[Page 107]

[Page 108]

[Page 109]

Bialystok was the second city after Warsaw to compile an impressive record of courage during the time of the martyrdom of East European Jewry. Bialystok's Jewish youth decided to wage an armed resistance against the powerful enemy.

It is difficult to recall those dark days and comprehend the scope of the tragedy, unprecedented in the history of mankind in its extent, the number of victims, the methods of annihilation and the terrible bloodbath – all of the foregoing enacted by the most wicked regime on the face of the earth.

Against the background of inevitable extermination and in the midst of profound isolation and abandonment by God and by man, you found in the horrid ghetto overcrowding, filth and hunger – the Jewish youth prepared for battle.

After an interval of thirty years, having become familiar with all of the facts, we can assert that no other nation that suffered under Hitler's yoke demonstrated such heroism as did our Jewish people. Let us remember that almost none of the gentiles had been slated for complete extermination and none had lived under such horrifying conditions. Most had homelands and could rely upon the local inhabitants for help in their underground activities against Nazism. Throughout history, no other nation was so alone and deserted, so dependent upon its own limited resources than the Jewish people in World War II.

Under these circumstances, to organize an armed resistance was more than heroic. This was the dream of a people sentenced to death – not only to save themselves but to preserve their honour as Jews.

Today, everyone knows how difficult it was to obtain weapons in those days. Even the Partisans, including Jews and non-Jews, lacked adequate arms. For example, one of the engineers in the ghetto boiled dynamite on a tin stove heated with wood. Ordinary, bottles filled with benzene served as the Molotov cocktails of the Jewish resistance fighters.

On August 16, 1943, the German army and the S.S. contingents who had entered the ghetto to liquidate it were welcome by heavy gunfire. A self-defence organization had decided that the Nazi would have to pay dearly for Jewish lives. In the narrow ghetto streets, the following slogans reverberated: “Don't let yourselves be destroyed”. “Die with honour”. Unfortunately, only a few were armed because of a scarcity of weapons. Axes and crowbars were added to the Jewish arsenal and with these primitive weapons; the Jews attacked the Germans who were armed to the teeth.

The battle was fought along the perimeters of the ghetto. There was no other choice. The Germans had learned from the uprising in the Warsaw ghetto. They had concentrated the Jews in those neighbourhoods where it was impossible to conduct house-to-house combat but rather in empty lots, open gardens and wooden buildings which offered no protection.

The S.S. soldiers stretched along the entire length of Jurowecki Street cordoning off the denser section of the city from the ghetto. There was no way to escape. The battle had to be waged near a fence. Only there would the masses find a way to escape from the besieged ghetto.

A signal to begin the struggle was given. An explosive flare lit up the sky and, at that moment, the resistance fighters opened fire on the Germans at the ghetto fence.

At the same time, other members of the resistance movement began setting fire to the factories in all parts of the ghetto. Loud explosions and dancing flames blended with heavy smoke. The first wounded German soldiers called for help, retreating behind the ghetto walls. They answered with fierce firepower. The battle engulfed this entire section of the ghetto.

“Advance! Advance!” The shouts of the resistance fighters and the masses were heard. “We have nothing to lose!”

The gate at Fabryczna Street, heretofore always closed, abruptly swung open and a tank entered, almost making it to Czepla Street. Suddenly, it stopped dead in its tracks – a casualty of a Molotov cocktail. An airplane hovered over the heads of the resistance fighters swooping down and firing on them.

The ghetto burned for several more days after we were taken away to the large field outside. Several fighters who had hidden in the cellars destroyed everything that could be of use to the Nazi.

The overwhelming majority of the ghetto fighters perished in the unequal struggle. Everyone fought until the last bullet. A few who were not killed retreated to a camouflaged bunker underneath an old well. Three days later, after all the Jews of Bialystok had been evacuated to the concentration camps, the combat shelter was exposed. Four-legged and two-legged dogs uncovered their tracks and led them to death on Jurowecki Street, against a wall where they were shot by the Nazi murderers.

After Bialystok was liberated, we found the mass grave of the resistance fighters. They had been buried in a landfill near the ghetto cemetery. We carried out their exhumation and reburied them in the Jewish cemetery.

