Brzezany Memorial Book
(Berezhany, Ukraine)

49°27' / 24°56'

Translation of
Brzezany, Narajow ve-ha-seviva; toldot kehilot she-nehrevu

Edited by: Menachem Katz, Haifa, Brzezany-Narajow Societies in Israel and the United States

Published in 1978

Our sincere appreciation to Yad Vashem
for the submission of the necrology for placement on the JewishGen web site.

 

Acknowledgments

Project Coordinator

Moshe Kutten

 

Ruth Yoseffa Erez (emerita)

 

This is a translation from: Brzezany, Narajow ve-ha-seviva; toldot kehilot she-nehrevu (Brzezany Memorial Book),
Brzezany-Narajow Societies in Israel and the United States, 1978 (501 pages, Hebrew, Yiddish, English).

Purchase details for a printed copy of this book can be found at https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/ybip/YBIPBerezhany.html

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TOC translated by Ruth Yoseffa Erez

Editor''s Note Arch. Katz Menachem 10
Introduction   11
The City and its Surrounding Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 13
The City's Surrounding Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 14
The History of the Brzezany Jewish Community from
the Establishment of the Town till the End of the 19th Century		 The Late Dr. N.M. Gelber 20
From the End of the 19th Century until 1920 Dr. E. Shaklai 28
The First World War. The Years 1914 – 1920 Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 32
The Community Committee Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 36
Towards the Change Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 37
 
The Zionist Movement Chapter
The Zionist Movement Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 40
“Keren Kayemet Le'Israel” [Jewish National Fund] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 42
“Keren Hayesod” [United Israel Appeal] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 44
“Ezra” [Help] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 45
“Tzeirei Zion” [Zion Youth] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 46
Union of Zionist University Graduates Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 46
“HaShomer” [The Watchman] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 46
Union of Miriam's Girls' students Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 47
The Union of “HaShakar” [The Dawn] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 47
“Poaley Tzion” [Worker of Zion”] Movement Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 47
“HeKhalutz” [the Pioneer] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 48
First Group Makes Aliyah Moshe Glazer, Menakhem Katz-Grad 49
“HaShomer HaTzair” [The Young Guard] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 54
The first summer camp Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 57
The “Tkhiya” group Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 58
Memories Chapter Batya Boneh-Prizand 60
“HaShomer HaTzair” (1926 – 1932) Dov Glazer 62
“HaShomer HaTzair” – The Departure Z. Osrover 65
The History “HaMizrakhi” Movement in Brzezany Dov (Dow) Knohl 66
“HaNoar HaTzioni” [The Zionist Youth] Lawyer M. Meiblum 72
The “HaNoar HaTzion” [The Zionist Youth] Branch Bela Feld-Danieli 74
“Beita'r” Movement in Brzezany Shimon Bleiberg, David Fas, and Shlomo Riger 76
Hebrew School Dr. Mentsakh, Eng. Tishler 80
“Mizrakhi” School Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 84
Kindergarten Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 84
Hakhshara Kibbutzim Arch. Menakhem Katz 85
 
Between the Two World Wars
The Economic Situation Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 88
The Trade Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 92
Academics in Government Positions Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 93
Physicians Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 93
Pharmacists Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 94
Lawyers Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 94
Engineers Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 95
Craftsmen Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 95
World War II Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 96
 
Culture and Way of Life
The Drama Club - “Yidishe Kunst” [Yiddish Art] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 106
The Musical-Dramatic Union Yidishe Kunst [Jewish Art] in Brzezany Moshe Bar-David (Dawid) 107
A Purim Meal Moshe Bar David (David, Dawid) 120
Brzezany Strange Characters (Eccentrics) Moshe Bar-David (David, Dawid) 123
Z.K.S - The Jewish Athletes Club Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 126
The Craftsmen organization “Yad Kharutzim” [Diligent Hand] Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 128
The People House – Natzional Hauz Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 129
The Orphanage Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 130
Charity and Mutual Aid Institutes Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 132
Educational Institutes Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 134
Anti-Semitism in the High School, The Zvirski Affair Shlomo Doron-Dorfman 134
Teachers State Seminary in Brzezany Batya Boneh-Prizand 136
Brzezany Tzvi Scharfstein 137
Khevra Kadisha [Burial Society] – “The Bed Carriers” Menakhem son of Shimon Katz/td> 143
The Cemetery Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 144
My Father's Home Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 146
My Family's Story Pnina Shaklai 148
I Remember Shabbat at Home Rivka Tomarkin-Shapira 150
Memories from my Parents' Home Tzipora Rozner 151
In Memory of My Father, Yossef Kalman, the Pioneer Israel-Karmel (Kalman) 153
 
