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Facsimile of the top front page of the First Edition of the Zamośćher Stimme

It appears that between these years, there were vert great breaks, because the first numbers from the year 1928 are designated as the first year of publication, and number (57) 11 from 1939 is identified as the third year of publication.

We will excerpt notices from these editions of the Zamośćher Stimme in this section, data and facts that have a bearing on the community life of the Zamość community on the eve of the Holocaust. For certain, there will be omissions, either because there are so many editions of the paper that are missing, and also because the paper was under the influence of a direction that was even more right-wing than the rightist ‘Poalei Tzion.’ As was the custom in the Old Country, and is still the custom in the microcosm of the Jewish world, it was often the case that activity in other circles went unnoticed. Despite this, we find very interesting news in these editions, also from the general Jewish life of Zamość which needs to be incorporated in order that it be preserved.

Before we approach the notices, a writeup about the periodical in particular is deemed necessary, since we have the first edition. As we have stated, the periodical was called:

It had a subtitle: ‘A Bi-weekly Community Organ.’ The first edition appeared on the following date: Friday, March 9, 1928. The address for letters and money was given as: Ormianska 6. It was indicated that the editorial offices were open from 7-9 PM except for Saturday.

The responsible editor is identified as M. Herman (the councilman of the right-wing Poalei Tzion in the city council). The paper was edited by a collegium. The paper was printed at the print shop of the Weinsteins in Chelm. In the later numbers, the address was already given as Postal Box No. 72. In the last edition of 1939 that we have, the address is given as Peretza Number 6, Residence 15. During this time, the Ormianska Gasse was re-named as the I. L. Peretz Gasse. Also, the responsible Editor of this edition is someone else – Leib Goldgraber. These later editions were still being printed in Chelm.

The content of the first edition is:

M. Herman – Our Responsibility; Vice-Burgomaster Ostrovsky – About the Zamość city economy; Yitzhak Geliebter – What Do We Want?; A True Son – It Is High Time; Shmuel Ashkenazi – Avigdor Simes; Dr. Rosenbush-Shpigelglass – TOZ in Zamość; A Hearty Poverty – Day Phrases; Afterwards, a ‘chronology of Zamość life’ comes, and a variety of correspondence ‘from the area,’ – Krasnobrod and Grabowiec. Do understand, that there is no lack of commercial advertisements, greetings and obituaries.

We will make an exception for the first edition of this periodical, and pause to present a broader view of the issues that are dealt with in the articles.

M. Herman concerns himself with the institutions of self-government, such as the city council and the Sejm. It is worth bringing in a couple of larger excerpts which will serve to clarify the relationships of that era:

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‘…The Jewish community has, until recently, been used to look at the self-governing institutions such as: the city council, and the Sejm, as institutions that were pressed down upon them form ‘above,’ and whose only purpose is to collect taxes. But, could the Jewish community also get some benefit for its social needs and cultural development? The Jewish community never even dreamed that this could be possible.

The entire ‘activity’ of the leaders of the Jewish citizenry in these institutions, was circumscribed by striving towards making the imposed taxation less burdensome.

It is only now, in the city councils of recent times, the leaders of the Jewish political parties made clear to the Jewish community what self-government entails, that the Jewish community can, through its leaders, have an impact on the city economy in general, and with special Jewish interests in particular.

And if we are speaking of the interests of the Jewish community, we mean for only the poorer part, which to this day is the majority of the rank and file of our city. Common sense dictates therefore, to join forces with the leaders of the needy Polish working populace, in order to build a majority in the city council, which will be effective in addressing the requirements of the needy segments of society.

In this regard, our Zamość city council can show some partial accomplishments. The reason this is only partial, is made clear from the fact that the consolidation of all the socialist factions, until now, was not forthcoming.

Therefore, the responsibility now lies on the Socialist groupings, whether to work out the budget for the current year, or to actually implement it. To see that the interests of the needy Jewish populace will be set right.

The Jewish worker has to have the right to work at any undertaking that the Magistrate is carrying out; The Yiddish secular school, named for I. L. Peretz, needs to be subsidized in such a way, that it is financially secure; the subsidies for the libraries have to be meaningfully increased; the TOZ Society, which has done so much in the course of this year, must receive the recognition of the city council without any special presentation, which it supplements in a great measure in the area of social care, by a meaningful financial support; in general, all progressive Jewish cultural and social institutions need subsidization as is appropriate.

This will only come to reality when we arrive at an understanding with the Polish Socialists and to clarify for them, that alleviating the need of the Jewish masses brings them closer to the end goal of all Socialists – to Socialism.

And we want to hope, that at last, the contact that will come between Polish and Jewish workers will cause the mutual discovery of understanding for the working classes in general, and for the special interests of the Jewish working classes in particular.’

This article is a direct consequence of the relationship of forces in the city council of that time, which had a Socialist majority. For this reason, it is possible to find in this same edition, the article by the Vice-Burgomaster of the city, the Polish labor activist, Ostrovski, about the condition of the city economy. As he describes the needs and requirements that this Magistrate, led by the Socialists, must find solutions for.

The article by Ben-Amiti deals with the plight of the Zamość congregation. From an array of notices which we have previously introduced, and in later ones, it is possible to see that there were unending disputes – ‘sides’ and ‘oppositions,’ fought with one another and strongly defended their personal activity, so that the call of A True Son was: ‘It is the highest of time to put an end to this abnormal situation…’

From the community chronology, of this issue, we extract the following data and facts:

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– At a sitting of the city council, it was decided (based on the proposal of councilman Herman) that for the Jewish students of the evening trade courses, the studies will be conducted in Yiddish.

– Thanks to the initiative of Mr. Ben-Zion Lubliner, a ‘Gemilut-Hasadim’ Fund was opened in Zamość, which is making interest-free loans.

– A general meeting of TOZ took place on the 13^th of February, with an order to elect a leadership. The order was given by Y. Brandwein.

The following took part in the discussion: Dr. Rosenbush, councilman Herman, Councilman Peretz, Morgenstern, Sobol. An acknowledgment of the outgoing leadership was expressed. It never got to new elections, because at this point a tumult arose. However, the old leadership was elected by a bloc. The assembly also agreed to accept the resolution that the community should subsidize the TOZ.

– A large children's holiday presentation was presented on the 23^rd of February at the ‘Stilov’ Theater, put on by the children of the I. L. Peretz School. This celebration was very enthusiastically received.

