalkovich, a Tank Repairer (a son-in-law of Malka Perel's). He, his wife Rachel and their daughter were killed in Treblinka.

Meir Shalkovich, a brother-in-law to Yudzhik the Expediter. He, and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Berel, the Shammes of the ‘Ein-Yaakov’ Bet HaMedrash. The Poles shot him in Karczyzna. His family was killed in Treblinka.

 

Alshimover Gasse

The ‘Pulzhidkehs’ (I don't remember their family name). He was a Handler. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Mottel, from [the] Boineh, A Butcher. He, and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Peckerman, A Butcher, a blond. He and his brother, and their families were killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Shmuel David's, a Horse-hitcher. He, and his large family were killed in Treblinka.

Herzl and Yaakov Azef, ‘Die Alubinehs,’ Wagoners. They, and their families were killed in Treblinka.

Feygl Sasson, daughter of the Butcher. She, her husband Zusa, and the children, were killed in Treblinka.

Pin'iyeh Weinberg. He was blind in one eye and was known in the city for his long gray beard. His wife was a cook at all the weddings. He was gassed with all the old people in the bunkers. His family was killed in Treblinka. One son, Itzel, lived in Grodno. I later met up with him in the Auschwitz camp. However, I do not know what finally happened to him.

The Horse-hitchers from BriskYitzhak, Pin'iyeh and Mottel. They, and their families were all killed in Treblinka.

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Yaakov and Jonah ‘Helkehs’ They, and their families were all killed in Treblinka.

Eliyahu Lifschitz ‘Tatkeh,’ a Horse-hitcher. His wife and child were killed by a bomb which fell on their house. He was killed in Treblinka.

Khatzkel Savuolsky, a Butcher (a son of Alter the Butcher). His sons were killed in the second aktion in the city, a couple of months after the entry of the Germans. He, his wife, Zlatkeh, and the remainder of his family, were all killed in Treblinka.

Alteh Weissenberg, A Writer. She was shot by the Germans on November 2, on the way to the bunkers, when she attempted to flee into the forest. The remaining members of her family were killed in Treblinka.

Leshchinsky, A Bagel-Baker, ‘Guzeh's.’ One son, Daniel, a Carpenter, was killed in the Auschwitz camp. The remaining members of the family were killed in Treblinka.

Itcheh Nakhum's, A Shoemaker. The entire family was wiped out in Treblinka.

Moshe Meir Shkolnik, A Food Storekeeper. He and his wife, Chas'sheh were killed in Treblinka. His son, 'Nioma (from the Wool Factory), with his wife Dvora and children, Isser and Mer'keh, were killed in Treblinka. Moshe Meir's daughter Rachel, with her husband, Yaakov Rosenblum, were also killed in Treblinka. Their two sons, Yud'l and Markel, survived.

Khatzkel Adin, father-in-law of Yaakov Palteh's. He and his wife Reizl, and son Shmuel with his family, and son-in-law Itzel (a Tailor), with his family, were all killed in Treblinka.

Hochman, from Kosovo (Shkolnik's relatives). They lived with their son at Moshe Meir's. Their son was killed in the Auschwitz camp. The remaining members of the family were killed in Auschwitz.

 

The Hospital Gasse

Winnick, a Rope Maker. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Berel GadderKatrina’ a Porter. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Smeizik, ‘Kushehs,’ a Horse-hitcher. He and his family were killed in Treblinka. His brother Jekuthiel, went off to Porozovo during the time of the Germans. But he was killed by German bullets together with a number of other Porozovo Jews. The rest of his family was wiped out in Treblinka.

Isser, a Horse-hitcher, a son-in-law of The Brisker. The entire family was wiped out in Treblinka.

Zalman Rodzhes, ‘Kvachuk,’ Sarah Elkeh's brother. The son, Alinka was already known before the war for his bad behavior. When the Germans entered, he became an informer, and the city suffered a great deal from this. The Judenrat, with Dr. Weinberg at the head, could not rid itself of him, because the Germans considered him to be useful. Once, however, he got drunk and was arrested. The Germans were in the habit, when the jails became too full with arrested people, to dispose of the excess when no one was paying attention. They would take the arrested people to the Izaveliner forest on the morning after the separation, and shoot them there. Dr. Weinberg, who still had considerable influence with the Germans command at that time in his capacity as head

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of the Judenrat, which used to hand over large sums of money in the name of the Jewish community, exerted himself to assure that such a selection should include Alinka. This matter came out as he wanted to, and Alinka was taken out the next morning from the jail to the forest, and he was shot there. The entire city breathed more easily.

Beinish Ogulnick, A Porter, he was also called, ‘Beinish'keh.’ He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Shalakhovich, from the Vinegar Works. I have already written about the daughter, who was married to Joseph Davidovsky-Khrakun. The other daughter, with her husband who was a scholar, were killed in Treblinka

Pesach Bayer, A Horse-handler. He died in the bunkers. His son, Dr. David, was with me in the Auschwitz camp, but he was killed there. The rest of the family was killed in Treblinka. One son of his brother David survived. His brother Chaim with his family were in Bialystok, and were killed there.

