Over the generations Jewish children learned Bible and wisdom in traditional Jewish schools, with our town's teachers.

Yosef Beretchansky recounts:

…at age three they sent me to learn with Moishe Aron the traditional teacher. In his youth, Moishe Aron was a shoemaker. In his old age he taught small children the Hebrew alphabet.

When I was five, I went to Noteh the teacher. Noteh taught us how to read from the Siddur (prayer book), Chumash (Pentateuch) and how to write. Noteh was also the Rabbi's assistant at the synagogue.

When I was seven, they sent me to learn at Reb Avrom-Moishe's Cheder (elementary school). At Avrom-Moishe's we learned Chumash with Rashi's interpretations and bible. Reb Avrom- Moishe was also a baker. In the same large room where the boys learned, our teacher's wife kneaded dough and formed loaves of bread and other baked goods. While teaching us, Reb Avrom-Moishe would bake the goods in a large oven.

Throughout our school day, baked goods were being sold.

After Reb Avrom-Moishe's cheder I studied for two years with another teacher, Reb Yehoshua from Sobakintze. There were older boys studying there. We learnt khumash with Rashi, Bible and Hebrew.

All the schools were in the teacher's homes. For the most part, the entire dwelling consisted of one room. A thin barrier, or simply a curtain divided the school from the rest of the room. In the same room, the teacher's wife would cook, clean and raise her children. All the Heders (schools) were furnished the same. In the middle – a long wooden table with a long bench. The school year was divided into two “semesters”:

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Pupils, teachers and activists in the “Tarbut” school in 1928 Standing from the right: A teacher, Binyomin Kutchinsky, Meir-Aron Zamoshtchansky, Leybl-Arye Vaynshteyn, Khaim-Sholem Matchevitsky (the shoemaker), Gershon Kobrovsky (Teacher) Portnoy (teacher)

Activists in the “Tarbut” school Standing from right: A teacher, Peshke Amstibovsky, Golde Zamoshtchansky, Baylek Sapozhnik, Shloyme Bereshtshansky. Seated; Meir-Aron Zamoshtchansky, Lyuba Amstibovsky, Asher Sapozhnikov, Kune-Rayzl Zamoshtshansky,Portnoy the teacher Bottom: Rashel Matchekovsky, Rashel Srulovitch

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The first “semester” started after Passover and went until Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year), and the second “semester” began after Sukkot (Feast of the Tabernacles) and it ended the first of Nissan (mid-April). Winter and summer we studied from eight in the morning until eight in the evening, with a break for lunch at noon.

By the time we got home in the winter it was late evening. The school boys carried homemade lanterns. On the way home we would push one another into the snow.

A few times a week I studied with a private teacher from eight until ten at night. The private teacher taught me Hebrew, Russian and math.

In 1908 I went to a Russian public school were there were approximately 100 Christian children and 14-15 Jewish children, mostly girls. When the priest would come to teach religion, the Jewish children did not attend. I studied there for two “semesters”.

Besides the two aforementioned Heders (elementary schools) the following were known teachers in Novy Dvor:

Rabbi Yitzkhak Akhinovsky (Gmine Street) taught Gemmarah. Yitzkhak Akhinovsky was a Talmudic scholar as well as an irascible man. His students studied well. He would also teach in the surrounding communities. One winter night, when Reb Yitzkhak was travelling home, he froze on the road and died.

Gershon Kobrovsky (Dolner Street) taught Hebrew, Pentateuch and Rashi. Gershon Kobrovsky later taught in the Tarbut school.

Khatzkl the “blond” had a variety of incomes including being a teacher of young students. In order to enter Khatzkl's Heder you had to pass a stall with a cow, then a wooden warehouse, then a dark antechamber where there were various home tools. Khatzkl's house had only one room. A wardrobe divided the room in two. The family lived in one part and the second part was the school. Khatzkl taught in a rudimentary style. If you studied well an angel threw down a gift, a kopek. Whoever did not study well received another type of gift, a lash with the whip. Boys and girls learned together in Khatzkl's school.

The blond Khatzkl worked for a time as the beadle (Rabbi's assistant) in the synagogue. On the High Holidays he would be the Torah reader in small surrounding communities. In his free time, he busied himself with agriculture and thoughtfully worked his large vegetable garden which was near his house. In the synagogue he mixed into all discussions, arguments, debates, fights and…brawls.

There was an expression in town: “What will Khatzkl the blond say about me”?