A chess club has been in existence in Zamość for 5 months. On the 18^th of February, a general meeting took place, where a new leadership was elected that had the following composition: Y. Templediener, Lax, Markfeld, Arenstein, Schmutz, Fruchtgarten, and Ackerman. Candidates: F. Feckler; Audit Commission: Y. Schporer. Hirschhorn, Grossman. The club was accepted by the ‘Culture League.’

– More than 600 Workers (Jewish) are members of the 5 unions and they carry on their activities in cramped quarters. In that location, thee is also found a library that has 600 books, and tens of readers. The advisory board of the trade unions had indeed recently purchased a parcel from the Magistrate (900 square meters in area) and is moving to erect a building for the trade unions. The leadership believes that this initiative will be supported by the progressive Jewish community.

– A new committee was elected of the ‘League for Labor in the Land of Israel.’ A meaningful sum of money was created for the ‘Palestine Labor fund,’ and together with ‘HeHalutz,’ a ‘Tel-Chaim Academy’ is being prepared.

In number 3 of the Zamośćher Stimme (Tuesday, April 10), the following articles appear:

Shmuel Ashkenazi – Yitzhak Leibusz Peretz (A collection of memories on the occasion of his 13^th Yahrzeit).
M. Herman – Several words about the Sick Fund in Zamość
A. Jew – ‘Between Two Mountains’ (A word about the Rabbi-Rabbi Controversy…)
J. J. Peretz – Memories; Folksongs that Peretz composed in Zamość in the years 1887, 88, 89.
Dr. Yitzhak Geliebter – Peretz's Childhood Years;

From the ‘ Zamość Chronology,’ we learn:

– The leadership of the Yiddish School Organization in Zamość has decided to renew the school [fund-raising] initiative which was interrupted by the Sejm elections. The week of Passover will be used for this. The school lottery which had been set for March 15th has been postponed to May 15^th because of the elections. There remain 250 [unsold] lottery tickets out of the total of 1050. Thursday, the last day of Passover, April 12, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the drama circle of ‘Y. Sh. O.’ will present the premiere of David Pinsky's ‘Miriam fun Migdala’ at the ‘Stilov’ Theater. On the same day in the evening, the traditional ‘Passover Ball’ will take place, at the location of the Chess Club (Rynek 3). It is also represented that a new preparatory grade is being opened at the I. L. Peretz School for 6-7 year-old children. On Saturday, April 21^st, a general meeting will take place with elections of the leadership.

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– Because of the victory of Ballot Number 18 (Nationalist Bloc) during the Sejm elections, a ‘victory banquet’ was held on the Saturday of the 24^th at the Chess Club. Speakers were: Dr. Geliebter, Sh. Weiner, M. Rubinstein, Rosen, Y. Goldstein, M. Schliam, Y. Schporer, and others.

– The members of the New-Zamość people's library named for Sh. Ettinger, elected a leadership that consists of the representatives of all parties and persuasions. Tens of new books have been purchased. The location has been renovated.

– In the youth organization, ‘Freiheit,’ of the right-wing Poalei-Tzion, a lively set of activities is carried on. Readings, lectures about ‘political economics,’ history of the Jewish labor movement and other [subjects] take place regularly.

– For the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of the global ‘HeHalutz,’ a large celebration is being readied at the ‘Stilov’ theater for April 1^st. Among others, Mr. Berdichevsky from Warsaw will appear

– The Manual Trades Union in Zamość counts 160 members. An initiative was carried out in connection with social laws. A support bank exists in the Manual Trades Union which distributed interest-free loans to poor laborers (up to 50 gulden). 90 families have already received loans. As has been the case every year, on Passover eve, the leadership led a Maot-Hittim campaign, which brought in 1200 gulden. 82 families received support from the Union for the Holiday.

– In Zamość there is yet a second Manual Trades Union, ‘The Socialist Manual Trades Union,’ which is under the influence of the Bund. Between the two unions, there is a struggle for control of the manual laborers.

– The Gemilut-Hasadim Fund of the Neustadt carries on a many-branched set of activities. In the year 1927, 891 loans were disbursed in the [aggregate] sum of 46 thousand zlotys. 280 families benefitted from these loans.

– The Jewish chairman of the assessment commission of the [municipal] finance agency, Mr. Ben-Zion Lubliner, informs that the sales tax for the year 1927 has been raised by 50percent.

From an announcement in this edition, we see that, at that time, a Merchants Bank existed in Zamość, which provided all manner of banking services. Discounted commercial paper, deposits, and security over the best assets.

In this edition, there is a announcement to the Jewish populace in Zamość in connection with the 10^th anniversary of ‘HeHalutz.’ Under the announcement the following people signed as members of the anniversary committee in Zamość: Sh. Biterman, Dr. Yitzhak Geliebter, Shlomo Goldstein, Zvi-Chaim Geliebter, Moshe Herman, Shmuel Hechtman, Sholom Weiner, Prof. Wagmeister, M. Zilberstein, Eng. Z. Mannheim, Y. Morgenstern, M. Epstein, J. J. Peretz, Dr. M. Zinberg, M. Y. Kornfeld, M. Kezman, Dr. Rosenbush-Shpigelglass, Y. Roset, M. Rubinstein, Y. D. Schliam, Shmuel-Elieh Schwerd-Scharf, Moshe Schliam, B. Schporer.

Number 4 of ‘Zamośćher Stimme’ is from Friday, April 27. Articles there include:

Lawyer Henryk Swiontkowski (Deputy of the Sejm from the Zamość district, P. P. S.) – The First of May;
J. J. Peretz – Memories;
Raphael – a Dream (A Small Feuilleton);
Lawyer M. Klinkowstein – Troubles One Creates for One's self.
Free notices in the paper.

Regarding community life, we will take note of the following direction, data and facts:

The expenditure level of the congregation in the year 1929 came to 12 thousand zlotys, and a year later 30 thousand (about this raise, a critical notice).

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– At its plenum of April 18^th, the city council decided to celebrate the 1^st of May, and all employees of communal institutions will be given the day off from work; that a third banner will be hung by the Magistrate on the clock tower bearing the legend, ‘Long Live May 1.’ The proposal of the ‘reds’; that the Magistrate make an announcement to the populace that it should participate en masse in the celebration, was defeated.

– On April 11, an anniversary celebration of ‘HeHalutz’ took place at the ‘Stilov𔎁 Theater. Speeches were given, and there was a rich artistic program.

The Merchants Bank began its activity during March 1927. The bank now has 150 members. For the 9 months of its existence, the bank showed a profit of 3,520 gulden. There are 200 investors in the bank, with a capital taken in of 19 thousand gulden.

