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The whole of “Yahdav” and from the class of the active representatives in the team memorializing the town of Goniadz, sat together round the table in the teachers' room. At the head of the table sat the Head–teacher and next to her Mrs. Sarah, today the Inspector of the “Working Youth” movement, Mr. Golman who had been a teacher in the first Goniadz school and Mr. Yitzhaki the Chairman of the Committee of Goniadz Jews.

The teacher began telling us in general about the town. We asked some questions and they answered us.

Here are some samples of the questions:

What is the source of the name “Goniadz”?

What are the various charities that functioned and what was their role?

Give us a description of family–life.

Were there any newspapers in Yiddish? Was there any newspaper in Hebrew? –And questions similar to these.

The members of “Yahdav” and the representatives recorded everything that was said to them. We all drank thirstily the enchanting words they spoke about the cherished town, Goniadz that had been razed.

Mrs. Sarah told us about family life in Goniadz. How the families in town lived together congenially and how they concerned themselves with the education of their children.

Indeed, it was an additional lesson for us and instilled within us additional knowledge on the town Goniadz.

There were two meetings between the school and the people of Goniadz. One – an abridged group of those active in the memorializing project and the second the whole school.

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At our first meeting, we met with three people: Mrs. Sarah Barkai, Mr. Moshe Golman and Mr. Fischl Yitzhaki. The conversation opened with a short description of the town, its history, the life of its people, scenery, local color, and so on. Afterwards there were many questions from every one of the pupils about Goniadz. The questions were answered. I will comment myself on one in particular that left a deep impression on me: “The Charitable organizations in Goniadz – what were they and what did they do?” The answer was given as follows: There were many charitable institutions in the town of Goniadz – anonymous donations, financial organization, medical assistance, ordinary donations, dowry assistance, basic food necessities for the impoverished on festivals and so on. There were marriage–arrangements for a poor bridal family – a scheme for providing suitable clothing for the brides and money to organize the weddings for those too poor or without means. But I was especially impressed with the “Aid for the sick” foundation. When someone was sick someone came to visit, they would sit by the bedside, nurse the patient day and night and provide him with every need. When that self–same loyal and faithful friend himself, a true neighbour, fell sick someone would come to look after him and so it would go on. I was truly amazed by these exalted deeds demonstrating courage, heroism and danger, mutual help demonstrating who and what is friendship is about, just like it is said: “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” Both children and adults of our people have much to learn from this.

I was deeply impressed at that same meeting by the quiet manner of these same pleasant, good–hearted people who drew from their obscure past all the “treasury of pearls” in their heads and bring to us everything that we ask and from these pages I wish to express on my own behalf and on behalf the entire school our sincere thanks that they have come here to visit.

The second meeting was an interesting and enjoyable experience. This time we had a “full team” in front of us: Mr. Moshe Golman, Mrs. Sarah Barkai, Mr. Aloni and Mr. And Mrs. Bachrach. To start Mr. Aloni gave a heart–warming speech which touched me with genuine feelings of yearning for the town of Goniadz and afterwards gave many gifts to the school: booklets about the town, different forms, icons from Yad Va–Shem, and I use this opportunity I extend many thanks for the positive reports.

And now, to the details of the meeting: the second speech, a much longer and concluding one, was delivered by Mr. Kalman Bachrach, who now resides in the United States, a wide–ranging inclusive one on the town but especially conspicuous in it was: the synagogue and the Study–House of Goniadz (especially the Study–House). Mr. Bachrach gave us an excellent topographical description of the town and its main institutions that constituted the center of its spiritual life – the Torah, culture, way of life and education. He explained clearly how they learned, for how long, and so on. I particularly liked the idea of intensive group study in the Study–House by rota and the energetic constancy of entire nights.

Indeed the meetings were an unforgettable experience, I threw glances around the hall which was packed full and saw that all the children were sitting and listening with great concentration, mouths agape, absorbing every word

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coming out of the speaker's mouth. Indeed the town of Goniadz is deserving of inclusion in the “Golden Book of Chronicles” of the People of Israel in the Diaspora.

And here, while I am still full of emotion and the deep faithful impression, again I wish to express my thanks to the people of Goniadz who have come here and granted us exceptionally interesting and instructive experience.

The table, covered with a green cloth is placed, as usual, silently, in the center of the room. The chairs stood silently as usual but in the hearts of the pupils around the table were feelings and thoughts that were not usual at every meeting and encounter.

