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Memories

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Sadly, I am the only remaining witness who is fit to describe a region, which for certain reasons, was not described appropriately in its full measure: This is the story of the Bundist movement in Ostroh, better said, of the labor movement that was run by the Jewish workers' union in our city.

As a result of the failed revolution in Czarist Russia in the year 1905, a huge cloud of suppression and arrest spread among the worker elements and, understandably, did not leave out the Bundist movement as well. A number of comrades were sent for many years of forced labor to Siberia, some put effort over time into fleeing to America in order to be able to transplant their revolutionary activities there. Understandably, those who remained in Russia continued their activities in illegal ways, and they were harassed with suppression, arrests, and forced eviction to Siberia. These types of devoted and earnest Bundist activists also existed in Ostroh. And even though their activities were strongly contained, it was all felt in the social life in the city. The following comrades were involved with the Bundist activities: Niunye Brum and her husband, Yankel Gurstein, Adele Zussman and her husband Avraham, a stranger and his wife, someone who was left behind as a stranger, Rosenblum. These active people, who existed in a situation of fear, suppression, and persecution from the Czarist authorities, and especially under the watchful eye of the Czarist secret police, did not give up their fight and remained loyal to their ideal of socialism.

After the outbreak of the February revolution in the year 1917, when Russia freed itself from the heavy Czarist regime, Jewish social life in Ostroh was revitalized. Also, the Zionist organization, which was semi illegal, began to run a multi-tasked institution. In the city, there were many demonstrations, manifestations, and people were filled with hope for a better future. It was more than natural that the small activity of the Bundist members also became revitalized, and the members threw themselves into active work with a strong vitality.

The first meeting of the old-new Bund took place in the small house of Niunye Brum with the participation of new, young members who joined up with the Bund.

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This was a worker's element that was hungry for knowledge and thirsty for education, and wanted to find in the aisles of the Bundist organization the right place to gain knowledge and at the same time to fight for attaining better life conditions.

This new stream of young, dedicated youth, brought in lively commitment to the Bundist organization in Ostroh. In particular, were two exceptional brothers, youths Leizer and Berl, who at that time returned from America with a huge pack of knowledge and with an even greater enthusiasm for future activities in the city where they had been pursued earlier.

At that time, Yoske Roitman also returned from consignment. He was a good, devoted friend, and a capable, influential people's tribune member, who, with his fiery speeches, tore through all the masses. The Bund in Ostroh, renewed with fresh, committed energies, stepped up to substantial work. Many different circles were created in various areas of socio-cultural life, such as politics, culture, professionalism, and electioneering.

The young activists, holding their breath, welcomed each meeting, which was attended by a large number of members and sympathizers. Thanks to this devoted work, new talents evolved. The work of the Bund, and the intense devotion of the members, was crowned with success and brought much desired fruits.

This quiet youth, who, other than learning in a cheder and never having attended elementary school, and did not have any real education, participated actively in the discussions at these frequent meetings, and the members demonstrated much knowledge in handling the questions.

On November 10, 1918, Poland declared itself as an independent country and its newly established army ruled over southern and eastern Ukraine. As a result of this move, Ostroh remained under Polish rule. Understandably, the situation changed. The Polish government declared right at the beginning of its existence that the Polish republic was built on democratic foundations, and that the Polish republic was democratic, but in practical terms, the situation was completely different. The Polish Sejm [parliament] passed heavy laws regarding the population in general, and specifically, for the Jewish population.

But disregarding that, was a full, rich life was felt in Poland on the Jewish street, and an extensive, full-blooded life pulsed with an interesting Jewish social life. The Bund existed legally and ran lively activities. The director of the Professional Organization was Mottel Goren; the technical secretary was Esther Stern. The Professional Union was divided into individual sections and was located in a rented locale by Shlomo Piromal on the wide street. Each vocation had its own location. When there was a strike and a fight took place to improve the working payment loans, or for shortening the workday, the strikers used the security of the Polish police, and the active members of the union were taken in for heavy trials in police districts, which were accompanied by verbal abuse, terror tactics, chicanery, and added beatings. But this did not scare off the activists and still,

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they forged ahead with their tasks, hoping for a better future.