– A general meeting took place of the ‘Cooperative Bank.’ This meeting took place in the community location this April. 122 members attended. From the treasury accounting (provided by Mr. Pfeffer), it is possible to see that the bank, in 1927, had a value of 7,500,000 zlotys. It gave out 1460 loans for a sum of 300,000 zlotys. Almost all borrowers are small business people and craftsmen. During the year, 17 thousand bills flowed into the bank deposits for a sum of 2,200,000 zlotys.

– A meeting took place of the Neustadt ‘Gemilut-Hasadim Bank.’ The Chairman of the meeting was the Rabbi of the Neustadt. The accounting for the bank was given by Mr. Tischberg. The bank is in existence for 18 months. It has 100 members. The bank received 7000 zlotys from the ‘Joint,’ and 3000 zlotys were collected from the members. In the span of this time, the bank made sales of 94,668 zlotys. 995 families benefitted from these loans. The following were elected to the new leadership: Israel Zucker, Sholom Tischberg, Shakhna Mintz, Avigdor Wachs, Yaakov Koch, Gedalyahu Eltster, Joseph Werimus, Shabtai Greener, Leibl Szyfer, Audit Commission: Aharon Cooper, Abraham Rothfeld, Mendel Eisenstahl.

– On Saturday, April 21, a general meeting of the Zamość branch of the Yiddish School Organization took place. The meeting took place in the hall of the city council. Mr. Topf was elected as chairman of the meeting, and the accounting was presented by Mr. Shtikh. From the accounting we learn of a variety of activities – apart from the normal school activities – evening courses, a people's university. The leadership purchased a parcel from the Magistrate to put up its own building for the school. A 4^th grade is being readied for the new school year. The following participated in the discussion: Herman, Shpizeisen. After expressing loyalty to the outgoing leadership, the budget for the new year was accepted for looks to be 950 zlotys a month. The following were elected to the new leadership: councilman Y. Brandwein, Ch. Shpizeisen, K.. Shtikh, M. Zwillich, R. Morgenstern, Z. Gewirtzman, M. Mittelpunkt, N. Korngold, A. Hubar, Y. Mendelsohn, Dentist Tz. Weiss, Audit Commission: B. Bekher, Ch. Millstein, Y. Feldstein.

– Preparations are underway for a cooperative bakery.

In this edition there is a balance [sheet] of the Maot-Hittim Committee and thanks from this committee to the landsleit in America: Y. Y. Schwartz, Y. Schatzkammer, D. Y. GL. Weintraub, Ch. Mildiener, M. Rosenberg, Ch. Giffel, M. Zeid, and Sh. Khavat, for their efforts in support for Passover (see the table on the other side – a facsimile is presented on p. 660 –JSB).

Number 5 of ‘Zamośćher Stimme’ is from Friday, May 18, 1926 and has the following articles:

M. Herman – The Only Way;
Meir – From the Side
Y. Morgenstern – 20 Year Celebration;
Shmuel Ashkenazi – Dr. Shlomo Ettinger
P. Lazar (Chelm) – Zanvel the Wagon Driver;
Raphael – What I Heard and Saw.

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From the section ‘From Life in Zamość’ we will excerpt the following news items from community life:

First, a very large amount of space is given over to the celebration of the First of May. It appears that:

‘This year, the workers holiday of the First of May was not celebrated in the same imposing way as in previous years. The area First of May Committee was not constituted out of all the parties and organizations…’

We are going to omit the polemic representations, where there are arguments over who is responsible and we find out, in spite of this, that the workers holiday was indeed celebrated across a broad front, even if not in a collective fashion. We will communicate the information in the order in which it is presented in the accounting:

– The regional committee of P. P. S. (Polish Socialist Party), called upon its members to assemble at the location of the P. P. S. unions (Lubliner suburb) and from there they came to lined-up rows with party flags to the Magistrate, where a meeting was held. The following comrades spoke: Tzip, Swiontkowsky, Novatsky, Kazantesky, Wiltos, and others. At 6 PM an ‘academy’ took place in the hall of the city council. To a packed room, the ‘academy’ opens with the singing of Czerwony Sztandar (‘Red Flag,’ – the anthem of the P. P. S.).

Deputy Swiontkowsky speaks on the history of socialism and class-struggle, the choir sings a variety of labor songs. At the end, comrade Swiontkowsky proposes a resolution to protest the illegal handling manner in which the police dispersed the demonstration of the workers (see more about this in a later account) from the class-unions. The proposal is adopted.

The party committee of ‘Poalei-Tzion’ (united with Tz. S .) Called its members to gather at the party location. The party standard fluttered from the window immediately in the morning. The members of ‘Poalei-Tzion’ and ‘Freiheit’ gathered for the first meeting under the open sky, but because the authorities did not sanction this meeting, the meeting took place inside the location. Comrades Herman and Morgenstern spoke. At 8 PM, an ‘academy’ took place.

– The trade unions (the radical sector, which did not participate with the P. P. S.) Called on their members to assemble at their location. At ten in the morning, a meeting of the unions took place, at which the members Plaszczak and Savitsky spoke about the meaning of the First of May. When the final speaker took note of the large contingent of police that were watching them, the meeting was broken up by the police and the participants dispersed.

– The Bund held an ‘academy’ in the hall of the City Council, where comrade Brandwein and others spoke. The ‘academy’ ended with the singing of a variety of worker songs.

From the community account, it is possible to see that the controversy over the Rabbis was also dealt with; the sides of the several Rabbis sought equity. The matter of the size of the salary for Rabbi Blum was taken up.

On April 24 a portable industrial display, and display of handcrafts, was opened at the location of the City Council. The Zamość Jewish Hand Workers Union had its own special section in this display, where the Jewish Manual Trades displayed samples of their handiwork. At the end of the display, certificates of excellence were distributed. The following Jewish Hand Workers received certificates:

Mr. Berish Putter, a certificate (among 8) for tiles from machines. He made an especially good impression without access to a new machine.

Letters of commendation was received by the metalworking partners Spodek-Ziss (among 11 Poles) for a church

Letters of thanks were received by the Jewish Hand Workers Union for organizing their section: Mr. Yaakov Goodhaut for a pair of boots and shoes; Mrs. Pesha Sheps for curly-haired model head, and Mr. Joshua Fuchs for a summer jacket.

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Mr. Henoch Werter was involved in the local general committee to organize the display, on behalf of the Jewish Hand Worker Unions.

