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Thanks to the initiative of Meshullam Davidson and Abraham Silberman towards the end of 1950, a group of people from Reisha met at the home of Ezekiel Weinstein, owner of the Kassit Restaurant, with the aim of organising persons from Reisha living in Israel. Those present were: Meshullam Davidson, Abraham Silberman, Ezekiel Weinstein, Isaac Estreicher, S. Schlamm, Frieda Feldmaus and Israel Wachspress.

Later, meetings were held at the Café of S. Schlamm in King George Street with the participation of the following townsmen: Ben Zion Fett, Joseph Storch and Jacob Alter, who welcome the prospect of organising the Reisha townsfolk in Israel. Isaac Estreicher prepared a plan for activities of social and cultural character, including mutual aid, legal assistance and recommendations for employment. In 1951, a General Meeting of the Sons of Reisha and the vicinity was held. An Executive was elected consisting of: Jacob Alter, Chairman; S. Schlamm, Jacob Rebhun, Naphtali Tuchfeld, Isaac Estreicher, Frida Feldmaus, Wohlfeld, Ezekiel Weinstein, Abraham Silberman and Israel Wachspress. The Chaiman, Jacob Alter, commenced extended activities in Israel and abroad. His appeal to men of Reisha in the United States received no response. However, the call to the sons of Reisha in Israel, proved very successful.

The following is the next of his “Call”:

Organisation of the Sons of Reisha and the Vicinity
Tel Aviv, Issan 5712, April 1952

Honoured Son or Daughter of Reisha!

About two years ago, several people from Reisha met together and proposed to set up an Association of Sons of Reisha in Israel. The functions they set themselves were as follows:

1. Preserving the memories of our kinsfolk who were murdered in the Holocaust.
2. Providing help for needy persons from Reisha in Israel.
3. Help in searching for relatives who as dispersed in Israel and the whole world.

Hundreds of people from Reisha responded to our call at once and joined the “Organisation of the Sons of Reisha and the Vicinity”.

A Memorial Meeting to the martyrs of our city was held on Lag Beomer 5712 (12.5.52) and a Torah Scroll was presented to a Synagogue in order to preserve their memory. Dozens of families received constructive aid; and many found their kinsfolk in Israel and abroad thanks to our ceaseless efforts. The existence of our Organisation is now an obvious necessity.

However, our conscience will not be at ease until all persons from Reisha in Israel are members. A considerable number have not yet joined. Our objectives, listed above, cannot be fully achieved unless we succeed in bringing all persons from Reisha into our Organisation.

It has, therefore, been resolved to proclaim the month of Sivan 5712 – May, 1952 as:

“The Sons of Reisha Membership Month”.

We now appeal to all sons and daughters of Reisha belonging to our Organisation, to take an active in this measure and call on you to do the following.

1. Every son or daughter of Reisha who belongs to the Bnei Reisha Organisation is called upon to obtain the signature on the enclosed slip of at least one person from Reisha, living in Israel, who is not yet a member;

2. To provide us with the addresses of persons from Reisha living in Israel whom you know, if you are unable to contact them personally;
3. You should explain to persons from Reisha through individual contacts, that membership in the “Organisation of the Sons of Reisha and the Vicinity”, is to their own advantage;
4. We call upon you to make every effort during the month of Sivan 5712 – May 1952 – The Sons of Reisha Membership Month – in order to achieve our objective of another thousand persons from Reisha as member of our Organisation.

Son or Daughter of Reisha! The achievement of our lofty aims which we have set ourselves ever since the founding of the Organisation, for the benefit of every person from Reisha, will be possible only through increasing the number of members in the Organisation. Our external influence will increase as far as we can enlarge our numerical base. By this, you will help us to engage in new tasks and duties which have not yet been able to be carried out.

The success of this drive for increased membership depends entirely on your goodwill.