Benjamin Nishevsky, A Carpenter. He, his wife, and children were killed in Auschwitz. His son-in-law, Yaakov Beletz, was killed by the Germans among the first 200 men, Beletz's wife and children, and a brother of his, were all killed in Treblinka.

Reuven Nishevsky, a brother of Nishevsky the Carpenter. At the outbreak of the war he found himself in Warsaw, and participated in the uprising of the Warsaw Ghetto. I later met up with him in the Auschwitz camp. However, he was killed in one of the selections. I have written about him already.

Ovadiah WeinsteinKot,’ a Grain-handler. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Gruna Halpern, A Midwife (Leib Halpern's daughter). She and her sisters, Leah and Lyuba Rak, with her husband (who worked in the electricity plant), with their children, were killed in Treblinka.

Israel Aharon Dworetsky. He lived at the corner of the Hospital and Grodno Gasse. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Mikhal Jesierski, A Photographer. The entire family was killed – a part in Treblinka, and a part in Auschwitz.

The Sister and Brother from the Food Store (I don't remember their [family] name, they lived near Jesierski). Both were killed in Treblinka.

Zusa Ziskindovich, a former Forest Merchant, who later worked for Movshovich in petroleum products. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Beletz. He was killed among the first 200 men. His family was killed in Treblinka.

Yoss'l Beletz. The Germans shot him on the first day of their occupation. His wife (Kwiat's daughter), was killed in Treblinka. His sister, Feygl was shot by the Germans on November 2, when she attempted to escape from the bunkers.

Fruma Movshovsky, from the General Merchandise Business. Her daughter Manya and son-in-law (a Lawyer), were killed by the Germans shortly after their occupation, among the first 200 people. The son-in-law, Moshe Ivensky, was with me in the Auschwitz camp and was killed there. His wife and children were killed in Auschwitz.

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Moshe Movshovsky, Fruma's son. He, and his wife Esther Yezernitsky, and the children, were killed in Auschwitz.

Matus Fuchsman, A Tanner (lived at Movshovsky's). He and his wife, Shayn'dehleh (a daughter of Zelitsky), and the children, were killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Winetsky, A Purse Maker. His daughters were killed in Treblinka.

Malka Weinstein, ‘Korovoi,’ (a daughter of Abraham Yalovsky). She and her husband, Eliyahu, were killed in Auschwitz. Her son (by her first husband), went to war in 1939, but we heard nothing from him [since]. Her daughter fled from the bunkers and survived. The remainder of the family was killed in Auschwitz.

Berezniak, The entire family, with their sons-in-law and children, were killed in Treblinka.

The Deaf Shoemaker. He, and his wife and children, were killed in Treblinka.

Nachman Papa from the Ironmongery. He died shortly after the German occupation. His wife, Miriam, and daughter Zhenya, were killed in Treblinka.

Velvel Yudzhik from the Gardeners. His son, Ahareh Yos'keh, was killed in the bombardment. The second son, Leibeh, who was crippled, was taken away by the Germans with the ‘defective’ children. The rest of the family was killed in Treblinka.

Yoss'l Frack. He and his family were killed in Auschwitz. I wish to tell the following episode about him here. When the last transport was brought to Auschwitz, only a small group was separated off into the Auschwitz camp. Yoss'l Frack's son, Shlomo was in that group with me. We were required to go on foot to the labor camp. By contrast, the majority of those in the transport were designated to be taken by car immediately to the gas chambers. Going on foot in the direction of the work camp, Yoss'l Frack cried out from an automobile that was passing by, to me and his son who was walking in the same row with me: “You are being taken to life, and we – to death.” Shlomo Frack was later killed in the Auschwitz camp. But Yoss'l's words always echoed in my ears, because even then, in the transport cars, they knew they were being taken to their death. I was later told by one of the Sonderkommandos[38] who worked in the crematoria, that half of our transport did not want to enter the gas chamber, and the Germans shot them on the spot.

 

Ostroger (Kosciuszko) Gasse

Mendel EinZaharchik’ (a brother of Yoss'l Ein), a Grain Handler. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Ein, ‘Zaharchik,’ A Baker. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Israel Gurevich, a Flour Handler. He worked in the Judenrat during the time of the German occupation. The entire family was killed in Auschwitz.