In a few minutes a number of people were expected to enter the room that had lived, experienced and grown up and been active in the town of Goniadz. And these people will yet learn that indeed much knowledge and understanding had been acquired and digested by the pupils about life in the town.

Three people were presented to us: Mrs. Sarah Barkai, Mr. Golman and Mr. Yitzhaki.

After a short introduction our honored guests began assess our knowledge about Goniadz and were greatly surprised to discover the extent of our knowledge of the town. This one knew to talk about the personalities in town, that one knew much about the charitable institutions and their activities, yet another the activities of the Keren Kayemet others still about Shabbat and festivals in the town and again another described extensively the scenery in Goniadz.

By the look on their faces, the smiles of pleasure we gave them, it was possible to see their satisfaction at the depth of our dedication to the subject of the memorialisation.

The most heart–warming and throbbing thing from that meeting were the closing words of Mrs. Sarah Barkai in giving her praise and thanks to the management and pupils. Those words brought happiness and joy to our hearts in the knowledge that there was appreciation for our work and not for nothing had we toiled and strived.

The people of Goniadz esteemed and recognized the study.

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With these few words I wish to express our thanks to the people of Goniadz who granted us this great Mitzvah. The town of Goniadz is one of the many villages that were in eastern Europe and we feel we are granted a great Mitzvah by perpetuating the memory of the cherished town, while one born there related to us their way of family life, on the Hebrew school and on the Keren Kayemet. We were surprised how Goniadz concerned itself that its children should learn the Hebrew language and how the Keren Kayemet operatives strived to raise money for the Land of Israel. The People of Goniadz granted us the blessing of perpetuating the memory of the cherished town, of which there were many like her. We were privileged also that they troubled to teach and a spiritual life. We remember Bilka Klapp (Z”L) and many others who worked so hard to raise money for Israel.

We vow with this, that all the classes of our school will take part in perpetuating this community by participating in the entry of the names of all the town's victims who perished, in the album of remembrance. We will try, on each Memorial Day to light a memorial candle to their memory alongside their names and thus their names and actions will be forever before us.

Teachers and honored guests who have come to us here today from many countries, and dear children.

I bring with me today greetings of “Shalom” from my colleagues who are engaged in the Mitzvah of perpetuating and memorializing communities lost in the Holocaust. One of them is Knesset Member Attorney Gideon^[1].

Only this morning he telephoned me and asked me to speak to you and send you his greetings. He is also the initiator of this very idea. Another compliment comes to you from the employees of “Yad Va–Shem” in Jerusalem who did much to advance this whole project.

And a special greeting from thousands of children from three hundred and seventy schools who are also numbered among those who decided to memorialize a community.

Tomorrow or the day after, when I meet with other schools, I will pass on greetings from you. Who among you or even from among your families, large or small, never heard or doesn't know of the 6 million – and among them 1 million school–children who were martyred during the years of the Holocaust whose graves are unknown or who have no stone to mark their place of interment?

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And now I will give you another number to remember: 34,000 Jewish communities were annihilated together with those 6 million.

Many years ago, the second Israeli Minister of Education, Mr. Dinur, suggested to the Knesset – and the Knesset endorsed his suggestion. I will read a few lines to you from that decision:

In the month of Elul 5713 (1952), this Knesset promulgated the law called: “The Law of Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day”. The function of this law is to gather together in the Homeland the memory of the Jewish people who rebelled, fought and died against the Nazi enemy and their accessories and to create a memorial for them.

That Knesset law we are here to enact and to create a memorial to the communities and to one of them that we knew nothing about and had never heard of – neither you nor your fathers – the name: “Goniadz”. And how great and magnificent is the action of the school administration on this day to gather all of you together and consecrate a memorial to that community.

We are standing now at the festival of Purim celebrated in crèches, kindergartens and schools in Israel and abroad. What happened at Purim? An evil one arose and incited against the people of Israel and the king of those days was persuaded to agree and ordained the destruction of all the Jews. And a miracle happened and the order was not carried out. And until this day millions of Jews cannot forget that miracle. What happened? They wanted to slaughter all the Jews and yet not one perished.

And in our generation a tragedy occurred not to one thousand, not to many thousands but to 6 million – all of whom were murdered. Generation upon generation will pass – thousands of years – and the Jewish people will not forget that event.

