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The Organization of Ostroh Natives in Israel, its Character and Activity – It's the time of the end of the cruel and horrible Second World War that shook our people to terror. With the coming of the remnant, the burnt survivors of the huge fire, a handful of people from among the natives of Ostroh organized under the leadership of Zalman Gerschfeld, Miriam and Ben-Zion H. Ayalon z”l, in order to decide how to help the new immigrants from among the natives of our city to be absorbed into the country and to build their new home in it.

The founders of the organization set for themselves the first goal of providing constructive help to the new immigrants, using the limited means at their disposal. The home of Miriam and Ben-Zion H. Ayalon became the address of the survivors who immigrated to Israel. They found a listening ear in this home, whether as part of their task as activists in the organization or whether from the strength of ethical-personal motivations - they connected to the survivors with a warm heart and helped them as much as they were able. From its founding, the concern of bringing the remnants of Ostroh into the circle of life gave the members of the organization direction.

For the first committee of the organization, the members were chosen: Zalman Gerschfeld z”l as chairman, the Ayalon couple z”l, Pesach Brachman z”l, Bella Tolpin z”l, Yaakov and Riva Ziger z”l, Shlomo Bokimer z”l, Shlomo Schwartz z”l, Moshe Finkel z”l, Netanel Rashtik z”l, Zvi Mandelzweig z”l and may they live long! Frieda Kolpanitzki-Goren - one of the veteran activists of the organization in the past and today, Aharon Waldman, Sarah Biber-Gulik, Yosef Glitzky, Eliezer Perchuk, Chaim Charbash and others.

At the beginning of its journey, the organization was concerned about memorializing the city of Ostroh through setting up a memorial plaque at the “Holocaust basement” on Mount Zion in Jerusalem - in the presence of many of the city's natives. They planted trees in the “Forest of the Holy” from the time of the founding of the Keren Kayemet [=Jewish National Fund]. Memorials were organized annually in memory of the holy ones. Elul 14 was established as the general memorial day for the holy ones of Ostroh. With the inspiration of the expanded committee, a memorial book, “The Ostroh Notebook,” was published under the editorship of the native of our city, the writer and educator, Ben-Zion H. Ayalon z”l, and this is in addition to the memorial book of the native of our city in Argentina, Michael Grines, one of the leaders of Argentinian Jewry who wrote the book, “When Life Flourished” [Yiddish], in the Yiddish language, which was distributed in many copies among Ostroh natives in Israel. The Organization of Ostroh Natives in Argentina also acquired a room in the school for the blind in Jerusalem under the name of the Ostroh community.

Among the current activities of the organization, one should note the fixed custom that has already become tradition - sitting together at well-appointed tables on Simchat Torah. Many of the Ostroh natives come to these traditional gatherings from all over Israel and enjoy conversations with friends and community singing.

The organization undertook an intensive activity in building Volhynia House, that is “The Hall of Volhynian Jewry” in which we acquired a room named after the Ostroh community.

After the death of the first chairman of the Organization of Ostroh Natives in Israel, Zalman Gerschfeld z”l, the committee of the organization was reorganized. New forces and activists were added to the committee. The author of these lines was chosen as chairman. Since then, various members have served on the committee such as: Bella Tolpin z”l, Pesach Brachman z”l, and may they live long! Frieda Goren-Kolpanitzki,

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Avraham Poner, Sarah Biber-Gulik, Sarah Shpeizer-Tsvieli, Miriam Ludomirsky-Vaynshelboim, Boris Lichtenstein, Aharon Waldman, Yoel Rubinstein, Mordechai Blecher, Mendel Marochnik, Yona Blecher, and David Vaynshelboim, who volunteers to take charge of the organization's accounts.

The Ostroh community was adopted by the “Aliyot” school in Ramat Gan under the leadership of the veteran educator from Ostroh, Yaakov Nordman z”l, and the memorial ceremony took place annually with the participation of the students from the upper grades and the teachers of the school, with the participation of community natives. The Ostroh community was also adopted by the “Oranim” school in Raanana through the efforts and inspiration of the renowned educator, Yehudit Ben-Amitai. The students of the upper grades of the school published a multi-subject pamphlet in memory of the Ostroh community that was slaughtered by the cursed Nazis, may their names be obliterated!

The committee was behind an effort and collection to memorialize the Ostroh community and the city through raising a wonderful monument in the cemetery in Holon, in which is buried ground from the mass grave in Ostroh, which a native of our city, Eliyahu Dramansky, brought with him to Israel. Ostroh natives frequent the monument and unite with memories of their holy ones who were lost during the time of the Holocaust.

Recently the committee has dedicated its activity to producing a new book for the Ostroh community, that is “The Ostroh Book,” in which is material about the community on many subjects, people, and institutions. Material that was gathered recently and has not yet been made public.

The book is being published thanks to the help and generous contribution of Ostroh natives in Israel, Europe, and the United States. We would like to particularly note the contributions of Ostroh natives Moshe Greenberg, David Gildengorn, Yitzhak Blachman and others that allow us to conduct and continue the blessed work of the committee in Israel. We would also like to stress the interest and encouragement of the native of our city, Moshe Steinberg, who always stands by our side in every activity that the committee undertakes.

Members of the Committee of the Organization of Ostroh Natives in Israel: Standing, from right to left: Boris Lichtenstein, Yoel Rubinstein, Pesach Brachman z”l Sitting, from right to left: Sarah Gulik, Bella Tolpin z”l, the chairman, Chaim Finkel, Frieda Kolpanitzki-Goren, Sarah Tsvieli

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The First Committee of the Organization of Ostroh Natives in Israel and its Activists: Standing, from right to left: Moshe Finkel, Pesach Brachman, Shlomo Bokimer, Chaim Charbash, Yosef Glitzky, Miriam Ayalon, Zvi Mandelzweig, Riva Zieger, Yasha Zieger, Eliezer Perchuk, Shlomo Schwarz Sitting, from right to left: Aharon Waldman, Sarah Gulik, the chairman, Zalman Gerschfeld, Ben-Zion H. Ayalon, Siyoma Rashtik, Frieda Kolpanitzki-Goren

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