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Yerakhmiel Kaplansky came to Novy Dvor after he married Yehuda Bereshtshanksy's daughter Miriam. Yerakhmiel Kaplansky ran a modern religious school. He taught Hebrew, bible, math, and Russian reading and writing.

Boys from surrounding poor communities studied in Novy Dvor. These boys boarded with families in town and studied together with their children. Everyday they ate at a different home. On the Sabbath these children would return home to their villages. They would return on Sunday, washed, with clean clothes and packs of food for the week.

Every teacher taught in his own style. Some with a pointer, others with a whip. One teacher would teach with love while another with anger. Thanks to the devotion and hard work of the teachers, the children in Novy Dvor knew how to read, write, knew Torah, bible and Gemara (commentary).

In the first years of the Polish regime all children had to study in the “Povshehkne School”. In the morning the Jewish children went to “Povshekhne School” and in the afternoon they studied Jewish studies with Jewish teachers. They learned privately and in groups in the house of study in the synagogue.

In 1925 the Tarbut School opened in town. Most of the children switched from the

“Povshekhne” to the “Tarbut” school. The students of “Tarbut” studied in the synagogue and small study houses. At the “Tarbut” school they taught Jewish and secular studies. All circles in town supported the Tarbut- School.

The state-run elementary school (Povshejhne”) in 1926

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The “Tarbut” school (on the left the teacher Izik Srulovitch)

There were approximately 60 pupils in the school. They did not learn in classes but rather groups. Many groups would often learn in one room. The children and their parents were very attached to the school. The children's performances were always very successful and brought in a nice income to the half empty till.

In 1935, with great fanfare, they laid a cornerstone for a building for the Tarbut-School.

The following teachers from town taught at the Tarbut-School:

Yehoshua Bam (the rabbi's son), Izik Srulovitch and Gershon Kobrovsky. There were also teachers from other cities: the teachers Portnoy from Zhaludok and Tzigelnitsky from Lida.

Although all Zionist groups worked together for the Tarbut-School, each one made an effort for the teachers to be members and supporters of their groups. The difficult economic situation did not allow the majority of graduates of the Tarbut-School to continue their education. Only a few children from

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wealthier families were able to study in seminars and high schools in Grodno and Vilna.

The first drama club was organized during the First World War, during the German occupation. Anyone who possessed a talent to act and sing participated in the work of the drama club.

The first generation of actors to join were: Meir- Aron Zamoshtshansky, Zvi Vashilsky, Aron-Shloyme Vashilsky, Tankhum Cohen, Sholem-Ber Prusky, Adina Srulovitch, Rashl Gordon, Yehuda and Gershon Kobrovsky and Peshke Amstibovsky.

In time new young talents arrived: Berl Zamoshtshansky, Gnesie Prusky, Khaye Srulovitch, Esther-Rokhl Vilensky, Khaye-Blume Vilensky, Isar Bereshtshansky, Rashl Matshovksy, Shifr Saposhnikov and others. The leading actor was Meir-Aron Zamoshtshansky. With great talent he performed various comedic roles.

During the first performances the girls in Novy Dvor did not yet have the boldness to perform theatre with the boys. Meir-Aron would have to play the female roles. In the production “Poor Man-Hungry Man” Meir-Aron played Khanele. After some time, the girls in Novy Dvor became more modern and acted together with the boys.

Years passed. The older brother and sisters got married and became family people. Their younger brothers and sisters replaced them. There was never a lack of actors in Novy Dvor.

Some of the plays were accompanied with music and song. The musical director was Isar Bereshtshansky. The repertoire of the productions was diverse: Peretz Hirshbein's and Gordin's plays. The most special and beloved were the plays: “The Jewish King Lear”, “The Essence of a Jew”, “Mirele Efros” and “The Beggar”.

The theatrical productions would take place two or three times a year. At the beginning they performed in the “State Community College” but later wandered from one place to another: in the large wooden house of Hirshl Bereshtshansky, at Abeh Starinsky's, in Srulovitch's barn, and in the last years in “shed” at the fire station. The drama club would donate all proceeds to the town library, social welfare organization and the Tarbut-School.

For a long time, there was a choir in town under the direction of Isar Bereshtshansky. The choir had approximately 30 people. They sang a variety of songs in Hebrew and Yiddish. The choir would organize concerts two or three times a year.