N.B. We are going to publish an internal Information Bulletin once a month. It will contain:

1. Memories
2. A report on our activities
3. Missing relatives and friends
4. Addresses of Reisha folk in Israel
5. Addresses of Reisha folk in the Diaspora
6. Activities in the branches
7. Questions and answers
8. Miscellaneous

We hereby appeal to all Reisha folk to provide us with materials, pictures and drawings in these various fields, which will be published in the Bulletin.

Yours respectfully,
Committee of the Bnei Reisha Organisation

Death deprived us of Jacob Alter after a brief period of fruitful activity. Joseph Storch was elected in his place. To our great regret, he did not serve for long either for he passed away at the close of Yom Kippur 5713 (1925). The loss of the two leaders was a severe blow, but the urge to work and help the new Olim compelled us to continue. A new Executive was elected at a General Meeting with Isaac Estreicher in the chair: Isaac Estreicher, Chairman, Dr. A. Infeld and Jacob Rebhun vice-chairmen, advocate Alexander Rosner-Keller, secretary; Naphtali Baum, treasurer; and Baruch Schliessel. Committee members were: Milek Estlein; Yona Erde; Hannah Bienenstock; Neshka Dreiangel; Rach and Mordechai Hillinger; Hannah Wachtel; Abraham Silberman; Moshe Tuchfeld; Minna Langer; Dr. Zvi Mangel; Lotka Kleit; Nahum Rosenwasser; Dr. Koppel Schlesinger; Rachel Alter; Mala Hager; Gitta Koretz; Mala Krisher; Hanna Nussbaum; Lotka Goldberg; Rachel Tchik; Ezekiel Weinstein; Dr. Dvora Still.

In 1954, a stream of Olim who had been saved in Russia after the War came to Israel. Among them were people from Reisha who arrived destitute and had to be helped urgently, both socially and materially. We were compelled to make superhuman efforts in order to aid them and provide their most vital needs.

Early in June 1958, our fellow-townsman, Irving Low of West New York, visited Israel and opened a new page in our activities. Isaac Estreicher provided him with details about our social and public activities and also explained to him the importance of setting up a Gemilat Hessed Benevolent Fund to help the Olim arriving in Israel. Irving Low, a leading public and social worker in his city within the State of New Jersey, gladly accepted the proposed plan and contributed a sum of 3,600 for the purpose. The Gemilat Hessed Fund was placed under the control of the Bnei Reisha Organisation and the Bank Mizrahi Fund in Tel-Aviv.

The Fund was to be called: “Gemilat Hassadim Fund of the Organisation of the Sons of Reisha in Israel, founded by Irving and Regina Low, U.S.A.” enyurThe members of the Fund Committee were: Baruch Schlissel, Chairman and Treasurer; Isaac Estreicher and Rachel Alter, Vice-Chairmen; Moshe Tuchfeld, secretary; Gitta Koretz, Doctor Koppel Schlesinger and Mordechai Hillinger. Apart from the loans provided on the recommendation of the Polish Immigrants Association, the Fund also granted loans to new immigrants for vital purposes with special reductions and without interest. Mention should be made of the help provided by the

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Organisation in arranging for the immigrants on their arrival, and the assistance in finding them sources of livelihood as artisans, tradesmen or clerks.

The Organisation planted a wood in the name of the Reisha Martyrs in the Martyrs Forest (Yaar Hakedoshim). The Organisation appointed an Editor and Editorial staff to publish a Memorial Volume for the Reisha Community. The Editor was Doctor Moshe Yaari Wald; the Editorial Secretary was Michael Walzer. Lotka Goldberg undertook to gather material for recording the martyrs in the volume. Special mention should be made of the devoted labours of Gitta Koretz as Treasurer.

Our devoted friends in the U.S.A. assist us both materially and culturally, and we hereby thank them. When Zvi Simha Leder, author of “Reisha Yidden” visited Israel for the second time in 1959, he showed his interest in the local Organisation. Upon learning of the plan to issue the Memorial Volume, he donated the first sum towards the expenses of publication, thereby laying a foundation for financing it. Irving Low, Chairman of the New Reisha Association in New York, helped in raising funds for the publication through contributions, and has himself contributed the paper for the issue.