[Page 110]

We found their corpses with clenched fists, with rolled up sleeves, still grasping pliers to cut the ghetto fences. These were our sons and daughters and they died for our honour.

Near the garbage dump where we found the seventy ghetto heroes, we came upon a second pit in which lay the remains of the women and infants that the Nazi had removed from the hospital and shot. One woman was killed while she was in labour. One half of the child had already emerged and the second half was still inside the birth canal. Later, Polish pathologists established that a number of these women and children had been buried alive.

We interred them in one mass grave together with the ghetto heroes. Furthermore, we erected a monument over their grave that pays tribute to their heroism and to their eternal sacredness. Alas, their grave and monument remain unvisited for there are no more Jews to be found in Bialystok.

Moreover, the white granite stone with the golden menorah engraved on it also stands alone and on which are inscribed the following words:

“These 60,000 Jews of Bialystok, the 200,000 Jews of its provinces, the nationalistic city, the mother city of Israel, the citadel of Jewish culture, a city famed for its national, religious, social economic and healthcare institutions, the city with its network of schools, Talmud Torahs and yeshivas, the Sholem Aleichem library, Jewish newspapers and theatres, the city of the aggressive Jewish proletariat, prominent writers, scientists and entertainers. Bialystok, with its courageous ghetto uprising against the Hitler murderers, followed the example of Jewish heroism throughout its generations of existence. May the horrible murders forever remain a stain on the German people and may the sacred memory of our Jewish martyrs serve as a beacon of light for us and for succeeding generations. We, the remnants of Bialystok, will always cherish their memory and continue the revered traditions of our beloved hometown”.

* * * *

(Editor's note: In a book entitled Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust, published in 1971 by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the following interesting glimpse is given of how Efrajim Barasz viewed the Jewish resistance).

When Chajke Grosman (today a member of the Israeli Knesset) was active as a representative of Hashomer Hatzair in the underground resistance movement in Bialystok, we met several times with the Chairman of the Judenrat, Efrajim Barasz. In one of their discussions, Ms. Grosman told him about the terrible slaughter the Nazi had carried out at Ponary, a desolate village ten kilometres from Wilno. Barasz answered her: “I can't believe that what occurred in Wilno will also happen in Bialystok. I know the Germans. They won't dare conduct themselves in the same way here. They are only carrying out orders issued from Berlin – and should they receive such orders, surely they will let me know beforehand?

“They will not use the methods at Wilno here because they need us. In any event, we can enjoy peace of mind for the time being. I am afraid that our own youth will do something foolish. Will you accept the responsibility for their actions? I will always know in advance if anything is going to happen”.

* * * *

It should be pointed out that the conditions in the Bialystok ghetto were very different from those in the Warsaw ghetto. Bialystok was not surrounded by a brick wall but with wooden partitions. Its buildings were small and constructed of wood. All this made it more difficult for the Jewish resistance fighters to defend themselves, for they were afforded no protection from Nazi firepower. Nevertheless, the battles lasted several days. On the fourth day, German armoured tanks and field artillery entered the ghetto, reinforced by about a thousand SS soldiers and Ukrainians. The Jews attempted to repulse them mainly with grenades and Molotov cocktails. They also had a few machine guns. Several hundred Germans and Ukrainians were killed. The Jewish fighters were captured and deported to Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz. A small group succeeded in reaching the forests where they united with the Partisans.

Tell the New Generations Of the Holocaust And Resistance

[Page 111]

During the Revolt

Most of the weapons used by the Jewish fighters were obtained clandestinely from sympathetic Germans who smuggled arms into the ghetto in various ways. A number of Poles and peasants also sold weapons for ever higher prices.

Some members of the resistance got their weapons by breaking into Nazi arsenals and police stations. Some women even hid bullets and other ammunition under their dresses.

The resistance consisted of about 500 courageous people representing all political parties and persuasions. The Nazi enemy succeeded in uniting these previously fragmented groups.

Before the actual battle in August 1943, the underground resistance carried on a widespread indoctrination effort among the masses. Their main purpose was to encourage the people to resist and not to die passively. This helped keep the spirit of the people alive in the face of mounting adversity. There was even a secret radio programme broadcasted twice a week which disseminated resistance propaganda.

