[Page 105]

[Page 106]

April 1946

…I was here on the Seder night with the remnants of Israel, who were in the training camps in Holland. However, a “Seder” like this and a “Haggada” like this, even an enemy would not imagine to himself. Apparently, the basis existed for the creation of high morale. The hall was luxuriously decorated. The table was set with good food; and we, the Israelis were happy and gay. Nevertheless, the remnants of war sat in mourning and cried all the time. We all felt that the Haggadah that we were reading was written in the blood of millions and that we should hurry up and rehabilitate our homeland, so that our nation should never again expect destruction and ruin like this…

In all the countries of Northern Europe where I happened to tour as an envoy, I did not, to my sorrow, find even one Shtutshiner. Who knows if there remained any survivors from our town because the Nazi Oppressor destroyed all the Jewish Communities in this area to the foundation. In these countries, we find remnants of communities of central and southern Poland but not from the eastern communities. I know the address of Moshe Katschiesky's daughter; and I'll try to pass on to her whatever I've been asked to pass on… A rumor has reached me that Yaakov Mazovetsky and Yitschak Rubinstein are in a refugee camp in Italy, in which former partisans are gathering. I also received a message from Miriam's father and brother, who are also in Italy, that they are soon to leave that country. It's possible that they are all at “La-Spezzia”, in which 1,200 Jews are now imprisoned. These tried to sail in three small ships to the Land of Israel…

[Page 108]

Haifa, Iyar 5749 (1949)

A few days ago, I arrived in Haifa with my family on the ship “Kedma” and I was informed about the commemoration of the Shtsutsin martyrs. Because of efforts of my journey I am unable to come, thus I send my written words to all of the Shtsutsin countrymen:

Our tears are those of oppression, without consolation. May G-d exact revenge for the blood shed by our brothers, so that we see blood flow from our murderers and all of their rejoicing accomplices. May we find comfort in our heavy grief even as I encourage you to do so with my own bitter soul.

New-York, January 1954

My beloved children in Israel, I am always thinking about you and I will help until my last strength. I will always stand as the leader of the shtetl association as long as G-d will give me years to live. I will take care of your charity fund named after the martyrs of Shtsutsin with all of my heart and soul. By all means, do everything that you can to perpetuate the memory of our loved ones who perished.

A. Rubin, Moshe Karlin, Y. Weiner, Ms. Schwartz and the whole family of Leah and Sam Mazov (Etzki) answered to our call to contribute to the planting of trees in the Martyr's Forest.

I am the honored vice-president of the Independent Shtsutsin Benevolent Society. The president is Neite Kopelman and the treasurer is Binyamin Karlin. The chairman of the Shtsutsin Relief Committee is Heyman Shteiner, the treasurer is Morris (Moshe) Karlin, and the secretary is William Peskof, a well-known, longtime activist of the Worker Circle. As long as I live, I will do everything I can to promote your holy work in Israel through these two associations for Shtsutsin countrymen.

Write to tell me about all that you are doing. This is my whole life, to work for my beloved Shtsutsin countrymen, and for the survivors of my destroyed home shtetl.

[Page 109]

Smach-Benyamin Skofsky, center, during the commemoration of the martyrs of Shtsutsin in New-York, 1950. In the forefront is a photograph of the mass grave, taken in 1945 (see page 82).

New-York, February 1955

You understand, that the purpose of the Yizkor book is to erect a symbolic tombstone on the mass grave of our Shtsutsin martyrs. This book will surely serve as a silent chord to our tragic melody, that will find a remedy for our broken hearts.

I remember Shtsutsin as though it was a dream. Because I left this shtetl as a child, my memories from there are senseless in the light of the last tragic years. I was not in the Shtsutsin ghetto, I did not drink from the glass of pain, I did not try to resist our enemy. Those who struggled for their existence and later saw the extermination with their own eyes, are the true martyrs and bearers of the spirit of the holy victims.

I bear a profound feeling of humility in my heart for all the people of Shtsutsin who perished sanctifying the Name. I will consider Shtsutsin as a collective name for all my close family who perished, and I offer a deep, painful commemoration in a heartfelt prayer.

I got in touch with our people from Shtsutsin who are here, about the Yizkor book, but we are only a few: my brother Michael Shostak, Zeidel Dokshtein, his wife Malka Zolotnitzki and her brother Zeidel Zolotnitzki, Meir Marashinski, Leake Berezowski, Sonia Dreizin, the sister Voronowski and Vela Grozowski. Ms. V. Grozowski gave a larger donation for the Yizkor book as we agreed.

Do not think that we have forgotten Shtsutsin. Although we left Shtsutsin decades ago, we still breathe with the feelings and the impressions we brought from home.

We honor the memory of our close and beloved ones, who were cruelly tortured and afterwards horribly murdered.