Participants by way of literary and financial contributions include our fellow townsmen, Dr. Henry Wachtel of New York; and our friend, and the editor, writer and journalist, Leon Wiesenfeld and his wife Esther, who have assisted us with their essays, selection of historical material, advice and financial support.

Mention must also be made of the valuable assistance provided by our recently deceased fellow townsman, the outstanding poet and writer, Berish Weinstein, author of the epic “Reisha” who wrote the lament, “Maidanek, O God” which is published in this volume.

The Organisation of the Sons of Reisha in Israel, at present, has over 560 registered members. The Organisation has shares and deposits in the Fund of the Association of Polish Immigrants.

From left: Samuel Knecht, Zlatka Bitter (Rand), Naftali Baum, Rachel Hillinger, Isaac Estreicher, Mordechai Hillinger, Alexander Rosner, Lotka Kleit, - , - , Lotka Goldberg

Moshe Tuchfeld

The vitalizing spirit of these gatherings was Meshoulam Davidson, blessed be his memory. A humble, gentle person, he created a warm atmosphere amongst us. The earliest pioneers of our group gathered about him; in his home was a harmony between and East European Jewish home and an Israeli home. While telling his learned pleasantries, he gently taught his listeners a rich Hebrew. While new immigrants from Rzeszow, we underwent the pains of absorption, and were thirsty for friendly chats. Thus, we made it a tradition to meet at Rosh Hashana.

The home of Slomo and Salah Shlam was the gathering place for all new immigrants from Rzeszow. Warm-hearted, Slomo and Salah were the self-appointed “delegates” to these newcomers, ready to assist them by giving helpful advice. After establishing ties with the immigrants, they kept in close touch with them and saw to it that they acclimatized themselves successfully. Like all settlers in the Yishuv, Slomo and Salah fought for their own existence. They suffered silently and passed away while still at their prime, leaving three young sons and an aged mother. Slomo and Salah Shlam were “the lovely and the pleasant in their lives, even in their death, they were not divided”. They will remain a link in the chain of memories which we shall cherish forever.

When the survivors of the Holocaust arrived, again, the spark of Rzeszow was rekindled, but now the flame burned intensely. There was a pressing need to welcome the remnant of the community of Rzeszow.

A highly significant meeting took place at the home of Chazkel Weinstein, owner of the “Kasit”, in November, 1949. At this meeting, in which the cornerstone of the organization was laid, participated Yaacov Alter and his wife, Meshoulam Davidson, Freida Feldmaus, Mordechai Hillinger and his wife, Wolf Sandhaus, B. Shlissel and his wife, Yosif Storch, Slomo Shlam, Lotka Shlisselberg, Moshe Tuchfeld, Israel Wachspres, Chazkel Weinstein, Zigmund Wohlfeld and Yechskel Zimmerman, Shmuel Gotlieb, Yaacov Alter was chosen chairman; Slomo Shlam became secretary. The heartbeat of Rzeszow continued to throb only because of the concern of these devoted people.

Every meeting was vitalized by the spirit of our dear friends, Meshoulam Davidson, Yaacov Alter, Yosif Storch, Ben-Zion Fett, and Naftali Tuchfeld. Forgetfulness has great power. Therefore, we drew out the memories of the near and distant past, and longed to perpetuate this memory of Rzeszow. We remember.

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Molly Taubenfeld-Nadel

Some of us secured work in factories and earned a meagre living. But what could we do to ease our loneliness? A club where we could meet and help one another in those difficult times seemed to be the answer. In the beginning we met in private homes. Our first meeting took place in the home of Mr. L. Schindler, a group of young people of various backgrounds. You will find names such as Schindler, Taubenfeld, Halberstam, Sturmlaufer, Chop, Augarten, Low, Weiss, Crystal, Wolf and Seiden among our first members. I had the honour of being elected the first President of the club, Joe Low, Vice-President, Florence Weiss, secretary and Mrs. Frank Wolf, Honorary President.