The appeal to fight the Nazi, issued by the underground on August 15, 1943 reportedly was written by Mordechaj Tenenbaum-Tamarof. This stirring call to arms galvanized the people to meet the enemy courageously.

From the outset, there were strong bonds between the resistance fighters in the ghetto and the Partisans in the forests. Weapons, food, clothing and medication were exchanged to the greatest extent possible. It would have been impossible for the resistance inside the ghetto to have accomplished as much as it did without assistance from the Partisans on the outside. In the end, thousands of Jews were transported to Treblinka by rail. Partisans lined the railroad track to help save those who jumped from the trains.

Tens of thousands of Bialystoker Jews were sent to Treblinka, Auschwitz and Majdanek in the summer of 1943 when the Bialystok ghetto was liquidated and they were exterminated. Other Jews were sent to the Lublin-Poniatow, Blyzin and other slave camps where they were tortured. Thus many hundreds of years of Bialystoker Jewish history came to an end.

[English pages 111-113, Yiddish pages 237-239]

Family name	First name(s)	Gender	Remarks	Page(s)
Alef
OBJEDRZYNSKI	Ezra	M		237, 111
ABELEWICZ	Nochum	M		237, 111
ABELEWICZ	Pejsach	M		237, 111
ABRAMOWICZ	Hersz	M		237, 111
	Arke	M	occupation: porter. Nickname: Ahrele the porter	237, 111
OZDER	Dr.	M		237, 111
IGLEWICZ	Zelig	M		237, 111
AJZENSZTEJN	Anjela	F		237, 111
AJZENSZTEJN	Edzja	F		237, 111
ALTERWAJN	Josef	M		237, 111
OLSZTEJN	Adela	F		237, 111
OLSZTEJN	Chaim	M		237, 111
OSOWICKI	Szoul	M		237, 111
OSTROW		M		237, 111
OSJASZ	Ruszka	F		237, 111
OSKOLA	Aron Artur	M		237, 111
EFROS	Chonon	M		237, 111
OKON	Mordechaj	M		237, 111
ARONCZYK	Kalman	M		237, 111
Bet
BABIKER		M		237, 111
BANK	Jankel	M		237, 111
BAS	Awrom	M		237, 111
BAK	Fiszl	M		237, 111
BARAN		M		237, 111
BOROWIK	Judl	M		237, 111
BOROWIK	Szepsel	M	Photo. Died 01.01.1944 in Suprasl	237, 111, 166
BORAKS	Elijahu Edek	M		237, 111
	Basze	F		237, 111
BASZEFKIN	Boruch	M		237, 111
BASZEFKIN	Lejb	M		237, 111
BASZEFKIN	Szmuel	M		237, 111
BOJMAC	Simche	M		237, 111
BULGAR	Chaim	M		237, 111
BURAK	Itke	F		237, 111
BURSZTEN	Lejb	M		237, 111
BURSZTEN	Szlojme	M		237, 111
BIALA	Chaje	F		237, 111
BIBER	Tanje	F		237, 111
BITENSKA	Etel	F		237, 111
BIRMAN	Cypora	F		237, 111
BIRNCWAJG	Wacek	M		237, 111
BLUM	Chawe	F		237, 111
BLUMENCWAJG	Nojmi	F		237, 111
BERLIN	Dr.	M		237, 111
BERMAN	Chaim Isroel	M		237, 111
BERSOWICKI	Kalman	M		237, 111
BERKMAN	Sjome	F		237, 111
BRAMSON	Solomon	M	Photo. Died in Russia	164
BRODSKI	Njunje	F		237, 111
BROJDE		M		237, 111
Gimmel
GOLADN		M		237, 111
GOLDBERG	Izchok	M		237, 111
GOLDBERG	Mojsze Misza	M		237, 111
GOLDBERG	Sjome	F		237, 111
GOLDBERG	Elje	M		237, 111
GOLDMAN	Jakow	M		237, 111
GOLDFARB		M		237, 111
GOLDSZTEJN	Arnold	M		237, 111