Everyone should consult his soul; the tragedy that fell upon us during the years of the Shoah, the tragedy that occurred. And you have decided to learn about one of those 34,000 communities, to revive the memory of the martyrs, to learn and to know, to interview, to hear from the very mouths of some of the survivors of that community; to bring back to life the memory of the murdered martyrs of the destroyed community. We will revive those dry bones that we don't even know where they are buried. Every one of us can revive the martyrs. This is a great and wonderful thing you are doing.

Your program is mighty. I hope we will meet here and continue to talk on this topic. Something of a token for the school and a number of the pupils is the pamphlet that has been written by the pupils. Everything that you have recorded from the mouths of the people and will yet write, you will print. Your words will be added to the journal that you will publish from time to time.

Translator's note:

1. Later Attorney General Gideon Hausner, State Prosecutor of Adolf Eichmann Return

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It was the regular Erev–Shabbat time. Every week classes 6–8 sat in the hall. They sat tense and rooted to their chairs. In front of the congregation stood a long table covered with a green cloth and at the table sat all the members of “Yahdav” and the representatives dealing with the Perpetuation of the Goniadz Community.

On the stage sat the Manageress Mrs. Artziel, Mr. Aloni representing “Yad Va–Shem”, Mr Kalman Bachrach and Mrs. Sarah Barkai. They gazed at the audience facing them.

Mr. Aloni opened the program on the Memorialisation. He told us that there were many communities like the community of Goniadz that had been destroyed. He us about the Shoah and the tragedy that had happened in which about 6 million Jewish souls were murdered and no one knows of their burial place.

The members of “Yahdav” and their representatives recorded in their note–books everything that was said. I looked at the faces of all the other pupils. All heads were turned towards the speaker. Their mouths open wide and their ears soaking up every word. And when the speaker finished his speech, the pupils continued to weave his story into their thoughts.

After he had finished, Mr. Kalman Bachrach took the stage. He told us about the synagogue and the Study House in the town of Goniadz. How, on Shabbatot and Festivals praying took place in the synagogue but during the week in the Study House. During the winter there were no prayers in the synagogue because it was too cold there but the Study House had a large stove. The Study House was wood–built. It was large and spacious; there people learned night and day.

The children fixed their eyes on the speaker and absorbed every word uttered on the synagogue and the Study House.

Grateful thanks to those who came to tell us about the town of Goniadz that we are memorializing.

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Silence! All the children in the hall sat focused on one man, standing on the stage talking about the town Goniadz, its scenery and leaders – Mr. Kalman Bachrach.

The single voice heard in the hall was the voice of Mr. Bachrach, and from time to time the click of a camera recording for perpetuity this encounter.

And indeed, like the camera, in my heart also, the meeting in which I encountered the greatest experience in the work of perpetuation will never be forgotten: the meeting with the people of that same town who we were privileged to know during our work.

I also, like all the pupils, listened with great attention to the speaker and to all his wonderful descriptions, a picture of the town passing before my eyes: houses along the central main street from which stretched the lesser side streets, while in the background rose the synagogue on top of the hill looking out over the whole town.

I am certain that this encounter will never be erased from my heart, just as the cherished city, the town, a symbol of its revered and excellent leaders – Goniadz will never be erased from heart.

Friday evening. The hands on the clock point to 11:00. In the wide hall, the dining–room, the people take their places the “Yahdav” people and the Memorializing team.

After a few minutes even the guests take their places and they are: Mrs. Sarah, whom we remember from our first meeting, Mr. Aloni, the Yad Va–Shem representative and Mr. Kalman Bachrach, a graduate from the first year of the Hebrew school in Goniadz and his wife, Tamar.

Silence falls upon the room. Mr. Aloni makes a speech. The audience is rooted in its place. Mr. Aloni's voice fills the room. Then it was the turn of Mr. Bachrach to speak. He spoke with tears in his eyes. The audience sympathizes with him and listens intently to his words.

That Friday, the pupils of Classes 6 and 8 learned “Chapter ‘A’” about the town Goniadz.

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At the morning assembly were the members of “Yahdav” and its representatives and this time on the memorialisation of Goniadz, one of the many European communities.

All the members of “Yahdav” stood facing the pupils of the school. One of the children from the school told about the first Hebrew school and its Head–teacher, Mr. Moshe Levin. The Hebrew school was resolute in ensuring that its pupils know the Hebrew language and the spiritual life of the Land of Israel. The faces of all the children were turned towards the speakers via loud–speakers, to hear about the town of Goniadz.