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Itchkeh Ozernitsky, a son-in-law of Chaya-Shosha Saroka. He dealt in eggs. He was arrested for speculation by the Germans a short time before the lager was closed up. In connection with him, I will relate the following episode. I, along with a number of other workers, were designated to work in the city. After we underwent a disinfection, we were allowed to sleep in the prison lager, which had been made to order on the place of the former bathhouse. We were approximately 120 men, and our work consisted of transporting potatoes and other similar tasks, which as carried out under the oversight of the police. We were awakened at six in the morning, and by 6:30AM were already being taken to work. On the historic night of December 1942, when the last transport was taken away at night from Volkovysk to Treblinka, we were awakened at 4:30AM. We were no longer given any food, and conducted under a much stronger police guard that on every other day, to the police station, which was then found in a former house in Zamoscheh. At 5:00AM, we already found ourselves at the police [station]. The six arrested Jews, which were up till that time found in the arrest-house, were also led into that place at the same time. We had already heard that night, that the Jews had been driven out of Volkovysk, and as we subsequently found out some time later, it was to Treblinka. Itchkeh Ozernitsky and Alteh Berestovitsky were among those who were arrested, along with four other Jews whose names I do not remember. We were immediately surrounded by a strong guard of police and German gendarmes, armed with machine guns, and we were ordered to march. We went quietly, and we were certain that we were being taken to the train, where we will be taken away along with the other Jews from the bunkers. We were brought up to the end of the barracks, to the gate [leading to] the bunkers. We were ordered to stand there. A few minutes later, a number of workers emerged from the barracks. It was still dark, and in passing they told us, that the remaining Volkovysk Jews were taken out of the bunkers on the previous night, and only they remained in the bunkers as able-bodied workers and ‘necessary’ Jews. A few minutes later, a German officer came out of the barracks, ordered the six arrested people to be separated out from the rest of the workers, and they were immediately taken in the direction of the train, where they were sent away with the Jews in the transport. We, the workers, were led back to the bunkers. That is how Itcheh Ozernitsky was killed at that time, with the remaining members of his family in Treblinka.

Chaya Shosha Saroka. Her son, an old bachelor, was killed in Auschwitz.

Chas'shkeh Yellin, the widow of Shlomo'keh Nachman's. She and her children were killed in Treblinka. She was in the same bunker as my father, and my in-laws, the Moorsteins. I saw her on the last night before she was taken away on the transport to Treblinka.

Reuven Lifschitz. He and his wife, Leah (a cousin of mine), were killed in Treblinka. Their two daughters, Elkeh and Shayn'keh, were in the Auschwitz camp. Elkeh died there in a tragic way. Shayn'eh survived all the tribulations, and is today in Israel.

Nissan Zapoliansky, dealt in yeast (Lifschitz's father-in-law, and my uncle). He died in the bunkers.

Sarah'keh LevDodzhkeh's,’ the mother of Sylvia (Sima) Lersselroth. She and her daughter Chay'cheh, and son-in-law Zelig Kuznitsky, a bookkeeper, and their children, were killed in Treblinka.

Aizik Shchupak. His wife was Shayn'dl Dodzhkeh's (from the first husband Klempner; aunt of Sylvia Lesselroth from New York) She died in the bunkers on January 26, 1943, the night they were driven out of the lager. One of her sons, who was married to a daughter of Simcha Berg, was killed with his wife in Auschwitz. The other son was [also] in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed a short time afterwards.

Khatzkel Moorstein (my brother-in-law). He was taken away by the Germans along with the 200 men on

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August 7, 1941. His wife Baylah (a daughter of Nachman), and their two children, Henya and Aharon, were killed in Auschwitz. The older son, Moshe, went off to war in 1939. He was later captured by the Germans, and subsequently dies in imprisonment in 1941. The German chief headquarters in those days, when Volkovysk was still under Russia, sent all the details to the family – where, under which number, and in which city he was interred. (They were so helpful still in those times!).

Noah Leshchinsky, a Shoemaker, from the known ‘Guzes.’ He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Jedediah Marotchnik, a Leather Merchant. He died during the time of the Soviet occupation. His wife Mindl, his daughter, Nieta, and his son, Zaydl, were killed in Auschwitz. One son, Meir, fled on the way to the bunkers on November 2, 1942, but nothing is heard from him, and it would appear that he was killed.

Feivel Tzirulnitsky, from the Fashion Store in the row stores (a son-in-law of the American Tailor). He, his wife, daughter and son-in-law, Govzeh, were killed in Treblinka. His son Velvel (a soccer player), was killed by the Germans during the first week of their occupation. Velvel's wife (a daughter of Turiansky the Butcher), was killed in Treblinka. The remaining children were killed in Auschwitz.

Chaim Berel Klatchkeh, a Carpenter. He also had a Tea House. Nobody from this family survived.

Eliyahu Lemkin, the brother of the lawyer, Raphael Lemkin, who is in Washington [D.C.]. His wife was Liza, a daughter of Yenta Feygl Vinogradsky from the Fashion Store. Her mother, with the remaining members of her family were in Russia for many years before the war. She never heard from them, because the correspondence with the Russian Jews was forbidden. After the Russians occupied Volkovysk, Liza exchanged letters with her family, and through them, she received permission from Moscow for herself and her children to travel, in order that they may visit with relatives. A few weeks before the outbreak of the Russo-German war in 1941, her husband, Eliyahu Lemkin also received permission to travel to Russia to these relatives. When the war between Russia and Germany broke out in June 1941, they remained in Russia, and in this way the entire family survived.

Leibeh and Ziss'l Tchopper, my parents. My mother Ziss'l was killed by a bomb in the house of my father-in-law, Mordechai Moorstein. My father Leibeh was killed in Treblinka. My wife Batya, and my son Emmanuel, to whom I dedicate my current writing, became ill with typhus in the bunkers, and in sickness, they came with me to Auschwitz, where they were killed. I was at that time taken to the Auschwitz lager, from where I was later taken to a number of other camps, until in the end I was liberated.

Sakhar, the Director of the Tarbut School in Volkovysk. He and his family lived in our house. When a bomb fell on Chaim Berel Klatchkeh's house (where two Jewish children were killed, but I do not remember their names), the shrapnel from the explosion hit Sakhar's quarters. His wife, also a teacher, was killed instantly by this, and he lost a hand. Later, he and his child were killed in Treblinka.