GOLDSZTEJN	Henjek	M		237, 111
GOLDSZTEJN	Nosen	M		237, 111
GALTER	Awrom	M		237, 111
GALTER		F		237, 111
GARBER	Awrom	M		237, 111
GORDON	Dzek Jakow	M		237, 111
GUTMAN	Ejdel	F		237, 111
GUTMAN	Chaim	M		237, 111
GUTKOWSKA	Manja	M		237, 111
GURNICKI	Chaim	M		237, 111
GURNICKA	Sima	F		237, 111
GUREWICZ	Dr.	M		237, 111
GRZECHJEN	Alek	M		237, 111
GLOZ	Chaim	M		237, 111
GLATSZTEJN	Jechezel	M		237, 111
GLIKSMAN	Rochel	F		237, 111
GOCZYNSKI	Rochel	F		237, 111
GEFON	Wladislaw	M		237, 111
GERSZUNI	Szlojme	M		237, 111
GERSZTENKORN	Leon	M		237, 111
GRAJEWER	Jankl	M		237, 111
GROSMAN		M	Engineer	237, 111
GRUBLIAK	Cypora	F		237, 111
Dalet
DAWIDOWICZ	Dora	M		237, 111
DATNER	Mika	M		237, 111
DATNER	Roza	F		237, 111
DOROGOJ	Fejtcze	M		237, 111
DORKE				237, 111
	Dowid	M	Born in Vilna. Nickname David the Vilner	237, 111
DWORECKI	Zajle	F		237, 111
DLUGACZ	Sonja	F		237, 111
DLUGACZ	Pola	F		237, 111
DEWELTOW	Sora	F		237, 111
DERECZYNSKA	Sora	F		237, 111
DREJER	Josef	M		237, 111
Hey
HOLENDERSKI	Dr.	M		237, 111
HALPERN	Mojsze	M		237, 111
HALPERN	Sjome	F		237, 111
HALPERN	Fanja	F		237, 111
HERC	Adela	F		237, 111
Vav
WOLOWCZYK	Jankl	M		237, 111
WOLKOWISKI	Wolf	M		237, 111
WANENGESZYKT	Josef	M		237, 111
WANAGINSKI	Josef	M		237, 111
WARSZAWSKA	Riwa	F		237, 111
WIDERMAN	Awrom	M		237, 111
WAJNBERG	Awrom	M		237, 111
WAJNSZTEJN	Jochewed	F		237, 111
WAJNSZTEJN	Lejb	M		237, 111
WAJNSZTEJN	Kopl	M		237, 111
WAJS	Meir	M		237, 111
WAJSENBERG	Henjek	M		237, 111
WAJCMAN	Jochewed	F		237, 111
WILCZYNSKA	Gitl	F		237, 111
WIERNIK	Renja	M		237, 111
WYSOCKI	Lejb	M		237, 112
WLOSZEZOWSKI		M		237, 112
WORNE	Dowid	M		237, 112
Zayin
ZONSZAJN	Rochel	F		237, 112
ZAPACZKOWSKI	Tanja	F		237, 112
ZAKS	Dr.	M		237, 112
ZEJFMAN	Jechiel	M		237, 112
ZYLBERBERG	Zorach Zyskind	M		237, 112
ZYLBERSZTEJN	Hela	F		237, 112
ZYSMAN	Manja	M		237, 112
ZELWIANSKI	Lejb	M		237, 112
ZELAZO	Sjome	F		237, 112
ZIELONOGURA	Chanoch	M		237, 112
ZIELENIECKA		F		237, 112
Chet
CHMELNIK	Mordechai	M	Photo	164
Tet
TAUB	Jochewed	F		237, 112
	Tanja	F		237, 112
TARTACKI	Motl	M		237, 112
	Tajbel	F	Born in Vilna. Occupation: nanny	238, 112
TENENBOJM TAMAROF	Mordechaj	M	Photo	238, 112, 163
TREGER	Ljole	F		238, 112
CZAPNIK	Grisza	M		238, 112
	Czapke			238, 112
Yod
JAWOROWSKI	Mojsze	M		238, 112
	Jandrza	F		238, 112
FURMAN	Jankele	M	Occupation: wagon driver	238, 112
DER GRINER	Josele	M	Nickname: the green one, the gray one	238, 112
JOSEM		M	First brother	238, 112
JOSEM		M	Second brother	238, 112
JOSKOWICZ	Zosze	M		238, 112
	Jofe	M		238, 112
JAKUBOWICZ	Szlojme Lozer	M		238, 112
	Mjetek	M		238, 112
JAKUBOWICZ	Julek	M		238, 112
	Jaszke	M		238, 112
	Jehudit	F		238, 112
JURKOWSKI			Born ib Krynki	238, 112
JEDLINA	Sora	F		238, 112
	Isroel	M	Israel the carpenter	238, 112
Kaf
CHAWES	Awrom	M		238, 112
CHAZAN	Awrom	M		238, 112
CHALEF	Chana	F		238, 112
CHOROSZUCH	Lejzer	M		238, 112