After a short period, we started collecting dues and rented a club room. The meetings which usually took place on Sundays, were great events in our lives. We would gather, reminisce about Rzeszow and make beautiful plans for the future. When I now look back at our lives in Rzeszow objectively, I remember hopeless times that offered no future, but in our memory, all these shadows somehow disappeared. Only the golden and happy spots remained. Whatever money we collected at various functions was sent to Rzeszow to help those in need. Even though we ourselves were in bad shape, we found it in our hearts to remember others.

At the outbreak of World War II, the club was disbanded. Our boys served in the U.S. Armed Forces with distinction. Paul Seiden, our future President, became an Intelligence Officer and helped many Rzeszower survivors. I personally was quite active as a member of the A.W.V.S.

After World War II, a wave of refugees arrived in America, among them a number of Rzeszowers. We began hearing a call to organize and difficult to describe our feelings when we first me. Tears of joy and sorrow flowed freely and unashamedly. The flower of our youth was missing but those who remained had a strong feeling of belonging and vowed to stay together. The Rubenfelds, Weinbachs, Kesslers, Feuers, Atlas, Walters, Schneeweiss, Eules, Rosenman and Kalters formed the avant-garde. Paul Seiden became president and conducted affairs very ably. New people would come to meetings on each occasion, and the same exchange of information and conversations took place.

Mr. Kalter served a year as President. After Milton Oehlbaum was elected President, the club reached its true heights. New persons joined us, such as the distinguished Rabbi Levine, Mr. & Mrs. Adams, Kahane, Silbers, Perutz, Horczok. We were always ready to answer a call of distress. The word Rzeszow became full of meaning, almost magical. We were the last remnants of a great city.

Eddie Kessler is one of our very finest pas Presidents, and N. Feuer is past Secretary. Even though Rzeszower by adoption, they discharged their duties brilliantly.

In the 60's, the club entered a new phase. Irving Low became President. He established contact with Israel and has been working very diligently at this. The Committee now consists of Molly Nadel and Max Rubenfeld, Vice-Presidents; Sam Dembitzer, Treasurer; L. Atlas, Secretary; Dr. M. Levine, spiritual leader; R. Nael, P. Tanz and R. Diner, comptrollers: Eddie Adams, Social Activities. It cooperates extensively with the President in the undertaking to publish the history of the Rzeszow community.

At the last meeting held on June 11, 1967, which was a Memorial Meeting, an appeal was made by our President, Irving Low, to collect funds for Israel, etc. The members responded generously. $2000 in cash were collected for UA. The moment was heart-warming and unforgettable.

Our wishes and hopes for continued peace lie with our brothers and sisters in Israel. May they be spared further suffering.

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Isaac Oestreicher (Itshe Kazik), 1820-1921, was 101 years old when he died in New York, having come here in 1906 to live with his children. He had many sons and daughters. Alexander Oestreicher and Bernard (Baruch) Oestreicher, 1879-1925, were the founders in 1902 of the Landsmanshaft “The Rzeszower Young Men's Social Benevolent Society”, which still exists with a membership composed of men and women of second generation, born in the United States. Its affiliate, during World Wars I and II, was the United Rzeszower Relief Committee which was also sponsored by the Rzeszower Society of Newark, N.J., whose chairman for many years was Sigmund Sporn, born in Rzeszow, son of Josef and Hanna Sporn. It was founded in 1909 by Aaron Bush, H. Eisen, M. Grad, M. Geiger, Abraham Goldfarb and Joseph Zucker.