Niss'l Bliakher. He, his wife and child, left for Bialystok, where they lived with the parent's of his wife. They were all killed in one of the local aktions there.

Yaakov Meir Zaklas, a Wallpaper Hanger, brother of Abraham Zaklas. His wife and child were killed in Treblinka. He was with me in the Auschwitz camp. He became severely weakened from all the troubles, and could not make roll call. The ‘house servants’ no longer wanted to let him back into the block. They beat him even more, and in this way they ended his life.

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Goldrei, an Ironmonger. The son, Abraham'l, was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there. The mother and the remainder of the family were killed in Treblinka.

David Peremolnik, a Gardener. He, his wife, son Berel, and daughter, were killed in Treblinka.

Leizer Shaliota. He died during the time of the German occupation. His son, Gedaliah, was killed in the Auschwitz camp.

Boruch Yunovich, from the Bank. His father, a Tinsmith, and mother, as well as his sisters and brothers were all killed in Treblinka.

Khemeh Yunovich, a Hatmaker, son-in-law to Meshel Lashowitz. The entire family was killed in Treblinka. One son fled to Russia at the beginning of the war, but nothing is heard from him. His daughter fled with Meir Marotchnik on November 2, 1942 going to the bunkers. Because nothing further was ever heard from them, it appears that they were killed.

Itcheh Uryonovsky, A Leather Harness Maker. The entire family was killed in Treblinka. One son, David, who happened to be in Russia during the time of the war, survived.

Leibeh Beckenstein, ‘Beiteleh,’ a Tailor. His two sons were with me in the Auschwitz camp. Boruch was killed immediately after we arrived in the camp; the other son, Itcheh, was killed later. A third son, Shlomo, who studied the law, arrived in a transport from Luna. He worked in the Sonderkommando, where he was called ‘The Lawyer.’ I would see him quite often, despite the fact that his block was closed off, and they were not given freedom of movement about the camp. Later, during the evacuation, hew was also killed. Zuss'l Kossowsky from Volp, a brother-in-law of Dr. Marek Kaplan who came on our transport, worked in that commando unit towards the end. He was shot there at the time of the uprising of the Sonderkommando. The commando unit consisted of those who worked in the crematoria.

Isaac Shchupak. His mother Dina, and sister Golda, and her husband Leferer with the child, were killed in Treblinka.

Mottel Stolovitsky. He had a Tavern. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Yaakov Matskevich, a Pharmacist. He was killed in Treblinka. His wife, Fanya, was killed by a bomb on June 26, 1941 that fell near Nakdimon's house in Karczyzna. The son, Moshe'l and his wife, Nieta (a daughter of Joseph Kaplan), and their child, left the bunkers on Aryan papers. I spoke with Moshe'leh on the day before they left the bunkers, and her told me his plan and that he had set aside a little bit of jewelry, which he thought would help him to carry out his plan. As was later deduced, they were captured some time later in Lisokovo. A Christian policeman recognized them, and ignoring their bitter pleas, and the representations to bribe him, he turned them over into German hands. Moshe went to the execution with his child in his arms, and in this fashion, they were all shot.

Abraham Grodzhensky. Towards the last, he had a Tea House. He, and his wife Sonya (a sister of Feivel Tzemakh), with the child, were killed in Treblinka.

Meir Falkovich, A Tailor from Karczyzna. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

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Mazover, A Wurst Handler. The entire family was killed in Treblinka. His daughter Bluma, who was married to Chaim Dworetsky from the Kharkuns, was killed in Treblinka also, along with her husband and child.

Abraham Galiatsky The Barber. He was shot by the Germans on November 2, in the Talmud Torah along with the old people who were unable to go along with everyone else into the bunkers. I have already written about his daughter Riv'l and her husband Bostomsky.

Herschel Mazover, a Paper Merchant. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka. One daughter, Ida, was saved. She leapt from the wagon that was the transport to Maidanek, and in jumping, she broke a leg. What she endured is separately documented later in this Yizkor Book. She lives today in Poland, and is married. Her [married] name is Rak. Her sister Fanya, also jumped from the wagon that was taking a transport from Bialystok to Maidanek, but it is not known what happened to her.

Melekh Khantov, a Fashion Storekeeper. He was the leader of the Fire-fighting Command for many years. The Germans shot him in the bunkers, on the historic night of January 26, 1943 when because of illness, he was unable to go with the rest of the Jews to the last transport. His wife, and daughter, Zhenya, with her husband, Zelitsky and their child, were killed in Auschwitz.

David Poliachek from the Restaurant. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Nionia and Lollek Poliachek. They were all killed in Treblinka.

A. Mant, A Dentist. His wife Dora (from the Marantz's), and daughter, were killed in Treblinka. He was killed in the aktion against the Jewish doctors of Volkovysk.

Schein. The mother was killed by the bombs [that fell on] Margolis's cellar.