[Page 111]

		Paris September 1965 For the new year 5726 Shana tova. May you be written in the book of life. I wish you a good year, good health and peace. Mr. and Ms. Israel Marszak Director of research at the National Center of Scientific Research (France) Maurice, Zlata, Herschel[1] Warm greetings and best blessings To all our Shtsutsin countrymen. I kiss all of you, my best.
Handwritten greeting for Rosh Hashana (1965)

[Page 112]

November 1965

In remembering Shtsutsin, a ballad will be shaped from the life that was cut short by the Nazi murderers. There was the Rabbi with a hard katialok^[1]. Here walks Avraham Losh of stately appearance, collecting maot chitin^[2]. Here walks Moshke Sh. raising and lowering his hand, Chmal Wladeken^[3], toward a violent man, of whom all the Jews were afraid of. Here strides Shmuel Chaim all across the shtetl with his worn out Cossack horse striding along, following him like a well-trained dog. Here stands Niomke in front of the town clock at the center of the market, as he argues with the clock hands.

Each type was a world in itself, truly, an old world that had to change and later indeed changed. But these precise memories of the old world are deeply engraved in our consciousness, because we were still young. I experienced life in Shtsutsin; a little theater, a little soccer, all these little things added together with my Grodno origins and created a feeling of belonging to Shtsutsin that I will never forget.

Translator's footnotes:

1. Katialok may be a Russian or Polish word. Although I could not find a translation, it may mean a hat. Return
2. Maot chitin: In Jewish custom, it is charity given before Passover to help needy families buy matza and other necessities for the festival, literally meaning money for wheat. Return
3. Chmal Wladeken: Could not find a translation of this term. However, Wladek is a Polish first name. There was a very famous Polish wrestler, Wladek Zbyszko, in the beginning of the twentieth century. My guess would be giving a punch like Wladek. Return

[Page 113]

Ben-Zion Levit
The First Chairman of ex-Shtutshiners in Israel

Born in Shtutshin in 1896, was the son of Yoel and Alte Levit . A Hebrew teacher and active in “Tse'irei Zion” (Youngsters of Zion). He was one of the pioneers of Aliya from his town. He was a graduate of the Rabbinical Seminar in Odessa and one of the cultural activists there. He was the first teacher of Mathematics at the Hebrew Gymnasium in Kovno, which introduced Hebrew as the language of instruction. He was a graduate of the Kotbus School of Chemical Engineering. He was one of the founders of the Federation of Chemists in Israel.

He emigrated to Palestine in 1924. He acted as manager of the Chemistry Department of the “Lodzia” company. He dedicated himself to the improvement of the quality of water and its adjustment for the purposes of drinking, agricultural industry, and medicine. In 1937, he set up an experimental laboratory with his own hands. He bought scientific books, studied, and researched. During the years, he covered the map of the country with water improvement installations. He worked in every place where there was an industrial plant, hospital, swimming pool, chemical laboratory or farming economy, which needed better water. We should especially note here the Institute for Water Improvement at the Dead Sea Works in Sedom and basic research in the Water Field in Eilat.

Two characters merged within him: the shtetl man, a hidden treasure of folklore, a music lover, a man of dreams and vision; and the man of research, science and technical performance. His characteristics, strengths and virtues were dedicated to the service of his nation and his country, first abroad, and later in Israel. He died at work in Afula, while installing a water improvement system at the local hospital, on the 22nd March 1956. Let his memory be blessed.

He was born in Shtutshin in 1897 to his parents Moshe and Freisel Schneider . He was active in “Tse'irei Zion” and one of the founders of the Tarbut school in his town of birth. He was a Zionist activist for the Foundation Fund and the JNF. He was one of the main activists in public and welfare affairs. He was the chairman of the board at the People's Bank, a member of the Board at the Federation of Merchants, a representative of the Jewish population at the Municipal Government institutions in the town and the district. Because of this activity, he was arrested by the Soviet Police (when the Red Army marched in, in September 1939) and exiled to Siberia.

He was released from imprisonment in 1943 and spent two years in the Soviet Union. He later came with the stream of returning refugees to western Germany in 1945. There, he became active in the displaced persons' camps until his emigration to Israel in 1948. Here he worked as a bookkeeper at the “Wizo” Federation and did his work very devotedly and loyally. He devoted all his spare time to the Ex-Shtutshiners' Union (as chairman and as treasurer of the benevolent fund). He devoted himself especially to the new immigrants and sick people from his town and contributed much to the gathering of material and assuring the publishing of this memorial book.

He passed away after a long illness on the 22nd November 1965. His childhood acquaintance and friend through all the years, Dr. Yisrael Marshak , on hearing of his death, wrote the following:

[Page 114]

Deep graves, red clay---- Once I had a home. Springtime----cedars used to blossom, Autumn----birds used to fly away, Winter----snow used to fall there, Now----“Alas and alack” blossoms there. Disaster struck my home, Door and gate are open For the murders, for the skinners, Those, who slaughter little children, Those, who spare no one. Year after year have passed, Those graves are full, And still redder is the clay, That clay is now my home. There my brothers lie, Those torn limb from limb, Those murdered at home, Those shot near the grave. Deep graves, red clay---- Once I had a home.

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