This time Dorit from Class 7/1 appeared and spoke about the Keren Kayemet Le–Yisrael and about Bilka Klapp the founder who collected funds for the KKL and for Palestine generally.

About how the mothers would come and complain that their children were saving their modest lunch money and depositing it in the donation boxes; of how the members of the KKL endanger their lives and sneak into the Christian cemetery to pick flowers and sell them to people donating the proceeds to the KKL On Rosh Hashanah they sold postcards of the Palestine scenery and the money went to the KKL. On Tu B'Shvat they distributed dried fruit from Palestine. In the synagogue there was a collection–bowl and everyone who came in donated what he could to the KKL.

In every house as well, there was the “Little Blue Box” of the KKL, white with two blue stripes with the Star of David and on Saturday night the women would donate money to the KKL.

It was indeed an interesting story about the KKL and the children listened intently to the talk of the young pupil.

At this morning's assembly two pupils from Class 6 came and told us about the charitable institutions in Goniadz, like: Preparations for poor brides, remaining overnight to care for the sick, matzo supplies for Pessach, anonymous donations and Acts of Charity.

“Preparations for poor brides” was an institution that collected donations for the dowries of poor brides and orphans.

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Overnight accompaniment for the sick was when volunteers stayed overnight with sick people to take the place of family members and allow them rest. Many volunteers themselves became ill and died from contagious illnesses but the service never failed for want of volunteers.

Supplying money collected by Benjamin the scribe to buy wheat for the poor to make Pessach matzoth.

Acts of Charity – help for the needy, mutual assistance both material and financial that was founded to assist the poor and those who wished to emigrate to Palestine.

On the Wednesday morning the group of “Yahdav” appeared with the Memorializing team for a morning session before an audience of 16 classes – sleepy but trying to act awake. The “Yahdav” group reads its conclusion on the KKL while the audience listens and absorbs what is said. This is where the audience receives its first introduction to Goniadz and began to know and study the town.

The pupils return to their classes.

The first assembly within the framework of Memorializing Goniadz and the team members has ended.

A gray, torrential morning greeted the second appearance of “Yahdav”. With no alternative, they met in the Head–teacher's room and from there read out the work schedule via loud–speakers. The pupils listened intently in their class–rooms.

Silence greeted me in Class 6/2. Sssh! was the first thing I heard. During the presentation I scanned the faces of the class. On every face was intense concentration.

I wondered: What are my friends thinking? Suddenly I remembered: They're thinking the same things I thought about some time ago – the life in Goniadz and the topics being read.

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The remarks finished. The children in the class–room immediately began arguing among themselves with raised voices but were silenced.

The lesson began. But the previous lesson on Goniadz remained in the hearts of the school's pupils.

A poster was placed on the dais. Goniadz. We Memorialize the Community! The eyes of the pupils gaze at the poster.

Yes! They already know Goniadz! And now they begin reading the program. The audience is concentrating, remembering the first assemblies concerning Goniadz.

The reading continues while the pupils concentrate and listen to everything: Every detail large and small. With the end of the reading the pupils disperse to their classes but many things remain in their heads.

Now, without the slightest doubt, the earlier words that they heard at the beginning of the assemblies became much clearer to the pupils of the “Yahdav” school.

Following the morning assemblies in which the conclusions on the pleasant way of life in the town of Goniadz and words describing it had been explained, one of the pupils from Class 4 said: “Honestly, I want to join you in this project of memorializing. I know your “circle” is restricted and that my request will be rejected but in any case I wanted to express to someone who is actively engaged my genuine feelings about this grand project: This is really an impressive and respectable scheme on behalf of a Jewish community in the Diaspora and even though the my ideas and knowledge of the topic are somewhat narrow and restricted, I do understand the subject as a pupil in Class 4. The whole school wants to memorialize the town and to leave a “golden book” to the classes that follow us through the school and the generations to come. Truly this is a great Mitzvah we are doing. During all the assemblies I stood there rooted to the spot, listening to every single word: “Accompanying the bed–ridden sick”, “Aid for the poor bride”, “Mutual aid”, “Young Pioneers” and more. A completely new horizon has opened in front of me and I freely admit it.” Thus spoke the pupil. It is apparently the feeling of the rest of the pupils who heard about the Memorialisation.