– On Monday, April 30, there was a general meeting in the Neustadt also of the small business people. Approximately 50 members came. Mr. Hirsch Zwerin was elected as Chairman; as supporters, Messrs. L. Zilberberg, Y. Pflug and L. Rosenman. The bank accounting was presented by Mr. Simcha Zwerin; Mr. Zitzer spoke about the intentions of the small businessmen. The following resolutions were passed:

1. The general meeting demands the nomination of a representative of the small business people in the assessment commission of sales and income taxes;
2. A representative of the small business people shall sit at the deliberation of the rates;
3. The rates should be deliberated as quickly as possible in order that the executors don't finish their ‘work’ first…;
4. The new leadership shall make an effort to convey the rate schedules as quickly as possible to the Neustadt.

– In a notice ‘The Sales Tax Is Ruining Many Jewish Merchants,’ the very difficult condition of the Jewish merchants is portrayed because of the unreasonably high tax. For example, it is told that poor storekeepers which had been assessed for between 4 and 8 thousand zlotys, are today at the level of between 20 and 32 thousand zlotys.

The Merchants Union of Zamość sent a delegation to Warsaw to the Ministry of Commerce, with a relevant memorandum. The delegation consisted of the following persons: Ch. Eidelsberg, M. Kezman, D. Zegen, Sh. Tischberg, M. Eidelsberg, and Sh. Wohl.

– Friday and Saturday, the 4^th and 5^th of May, recitation evenings took place at the ‘Stilov’ theater by the artist Zygmunt Lev. This same artist also appeared in the Yiddish Gymnasium and in ‘Kadima.’

– In this edition, there are two additional pieces of correspondence from the province, from Tyszowce and Bilgoraj.

In number 6 of ‘Zamośćher Stimme’ of Friday July 1, 1928, the following articles appear: Deputy, Lawyer Henryk Swiontkowsky – The Way to Unification; B. R. – Your Hands Have Weakened His Bright Memory; Yitzhak Zaltz – New Ways to Jewish Art; A. L. – Free News.

From the local community chronology, we will extract the following details:

– An exceptional community meeting of the trade union of the commerce and bureau employees. The general meeting took place Saturday, May 21 in the location of the trade unions, there was an unusual meeting, in order to deliberate the question of Yekhezkiel Tzitrin, which through a trial by peers was dismissed from the union for 3 months for bypassing a ruling regarding the trade union movement. The following participated in the discussion about the issue: Levensohn, Mittelpunkt, Hirschhorn, Zilberstein, Lastekson. A second panel of peers was selected to deliberate the issue again. The peer panel consisted of: Israel Zetzer, Mendel Zilberstein, David Levenson, Mottel Lastekson, and Aharon Goldstein. At the same meeting, the issue of the eight-hour workday was deliberated for commercial employees, and in connection with this matter, it was decided to approach the labor inspector.

– A general meeting of the leather workers. This meeting took place at the location of the trade unions. Issues concerning skills that related to the season and the various businesses. Mr. Ber gave the accounting. He declared,

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among other things, that because of political work, such as the Sejm elections, and other things, the leadership did not implement any initiatives and also did not utilize the Passover season to do fund-raising. A union leadership was elected.

A call from the leadership of the Zamość branch of TOZ provides a rather rich chronology.

From this calling together of the TOZ leadership we learn of the following numbers about the first 18 months of the activity of TOZ in Zamość. It is said there that:

‘In the course of these 18 months, an energetic program was carried out in the area of school hygiene; the existing 25 institutions (schools and Heders) were placed under a strict medical-hygienic oversight from our society; here is the expression of numbers:

During this period,

Examinations 7487 Children
Baths Given 2401 Children
Haircuts Given 334 Children
Received Cod Liver Oil 349 Children
Cured of Favus^[1] 29 Children
Sent to Colonies 149 Children

Apart from this, a Children's Home was created in which tens of Jewish children from poverty in the city and the Neustadt, are provided with a home in which to grow up…’

The sense of the get-together is that the community should support TOZ. Everyone should become a member with a membership-fee of 50 (fifty groschen!) a month.

– An unscheduled meeting of the Chess Club. The gathering took place on Saturday, the 26^th of May, in the Chess Club's own location at the ‘Culture League.’ The Chairman Templediener opened the meeting, and seeing as it was an election meeting, Shmuel Shmarand was elected as the Chairman of the meeting. He points out that this meeting has been called because of a letter of demand from 31 members, who demanded a meeting, because they are not satisfied with the comportment of the [current] leadership, whom they accuse of a variety of irregularities. The members Arenstein, Schporer, Shpizeisen Grossman Markfeld, Ackerman, and Templediener take part in the discussion. With a majority of 21 votes, the prior leadership is given a vote of no confidence. By a secret ballot, a new leadership is elected that consists of: Shmuel Shmarand, Moshe Markfeld, Mikhl Zucker, Yaakov Schporer and Baruch Ackerman. In the Audit committee the following were elected: Moshe Schliam, Elieh Weintraub, Yitzhak Zingerman.

– In a notice, ‘Houses Wrecked and Destroyed in the Neustadt,’ the following fact is presented:

‘The poor populace of the Neustadt lives also in very bad circumstances on the Hrubieszow and Bomba Streets.

Distress and need, hunger and abandonment reigns there in thrown-together shacks. The administrative authorities came there one fine well lit morning, and with the help of the police, they tore off the roofs, and razed houses in which the poorest elements of the Neustadt residents lived. The roofs were torn off, and the foder houses of the following families were razed: Anshel Schatzkammer, Getzel Schatzkammer, Hirsch Kleiner, Pinchas Griener, Tzirel Gringer, Joel Shklar, Baylah Kremer and Mr. Papier. The residents, left with no roof over their heads, do not have the minimal means with which to try and restore that which has been destroyed.’

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The councilman, Engineer Mr. Maniek Goldstein submitted his resignation as a councilman in the city council because he has received a post in Warsaw. In his place, the first candidate of the Jewish-Democratic Bloc was appointed, Mr. Hirsch Zwerin of the Neustadt.