	Chackl	M		238, 112
Lamed
LOBZOWSKI				238, 112
LAPCZYNSKI	Chaim	M		238, 112
LAKS	Blume	F		238, 112
LUNSKI	Grisza	M		238, 112
	Ljonje	F	Nickname: the black one	238, 112
	Ljoncze	F		238, 112
LAJWENT	Nechome	F		238, 112
LICHTENSZTEJN	Josef	M		238, 112
LICHTENSZTEJN	Menasze	M		238, 112
LICHTENSZTEJN	Fejge	F		238, 112
LIFSZYC				238, 112
LEBJED	Jakow	M		238, 112
LEW	Chone	F		238, 112
LEWIN	Awrom	M		238, 112
LEWIN	Chana	F		238, 112
LEWIN	Reuwen	M		238, 112
LEWIN	Szejne	F	Maiden name: Patt	238, 112
LEWITAN	Liza	F		238, 112
LEWINSON	Hanka	F		238, 112
LEWINSKA		F		238, 112
LEWINSKI	Ch.	M	occupation: librarian	238, 112
LENINGRADEC	Aljoza	M		238, 112
LERMAN	Ljola	F		238, 112
LERNER	Jakow	M		238, 112
Mem
MADAJSKER	Riwa	F		238, 112
	Matus	M		238, 112
MIODOWNIK	Judl	M		238, 112
MALINJAK	Isroel	M		238, 112
MALMED	Izchok	M		238, 112
MALER	Tadek	M		238, 112
MALAREWICZ	Lilke	F		238, 112
MANDEL	Hersz	M		238, 112
MANDELBLIT	Lejb	M		238, 112
MANELA	Hela	F		238, 112
MARGOLIS	Bronja	F		238, 112
MARGOLIS	Josef	M		238, 112
MARGOLIS	Isroel	M		238, 112
MARDECKI				238, 112
MARMORWEG				238, 112
MOSKOWITZ	Doniel	M		238, 112
MUCZNIK	Meir	M		238, 112
KACZEMOCH	Mulje	M		238, 112
MURAWIEC	Anjela	F		238, 112
MAJZLER	Awrom	M		238, 112
MINC	Ljolek	M		238, 112
MELAMED	Jakow	M		238, 112
MENDELSON	Chawe	F		238, 112
MERSIK	Cwi	M		238, 112
MERSIK	Basze	F		238, 112
	Mojsze	M	Nickname: Moshe "Daddy"	238, 112
Nun
NOWOGRUCKI	Jehudit	F		238, 112
NOWODRORSKI	Mojsze	M		238, 112
NAJMAN	Awrom	M		238, 112
NAJMAN	Rochel	F		238, 112
NIRENBERG	Helena	F		238, 112
Samech
SOBOL	Etel	F		238, 112
SAWICKI	Berl	M		238, 112
MELMAN		M	Engineer	238, 112
SANE				238, 112
SOKOLOWICZ				238, 112
SAREWICZ				238, 112
SUCHODNICKI	Elijezer	M		238, 112
SUCHACZEWSKA	Fanja	F		238, 112
SUCHACZEWSKI	Jojne	M		238, 112
SURASKI	Hersz	M		238, 112
STRYKOWSKA	Hinde	F		238, 112
STRYKOWSKI	Chaim	M		238, 112
STRYKOWSKI	Misza	M		238, 112
STREBLANSKI	Izchok	M		238, 112
SIWOWICZ	Henjek	F		238, 112
SIWOWICZ	Jentl	F		238, 112
SICZ	Fanja	F		238, 112
SIROTKIN	Hersz	M		238, 112
SCHRONIS		M	Engineer	238, 112
SLAPAK	Mojsze	M		238, 112
SEGAL	Dr.	M		238, 112
SEGAL	Tanja	F		238, 112
SEGAL	Rojze	F		238, 112
Ayin
EDELMAN		F	Unmarried woman	238, 112
EDELSZTEJN				238, 112
ETINGOLD	Dobe	F		238, 112
ETINGOLD	Szlojme	M		238, 112
	Etel	F		238, 112
ELSNER	Hanke	F		238, 112
EPSZTEJN	Wolf	M		238, 112
Peh
POGORELSKI	Tanchum	M		238, 112
POZNANSKI				238, 112
PAT	Amnon	M		238, 112
POTOCKI	Aron	M		238, 112
POLAK	Rochel	F		238, 112
POMERANC	Owadja	M		238, 112
POPORC	Szolem	M		238, 112
PACANOWSKA		F		238, 112
PARAZOWSKI				238, 112
PLASKOWSKA	Menucha	F		238, 112
PETLUK	Gedalje	M		238, 112
PELC	Henjek	M		238, 112
PERELSZTEJN	Mojsze	M		238, 112
PERECKA		F		238, 112
	Pnina	F		238, 112
FOGELMAN	Awrom	M		238, 112
	Fanja	F		238, 112
FARBER	Henach	M		238, 112