Figures and Personalities
Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Hacohen Schwadron of Blessed Memory Dr. E. Shaklai 156
Brzezany's Rabbis Rabbi Meir Wonder 161
The family of the Halperin Rabbis Moshe Bar-David 168
The Nathanson Family Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 170
Rabbi Aharon Bar Yehuda HaLevi Dr. Israel Mehlman 172
Rabbi, Dr. Margaliot Shmuel Zvi Dov Knohl 178
The Rabbi, Dr. Leo (Leib Hirsch) Bardowicz Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 179
Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Bergman Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 180
Rabbi, Yehuda Leibaleh Roza Moshe Bar-David 181
The Prayer Master, Vava Ze'ev Direnfeld Moshe Bar-David 183
Dr. Bernard Felk Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 184
Dr. Khaim (Edmond) Vilner Moshe Bar-David 186
Dr. Aryeh Feld Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 186
Dr. Moshe Schumer Motek Rozentzveig 189
Dr. Shlomo Glazer Dov Glazer 190
Ozer Rot – The Fulfilling Zionist Menakhem Katz, Rivka Cohen Roth 192
Shlomo Redlikh Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 195
Benyamin Te'eni Erica Ilan Te'eni 198
Yoshe (Yosef) Ast – The Book-Seller Moshe Bar-David 200
Yekhiel Peltz Avraham KhaRa”P z”l 201
Rabbi Moshe Shpizen's Doings By Avraham KhaRa”P z”l 202
Rabbi Efraim Zalman Margaliot Avraham KhaRa”P 204
R' Leibush Perlmutter and R' Avraham Lokman Paulin Lokman 206
Reb Shlomo Prisand Batya Bone Prisand 207
Reb Yosef Ben Meir Yehuda Streisand Judith Kahn-Streisand 209
Michael Kara (Karon) “Gazit”, Volume 21, Booklets 1 – 5 211
The Actor Hersh Tonis Moshe Bar-David 213
Leon Shpatzer Moshe Bar-David 213
The Melamed, R' Yasha Fishlis Moshe Bar-David 214
Dr. Avraham Halbertal Moshe Bar-David 215
 
The Synagogues in Brzezany
Forward Menakhem Katz 220
The Great Synagogue architect Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 221
Rabbi Yudel's Synagogue Menakhem Katz 232
The “Built” Beit HaMidrash Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 242
The “Cantor's” Beit HaMidrash Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 244
The Old (Alte) Stratyner Kloiz Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 245
The Kloiz of the Chortkobver Hasidim Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 246
Life at the Kloiz Dov Knohl 247
The Synagogue - “Yad Kharutzim” [“Dilligent Hand”] Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 250
Rabbi Mendeleh's Synagouge Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 251
The Poiker Kleizel Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 251
Rozolover Kloiz Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 252
Ya'ir's [Jair] Kloizle Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 252
Other Prayer Places in Town Menakhem son of Shimon Katz 253
 