A modest contributor to the cultural musical life was the wind orchestra. The conductor of the wind orchestra was a

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Christian named Mikhal Dramovitch. All the members of the orchestra played from notes. The following belonged to the orchestra: Meir-Aron Zamoshtshansky, Ruven Gordon, Idl Bereshtshansky, Eliyahu Berezovsky, Izik Shvetsky, Arye Vaynshteyn, Yudl Vasilsky and others. The orchestra would perform at various town celebrations.

A performance by the drama club or choir would evoke great interest in town. Young people from surrounding towns and small communities would come to Novy Dvor to see these productions. Boys and girls from Novy Dvor would go to Grodno and surrounding towns to see theatre productions.

The first library in Novy Dvor was founded during the First World War during the German occupation. At the beginning there were around 150 books which they received from “Yekopo” in Vilna in 1917.

During the next few years, they acquired many new books in Yiddish and Hebrew (mostly Yiddish). The library wandered from one place to another. At first, in the house of Aron-Dovid Milkhiker, and later in the small room in the synagogue, then at Yidl Kobrovsky's and other places.

The main activist and head of the library for many years was Izik Srulovitch. The following sat on the board of the library: Leybl Rutsky, Aron-Dovid Milkhiker, Yidl Kobrovsky, Hinde Gordon, Blume Matshekovsky and others. For a small monthly fee everyone in town received books to read. The youth of our town read a lot and learned a lot from these books.

The Cultural -Society in 1928

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The library had a cultural society. They would organize literary discussions, fund raising evenings, literary trials and various cultural undertakings.

The social welfare society (Linas Khesed) was found in 1921 and existed until the outbreak of the Second World War. The members of the society would visit all the sick people in town: rich and poor. When someone was very sick and lay in bed for weeks at home, the members of the society, a man and a woman, would sit all night with the patient allowing tired family members to get some rest. They would give financial support only to poor sick and women in labour. To the sick poor they would bring a chicken, a bit of chicken soup and other necessary items. They would pay for a visit from a doctor as well as medication the doctor would prescribe for the poor patient. Many Jewish residents in town partook in this important work of the welfare society. The welfare society was supported by membership dues which the residents of town paid as well as by donations. When someone was called to the Torah, they paid for this honour with a donation to the welfare society.

They would build ice blocks in the synagogue court yard. In the winter they would voluntarily prepare ice. Even the Christians in town helped chop ice. The welfare society also distributed ice to sick Christians.

An active member of the welfare society was Rashl Matshekovsky. The ice bladder was kept in her home as well as a thermometer and other medical instruments. Others who were active in the welfare society were: Golde Zamoshtshansky, Khaim-Sholem Motshevitsky, Yehuda Kobrovsky and others.

For many years an interest free loan society existed in town. It was situated at the home of Nokhem-Moishe Gordon. The money for the interest free loan society was collected through “payments” which every member paid. When called to the Torah peopled would pledge a donation to the interest free loan society.

The interest free loan society helped shopkeepers with loans, tradesmen or anyone in need.

The following belonged to the free loan committee:

Khaim-Sholem Motshevitsky, Yisroel Ginzburg and Peysakh Sapozhnik.

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In 1933 a bank was founded in Novy Dvor, a branch of the Ostrin Bank. The head of the bank was Yekhiel Kutshinsky.

The fire department in Novy Dvor was comprised of Jewish and Christian young men. The head of the fire brigade was the administrator of the Polish school and his assistant was Meir-Aron Zamoshtshansky.

All the horses in town were registered. Every owner had to respond to an alarm and come to a decided meeting point.

The orchestra of the fire brigade

There was no shortage of fires in town. In hot summer months, Jewish wooden homes and Christian huts with straw roofs would burn to the ground. The fire brigade tried many times to save the burning houses. They mainly tried to keep the fire from spreading to surrounding houses.

The fire brigade had a wind orchestra. The conductor was Meir-Aron Zamoshtshansky.

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The Jews of Novy Dvor were blessed with a lot of beautiful traits and qualities. One of the nicest qualities was being hospitable to guests. A poor man who entered a Jewish home hungry, left full. The Jews of Novy Dvor had warm Jewish hearts. They felt empathy for the suffering of others and helped the needy.

There were always recluses (for religious reasons) and orphans in Novy Dvor who could always get a meal at various householders.

On the eve of the First World War there were maneuvers of the Russian army around Novy Dvor. Jewish soldiers in the Czarist army would come to town on numerous occasions. The Jews of Novy Dvor welcomed the Jewish soldiers warm heartedly. Everyone invited a soldier to their home.