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Now I would like to review the event from my standpoint:

A). The value of the project speaks for itself, the perpetuation is important but its value is much higher when we think about the purpose that it serves: what is its object? And the answer: In order to create a monument and a memorial in the name of the Goniadz community. In order that we shall always remember them in this special, unique place and we, the creators, will always feel the matter very strongly.

B). The object of the project for the school. So far as the object of the project for the school is concerned there is very much value in this project of memorializing the town of Goniadz. We intend to publish a pamphlet that will grow as time passes, to remain as a reminder to the classes that follow on year by year, in the school. And you, the pupils remember well and tell everyone what this town was, how we esteem it and respect it, what we learn from it. We hope that you will fulfil this mission faithfully.

“To remember and not to forget!” That watchword echoed in our minds as we entered the school hall in remembrance of our six million brethren who perished at the hands of the Nazis.

Everyone entered on tip–toe, silently and sat down. Every eye showed the sadness at the memory of the terrible horror of murder of multitudes of people who were guilty of no wrongdoing.

On the platform students stood with bowed heads ready to give readings from the Shoah. In front of us 17 candles representing the 17 different countries in which Jews had been slaughtered. Each candle was not for one soul or even two but for hundreds of thousands.

One after the other the students approached the candles to light them with a shaking hand and a sacred trembling passes through your mind with what that candle reminds us of!

After the lighting of the candles, Mr. Ivri took the dais to speak. Mr. Ivri is a Holocaust survivor from Goniadz who passed through seven hells in that town. When the Nazis arrived at Goniadz they were received with cheers by the Poles who for years had lived and worked with the Jews. But now the mask came off their faces and the hatred for Jews was proved without the slightest pricking of the conscience.

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On the 3^rd July 1941 the Poles announced to the Jews that at 10:00 they must report at the town square. There wasn't a single person who dared to disobey because they would have been dragged to the place. The order was given by the Gestapo officer to identify Jewish Communists. There were none so they simply chose random victims as Communists. That day the square was sated with much Jewish blood and the Germans left.

Now the Jews were left to the mercy of the Poles and in their hands they were no better off. It was decided to burn the “Communists” in the printing–house but most of them escaped and some were recaptured. That sentence was cancelled only because of the proximity of neighbors of the Study House who feared the blaze would spread. Their punishment was to be tied together and dragged to the square. Broken in mind and body they marched to the square throwing a last glance of farewell to the town on their way. For three days they were incarcerated in a cellar and by night they murdered them on one of the hills of Goniadz in the most horrific and shocking manner.

On 2^nd November 1942 the Jews of Goniadz were taken by men of the Gestapo to a camp in Warsaw. There they were held for 7 weeks, badly abused and from there transported to the gas–chambers and crematoria in Treblinka where their souls breathed their last.

After that horrifying story, we remained deeply shocked and a glance at the faces showed many tear, pain and sadness.

Beyond the forest, on the approach road to town I remember a stone pillar on which was inscribed the name Goniadz. About a kilometer farther on were the streets and its houses – typical Jewish houses of villages in Poland and Lithuania that were destroyed. I would pass down the streets, turning aside occasionally to look at a deserted house, yearning to find someone, some residue of the community that once was here and is no more. And once, in the corner of the room, in a pile of junk, I found three books torn and broken, with no binding – the writings of Y.L. Perez, Shalom Aleichem or perhaps of Mendele Moher Sefarim – I can no longer remember exactly. I can't even remember if they were written in Yiddish or Hebrew, or if the anxiety came from the piles of silent witnesses. I hid them in my inside pocket and kept them safe among all the priceless possessions of all soldiers: the photographs of loved ones and their letters. In the evenings I would take them out read a few columns and return them safely to their place.

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The year – 1944. Before Hitler's troops were pushed over the borders back to their own country, we stopped for a while, gathered our forces and reequipped with weapons more modern and destructive to the invader. One day, a soldier who served under me while I was an officer, brought me a lump of pig's fat wrapped up in something. As I laid my hand on it, it was as if my fingers had been burnt in a fire. The wrapping was a piece of parchment from a Sefer–Torah scroll. I was disturbed to the depths of my soul, I managed to blurt out only one question: “Where did you get this?” The soldier, somewhat surprised at the strange sight of my interest in the food that he had brought, explained where, and from whom he had got it. I snatched up my beret and rushed to the mess–room where the food was distributed to the regiment. With no difficulty I laid my hands on the remains of the parchment and redeemed it without anyone explaining to me how it had come into the hands of the woman distributing the food.