The Rzeszower Young Men's Social Benevolent Society was headed in its early years and later by the Brothers Oestreicher, Samuel Biegeleisen, 1952; Jacob Felsenfeld, 1896-1962; I. Forman, Lazar Gruner, Abraham Simche Katzenberg, 1884-1937; Joseph Kleinkopf, William Kristal, Louis Langer, who was very active in the Tarnower Society; Dr. Baruch Last, 1894-1924; Max Last, Morris Pologe, Ralph Pologe, 1893-1954; Herman Rosenberg, 1964; Shymon Staub. Like many of the Landsmanshaft, it was a grouping of immigrants for mutual aid, medical, financial and other assistance. It also provided burial and a modest sum of money for bereaved families.

An important function of the Landsmanshaft was the bringing together of immigrants who had shared a common background in their childhood, when they spent their early years together at play, in school and in Heder. It was a substitute for “home”, “for the longing after the old country” for the “Yiddishe gasse”. The Landsmanshaft facilitated orientation for the immigrant in finding employment and integrating in American life. The frequent social events of the Landsmanshaft were rallying times for a get-together and an exchange of local and “old country” news. It can be said with pardonable pride that these very Landsmanshaft, composed of humble workers, paved the way for later immigrants; the “New Americans”, who came here after and shortly before World War II. They saved the latter many heart and back-breaking struggles that were the lot of earlier immigrants.

During and immediately after World War I, the United Rzeszower Relief Committee was organized, jointly, with the Rzeszower Society of Newark, New Jersey, and with Landsmanshaft whose members came from the small towns and villages around Rzeszow as far as Dembica in the west, Lancut in the east, Jaslo in the south and Sokolow in the north. This grouping brought about the closely-knit organization which culminated, early in the 1930's, in the formation of the United Galician Verband, whose first president was born in Sendziszow.

The present chairman of the Newark Rzeszower Society is Mr. Jacob Sauer. Money, food and clothes were collected and sent abroad by the Society to representative groups of Rzeszow Jews, to individuals, orphanages and people's homes.

At a meeting held in Rzeszow in 1921, when Dr. Henry I. Wachtel met representatives of the Kahal, headed by Motesh Eckstein, Rabbi Nathan Levine and Mr. Weissberg, it was decided that money should be collected in the U.S.A. to help build a modern Jewish hospital in Rzeszow, that would serve the Jewish population in the city and the surrounding small towns. In 1936, Simon (Simche) Seiden, 1888-1960, and Felsenfeld came to the United States to speed up the collection of funds. Mr. Seiden eventually moved to Miami, Florida where he edited “The Miami Jewish Forum” and where he held a Yiddish Forum on the Air which was broadcast every Sunday, and which is being continued by his widow, Mrs. Mary Seiden.

At the close of World War II, the United Rzeszower Relief Committee was revitalized to collect monies, food and clothes which were sent to our Landslait, wherever they might be; particularly to Rzeszow, Wroclaw and Munich, where many of our people were found to have grouped together. Two special bulletins were published listing the names

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and addresses of survivors in many parts of the world. As their addresses were received in response to advertisements placed by the United Rzeszower Relief Committee in various daily Jewish newspapers, they were published in the bulletins.

Thus, the United Rzeszower Relief Committee was able to re-unite 940 refugees with their friends or relatives abroad; 400 have been brought into contact with relatives in the U.S.A. and in the then Palestine. 300 food packages o 20lbs each were sent to groups in Rzeszow, Wroclaw, Munich and refugee camps. 2000lbs of food and clothing were sent to individuals and 1million zloty in cash were sent to Jews in Rzeszow and Wroclaw, also to Rzeszower who were in the camp in Oswego, Ontario, State of New York. Patients in sanatorium in Switzerland and in Sweden received assistance in cash.

The secretary of the United Rzeszower Relief Committee during World War I and II, was Dr. Wachtel, a member of the Rzeszower Society from its foundation in the early part of the 20^th century.

With the passing of the older members, leadership of the Rzeszower Society has been taken over by sons of deceased members: Harry Zipperstein, Joseph Berner and Milton Felsenfeld.