Zhameh Schein. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Epstein, a Dye Storekeeper, ‘Sarah-Yocheved'sHe and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

David Turiansky, a Butcher. His son, ‘Nott'l’ Israel, was with me in the Auschwitz camp. He fell sick there with dysentery. He had become so weakened, that on the final day before he died, he was taken into the block, and placed under the bed bunk on the bare earth. When, on that night, I went to him, with his cousin Israel (Fish'keh) Galai who was still alive, to see how he felt, we found him undressed already (the able used to strip off the clothing from the half-dead), and that is the way he expired. I have already written about his daughter and son-in-law, Velvel Tzirulnitsky.

Nakhum RosenblumGetch,’ a Maker of Soda-Water. His two sons, Ahareh and Bonya[39] were with me in the Auschwitz camp, and they were killed there. The remainder of the family was killed in Treblinka.

Kobrinsky. From all of the three brothers and three sisters and their families, no one is left. A brother-in-law

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of Leibl Kobrinsky, Feivel Lakhovitsky from Svislucz was with me for a short while before the liberation from the German camps. He survived the evacuation of the camps. I took my leave of him three weeks before the liberation, but according to what I heard from people that I knew with whom we were together, he died only a few days before the liberation, in Ebensee, Austria.

Golub, A Stone Paver (a son-in-law of Polack the Butcher).He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Pes'sha Blinderman. The mother and oldest son, Volpeh, were killed during the time of the bombardment in Epstein's building (The Agent). The second son, Danya, was killed in Auschwitz.

Herschel Yudzhik, from the Printing Works. He was in Dereczin with is wife's family at the time of the German occupation. They were killed there during the massacre.

Meir Shalkovich, Yudzhik's brother-in-law and partner. His wife, Kreineh and child, were killed in Treblinka.

Rapahel Patsovsky, A Cabinet Maker. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Berel Press, The Technician. He lived in Manya Galai's building. I have already written about him, together with the other Presses, in the description of the Wide Boulevard.

Natan Spiegelglass, son-in-law of Leizer Shaliota. He had a Coffee House. His wife, Mirkeh, was killed in Treblinka. His younger son, Shmuel Yitzhak, died in the bunkers. He, and his older son Khatzkel, were killed in Auschwitz.

Dr. Aaronson. He died in Volkovysk a few years before the war. His wife and son went away to Russia, but nothing has been heard from them.

Leizer Shaliota. ‘Zahaliker.’ He and his wife were killed in Treblinka. His daughter, and her husband, Saneh Lifschitz, were in Bialystok, and it looks like they were killed in an aktion there.

Dr. Yaakov Sedletsky. His wife and child were killed in Auschwitz. On daughter, Ed'zheh was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there. Yaakov Sedletsky was very active in the Judenrat, and was killed in the aktion against the Volkovysk Jewish doctors.

Boruch Yunovich, A Bookkeeper that worked at Bank ‘Kupetsky.’ His wife Hadassah, died during the time of the German occupation. He and his child were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Nakhinson, a Bookkeeper, had a Billiard Parlor. He, his wife, and daughter Rosa, who was a Medical Doctor, were killed in Treblinka. The son, Shlomo (had a Pharmacy), with his wife and child, were killed in Treblinka.

Mordechai Moorstein, A Tailor (my father-in-law). He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Yitzhak GalanskyKoshmetch,’ from the Ready-made Clothes. He, his wife and children, were killed in Treblinka. One daughter, Khien'keh (Nakh'keh Schein's wife), was shot by the Germans in the bunkers, as I have previously documented.

[Page 464]

Yaakov SalamanDer Haminicher,’ a Watchmaker. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Shipiatsky, A Gardener. A son-in-law of Der Haminicher. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Herschel Daniel, a son of Yerakhmiel the Head of the Yeshiva. His wife and child were killed in Treblinka. He was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there.

Salaman, a Shoemaker. A son-in-law of Moshe Weiner. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Chaya Neiman (Hanokh's wife). She, and her son Yaakov, a Teacher, with his wife Chana and son Mottel, were killed in Treblinka.

Guralnik, a son of Bontsheh the Shoemaker. He was shot in 1905. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Meir Weiner, a Shoemaker. He was also the Gabbai of the Khevra-Kadisha. His son Moshe, a Carpenter and a Fire-fighter, with his family, were killed in Treblinka. The other son, Yaakov, also a Carpenter and Fire-fighter, with his family, were killed in Auschwitz. One daughter Chaya, was in the Auschwitz camp, and survived. She is today in Israel.

Galler. The family had a mother, and I think, two children. Their fate is unknown.

Itkeh Zoyman, A Widow. She was killed by the bombs in Mordechai Moorstein's house. Her son, Markel, a Tailor, went off to Russia several weeks before the outbreak of the war. I do not know, however, what happened to him.

Galands. Nobody from this family survived.

Ein, From the ‘Potato Pudding Makers.’ Nobody from this family survived.

Yaakov Goldberg, Husband of Shosh'keh Kvachuk. He was a Fire-fighter and had a Fruit Store. He was killed on June 26,1941 when the Germans bombed the city. He was at that time at Nakdimon's in Karczyzna, because it was more tranquil in that section. When the airplanes flew by in the sky, Goldberg went out of the house to see where they were flying to, when at the same moment a bomb fell and tore his head off. His wife Shosh'keh was killed in Auschwitz. The following were also killed along with Goldberg at Nakdimon's house: Fanya Matskevich, Itcheh Poliakovich (a Tailor), and his son-in-law Sholom Lifschitz, Berman from the Assayers, with a child, and others, whose names I cannot remember.