I returned to my tent and with a clean cloth I wrapped the parchment, made it into a small parcel and added it to my personal kit that I carried with me in all the unpredictable situations and battles that fate puts my way. I will have the feeling that I am carrying in my officer's back–pack some evidence of the destruction of my people…

And again the battles commenced and the thought recurred incessantly: If I am injured or killed (G–d Forbid), what will become of the parcel of Holy articles I carry with me? I had no peace of mind. Wild days and nightmarish nights, fire, blood destroyed limbs of man and tree, torn from pits and barbed–wire, echoing fire from afar and the thunder of explosions from near at hand. Once, as it happens on one of the surprisingly quiet nights in that horrifying nightmare called the war, I dreamt a dream: at the head of my bed stood a Jewish man with a long white beard and he aid to me: “My son, the law of scrolls is the law of Geniza – they must be buried!”^[1] I awoke from my sleep, got up, grabbed the package of the scroll, put it under my shirt and fastened my belt to stop it from falling out, took a shovel and went deep into the forest where I felt Man had never been, and under a tree I dug a deep hole – a Geniza for the scroll in my hands – and buried the scroll without marking the place, without saying a word…

A heavy sigh came from my companion who tired of his memories, a deep groan from the heart of my elderly father who heard a conversation and a few moments of silence fell in the air.

“And the books – where are they?” I was asked.

As one torn by force from the description of this experience, I answered: “A short while after I was seriously wounded and after being transferred from one hospital to another all my personal possessions were lost and together with them – also the books.”

Translator's note:

1. Religious artifacts and manuscripts may not be destroyed; they must be buried in a protected and secure place Return

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Once there was a little town Goniadz was its name Does it yet exist? A question indeed – But it cannot be forgotten; It was our cradle; The source of our life. There were we born, we learned and matured, From its school – Torah, knowledge, we drew From its fields –love of toil, we gained From its youth groups – to Zion be true. Who can forget the days of our youth? Days of joy and courage and light Recalled from the memory as if but today. Pleasant their murmur, the yearning in dream. Who will forget those bright clear nights? Blue skies shining with stars Strolling the suburbs until twelve at night Groups led by the guides of Beitar. From “He–Halutz” until the “Beitar” We strolled from “the Mount”[1] to the river, Songs of Zion sprang to our lips Joy and gladness set hearts aquiver Who will forget her clear streams? Her blue waters seen from afar Flowing softly ‘tween meadow and lea Spawning Elodea[2] and reeds. Upon her waters we sailed at night in boat and raft With cheerful song piercing the skies. Who will forget the meadow and lea? Where we played and our bodies laid down. Who will forget the youth groups we knew, ‘Twixt dancing and song discussions were sown. At the time of festivities, marches we held And to the forests with flags waving we happily fled. Those haters of ours will gaze upon us And burst with their anger. Were we not in Zion? Was it not our redemption we saw? Yes, gentlemen! In our dreams we were there! Profuse were the townships we saw in our dream But we quickly awakened for all was illusion. Towards “Aliyah”[3] we all pulled together Although in our country a stranger was ruling And by force was preventing the return of her sons . We therefore remained without help and salvation And Satan arrived with his false accusations. Our Eden of Goniadz became like a hell The killer destroyed her sons to the last So we went to slaughter by whipped up incitement; The Jackbooted murderers destroying the land. And so the annihilation began: By tens and by hundreds they grouped in the square And the work of “cleansing” began: Sticks and shovels rained down on the heads, Hoes, pitchforks raked them all over. The crying and sobbing tore at the heart, The wailing of children and parents, The groaning of babies rose up to the skies Filling all the vacuum of space.