In every house they were given food, a package of clean underwear and… encouragement. Especially kind to visitors was Reb Avrom the butcher and Reb Gotlieb and his wife Khaye-Iteh. Reb Gotlieb was a village merchant. He worked very hard in order to provide for his family. His greatest joy was bringing a guest home for the Sabbath. Reb Gotlieb would be the last one to leave the synagogue, making sure every guest had something to eat for the Sabbath.

In Novy Dvor everyone knew the righteous woman Gnesie Yekhiel's. Every poor man who came to town received food and a place to sleep from her. At the time of the German occupation during the First World War people suffered from hunger in the large cities around Novy Dvor. In Novy Dvor, as in many other smaller towns, the situation was a lot better. The small-town Jews, in numerous ways, were able to manage. One summer many hungry Jews arrived from Vilna. The walked from town to town trying to still their hunger and acquire a bit of food for their hungry families. The Jews from Vilna stayed in the synagogue. Reb Shevakh took care of them. He would not leave the synagogue until everyone was fed. The guests would be sent to certain households according to a specific order and no one was refused. This went on for weeks. As soon as one group of Jews left, another would arrive in their place.

There were families whose husbands and fathers were in America. Due to the war, many lost contact. These families were left without bread. The town took care of them.

The Jews of Novy Dvor often shared their last piece of bread. There were no hungry people in town.

There were no official members in Novy Dvor of the societies to receive guests, provide food and clothing for the poor, however, the whole town, especially the families who were better off, took care of everyone with compassion, a sense of responsibility and devotion.

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Emigration

Before the First World War emigration was to the United States. It was called “We are Going to America”. There were emigrants of all sorts. Most of the Jews emigrated for economic reasons, leaving families behind. The destitution in town was great. Opportunities to earn a living were minimal. The golden land of Columbus attracted and enticed.

A second sort of emigrant were Jewish young men who did not want to serve in the Russian Czarist army. Service in the army lasted for years. Jewish soldiers had to withstand many hardships. The only way to avoid all these problems was to “leave for America”.

Jews who were active in the revolutionary movement also emigrated to America. The hate toward the Czarist regime as well as the danger they faced of being arrested, forced them to leave the old home and emigrate to a free America.

There were also ordinary people, who committed a criminal offense and broke a law. They had to disappear from town. From the first type of emigrant, some returned after having made some dollars in America. The rest stayed in America for good.

The entire emigration was illegal. They did not know about passes and visas. They would find an agent in Grodno and pay him a certain amount of money. The Grodno agent had special people who smuggled the emigrants to Germany (East Prussia).

This is where they met the head agent who would take care of their further journey. People were often deceived by the agents. They would take the money and leave them stranded. Be that as it may, after many hardships and wandering the emigrants arrived in America.

Before leaving, every emigrant would go from house to house to say goodbye. There was not one family from Novdivor that did not have at least one family member emigrate.

During the First World War, during the German occupation I travelled from Grodno to Novy Dvor on a summer Friday by wagon. At a fork in the road between Azhar and Shklansk I met a Gentile who was walking on food with a pack on his back. I began a conversation with him,

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since the wagon moved very slowly. The Gentile told me he was a convict who the Germans released temporarily for the harvest season. When we arrived in Shklansk we said goodbye. The Gentile told me he was in a hurry to get home. I went to my Christian acquaintance to rest from my journey. It was Friday and the trip was difficult. I decided to leave my wagon and merchandise with my acquaintance and ride home.

Leaving the village and entering the forest I saw the Gentile with the pack. He told me he was tired from his journey and was resting. We went together. Me, on my horse, and he on foot.

A we approached the Krupetchcich mill, he suddenly attacked me, threw me off my horse and stabbed me with a knife in my neck and chest.

He quickly emptied my pockets and seeing that I was still breathing, he stabbed me again in my neck and chest.

Subconsciously I felt the threat of danger. I pretended to be dead and stopped breathing.

When all became quiet, I stood up with my last bit of strength and began running to the mill. The mill people noticed me. At first, they thought a crazy man was running, I was bloodied. They recognized me. With my last bit of strength, I asked them to tell my uncle the medic that I was wounded and he should come. They laid me down on a wagon and took me to Novy Dvor. After a long time, I recovered and was saved from death.

The gentile murderer, had a mark of recognition. His whiskers were half black and half white. The Germans knew him. They caught him and arrested him.