– A general meeting of Zamość Merchants took place on May 13 at the location of the Merchants Society, dedicated to the question of the imposition of too high a sales tax for the year 1927. Mr. Eliyahu Epstein was elected as the Chairman of the meeting. Messrs. Wachs, Kezman and others, spoke out at the meeting. The sad state of the merchants was described, especially among the small shopkeepers, who are being ruined on the one side by severe competition and a lack of credit, and from the other side by the heavy burden of taxes. It was decided to send telegrams of protest to the Finance Ministry, the Jewish ‘Kolo,’ (Deputies' club in the Sejm),and the Central Merchants Association requesting immediate intervention. Accounting provides information, that at the same time that the Jewish merchants were heavily encumbered with taxes, the Polish merchants of Zamość, at a meeting, adopted a protest resolution that the Jews, this year, are being insufficiently taxed. At the end of the meeting, representatives were elected from each of the separate lines of business, as subject matter experts in the assessment commission of the tax assessment positions.

– On Saturday, April 14, an annual general meeting took place of the Neustadt Peoples' Library named for Dr. Shlomo Ettinger. A great number of members, nearly 100, came to this meeting. Mr. Ch. Goldberg was elected Chairman of the meeting; in the presidium: Y. Morgenstern, Mermelstein, and Simcha Szyfer^[2]. Mr. Mittelpunkt gave an accounting. During the course of the year,300 new books were purchased, and a fine renovation of the library premises was carried out. During the course of the year, the income reached 4,416.40 gulden, and expenses were 4,440.55 zlotys. The accounting was completed by G. Zucker, and L. Rosen who underscored that the inter-party leadership worked intensively, and express their wish that going forward, that such a composite leadership should be elected. A vote of gratitude was passed in favor of the outgoing leadership. A new leadership was not elected on this day, because in the middle of the meeting the police came in and broke up the meeting. On the second Saturday, April 21, after a great deal of transaction, conferences and taking of counsel, an inter-party leadership was elected of the following members: Gershon Zucker, Yossel Greenbaum, Yitzhak Rosenzweig, Y. Griener, Moshe Mittelpunkt. Candidates: Yudel Wagner, Wolf Karmus, Simcha Szyfer. Audit Commission: Faiga Roseman, Zalman Rosenberg, Shlomo Schwartz.

In this edition, there are also letters form the surrounding towns: Izbica, Krasnobrod, Ludomir, Ostelia. There is also a letter from Israel, from a scion of Zamość who signs himself ‘Ben-Sholom.’ It is sent from Petakh Tikva.

Number 7 of ‘Zamośćher Stimme’ is from Friday, June 22, 1928. Articles within are:

M. Herman – The Obligation of the Hour;
Yam – Let the Facts Speak;
J. J. Peretz – Memories;
Y. Morgenstern – Tears (From My Memoirs);
Yaakov Neimark – ‘The Wall’

From the Jewish community activities, this issue contains:

– The summer campaign of TOZ in Zamość began with the opening of 2 half-colonies in the city and the Neustadt. Seventy (70) children were accommodated within the half-colonies, where they are fed 3 times a day, and are under the supervision of pedagogically-trained supervision. A larger number of children were sent to Cuzmir. Severely weak children are sent to Otwock and a portion to Dembina. In connection with ‘TOZ-Week,’ which the central organization had proclaimed throughout the entire country, this initiative will be carried out in Zamość through the end of the current

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month. The program of ‘TOZ-Week’ is as follows: On Saturday the 30th, there will be a Festive Academy held in the ‘Stilov’ Theater with the participation of a representative of the central organization; Sunday, a garden-festival; Monday the inaugural opening of the summer colonies; Tuesday a debate in the Union of the Manual Trades; Wednesday – Sale of window inscriptions and literature; Thursday, sale of lottery tickets in the streets; Friday – distribution of prizes from the sanitation competition; in the even there will be a meeting in the hall of the city council with the participation of the representative of the central committee of TOZ, Dr. Sh. Hirschhorn. The proceeds from health-week is being set aside for the benefit of the summer colonies.

– In the intermediate schools of Zamość, the following Jewish students received their Matura: In the government women's gymnasium named for ‘Maria Konopnitska’: G. Bronstein, Ch. Brokh, Ch. Hotz, A. Mandelbaum, B. Fuchs, Ch. Zimmerung, B. Kilstein, Ch. Stern. In the government men's gymnasium named for ‘Jan Zamoyski’: B. Goldvarg, Y. Goldvarg, P. Warman, Y. Mendelsohn, Sh. Ruf. The Yiddish co-educational gymnasium this year, for the first time, graduated the following Maturists: F. Diament, Ch. Zaltsman, M. Nissenbaum, F. Ehrlich, M. Shapiro.

– An announcement indicates that in a few days time, there will be an annual general meeting of the ‘Gemilut-Hasadim Fund’ of the Neustadt.

Number 8 of ‘Zamośćher Stimme,̻ is from July 13, 1928 (Friday). The following articles appear in this edition:

Y. Morgenstern – ‘Tekhezakna Yedei HaBonim;’^[3]
M. Zilberstein – We Will Not Be Silent;
Yam – Let the Facts Speak;
J. J .Peretz – Memories (continued);
Shmuel Ashkenazi – Small Stories of Yore;
Dr. Janina Endervona – Dr. Ludovik Zamenhof.

From the community local chronology:

– In connection with the campaign for Labor in the Land of Israel, which is being conducted throughout all of Poland, Engineer Anshel Reiss, the representative of the World-Union of Poalei-Tzion (united with Tz. S.) Will visit Zamość on July 28^th. A variety of undertakings are being planned for the guest.

– The Magistrate has decided to relocate the auction stalls closer to the Neustadt, in order to provide the people who live there with a way to make a living. This did not please the Sejm deputy, and he vetoed the decision of the city council. The motive was that the pigs, in the newly relocated place, will disturb the learning process of the students of the general school, which is adjacent to the auction plaza, with their squealing. The paper provides the following:

‘First it is not right that the school be located ‘near’ the place where it had been planned to put the marketplace; secondly, it is to wonder that the Sejm deputy should be so concerned about the children of the school, who consist at the very least, of the poor Jewish residents. The cacophony of the pigs should not disturb their learning, and at the same time, the Sejm deputy does not hear the ‘cacophony’ of the children when they go home, and find that there is nothing there for them to eat…’

– Sunday July 1, a festive ending of the school year took place in the garden of the ‘Children's Home’ of TOZ. It was a completely filled, rich program. The notice reports the following, among other things:

‘…the children of the ‘Home’ taken out of tens of impoverished families, put on a variety of scenes; recitations and songs, and words literally fail to convey how tastefully and heartily the 4-5 year-old Moshe's Shmuel'lehs, and Hene'lehs carried out their various scenes.’

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The Prebel-trained teacher and governess, Mrs. Wurst, led and directed the ‘Home’ with the presentation.