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The blood of the Jews was spilled like water, Before our anxious eyes on the killing–fields. The courage of boys, who tried to flee, Their luck ran out and they were caught. And who their murderers? Not Germans not Nazis – Our Polish “friends” these many years; They knew our language, They spoke with our tongue, They were our neighbors, They knew our culture And plotted our destruction. Suddenly the hour came For which they awaited in silence For which they dreamed without end And at last, at last…they hunted the prey. The ancient old Study–House The wooden–walled – sent to the pyre Tens upon tens were pushed into the maws Hounded and beaten by clubs And the doors closed – locked and barred. An order is heard and this was the message: “Don't light the straw, the fire can spread And our houses close by are in peril.” The ones who had saved us were None but our neighbors – the Poles Concerned not with us but their homes. The doors of the Study–House opened up wide The victims all came out gasping Like dogs being tortured our brethren were chased And the killers began “work” anew: A long line of victims all placed in a row With limbs all bound up with chains. They formed us in threes and chained us together With razor sharp wire that cut. “The Old Judge” – Kaminski Waved his stick as a sign – “To the square” So the row moved together beginning to march, Three by three and back to the square. Exhausted and aching wounded and bleeding Chastened and chained up together. Their heads bound, their hands chained, Their clothes tattered and feet dangling. Everyone knew but his heart dared not speak That this is the last time he walks through his town. All heads are turned for one last longing glance A farewell look, a whispered “Good–bye.” Farewell forever, town of my birth, Here I was born, grew and was taught. By force I am taken from you… Tears flow from their eyes, Drops of blood from their wounds. Goniadz's earth soaks up the tears and blood. Always speak of her sons' destruction; From within the ground the cries of cruel oppression Demanding from us to avenge them. On their destruction by axe and by pitchfork On the knives driven into their hearts, On their tongues cut out and their heads split open While their young ones stood and watched. “Avenge us” the fathers and mothers cried out, “Our infants, our boys and our girls.” From their dying lips, rising and shouting And the silence fell over everything. G–d of vengeance who dwelleth on high Fulfill the request of your pure ones Who have been conveyed to the slaughter with Your Name on their lips; A redeemer and avenger we have none. We beg You avenge us of our enemies Fulfill their testament It is holy for us and our sons. For ever…

Translator's notes:

1. The locally known Mt. Hakaplitzki Return
2. A genus of water–plant Return
3. “Aliyah” means simply an “ascent” and implies a spiritual ascent to Palestine, The Land of Israel. Return

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Freezing cold greeted us when we arrived in Jerusalem. We slowly climbed Mt. Herzl and eventually reaching “Yad Va–Shem” tired and breathing heavily.

We stood before the “Tent of Remembrance”. The doors were of black–painted iron with bas–reliefs. We entered on tiptoe. Hundreds of people met my eyes. The large hall was silent. Everyone stood around. In that place were inscribed the names of all the communities that had been exterminated and on the floor burned an everlasting flame in an artistic copper torch, giving the impression of some religious artifact.

A row of pupils recited songs and poems from their heart, their words penetrated deep into my heart. A Rabbi, wrapped in a Talit recited “Yizchor” in memory of all the members of the lost communities.

I felt it all deeply and saw before my eyes the glory of the communities and their members and here…the bitter Holocaust came and left nothing behind it except the desolate and silent ruins of the community.

At the edge of the ceiling was a deep niche in which were fixed lamps which spread a subdued respectful aura of light over everything…

The entire room with its accessories and exalted appearance projected a special feeling, holy and unique that will not be easily or quickly forgotten.

The conference began in the Tent of Remembrance in Jerusalem, in the hall ideally suited to the purpose because the atmosphere of the place.

A class of the middle–school appeared giving a selection of readings. One pupil, with a deeply melodious voice recited “Yizchor” to the memory of all the communities that had been annihilated. In the center of the hall a memorial light was placed and a Cantor recited “El maleh rahamim” [“O Lord who art full of Mercy”].

After the ceremony the whole assembly, many of whom had come from all over the country, from Haifa to Be'er Sheva, walked to the lecture auditorium.

[Page 39]

Those who spoke to us were the initiators of Memorial project and among them were Gideon Hausner M.K. We also invited representatives of the various classes and distributed Memorial Certificates.

The speakers told the pupils about the birth of the idea and explained its principles: To attract the interest and hearts of the younger generation and the general youth to the problems of the Shoah.

The senior staff of the schools who were involved in the project spoke about its activities within their schools throughout the country.

Dedicated to the memory of the Martyred Community of Goniadz

To remember and not to forget the memory of the six million martyrs who were murdered at the hands of the German Nazi enemy and their helpers during the years of the German occupation of Europe.

To remember and not forget the memory of the martyred communities who were driven like lambs to the slaughter.

To remember and not forget the martyrs of the town of Goniadz – the one among many – that has gone and been wiped off the face of the earth by the uncircumcised Nazis.