When the Germans retreated, they freed all those they arrested, including the gentile murderer. The gentile went to work as a farmhand for the landowner. This was under the Polish regime. One day, the gentile murdered the landowner, put on his clothes, grabbed his horse and escaped. After a lot of searching, the Poles found him, sentenced him to death and hung him.

Shmerl Lubetkin, the tar worker was an outstanding person. Christians and Jews valued him because he was an honest, kindhearted man. The Christians would give him an “advance” on the payment of the stumps they would install for him.

One day he was walking to Vasilishok, as usual, without fear. On the road he met a gentile who attacked him and murdered him on the spot. He was a former “Legionnaire”. The Poles searched for him, tried him and sentenced him to life in prison. His whole family

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died bizarre deaths. Everyone was sure, that God's hand found the murderer and took revenge for this unjustified spilled blood.

Yehushua, Shaye's son was a butcher. Like most butchers in Novy Dvor, he was a butcher in the winter and a fruit seller in the summer. He would rent orchards and take the fruit to sell in Druskenik at summer homes. One summer day as he was travelling from Druskenik home, he was attacked by robbers, murdered by robbers who stole everything and ran away. He remained lying on his wagon.

This happened not far from Novy Dvor.

His horse was familiar with the road and brought the corpse to town. This murder left a shocked impression on the town. All the residents gathered around the wagon where Yehoshua, Shaye's son, was lying dead, covered in blood.

For many years the town did not forget those who were murdered innocently.

Reb Pinkhas Starinsky

Reb Pinkhas was a wealthy proprietor. He ran various businesses.

Reb Pinkhas Starinsky

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His main business was lumber. The only thing he lacked were children. Reb Pinkhas and his wife Fradl were the main initiators behind building the new synagogue. He donated all the wood required. He supervised the construction. Reb Pinkhas' wife helped carry bricks to the building.

Reb Pinkhas travelled through the whole region looking for a beautiful Holy Ark for the Torah. After a long search he found a Jewish artist in Vilna who spent two years carving the lovely Ark which adorned the synagogue in Novy Dvor.

For many years, Reb Pinkhas Starinsky was the manager of the Synagogue.

Yehuda Bereshtshansky was a retired soldier. He was the son of Bertchik the carpenter.

At a young age he left to serve in the Czarist army. He served for seven years in St. Petersburg. As far as he was concerned, he would have remained in the army, but he received news his mother was dying which forced him to leave the military. Yehuda was a simple man, a commoner. He would go every day to pray in the synagogue. He worked in the orchards. He was healthy with broad shoulders. He remained healthy and strong into old age.

The Nazi murderers killed him when they brought the Jews from Novy Dvor to Ostrin. When he was killed, he was a 98-year-old grey haired man.

They called Reb Efraim “The minister”. Why? If someone brought a newspaper from a big city to town they would hand it over to the synagogue. Reb Efraim would read the newspaper, fold it up and put it in his pocket. He would then impart the news from the paper with everyone present in in the synagogue. He would explain the news, interpret the world politics. The crowd loved his explanations. This is why they called him “the minister”.

Reb Efraim was a wealthy Jew. He owned a few houses in town and was a partner in a brickyard.

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One day, in his old age, he did not come to the synagogue to pray. This was striking. After prayers some people went to his house. No doubt, if he was sick, they would need to pay him a visit. Everyone showed interest in his illness. Everyone wanted to guess what illness he had.

Maybe it was his stomach? Someone tried to guess.

“Correct!” replied Reb Efraim.

“What did you eat?” asked the Jew.

“79 pieces of Afikoman (hidden Matza)” answered Reb Efraim.

His son Reb Aron, followed his father's path. He built houses in town. Things did not go wo well with him. He buried two wives. He was an asthmatic. When his neighbours heard him cough, they brought him hot tea.

Novy Dvor was not a Hasidic town, but one man was a Hasid. He came to synagogue wearing a cloth belt around his waist, worn by Hasidim when praying to separate lower and upper body parts. He prayed with passion and devotion. He was an honest and pious Jew.

His profession was a driver in the forest. All week he wandered about the forests and roads. He would only return to town for the Sabbath. His family life was tragic. Both his sons were mentally ill. One summer Sabbath he returned from evening prayers and sat down for the third meal, as he always did. While singing the Sabbath songs one of his sons stood up and killed him with an ax.