– A trade meeting of the Step Workers took place on June 16 at the location of the Trade Unions. The Chairman was Kaltfeld. Mendel Greenberg gave an accounting. The members, Y. Fuchs and Hirsch Eilbaum presented the following proposals:

1. To create a control commission to look after the eight-hour day;
2. To create ‘Dozors’ in the union, which will galvanize the members;
3. To create a revenue commission.

– Two special larger representations from the leadership of the Merchants Society and from the leadership of the Small Business Society, to their members to observe the terms of the purchase, commercial and industrial licenses.

Edition number 9 of Friday August 3, 1928.

It contains the following articles:

On the significance of the Magistrate and the Councilmen – by M. Herman (about the Hospital Tax).
The Way Out – by Y. Morgenstern. – About safeguarding historical objects in the Zamość congregation and vicinity, and creating an area committee of the Jewish Scientific Institute – YIVO;
For the Workers in the Land of Israel – by V. Latsky-Bartholdi. About help for the Palestine Workers Fund.
News from the World of Electricity – by Z. Haber;
‘Monday’ of Moshe Kublak – Critical section by the student A. Zelonka;
A Small Feuilleton – by Chaim;
Short Stories from Days of Yore – by Shmuel Ashkenazi;
A Letter from Lublin – by M. Zuckerman;
In this edition, there is this further notice: Why?

‘And if we have finally lived to see the names of the streets changed to the names Peretz, Zamenhof, May First, and others, the question arises as to why we don't see this happening any quicker? A whole array of ‘principal’ streets have already been given new names, provisioned with street lights, but regarding the previously mentioned streets, there still do not hang street signs with the new names, and so that one should not ‘inadvertently’ forget about them.’

One must ask the Magistrate, why?

From the chronology:

– The visit of Engineer Anshel Reiss to Zamość, as an emissary from the campaign for Labor in the Land of Israel. On Saturday, July 28, a reception was held. The guest was greeted by: M. Herman (Poalei-Tzion), Wiltos (P. P. S.), Ivankovsky (Tur), Zvi-Chaim Geliebter (Zionist Organization), B. Rosen (‘Hitakhdut’), Sh. Engel (Teaching Personnel), A. Fekher (HeHalutz), B. Dinerman (‘Freiheit’), Gartler (Poalei-Tzion of Krasnobrod). On the same evening, thee was a verbierung meeting in the hall of the city council for the ‘League’ for Labor in the Land of Israel.

Also, ‘A Reincarnation of a Pinkas’ is related as follows:

‘The Zamość Hevra-Kadisha has a Pinkas that is nearly two hundred years old, which from an historic and ethnographic standpoint, the Pinkas has a colossal value. It was in the custody of the

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Gabbai Mr. Emmer, who died not very long ago. Immediately after his death, the Pinkas vanished, and hope was given up of finding it. Suddenly, it became known that the Messrs. Joseph Goldgraber and Joseph Weintraub had purchased the Pinkas from the son-in-law of the Gabbai, Mr. Hilf, for 200 gulden, a sum that he owed. It is even difficult to understand what these two ‘Yosselakh’^[4] found so strongly in needing the Pinkas of the Hevra-Kadisha, but it is only a question about a deed!… Our congregation, being aware that for such an item, hundreds of zlotys are paid, quickly sent a threatening letter to the two ‘Yosselakh’ that they should return the Pinkas. The latter, intimidated by the threats, turned over the Pinkas to Mr. Margolis.’^[5]

In a notice about: ‘For the Sanatorium in Krasnobrod,’ we read:

‘At 4 PM on Saturday July 21, at the location of ‘Linat Tzedek’ there was a broader consultation about initiating the construction of the sanatorium in Krasnobrod. Twenty invited citizens from the city were invited to take part in the advisory session.

H. Y. Margolis was elected as the Chairman of the meeting. The proposal of Mr. Y. Rosen was taken up, that those members of the leadership of ‘Linat Tzedek’ from the city, should be co-opted into the building committee. The following gentlemen were elected to the building committee: A. Inlander, N. Garfinkel, Y. Margolis, and Sh. Epstein, who will help to realize the plan for erecting the sanatorium for the needy sick in Krasnobrod.

To this end, the previously mentioned committee will travel there, together with Engineer Mr. Margolis, who will develop the plan for the building.’

In this edition, there is also reporting from Raphael: ‘A Walk Through the Half-Colony of TOZ’ and correspondence from the vicinity – from Rajowiec and Ustyluh.

After a longer break, we have number (42) 20 of ‘Zamośćher Stimme’ of Friday, 12 Tishri 5698 – October 7, 1938. The graphic appearance of the masthead has been altered. The sub-heading is not the same here as in prior editions, ‘Bi-Weekly Community Organ,’ but rather, ‘Progressive Community Periodical.’ We are missing the editions in between, and therefore we do not know when this change was instituted. The character of the periodical is also a different one. In this edition, there are the following articles:

Observer – On the Threshold of the New Year;

As one leafs through the names (an interesting document about a transmittal from the year 1886);

Leib Goldgraber – Jews of the Covered Walkways (Miniature);

Yaakov Neimark, one of the active writers of the ‘Zamośćher Stimme’ of the prior editions, now already is writing letters from Tel Aviv.

We have said that the character of the paper is entirely another one – the Jewish Community Chronology is almost entirely absent. The section, ‘What Is Heard About the City,’ is largely filled out with official representations, with criminal notices, and things of that sort. Seeing as we have only one edition from that period, it is not [necessarily] characteristic of the times. In the edition at hand, which is from Tishri, there indeed is an article ‘On the Threshold of the New Year’ an oversight about Jewish life in Zamość. It is the last year of the eve of the Holocaust, and for that reason, we present this article as it was published. We obtain a sort of mirror of the condition of Jewish Zamość on the eve of the destruction of the community.

[Page 345]

‘It is not an easy task to make a summary for the year that has just passed, of Jewish life in Zamość. Wherever one turns to, one is seized by a fear. Apathy and frozen inaction have become our daily bread. But, more than anything, all of us have been impacted by the’

The process of pauperization, even though it is already well understood, has made the Jewish economic crisis even deeper. A large number of ‘ovshemitten,’ (the well-known word coined by the Polish anti-Semitic leadership, indicating that it is permissible to compete economically with the Jews, that this is allowed ‘Ovshem.’) have been added to the backs of the storekeepers, already overburdened with taxes, who through bribed ‘idealists,’ inspired picketing of the Jewish stores. But this annihilation scheme went even further this year. It affected even the Jewish craftsmen and ordinary working people. It was in this way that the decision came down – Jewish drivers would not be permitted into the (military) provisioning. All of this had multiplied the deepening of our economic ruin.