FAJERKIN		M	Engineer	238, 112
FAJERMAN	Mojsze	M		238, 112
FAJERSZTEJN	Stela	F		238, 112
FISZER		M	Engineer	238, 112
FLOJMENBOJM	Hersz	M		238, 112
FLEJSZER				238, 112
FEL	Frida	F		238, 112
FELDER	Zalman	M		238, 112
	Fradl	F		238, 112
FRANEK				238, 112
FRIDMAN	Gine	F		238, 112
FRIDMAN	Chaim	M		238, 112
	Fride	F		238, 112
FRENKEL	Franke	M		238, 112
	Cwi	F		238, 112
Tzadik
CYBULSKI	Szymon	M		238, 112
CELNIKER	Pinches	M	Photo. Died 1944 in Suprasl	238, 112, 166
Kof
KAWE	Josef	M		238, 112
KOZAK	Nochum	M		238, 112
KOT	Bejbe	F		238, 112
KACZALSKA	Basje	F		238, 112
KACZALSKA	Bina	F		238, 112
KACZALSKA	Hinde	F		238, 112
KOCZWARSKI	Mojsze	M		238, 112
KOLE			Born in Krynki	238, 112
KOLTUN	Hersz	M		238, 112
KON	Chaim	M		238, 112
KON	Nera	M		238, 112
KAPLAN	Zenje	F		238, 112
KAPLAN	Mirjam	F		238, 112
KAPLAN	Misza	M		238, 112
KAPLANSKI				238, 112
KAC	Efrajim	M		238, 112
KORJANSKA	Osne	F		239, 112
KORJANSKA	Dwora	F		239, 112
KORJANSKA	Rywka	F		239, 112
KWART	Jojne	M		239, 112
KWARC				239, 112
KOJFMAN	Bela	F		239, 112
KUCHAREWSKI	Sasza	M		239, 112
KUCHAREWSKI		M	Brother of Sasha	239, 112
KUSTIN				239, 112
KUSEWICKI	Sawke	M		239, 112
KURAZA	Ester	F		239, 112
KURTE	Awrom	M		239, 112
KUSZNIR	Sjome	F		239, 112
KISLER	Jojel	M		239, 112
KIRZNER	Binjomin	M		239, 112
KLARFELD	Bela	F		239, 112
KENIGSBERG	Chana	F		239, 112
KNAPINSKA	Sora	F		239, 112
KRAMARZ	Monjek	M		239, 112
KRAMARZ	Ruwen	M		239, 112
KRYNSKI	Judl	M		239, 112
KRACOWSKA	Chawa	F		239, 112
Resh
ROGOZYNSKI	Kuba	M		239, 112
ROZEN	Mila	M		239, 112
ROZENBLAT	Sora	F		239, 112
ROZENBLUM	Felek	M		239, 112
ROZENBLUM	Frume	F		239, 112
ROZENBERG	Ruwen	M		239, 112
ROZENTAL	Hersz	M		239, 112
ROZENFELD	Sora	F		239, 112
ROZENSZAJN	Rochel	F		239, 112
ROTBARD	Mojsze	M		239, 112
RATKER	Roze	F		239, 112
ROTSZYLD	Hersz	M		239, 112
RATICKI	Szalka	M		239, 112
RACLAW	Binjomin	M		239, 112
RUBIN	Awrom	M		239, 112
RUBIN	Lejzer	M		239, 112
RABINOWICZ	Zawel	M		239, 112
RUBINSZTEJN	Aron	M		239, 112
RUBINSZTEJN	Bube	F		239, 112
	Ruszke	F		239, 112
RUSKA	Mute	M		239, 112
RIJOL	Szejne	F		239, 112
RYBA	Awrom Nachman	M		239, 112
RYBALOWSKA	Frida	F		239, 112
RYBAK	Chaja	F		239, 112
RYBKA	Josef	M		239, 113
RAJZNER	Lejzer	M		239, 113
RAJZNER	Szmuel	M		239, 113
REZNIK	Szlojme	M		239, 113
REMBISZEWSKI	Hersz	M		239, 113
Shin
SZAJAK	Gedaljohu	M		239, 113
SZACHNES	Cyla	F		239, 113
SZAPIRO	Broche	F		239, 113
SZWARC	Chaje	F		239, 113
SZUSTER	Chajim	M		239, 113
SZURIK	Bira	M		239, 113
SZURIK	Hela	F		239, 113
SZTIFELD				239, 113
SZTEPER	Nachman	M		239, 113
SZTERN				239, 113
SZTERNFELD	Isroel	M		239, 113
SZTROJSBERG	Chajcze	F		239, 113
SZCZEPJACKI				239, 113
	Szajke	M	Shayke from Czechanovice	239, 113
SZLUMIJEL	Lipe	M		239, 113
SZLAJFER	Binjomin	M		239, 113
	Szlojme	M		239, 113
SZLENGER	Marek	M		239, 113
SZMIT	Sonja	M		239, 113
SZNAJDER	Arje	M		239, 113
SZEDLER	Hersz	M		239, 113