We are obligated to act to perpetuate the memory of the congregation of Goniadz. To remember it we have erected a memorial in our handicrafts room. There in a gloomy corner, decorated in black it stands and describes for us the town and the way of life of those who lived there. On one side hangs an impressive photograph of the town and the synagogue situated at its heart. Opposite is a cabinet draped in black in which is kept the Memorial Scroll, on which the words of the members of “Yahdav”, who took upon themselves the blessed project of memorializing the town, are inscribed. Also found there is another scroll with the names of the martyrs who were murdered and butchered at the hands of the German enemy.

Symbols of “Yizchor”, presented to our school by “Yad Va–Shem” are also kept safely in the cabinet.

Standing before this corner we hear the voice of our brethrens' blood, sons of the congregation of Goniadz, crying out to us: “O, Earth, do not cover up my blood! So that all the generations that come after us will know of the deeds of murder committed by the Amalekites of the 20^th Century.”

[Page 40]

And on leaving that sad institution, we inscribed upon the “tablets” of our hearts, our great obligation to wreak vengeance upon the accursed murderers.

“To wreak vengeance and avenge the Children of Israel to wreak vengeance and avenge our Brethren the Holy Community of Goniadz.”

May Their Memory be Blessed and Their Souls Remain with Us for Ever

The community of Goniadz is no longer with us but its memory and glory are etched forever on our minds and we prepared a tangible and pretty little corner for its perpetuation known as the Goniadz Corner, in the handicrafts room of our school.

The corner contains drawings of Goniadz executed by my brother the school head Mr. Halpern. Beneath it is a short inscription “The Holy Community of Goniadz”. The drawing shows a view of the magnificent synagogue with its shining colors standing on its high hill and around it the small gloomy houses of the Jewish community of the town. Here and there one can see a small, dark figures walking slowly between the green street corners depicted in the drawing.

Opposite is the Memorial Scroll in which we promise to remember for eternity the massacred community. “We, the members of “Yahdav” and representatives of all the classes in our school “Atid” take upon ourselves to perpetuate the memory of our brethren – the Congregation of Goniadz, Poland” …and a scroll inscribed with the names of all the Martyrs.

A small cabinet is in the corner containing books among which is a book whose contents describe the lives and way of life of the Jews of Goniadz, and books that were popular among the residents at that time.

There are also household articles that were found after the destruction of the community, such as, a spice–box, used for smelling fragrant herbs at the close of Shabbat, a wine–cup for the Kiddush and Havdalah, a mortar and pestle and other items. In the corner there are also pictures showing a street scene in the community, or a group of Jewish people sitting next to each other.

Above the corner is a large white inscription on a black background: “Remember the Sacrifice of the Holy Community of Goniadz.”

Everyone working near the corner feels as if the Community is alive and not annihilated at all. All the items add a respectful taste to the memory and indeed, Goniadz is not forgotten and will be remembered for ever.

[Page 41]

A slight shiver passed through me as I entered the handicrafts room because one of the corners among the four was dedicated to the martyred town of Goniadz.

The gloomy black corner that welcomed us when we gazed at the corner, knew exactly how to express to us the memory of all those souls that were exterminated and not only in the town of Goniadz.

Everything touched the heart – the black frames, the memorial books and especially the pictures of the town.

Every person depicted in the photographs looked directly at me in a mist and told his story and family history.

There was no need for words. I lowered my head and bonded with their memories and with the corner that knew how to speak without words.

As soon as we look at the scenery we can see that this is not just any town before us but a Jewish town, and rearing above all of course, is the gleaming synagogue.

Its color is different from all the house. They are painted with a brown color and only the synagogues with a bright shade of silver–grey.

Every one of the houses climbs slowly towards the top of the hill, upwards, upwards! To whom is one raising ones Hebrew eyes? And who with a happy heart hasn't the determination to reach the heights, and those “heights”, of course are the Synagogue.

Every house is like a defensive wall for the synagogue as they say: each of us protects our cherished ones more than our dearest treasure. The houses are surrounded by greenery and flowers not only for their own sakes but so that the synagogue should be proud in its surroundings: “Indeed – I am not here by accident! It is because of my good name and fame!”

[Page 42]

The synagogue is “Head and shoulders above all the people”^[1] and outshining all. There are many windows in the synagogue so that they would ask: “For whom and for what purpose are they?” And they would be told: “There are many, many windows that let in much light and fresh air and the fresh air calls to its brother below: “Come up, come up and join us.”

Translator's note:

1. 1 Samuel IX;2 Return

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