Despite the fact that we Jews comprise over 50 percent of the Zamość population, our presence in the city council is minimal. We have no influence whatsoever over the budgets. Our subsidies get leaner and less. Also, this year, positions were eliminated for Jewish institutions. However, our councilmen accept all of this passively, not attempting to protest very often. If there is anything to emphasize that was positive, it was the ‘familiar’ good-spirited presentation of councilman (Meir) Sternfinkel (the councilman from the Bund, who came out sharply against the government program of exterminating the Jews, his presentation nearly got him sent to the concentration camp in Berezo). Everything else can be summed up with one word – Nothing.

The state in the congregation is well known to the Jewish community. The old incumbents, who have driven the economy of the congregation to its complete ruin, are holding onto power in their hands forcibly, making their influence felt wherever it is needed, in order that the new leadership not be given access to running activities. Let us hope that the oversight authorities will take note of this, that such a stasis cannot be allowed to continue, and that the newly-elected congregation [leaders] will be permitted to perform productive work.

If above we have delineated a decline in Jewish community life, let us at least say, that in the area of culture we did make very great strides.

The Yiddish Gymnasium, which had gone through a sever crisis a number of years ago, has come back somewhat. The Jewish community, in the end, began to understand the meaning of having its own middle school. In a large measure, it was this that, in a short time, caused the Yiddish Gymnasium to begin serving the surrounding province as well.

Also, the Tarbut School, even though it was relatively new, had already put down deep roots in the Jewish life of the city. The Jewish parents are striving to give their children a national education. In addition, the activists of the Tarbut strive to create this possibility. And it is so, through the collective exertion of the parents and the Tarbut activists, that much is being accomplished on the educational front.

TOZ has received special recognition on the cultural front with its ‘Children's Home.’ Sixty poor little children from homes where parents require assistance, get an upbringing there and are sustained in wholesome airy rooms of the same building.

To this, we must add that the ‘Brenner’ Library had developed nicely, which is stocked with the newest Yiddish and Polish books, for the Jewish reading public.

The activity of the Peretz Library has been started up again. However, in the area of speeches and Yiddish Theater, we have suffered greatly this year. Absolutely no public talks were given at all this year, and the Yiddish Theater has great difficulties in obtaining permission to perform at all in Zamość.

[Page 346]

And what was the appearance of the activity of the:

In first position, we find TOZ with a broad-based extensively branched program of providing food, which lasted for 4 winter months. Afterwards came a great deal of preoccupation with the summer programs: colonies, half-colonies, and other works, which were under the general umbrella of TOZ activities.

After it, this year, after a year of doing nothing, the ‘Linat Tzedek’ renewed its activity. A group of community activists fired with ardor and commitment, developed a good piece of work.

It is necessary, at this point, to underscore the fact that the ‘Gemilut Hasadim’ Fund of the city and the Neustadt are carrying on a sleepy level of activity. True, the work is ongoing, a little bit of money is distributed, some is collected and then distributed again….on a daily basis. If the institutions would only become a little more animated, creating a greater interest in the community, and in general for these community institutions that are so important.

We will not speak of other institutions, because, unfortunately, we cannot discern of there is any activity at all.

The United Zamośćher Relief and the Ladies' Auxiliary of America have come to the aid of native community endeavors.

Both societies responded warmly to the need in Zamość, and sent larger sums of money from which the needy Jewish populace drew benefit. However, the allocation of the monies, according to the proportion of activity, was regrettably a bad one.

At the end of this overview, there is a short addendum about ‘Parties and Organizations.’ In our introduction to the Zamośćher Stimme, we have already taken note of the fact that this periodical was under the control of Poalei Tzion. Therefore, it is understandable that this section of reporting is filled exclusively with the activities of that movement. In general, the ‘Observator’ is correct when he remarks that about other institutions, we will not speak, because ‘we, regrettably, do not know anything about their activities…’ This circumstance and approach is understandable from a partisan product. We have incorporated the essential part of this report, because we find a portrait here of the economic and socio-political condition of Jewish Zamość.

The Leadership of the Jewish Manual Trades in Zamość, Passover 1938

Mostly, this edition is dedicated to the city council elections in Zamość, which took place in May 1939.

The lead article, dedicated to the elections, tells about the special ‘geography’ that was thought out, in order to reduce the number of Jewish representatives in the city council. From the Jewish rosters, mandates were received by the bloc of the Bund, and the Jewish Trade Unions, who received 4000 votes and [therefore] 5 mandates; the Poalei Tzion - Hitakhdut, 1869 votes and 1 mandate. The Jewish citizens party received no representation at all.

In the section, ‘What Does One Hear In Zamość?’ there is a notice-report about the result of the elections, which we reproduce here almost in its entirety:

‘Saturday May 7 the senior election commission posted the final result of the city council elections. According to this result, 10 Ozan-Endezia, and 8 P. P. S. [representatives] were elected to the city council from the non-Jewish sectors, and it is worth noting in this connection, that a mandate was

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obtained with 300 or 400 votes, whereas in the Jewish electoral districts, it was necessary to obtain many more votes.

In the 2 Jewish election districts, 1 councilman was elected – Moshe Tzaller, from the Poalei Tzion - Hitakhdut ticket, and the Trade Union classes, and 5 councilmen from the ticket: Trade Union classes and Bund. The following were elected from the previously mentioned ticket: Meir Sternfinkel, Hinde Korngold, Yerakhmiel Brandwein, Benjamin Greenbaum, and Moshe Zaydl.

The (Jewish) citizens tickets, which appeared consolidated, danced a ‘solo.’ Each candidate distributed only his own ticket, but they suffered a total defeat.

It is worth mentioning that the ‘PoaleiTzion – Hitakhdut’ ticket was short only a few votes in order to capture 2 additional mandates.

On election day, it was seen that a rather large number of voters were not entered in the voting registry, and in one election district the list for the P. P. S. had a large number of ineligible votes.’

In that same section of the municipal chronology, there is also a report about the protest action against the British ‘White Paper.^[6]’ From the report, it is possible to see that on May 22, Jewish businesses were supposed to be closed in protest, but ‘because of unrelated reasons, the businesses were not closed at 2 in the afternoon.’ The protest was expressed in a large meeting of the people, which took place in the Great Synagogue.