[Page 113]

The City Destroyed

On July 27, 1944, after fierce battles between Soviet and Nazi forces, the Red Army liberated Bialystok which was a tragic scene of desolation and ruin.

What was once a citadel of vibrant Jewish life had become a wasteland. The energy and creativity of generations of Jews had vanished in a barbaric orgy.

Jewish neighbourhoods in Bialystok, once ebullient and enthusiastic, were plunged into deep melancholy. The Nazi murderers had destroyed everything. It was incredible that such total devastation could result in so short a time.

Tens of thousands of Bialystoker Jewish men, women and children perished in Auschwitz, Treblinka and other Nazi concentration camps. Bialystok – a microcosm of Jewish life in Eastern Europe – disappeared as though it had never existed.

Shortly after the Soviets liberated the city, a few Jews returned to the shattered remains of their beloved hometown, miraculously having escaped the fate of their six million brethren. The massive destruction they saw made them feel like branches torn from a tree, and they wept.

But they did not give up. As time went on, more Jews came back to the city. How they managed to survive is beyond human comprehension. Their reunion restored hope and they clung together like one large family in mourning.

These few who emerged from Hitler's inferno- the camps, forests, bunkers, endless wanderings and dislocations – were immersed in their painful memories but resolved to begin anew.

Their goal was to rebuild Bialystok's Jewish community and they were aided by generous landsleit in all parts of the world, mostly by the Bialystoker Centre in New York.

They vowed never to forget thousands of their brothers and sisters who had perished in the Holocaust, nor those who had died resisting the Nazi enemy.

O streets of Bialystok You are no longer, But streets of Bialystok In me you will live forever. Our homes are all gone, ust a few walls still stand; Young lads in tatters roam, Just a few toddlers, who really knows? Laughter in the night From couples in love Singing to their hearts delight Yet filled with trouble enough. O streets of Bialystok You are no longer But streets of Bialystok In me you will live forever. O streets of Bialystok How once you beamed with pride; Now all that remains, O Bialystok, Is a cemetery bonafide.

[Page 114]

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