Rokeh was a “Yiddishe Mama” (Jewish mother) like most mothers in town, but with special traits. She was a simple woman with a rich spirit. She was pious. A curse never left her lips. On the Sabbath and holidays, she read for the women who could not read Hebrew. When Rokhe would say the prayers for women out loud, with heartfelt intentions, it would ring through the women's section and move the hearts of all those listening.

She had a special feeling for a good prayer leader or cantor. It appears this was a family talent. Her brother, Leyb Vilensky was a cantor in Pilvishok, a town near the German border. All his children sang beautifully. Her daughter Alte got married, before the First World War, to a young man Ruven Boyarsky. He was handsome and a choirboy with the cantor in Pilvishok, Rokhe's brother. She was musical and could recognize good voices.

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Her son-in-law actually became a cantor in Ayshishok, later in Svualk and then in Glasgow (Scotland). Now he lives in America and is a cantor in Detroit. All his sons are famous musicians.

Rokhe's son Isar sang in her son-in-law Ruven Boyarsky's choir and then became a cantor in Zheludok and then in Rozhanoy. Rokhe would often travel to hear “her cantors”, gaining great satisfaction and joy, returning home excited.

Her brother Hillel Vilensky lived in Novy Dvor. He had two daughters. Their aunt also found cantors for them as husbands. They had also been Choir boys with her son Isar.

One of the daughters, Khaye-Blumke, married a boy from Novy Dvor, Shloyme Khasman, who later became a cantor-ritual slaughterer in Zheludok. The second daughter married a choirboy who later became a cantor in Amdor.

There were quite a few cantorial experts in Novy Dvor. When a cantor came to town to pray on the Sabbath, it was a happening. Everyone would give is opinion and for weeks after sing what he had performed.

The Jewish population of Novy Dvor lived calmly and quietly for years working in a well rooted lifestyle. In 1939, when the Soviets entered eastern Poland, the situation changed. The Soviet authorities confiscated all merchandise in the stores. Many former Jewish shopkeepers, so-called “capitalists” were left without employment, without a livelihood. The craftsmen organized artels of shoemakers, tailors, carpenters etc.

Slowly, the Jews began to adapt to the new conditions. Everyone in his own way managed to make a living. Some by working, some through retail and some looked for work in surrounding larger cities.

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A few Jewish youth worked in the Soviet institutions in town. All the children studied in the Jewish school. New songs rang out in the narrow streets. Songs about freedom, love, brotherliness and the “great” Stalin. People lived and hoped for better times. No one could even imagine that very soon, the Novy Dvor Jewish community would be killed in such a cruel way.

On the second day of Passover 1941 I was sent with two other Jews from Novy Dvor, Yosl Shamai the blacksmith's son-in-law and Bakshter the blacksmith's son to work near the German border. We were in a work camp near the town Tiktin. Food in the camp was scarce, problems, plentiful.

It was hardly bearable.

June 22^nd 1941. Unexpectedly, the German-Russian war broke out. German bombs woke us at dawn. The people in the labour camp began to run, each to where his feet would carry him. Together with two other Jews from Novy Dvor, I ran in the direction of our town. Over many days we wandered through fields and forests.

With great difficulty and our lives in danger we made it to Azhor. The Jews in Azhor told us how on the third day the Germans marched in and bullied the Jews of Novy Dvor, pulling them half naked form their houses. I understood, due to many reasons, that I should not return to Novy Dvor. I decide to go toward Radin where I had a sister. My two friends continued on the Novy Dvor. We said a heartfelt goodbye. We never saw one another again.

In Radin I experienced a great slaughter. From Radin I was miraculously sent with the other surviving Jews to Schuchyn. In the Schuchy ghetto they rounded up the remaining Jews from Vasilishok and Zholud.

The was great hunger in the Shchuchyn ghetto. It was very crowded. Innocent victims died every day. After a short time in the Shchuchyn ghetto, I was sent with a group of Jews to the Lida death camp. During the day we worked at a variety of hard jobs and at night we were confined to crowded cells in the Lida prison. Every day we heard news about new edicts and slaughters.

Together with three other “Death” workers I decided to escape to the partisans in the forest. My three friends were: Shleymke Katsav and Yudl Shvartz from Vasilishok and a boy from Lida. On a market day, while the there was a lot of movement in the

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streets of Lida, we, four Jewish boys, mixed among the peasants and left Lida.

We wandered for many days and nights. We had to watch for Germans, peasants and partisans. The first partisan patrol we encountered, for no good reason, wanted to shoot us. The gentiles' words apparently were effective. The partisans cursed us, took everything they found and chased us away.