The report enumerates the following speakers: the Rabbi of the city, Blum, Israel Roset, Mordechai-Joseph Kronfeld, Joshua Rapaport, Leib Goldgraber, Moshe Schliam, and Yehuda Wagner.

The gathering was concluded with the singing of Tekhezakna, and again ‘for unrelated reasons,’ no protest resolution was passed.

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There is also a report that a substantive protest meeting was carried out by the young people, under the initiative of the ‘Freiheit’ and ‘HaShomer HaTza'ir’ youth organizations. There, the following spoke: Leib Goldgraber, the youth activists A. Rosen, and Mr. Lifschitz, the delegate of ‘Tarbut Central.’

The Tarbut society is further mentioned among the Jewish societies, as having proclaimed an initiative to add another floor to the Tarbut building. This initiative was announced by the representative of the central Tarbut office, Mr. Lifschitz. It is reported that the central Tarbut office has set aside 2,000 zlotys for this purpose, and the community has decided to donate 1,000 zlotys for this purpose.

An intriguing bit of information is given to us in this section about the community. Seeing that this notice reflects a veery important corner of the Jewish community life of the times, we reproduce this item verbatim:

‘The Community Budget Is Presented for Control.

This week, the community leadership laid out the budget for the year 1939/40 for control purposes. The global budget did not, however, elicit any great interest, because all expenditures have been made in order to cover a variety of pending debts, which have resulted from the activities for the previously elected community bodies.

The line item that now amounted to 536,30 zlotys, and had been increased by 50 percent over the prior year elicited a great deal of interest. Do understand, that errors are not missing from the current estimates, for example, 2 storekeepers in the same business, the weaker one was assessed 20 zlotys, and the stronger one 10 zlotys. Understand that this happened because the stronger one has some pull, and in this way, a whole array of errors were made with larger line items.

These kind of facts elicited a stormy reaction from the crowd, and justifiably so.’

In this edition there is also an announcement from the Zamość branch of TOZ about the colony. The announcement carries the shouting appeal Remember the Preservation of the Generation!

A couple of petals regarding anti-Semitic incitement are also not missing from this edition, which was carried by a local pamphlet ‘Truth’ (apparently Pravda). This time, [an accusation] that Jews had given less towards the ‘Air Defense Loan.’ The entire province had given a total of 677,400 zlotys, of which the Jews gave ‘no more than’ 146,080 zlotys…

We will also excerpt a rather short notice from this edition, even though it has no relationship to Jewish community life. On the last page we read:

‘Prison Labor Points in Tyszowce and Bialobrzegi’

‘In accordance with an order of the Justice Minister 2 prison labor points were opened in the local area. One such point was opened in the Zamość district in Bialobrzegi. In these prison labor camps, those who are serving their sentences will also have to do work.’

This notice demands a small clarification.

This was the time when it became common to establish ‘camps,’ – concentration camps and ‘work camps.’ Poland wanted to achieve parity with leading nations, and initially created the first concentration camp on Kartusz-Berezo. Later, already on the eve of the Nazi attack, the Justice Ministry began to implement the second manifestation: ‘Labor Camps.’ These are the 2 ‘locations for punishment’ that the Zamośćher Stimme is describing. However, bitter fate decreed, that indeed within a year's time, in those points, especially Bialobrzegi, later became one of the most terrifying places of torture for Jews that were sent there, and one of the first of the labor camps in the Lublin district.

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There is no doubt that this chronology is incomplete, first because it is casual, because it is fragmentary, because it is also possibly ‘subjective’ – it is derived from a periodical with a specific ideological color. However, we do see there, the broad extent, all the hues that had an impact on the Jewish ‘rainbow’ of Poland and its communities – which were destroyed.

Let these ‘reports,’ ‘notices,’ and ‘chronologies’ round out and complete those moments of our community, which for a variety of reasons may not have come to their total completion in our Pinkas.

This Community Chronology has been illustrated with a variety of documents and pictures which have a bearing on the period in question, and of the institutions that have been referenced.

Translator's footnotes:

1. A skin disease, especially of the scalp, characterized by dry incrustations due to the fungus Achorion schonleinii. Return
2. From the same e-mail of February 21, 2004 from Leon Szyfer: All Szyfers, Szyffers, Szypers, Szyppers, Schiffers, Schippers from Zamość were members of the same family. Simcha Szyffer was my father's(e.g. Josef) brother, who perished with his family in Belze. Return
3. Opening lines of a Socialist Labor Workman's Hymn. Return
4. Yiddish diminutive for the plural of ‘Joseph.’ An attempt to refer to the two ‘Josephs’ in a disparaging manner. Return
5. Also see the extract from the Lubliner Tageblatt on page 321. Undoubtedly, these news items were shared by more than one periodical. Return
6. The White Paper of 1939 (also known as the MacDonald White Paper) was a statement of policy issued by the British in the wake of the St. James Conference. As the Conference failed to produce any realistic formulations for peace in Palestine, the British decided upon a new strategy for the handling the volatile situation in the region. In this new statement of policy, the British made concessions to the Arabs on a wide range of issues.
   First, the Balfour Declaration was given a decidedly narrow interpretation. The Jews were promised that they could build a center for the Jewish people in Palestine; they were not promised that this center would develop into a Jewish state, as Zionists had hoped. As such, limitations limiting the expansion of the Jewish presence in Palestine were appropriate.
   Since the British no longer envisioned a state with a Jewish majority, Jewish expansion was limited first and foremost by severely restricting Jewish immigration. According to the new policy, enough Jews had already immigrated to constitute a renewed Jewish community in Palestine, and any further immigration would unfairly prejudice Arab interests in the region. Thus, a quota was imposed which allowed for a maximum of 75,000 Jews to enter the country over a period of five years. Exceptions would be subject to Arab approval. These restrictions left Jewish residents of Palestine in a clear minority, dimming any hopes for sovereignty.
   Another concession to the Arabs limited the amount of land in Palestine that could be purchased by Jews. The British argued that this policy was intended to aid Arab farmers, keeping the Arab economy from collapse. A series of regulations concerning the transfer of land was implemented by the High Commissioner of Palestine.
   The issuing of such anti-Zionist policies sparked intense protests. Jews were outraged with the White Paper. The consequences of such limitations were clear in view of the growing stream of Jewish refugees fleeing Europe. In Britain the White Paper did not receive unanimous approval among government officials. Although the majority approved of the new policy, many vehemently opposed it, including Winston Churchill. Many claimed that the White Paper was in fact a breach in the Mandate. Return

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