The Holocaust
Time of Nazi rule Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 260
Blood Libel Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 261
The “Judenrat” Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 265
The Transfers Affair Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 269
he Jewish Militia – Ordnungsdinst Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 269
The Working Group for the Kreishauptmann Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 270
The Aktion[1] in Litatyn Forests – December 1941 Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 271
Order to Jews to Give Away Furs Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 274
The “Typhus” Aktions Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 274
Arbeitsamt - Employment Bureau Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 275
Labor Camps Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 276
Methods of “Catching” People to Labor Camps Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 283
Jewish Militiamen as a [German] “Tool” and as a Human Being Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 284
Preparations for the “Final Solution” - Spring 1942 Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 287
Reorganization of the Judenrat Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 288
Transferring the Jews from the Villages to the City Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 290
The Period of Passover 1942 Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 292
Hideouts – Bunkers Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 293
Women Leave for the Jagielnica Camp Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 299
Aktsia for Converted Jews Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 299
Alternatives to Hideouts Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 300
The News About Belzec Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 301
The Days of Awe Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 303
Yom Kippur of 5703 [1942] Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 303
The First Aktsia to Belzec Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 305
Testimonies of Eyewitnesses Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 308
An Opening to Life Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 313
The Destruction after the Aktsia Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 314
The Road to the Total Extermination - and the Struggle Against it Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 316
The Ghetto Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 317
The Second Aktsia to Belzec Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 321
Towards the Winter Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 323
My Fight for the Typhus Sick Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 324
1942 Hannukah's Aktsia Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 328
Our Situation in the Ghetto and our Struggle leading up to the Ghetto Liquidation Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 329
The “Milk” Aktsia and Others Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 330
The Last Aktsia Before the Ghetto Liquidation Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 331
The Orphan Girls and the Locked Gate Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 333
The Gestapo's Divide and Conquer Method Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 334
The Barrack Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 335
The Last Dance Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 336
The Last Aktsia - the Ghetto Liquidation. “Judenrein” Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 337
After the ghetto liquidation Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 339
The Soviets Rule Again Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 342
The End of the War Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 344
I Leave Town Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 344
The Final Way Menakhem son of Shim'on Katz 345
The Will of the Pohoriles Family Peleg-Marianska 365
Memories from the Ghetto Dr. Shimon Redlikh 367
Forced Labor Camp Kamionka Meir Tuller 370
A Father and a Son Together in a Camp Moshe Bar David 373
Remember Moshe Bar David 377
About the Community's Memorialization Elisha Oren 378
Remember [Zakhor]! Dr. Eliezer Shaklai 379
Yizkor   381
Brzezany's Martyrs List Arch. Katz Menachem 382
The Names of Brzezany Natives Who Died in Israel Arch. Katz Menachem 409
Fallen Soldiers in Israel's Wars Arch. Katz Menachem 420
 
The Narajow Book
Narajow My town Zehava Shmushkin (Hertz) 424
Memories from My town – Narajow Israel Ne'eman 431
The “Zionist youth” movement in Narajow P. Zletkes, C. Kvodi 434
To Narajow's character and remembrance P. Zletkes 437
My Village Narajow Aryeh Goldschlag 439
The author Moyshe Nadir Bar-Dawid Moshe 441
Narayiv Moyshe Nadir 442
Homeland, My Homeland Moyshe Nadir 443
Narajow's Rabbis Rabbi Meir Wonder 444
About the Rabbinate affair in Narajow Israel Ne'eman 446
Rabbi Zvi Yehoshua Grosswax Israel Ne'eman 447
My happenings during the Nazi occupation Chana Roten (Lushk) 450
The Avenging Jew – Yankel (Yankale) Fenger Rina Zlatkes (Rozenblat) 452
Fragments from My Life Under the German Occupation Ben Noyman and Chana Kvodi 454
Narajow's Martyrs List   458
List of those who died in Israel   469
 
English Section
Association of Former Brzezany Residents Manachem Katz 5
Brzezany, the Town   8

Footnote

  1. Term used for any non-military campaign to further Nazi ideals of race, but most often referred to the assembly and deportation of Jews to concentration or death camps. Return

We would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts those who helped, in action or with information, to fulfill this memorialization project.
My appreciation and thankfulness go to our friend Menachem Katz, who donated his time for years to bring this book to a successful completion, and to his helpers: Shimon Katz and Zafna Bekin and to Mr. Oren Elyashiv, principal of Hadera's highschool and Mr. Morris Forkile, for their willingness to give a helping hand to this holy project.
May they all be blessed.

In the name of the committee

Dr. Eliezer (WagshaI) Shaklai

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Contact person for this translation Moshe Kutten
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