The Rzeszower Shul in New York was founded around 1890. It was a house of daily worship and of evening Mishna study. It was also a centre for festive family activities; for relief and funeral facilities. Because of financial burdens, the Rzeszower Shul combined with the Kortshyner Shul after World War I, and was known as the Raisher-Kortshyner synagogue on Willett Street, New York. It closed in 1960, because of the construction of a large public housing projects and a loss of membership due to the passing of the older generation and the moving away of many Jewish families to the suburbs. For many years, the chairman of this Shul was a textile merchant; Moshe Horowitz, who was known in Rzeszow as Moshe Podlogimacher. He died in 1959. Isaac Springer was its secretary.

Milton Oehlbaum

Among the Rzeszower who came here in the first decade of the 20^th century, we may briefly note Mr. Herman Leder, 1890, of Washington, D.C. merchant, press correspondent and author in Yiddish of the memorial book : “Raishe”, 1953, a lyrical account of Jewish life in Rzeszow during the last decade of the 19^th and first decade of the 20^th century. Mr. Berish Weinstein, 1905-1967, Yiddish writer and poet whose best-known lyrical works are “Raishe” 1947, “America” 1955 and “Bruchwark” 1929-1949, Songs and Poems. These books of poetry have been translated into Hebrew and published in Israel. A very noted landsman who came to the United States shortly after the end of World War I, is Mr. Leon Wiesenfeld. After a varied and rich public life as orator and editor in Rzeszow, where he edited the periodical “Gerechtigkeit” (Justice), he has continued his activities on behalf of the Jewish people first in New York, and for the last 40 years in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., as a publicist and leader in communal affairs and in the Zionist Organization of America; also as editor and publisher of the “Jewish Voice Pictorial”, a periodical mirroring Jewish life in America and abroad.

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Seat, from left: Cyla Karpf, Wolf Karpf, Dora Appisdorf, Rachelle Appisdorf (Karpf) Standing from right: Bronia Marmor (Karpf), Jack Marmor, Jacob Appisdorf, Tony Karpf, Bertha Karpf, Eva Karpf, Dr. Joseph Karpf

The members of this family were Wolf and Bertha Karpf, their two sons Tony and Dr. Joseph, their four daughters Rachelle, Bronia, Eva and Cyla, their sons-in-law Jacob Appisdorf and Jack Marmor and their grand-daughter Dora Appisdorf.

The Karpf family were well-known by all their social, Zionist and business activities and their devotion to religious family life.

Wolf Karpf, the leading business man in wholesale textile trade in Rzeszow, was the president of the Merchants' Association for many years. His advice was sought by many far and wide and his generosity to charities was well known.

Bertha, his wife, was very active in all sections of welfare work and both were an example to all as a happy and respected couple in the community.

Only four members of this family group survived the last war. Bronia and Jack Marmor now live in the U.S.A with their two sons and daughter. Dr. Joseph Karpf is in Israel and Tony Karpf is now married with his wife Ruth, their son and daughter living in Scotland and who visit Israel often and in constant touch with the Rzeszower survivors.

[Page 142]

He enlisted in the Navy in September, 1941, and upon completing his radio training in April, 1942, was sent to Pearl Harbor. In June, he left for the South Pacific and there he volunteered for very hazardous service.

Not content to be a ground crew member at an outlying Navy base, he volunteered as a radio man, first in a bomber and then in a scouting plane, when he met his death on November 30^th, 1942, in the South Pacific, at the age of 24. His body has never been found. He was the first of the San Francisco Chronicle staff to have been killed. In his last letter to his parents, he wrote: “As for our futures, none of us knows where we are going to wind up. It may be the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Red or the Black Sea. But we are ready for all places and all comers, and we'll obey our orders like good enlisted men”.

His brother, Mortimer Staub, is now carrying on for Stan at Hamilton Flying Field.

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Memorial Stone in the Martyrs' Forest

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