Reuven Lifschitz. Already documented on the street where he last lived.

Mulya Cantor. He worked in the Judenrat. At the time of the last transport to Auschwitz, when the people were driven into the wagons, he was separated from his wife and child, as was the case with many families in that transport. He and his younger son, Reuven, were in the same wagon with me. Along the way, he went insane. It was terrifying to look at the image of his child talking to him, and he was no longer able to respond meaningfully. The foodstuffs that the Cantors had taken for themselves for the trip had remained with the mother in the other wagon. The child who was with him, however, refused to accept food from strangers, and his father was at that point no longer in his senses. The entire family was killed in Auschwitz.

[Page 465]

Yitzhak Salaman (A Forest-Handler). He and his wife, Hinde Shapiro left Volkovysk before the Russians came in, fearing that they would be sent to Siberia. They went off to Grodno, but were killed there in one of the aktions.

Issachar Lidsky, A Forest-Handler, a brother-in-law to Yitzhak Salaman. He and his family left Volkovysk out of fear of the Soviets and went to Ruzhany, but they were killed there in one of the aktions.

Dr. A. Shlackman[40]. He was the only Jew who remained living in Olkhovsky's house. Shortly before the war, he went on vacation to Russia, and because of this, survived. He is today in Poland. His wife and child were killed.

Israel Rossiansky, A Grain-Handler. The entire family was killed except for one daughter, Tcherneh, who saved herself.

Abraham Berestovitsky, A Pharmacist, Yaakov the Postman's son. He and his child were killed.

* * *

From May 3rd on, on the street, which at one time was called the Poritzisher Gasse, no Jews lived towards the end.

 

Ostroger (Kosciuszko) Gasse

The Other Side

Glickfeld. Nobody remains from this family.

Melakovsky Their daughter Rachel got married, and lived in Pruzhany, and their entire family relocated there during the time of the German occupation. They were all wiped out with the Jews of Pruzhany.

Gedaliah Burdeh, A Wallpaper Hanger. He and his wife were killed in Treblinka.

Ilyovich, a Widow. She and her family were killed in Treblinka. Only one son, Yaakov a Photographer, who found himself in Russia, survived.

 

Mazover Gesseleh

Tzipa Levin, ‘Sweet Tzipa.’ The entire family was wiped out. According to what I have heard, only one grandchild survived.

Alter Movshovsky, A Cut Goods Merchant. His wife was killed in Treblinka. His son was killed in Auschwitz. He himself was in the Auschwitz camp and fell there as a martyr.

'Nioma Zakheim, An Old Bachelor, and his sisters, also old maids, were all killed in Treblinka.

[Page 466]

Spindler, from the Ready-made Clothes. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Spindler, Moshe Tchopkin's son-in-law. He was also a relative to Spindler from the Ready-made Clothes. He was a German war prisoner, and it looks like he was killed there.

Lev, A Shoemaker (Brother of the Bialystoker Baker). The entire family was wiped out.

Mottel Rothford from the Liquor Business (Already written about him in the description of the Market Place).

Israel Efrat, A Lawyer. He died a number of years before the war. His family with the daughters, and one son-in-law, Lostov, and a grandchild, were killed in Treblinka.

Kwiat, A daughter of the Rabbi of Piesk. The entire family was wiped out.

Pelteh Langbord, A Milliner. Already documented in the description of the Wide Boulevard, where she last lived.

Yaakov Goldberg from the Fruit Business. Already documented on the street where he last lived.

Meir Epstein, from the Glass Business. Already documented in the description of the Neuer Gessel.

Chaim Schwartzbuch, A Shoemaker. The entire family was wiped out. I have already written about the son, Eliyahu, in the description of the Neuer Gessel.

Hona Shiff, A Watchmaker. Already documented in the description of the Wide Boulevard.

Alter and Yaakov Galai, Butchers. One son, Israel ‘Fish'keh’ was together with me in the Auschwitz camp. He developed poisoning from an ulcerous skin abscess, and he died in the hospital during the same week as Noah Fuchs. One Galai, who was in Russia, survived. All the other members of both families were killed.

Dr. David Tropp, a Dentist. He was killed in the aktion against the Volkovysk Jewish doctors. His wife, Fanya, poisoned herself. Their two sons, twins, later found themselves in the bunkers with an aunt and uncle, Milia and Moshe Benjamin Shalakhovich. When the Volkovysk transport was sent out to Treblinka, the two orphans went away with the others.

Nakhum Kroll, a Pharmacist. He and his family came out of the bunkers a day before January 26, 1943, when it was planned to send out the last transport from the Volkovysk bunkers. They hid themselves on the Svisluczkeh Gasse (Zamoscheh) at a Christian's. The son, Lolleh, went out in the street on one day, and he was recognized by Christians who then informed on him. The entire family was shot, along with the family of the Christian who hid them.

Shakhnovich. Already written about this family in the description of the Rynkower Gasse.

Schwartzbuch, A Barber. The entire family was wiped out.