Along with the Bund, the “Culture League” was established in Ostroh, whose initiators were a group from the democratic intelligentsia in town, and at the head was Dr. Yosef Rosenstrum, Dr. Shimon Zweiman, Yoke Tolpin, Leizer Ginker, a Jewish teacher, Sarah Abelman, Tzina Rubin, a Jewish teacher, Polye Rubinstein, a midwife, Chaim and Babeta Katz, and others. These were highly intellectual, talented people, who brought a lively mood into the Jewish street (so much so, that their homes became a nest of comfortable, cultural gatherings). From the Bund, the following individuals were represented in the Culture League: Chana Shpielberg, Fani Tzimmerman, Mottel Gurin, Freida Gurin, Izak Averbuch, Yankel Sudgalter.

At that time, with incredible efforts, a Jewish school was founded with the name of Y.L. Peretz, under the direction of two certified pedagogues who were recommended by the Central Warsaw Jewish School Organization, Chaike Teitelbaum and Tzina Rubin. At the same time, a kindergarten was opened under the direction of two talented pre-school teachers, Sima Klepatch and Fani Tzimmerman.

The frequent visits of the representatives of the Central Warsaw School Organization were inspired by the high pedagogic level of the Culture Institutions, but the Polish government agencies looked with a crooked eye at the activities of the Jewish school and did not acknowledge them. They systematically harassed the directors of the school. As a result of these systematic repressions and persecutions against the active members of the Bund and Culture League,

The administration of the kindergarten in the 20s

From right to left: Machla Kuperstein, (–), Chana Spielberg, Chaim Farkas, kindergarten teacher Dina, Rubin, Fania Klika, Yaakov Sudgalter, Freide Gurin-Kulpnitski

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the Jewish school was locked up in the year 1921. The kindergarten existed until 1923, supported by the drama circle that had its income by presenting theater performances dedicated to the kindergarten.

The kindergarten was once visited by the writer Peretz Markish, who was inspired by the young children's singing, as they sang Jewish children's songs with great talent. But this kindergarten also irritated the eyes of the Polish authorities, and as a result of the repressions, the kindergarten was shut down in the year 1923.

The Culture League opened a library of collected books. It was open daily, and operated as a full-fledged professional library. The young, new, evolving workers very hungrily swallowed the beautiful, Jewish literature.

Also, the Drama Circle of the union was comprised of very talented members, among whom were Gittel Gibel, Yoel Abrech, Yermiyahu Kuzir, Mottel Gurin, Niunye and Shimon Tzweiman. The Drama Circle was operated by a talented stage manager, Shubinov, a newcomer from the Soviet Union. He prepared interesting performances from a choice repertoire of the best pieces of the time. But the systematic repressions by the Polish government upset the regular activities of the Drama Circle, and locked its development.

At that time, in Ostroh, there was also a new development of a professional Jewish opera theater under the direction of the successful, professional artist Sterngold, who was at a very high musical level, and chose the Jewish people in Ostroh.

When the split of the Bund into the “Kombund,” which had a communist world view, came about, a

Freide Gurin-Kulpnitzki, the mother Bluma Gurin, the brother Motel Gurin

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communist group in Ostroh materialized under the mask of a professional union, that carried out political activities.

As a result of a great provocation in Volhyn, in December 1929, a huge wave of arrests began. More than 1,000 arrests were made, as people were locked up in various prisons in Poland, Volhyn, and other cities. Also, in Ostroh, there were six arrests made, and they were convicted to long-term imprisonment, according to the judge, in the well-known diamond lawsuit. Among those who were imprisoned, were: Freide Gurin for seven years, Mottel Gurin for five years, Esther Stern for four years, a Ukrainian comrade for six years, Raizel Grechman for three years, and Baila Kuperstern for three years.

But in spite of the chicanery and judgement of the Polish authorities, the union continued to exist. It did not diminish its professional and political activities, but understandably, continued on a smaller scale. My brother and I, after getting out of prison, no longer had the opportunity to live in Ostroh because the police chased us out of the city, and first we returned to Ostroh, when the city was taken over by the Red Army, after the collapse of Poland in the year 1939. But tragically, this period of time was short. The wandering had begun with the outbreak of the German-Russian war in June 1941, and ended with my Aliyah to Israel.

The remains of the fortified wall, with a fortress on the right and a tower on the left

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