After a lot of wandering and effort we succeeded in joining the partisan unit “Moskvitchn” (first Moscow brigade). One from our group was taken by another Russian unit. The remaining two joined Bielsky's unit.

The commander of the “Moskvitchn” unit was Kovalov. Together with my unit I participated in a variety of diversion acts and conspiracies against the German occupiers. The base of our unit was the Nalibok forest. My aspiration was to take revenge on those who killed my wife and children, sisters and brothers. I went voluntarily on operations which we carried out in the vicinity if Lida, Baranov itch and Novogrudok.

Since we were freed from the German yoke in June 1944 and were in the forest, my desire was to return as quickly as possible to my hometown Novy Dvor. I hoped to find a brother, a relative, or any Jew from town.

Arriving in Novy Dvor I found empty ravaged houses. I stood in the middle of the street lonely and broken. I walked toward my house. From my new, beautiful house where I lived with my most beloved and dearest, nothing remained. The gentiles took everything. I stood on the empty spot and tears poured from my eyes. I cried for my bitter fate, that I was the only one left from my extended family.

My tired feet led me to the synagogue, the spiritual and social centre of Novy Dvor. I was shocked when I saw no sign left of the beautiful Holy Ark which we were so proud of. The benches were broken, everything was destroyed, abandoned.

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Old holy reputations wallowed through torn bags of grain.

I wandered on through the very familiar streets where I had spent my happiest years. Some houses were destroyed, some stood as they were. I searched for a familiar Jewish face, but unfortunately the eyes of non-Jewish strangers peered at me through the windows of the formerly Jewish homes. I tried with all my strength not to cry, so the gentiles would not see and enjoy.

I went to a well and washed my face in the starlight. I continued.

The gentiles of Novy Dvor, my former neighbours who I met on the street did not recognize me. I went to my former good neighbour Mikhoshke Popkes. His wife, Marila met me in her yard and asked what I needed? I told her what I was looking for she could never find for me. As soon as I began to talk, she recognized me, fell on me and cried out, Shmulka!

We both broke out in tears. She slowly calmed me down. As we were standing in the yard Mikhoshke came from the field. He too did not recognize me. When his wife told him: “This is our Shmulka” he cried, fell to the ground and kissed my feet. I had to calm him down. Mikhoshke turned completely grey during the war. He also suffered a lot under the Germans. My neighbours took me into their home and gave me food and drink.

We spoke for hours on how the Germans mistreated and tortured to Jews of Novy Dvor and how the local hooligans collaborated in their extermination work. They spoke and cried as did I together with them.

I did not remain in Novy Dvor for long. The blood-soaked ground burned my feet. The next day I left the destroyed Novy Dvor, now cleansed of Jews, forever.

On the third day of the German triumphant entry the Germans pushed all men between 16 and 60 into the synagogue. The Catholic and Russian Orthodox men were immediately released. The Jews remained confined for twenty -four hours. In the morning the Germans sorted out 50 men and sent them to “work” toward Grodno. The rest of the Jews were released. None of those sent away ever returned home. There were rumours they were working near Svalk. The wives of these men tried to learn about their fate. They sent messengers, wrote letters, but the men had disappeared.

Among the first 50 men sent away were: Shmuel Shteyn (50 years old), with his son Yosef (17 years old), Khaim Hirshl Glembotsky (53 years old) and his on Ikik (17 years old), Moishe Srulovitch (60 years old), Izik Srulovitch (3o years old).

The Polish petty bourgeois welcomed the Germans with great joy and helped them with loyalty to exterminate the Jews. In the first days these Poles killed Avrom-Yitzkhok Lubisky in his home. Avrom-YItzkhok Lubisky was a horse merchant and the gentiles claimed he cheated them is business.

The petty bourgeois identified and denounced Rabbi Izik Kamenetzky and the cantor. They were brought to the market place and forced to dance. A shoemaker, Khaim Dovid and to sing and the rabbi and cantor had to dance to his song. Polish petty bourgeois stood around beaming with joy.

A certain young farmer, Vladek Grobovsky, from a nearby rural farm carried a grudge for the medic Mendl Vaynshteyn. The farmer's wife died in childbirth which the medic responded to. When the Germans arrived Vladek denounced the medic. The Germans immediately arrested the medic Mendl Vaynshteyn and shot him in the garden near his house, not far from the synagogue.