Chaim Yitzhak Zapoliansky (my cousin). He and his wife and son, were killed in Treblinka.

Kaplan, A Tinsmith. The entire family was wiped out.

[Page 467]

Yoss'l Ain, ‘Der Kolontayer.’ The Russians sent him to Russia, and he survived. His wife and son were killed in Treblinka. His daughter, Rachel, was killed in the Auschwitz camp. His son Kuva, his wife and child, were killed in Auschwitz. The son, Mottel, during the time of the German occupation, found himself along with his wife Dora Greenberg, at her parents' in Sokolka, and they were killed there in one of the aktions.

Gittl Shereshevsky, A Widow. She, and her sons, Moshe Leib and Joseph Boruch, were killed.

The Shammes from Piesk. In connection with him, I wish to tell about the following episode here. After the last bombardment, when I ran to find out about my parents, from whom I had been separated the last day, I ran into my father on the way. We then ran to see my mother. Near my father-in-law's house (Moorstein), we were met by the Shammes from Piesk , where he also lived with his family. He begged us with entreaties to help him pull out the bodies of his wife and two children that were buried in the rubble. When we entered the house, we heard the cries of people: “take the soffit off of us.” We began to raise the soffit, but it was entirely covered with the wood from the wrecked house. When I then ran out on the second side, to see if something could be done from there to rescue the unfortunate people underneath, I suddenly saw a covered body, and because of the dress, I recognized my mother. She was lightly covered, and almost not broken up, although she was no longer alive. In the middle of all this, the house was entirely engulfed in flames. We were forced to step back from that place into the garden. In the meantime, a new air attack arrived. I, my wife and child, as also the remaining members of my family, all fled to the Russian cemetery (Die ‘Mogilkehs’) The entire city, at that point, was already in flames. Later on, we found out that the Shammes was able to rescue only his wife, and his two children were burned alive, also, he and his wife were later killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Lifschitz from the Hotel, a son-in-law of Yehuda Hirsh'keh. He, his wife Chaya, and son, Sholom, were killed in Treblinka. His daughter, who was married to Kaplan the Lumber Merchant, was killed in Treblinka with her husband. The other daughter, Ethel, and her husband, Chaim Shelyuvsky, were killed in Auschwitz.

Israel Gubar[41], David Gubar's son. He and his wife, Feygl (a daughter of the Dworetskys and a granddaughter of Bloch), and their children, were killed in Treblinka.

Velvel Bliakher. He and his wife, together with their sons and daughter, were all killed in Treblinka.

Leibl Darevsky, he worked in a bank. He was killed in Treblinka.

Khatzkel Geller, A Baker. He, his son and wife, were killed in Auschwitz. According to what I have heard, one son survived.

Fishl Berezinsky from the Food Store. They last lived at Khananovich's in Zamoscheh, near the bridge. They were all wiped out in Treblinka.

Herschel Mordetsky's Family. He was a Miller. His wife, Etta, and son Yoss'l, a Carpenter – he was also a well-known soccer player for Maccabi – were killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Lifschitz, ‘Tchemmeh,’ a Miller. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

[Page 468]

Aharon Hirsch Greengass. The entire family was killed.

Abraham Aharon Manokh (Zadok's son). He was killed by a bomb at the home of my father-in-law, Mordechai Moorstein. As I discovered later, after he was wounded, Abraham Aharon Manokh asked my mother to give him water. She went to get him water, and in the meantime, the air attack was renewed again. A second bomb fell on the house, and my mother along with the others, were not seen to leave the house, and they were all killed.

Yekhiel Yankov, from the Undergarments (Yitzhak Neiman's son-in-law). He and his wife, Bobel, were killed in Treblinka. His daughter Manya, with her husband, Liova Glickfeld, and the other daughter, Tzil'eh Wilk – were all killed in Auschwitz. Tzil'eh's husband, Zhoma Wilk, was killed in the Auschwitz camp.

Shlomo Zakheim. He and his wife, Dvo'shkeh, and his daughter Taiba, were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Joseph Ravitz. He and his wife, Masha, and his the children, were killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Yitzhak Podolinsky, the Carpenter. He was shot by the Germans on November 2, in the Talmud Torah along with the other old and sick people, who were unable to go with the transport. His wife, Rivka, and his daughters, Min'yeh and Chana Zyets were killed in Auschwitz.

Mordechai Gurevich. His wife Basheh died the day the Germans entered the city. Their children: Lip'sheh with her husband and sons, Itcheh and Yaakov, were killed in Treblinka; Chana and her family were killed in the Slonim massacres.

Berel and David Joseph Kaplan. I wrote about them already in the description of the streets where they lived.

Berel Amstibovsky, Avreml's son. He was a member of the Judenrat. His wife and child were killed in Auschwitz. He was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there. His brother and sisters were killed in Auschwitz.

Yaakov Jesierski, A Lumber-Handler. He died the day the Germans entered the city. His wife was gassed in the bunkers with the elderly. His daughter Fira died of typhus in the train car on the way to Auschwitz. Her husband, Yos'keh Botvinsky, and their son, were killed in Auschwitz.

Herschel Ravitz. He lives in America. His wife, Shifra, and the daughters, Taiba and Rosa, with the children, and one son, Itzel, were killed in Treblinka. The remaining two sons, Yaakov and David, were prisoners of the Germans, but nothing is heard from them. It would appear that they were killed.

 

Karczyzna

Itcheh Epstein, A Smith. He and his family, together with his son, Yerakhmiel, with his wife (a daughter of Koppel Turiansky the Beer Brewer), and their child, were killed in Treblinka.

Yoss'l, ‘Der Polivnik,’ A Pot Maker. The entire family was killed in Treblinka.

Dr. A. Amstibovsky. He was a partisan in Volhyn and survived. His sister and her husband, Menashe Gottesfeld, were killed in Treblinka. His brother Berel and the remaining three sisters, Sarah, Mir'el and

[Page 469]

Helen, were in the Auschwitz camp, and were killed there.

Lam, The Grain-Handler. His entire substantial family – three sons with their families, the daughter and her husband, Brunda – were all killed in Treblinka.

Leibl Yalovsky, ‘Korovoi,’ A Shoemaker. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Meir Seletsky from the Factory. The Russians sent him and his entire family to Russia. His sons live in Russia.

Anshel Shlep's. He, his wife and children, were killed in Treblinka.

Moshe Bereznitsky. He and his family were killed in Treblinka.

Borodetzky, ‘Koshmetch.’ Two Borodetzky brothers together with their families were killed in Treblinka. The third brother, Michael, was in the Auschwitz camp, and was killed there. His family was killed in Treblinka.

Joseph Garbarsky, A Pot Maker. The entire family was wiped out in Treblinka.

Hodel Botvinsky, Wife of the Shokhet. She, her daughter and her children, were killed in Treblinka. The son was killed in Auschwitz. The son-in-law, Yaakov Melamed, was with me in the Auschwitz camp, but a short time before the liberation, the Germans shot him when he tried to escape.

Abraham Wand. The entire family was wiped out in Treblinka.

Eliezer Nakdimon, A Forest-Handler. A bomb fell on his house, and many people were killed there. The Germans shot Nakdimon's son in the bunkers. One son was killed in Auschwitz. Eliezer, and his wife Rachel, with the remaining members of the family were killed in Treblinka.

Abraham Kalonsky. He and his wife Rachel, and their children, Fei'tcheh, Lip'sheh and the others, were all killed.

Brunda. Nobody from this family survived.

Moshe Pribulsky. The entire family was wiped out in Treblinka.

Grodzhensky, A Milkman. His wife, and daughter Bayl'keh with her husband, Pribulsky, a Shoemaker, were killed in Treblinka.

Eliyahu Zaklas, A Hatmaker. He and his wife Dvo'shkeh, and their four children (among them Sarah and Israel, I do not remember the names of the other two), were killed in Treblinka.

 

Translator's footnotes:
  1. Nickname variant to Raytse. Therefore equivalent to Reishl. Return
  2. Referring to Hillel Lev-Koshchilker. See page 179 Return
  3. The well-to-do, were called the Borzoi by the Communists, using the name of the swift Russian hounds as a metaphor. Return
  4. Jewish legend has it, that the existence of the world is predicated on the lives of thirty-six totally just and righteous individuals. They are considered to be pure in their character, and not necessarily people of note. The Hebrew ‘count’ for thirty-six is given by the two letters Lamed Vov. One of the thirty-six, is then a Lamed-Vovnik. Return
  5. Probably fished from local waters, and sold as foodstuffs to the gentiles of the area. Return
  6. Indicating her origin to have been the shtetl of Lopenitsa. Return
  7. Possibly a reference to someone who hauled merchandise packed in sacks. Return
  8. Diminutive for Leah. Return
  9. Jewish family references can be circuitous and subject to misinterpretation. This reference is to a brother of Herschel. Herschel in turn is identified as the son of The Dayan, Reb Tuvia (Teveleh) Ravitzky. Return
  10. Yiddish for a person from Hnezna. Return
  11. “Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir was born as Yitzhak Yazhernitsky in Ruzhany, and attended Gymnasium in Volkovysk. Because of the similarity in names, I inquired of him regarding these people. He had this to say in a reply dated 13 Jun 01:

    I lived in Volkovysk with my family for three years before coming to Israel.
    I was a young boy at the time (I was 20 years old when I arrived in Israel in 1935). I was active in Betar, although no one else in my family was a member of Betar.
    I know of no connection to the two people you mentioned in your letter. I do not remember them as relatives of my family.
    Sincerely,

    Yitzhak Shamir
    Return
  12. This must be Abraham Makov, who is profiled in Lashowitz's book, Volkovysk (the third part of this Trilogy). Return
  13. Special staff appointed by the Nazis in the concentration camps to do the dirty work. Often indigenous people, but occasionally Jews, deluded into believing they could save themselves by cooperating in this way. Return
  14. Nickname for Bune or Bona. It is of Romance origin: French = Bon & Italian = Bono. Curiously, in modern Hebrew, it is the feminine form, Tova that seems to have gained popularity as a first name, and not the masculine form. Return
  15. Seemingly duplicate entry. Return
  16. This is a duplicated entry, but shows the Yiddish name Feygl for his wife, Fanya. Return

 

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