Another who denounced Jews was Yezulsky, a blacksmith by trade. With his own hands he killed the Jew Avrom-Itche in his barn.

The German command was located in the home of the medic Mendl Vaynshteyn in Vasilishok Stree. The command consisted of 15 Germans. The police were in the home of Zang on Ostrin Street. The commander of the police was a Pole Yanek Zulkes.

Jewish life and property were chaotic. Daily edicts, fines, confiscations. The Jews had to give the Germans gold, silver, jewelry, copper, furs and pelts.

Every Jew had to wear a yellow Star of David. It was forbidden to move. If a Jew visited a Christian there was one punishment, death.

They sent the Jews to various forced labour. The Jews worked for the German command and the Police. They worked in the surrounding forests and on the highways. Compensation for their work was insults punches and a constant fear of death. The fate of the Jews who worked for the local farmers was a bit better. They received a little food for their work.

They lived by trading items for food products. Disregarding the strict prohibition, the Jews risked their lives and traded with the town's petty bourgeois and the surrounding farmers.

From the beginning of German entry until autumn 1941 the Jews of Novy Dvor

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lived in their own homes. At the end of October, 1941, all the Jews of Novy Dvor were taken from their homes and deported to Ostrin and were permitted to take one small pack on their backs. All Jewish possessions that remained in the houses were collected and stored by the Germans. The local gentiles stole as well. The Jews of Novy Dvor were in the Ostrin ghetto barley a year, until autumns 1942. They experienced the same path of troubles as the Jews from Ostrin. Together with the Jews from Ostrin they experienced the horrors of Kelbasin. Together they travelled the final road – to Auschwitz. From all the Jews who fell under Nazi rule, miraculously 6 Jews survived: Shmuel Kobrovsky, OSher Sapozhnikov, Sholem Zang, Borukh Matshikovsky, Betzalel Srulovitch and Sholem Prusky.

Shmuel Kobrovsky experienced the terrors of the ghetto in Radin, Shchuchyn and Lida. He escaped from the Lida ghetto and joined the partisans in the forest.

Osher Sapozhnikov escaped from the Lida ghetto to the partisans.

Borukh Matshikovsky Escaped to the partisans in the forest.

Sholem Zang- survived a German labour camp.

From approximately 500 Jewish souls, only 6 Jews survived. This is the bloody sum of the German Nazi rule in Novy Dvor.

In a letter written in Novy Dvor on January 25^th 1946, to the Srulovitch family in Israel, the Pole Yuzef Bush (a member in the cooperative) described the fate of the town's Jews (exact translation from Polish).

Very esteemed Mr. Srulovitch!

I received the letter you wrote on January 20, 1946. You sent it on August 27, 1945.

It is unpleasant for me the describe the events that took place under the rule of our common enemy – the Germans!

As soon as the Germans arrived in town, on the third day, they pushed all men between the ages of 16 to 60 into the synagogue. This is when the separated the Jews from the Poles and Slavs. The put all the Jews in your house and freed the Poles and Slavs two days later. Then they chose more than 50 men and sent them to Grodno. Among them, your son. Later they spread rumours that they were sent with an escort to Suvalk to work. I do not know what happened to them!

Now I will describe what happened to the families that remained in Novy Dvor. All the Jews of Novy Dvor, from June until October 1941

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remained in their homes. In October they sent them all to the Ostrin ghetto. They allowed them to take one pack in their hands. Their belongings, after the expulsion, were taken by the Germans and stored.

They remained in Ostrin all winter.in the spring, they sent all the Jews form Novy Dvor and Ostrin to Grodno. We do not know if they spent time in Grodno or if they sent them immediately to the trains. They also sent all the Jews form Grodno on the trains without any baggage. Everything remained in the ghetto. Where they took them and what happened to them, we do not know! However, we could only imagine. Eight months have passed since the end of the war and none of those sent away have returned.

From all the Jews from Novy Dvor, only two reappeared: Shmulke Kobrovsky and Matshikovsky Khaim, Tzalel's. They escaped from the ghetto and were with the Soviet partisans. Now they are working in the Soviet police, but not in our region, so I do not know their address. There were rumours that Sholem Prusky wrote to someone from Russia. This is very possible because he left for Russian before the German occupation. You can get his address through the address bureau in Moscow. We haven't heard from other Novy Dvor Jews.

All the Jews from Vasislishok numbering 2650 were shot in Vasislishok.

With this I conclude my letter.

With respect,

Yuzef Bush Novy Dvor January 25, 1946.

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