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Josef Diamant – in charge of mutual aid activities in Radom, sent the messenger Y. Winer to check the situation of Płock refugees in the Tomaszow Mazowiecki region. (page 460, 461) Committee of Płock Jews in Bodzentyn: Dr. Jakob Blumen Chairman, Hersz Cytrin secretary. (page 461) The new Committee in Bodzentyn was: H. Cytrin, A. Groyer, Horowicz, Eng. Rubin, Y. Ajzik and L. Granat. (page 466) Families who died in Bodzentyn due hunger, typhus and unbearable conditions: Szperling family, Alberg family and others. (page 461) Among the refugees to Chmielnik were: Goldkind family, Zeligman family, the dentists Fuks, Brigrad, old Rotman with his daughter Marila Kolska, the brothers Najman, Mosze Florek and his family, the Cytrinblum family, the Bomzon family, the Barkenfeld family and others. (page 466) The Committee in Chmielnik consisted of: Jakob Zeligman chairman, Zelda Parwa, Azriel Najdzwidz, Nachman Szyk, Jechiel Fliderblum, Abraham Cytrynblum and Icchak Kronenberg. Murdered during the deportation to Treblinka from Chmielnik on October 5th, 1942, the old man Globus, Dr. Ugenfisz killed himself. (page 462) Escaped from deportation to Treblinka from Chmielnik: Gerszon Mendelson and Motek Glowinski. (page 462) In Czestochowa the refugee, Szperling, a Zionist activist died only after one week since he lamented a Płocker friend in his funeral. (page 463) Dawid Mendelson tried to escape the Aktion in Czestochowa (22 September – 5 October 1942) but was shot. (page 463). Refugees who remained in Czestochowa after the akcja: Rywka Glanc, the brothers Lichtman and others. (page 463) Temporary Committee of the Płocker refugees in Wierzbnik consisted of: Jakob Lewin, Mordechai Glowinski, Nisan Wajnstok, Gerszon Bergson and Dawid Buch. (page 463) Among the refugees in Starachowice: Icchak Asz, Kurstein and Firstenberg. They were killed and buried in the local Jewish cemetery. (page 463) During the deportation from Starachowice, Nunik Kurstein hid in a bunker but was found and he and his friends were all killed by the Germans. (page 464) Refugees Committee in Zarki consisted of: H. Stern, D. Rubinstein, Y. Strach. (page 464) In Drzewica the Płocker Committee consisted of Burstein and Szibek. (page 464). In Bialaczow Szlomo Puterman served as the leader of the Płocker refugees. In Gelniow managed the public kitchen Dr. Widawski. (page 465) The Kalman family arrived to Skarzysko. The parents and the young sister were deported to death. Regina Kalman survived. (page 465, 466) In Skarzysko worked Tynski, Najdorf, Muksel, Szapira, Fajka, Adolf Kohen, the sisters Fierstein, Berman, two boys 14 years old: the son of Kohen who repaired sewing machines and the grandson of Chaim Gutman. (page 466) In Hassag Forced labor camp in Czestochowa worked Tynski, Kleinman, Szapira, Jagoda the milkman, Jagoda the municipality clerk, Lichtenstein, Zilberberg. (page 466) Among the elders survived only Dr. Bresler. (page 466) In Majdanek death camp were Y. Tinski, Motel Grobman, Dawid Szlomo Zajdman, Winogron, the optometrist Szajnwicz, the agronomist Minc, Kriszek, Gunszar. (page 466) In Buchenwald were the 4 brothers Lichtman, among them Reuwen, the general secretary of "Poalei Zion" in Płock. One brother died of hunger. (page 466) In a camp near Landsberg, among some Płockers was Mana who perished. (page 466) In Bergen-Belsen was Chanka Grosman. Rachel Tiber survived a few Nazi camps and drowned later while trying to reach the shores of Eretz Israel illegally after the war. Szmuel Hering, Chaim Milchman and Mosze Mordechai Laks gave testimonies about the horrible condition in ghetto Suchedniow. (page 466) Abraham Ibiczki testified about ghetto Czestochowa (page 466) ACTS OF RESISTANCE page 74
After the German authorities closed the synagogues, Jews continued to organize illegal services in private homes. Some orthodox people who were about to be deported, sewed their prayer shawls into their coats, as they wanted "to die as Jews", and refused to eat non-kosher food. One man took a scroll of the Law with him and paid with his life for refusing to be separated from it. At a public execution of 25 Jews at Imielnica one of those about to die called on the survivors to take revenge. But above all Jews from Plotzk took a very active part in the heroic Treblinka uprising. A Plotzk Jew called Adolf, who worked before the war as Inspector of the bus route Warsaw - Plotzk, one day threw a hand-grenade on the Ukrainians who brought a transport of Jews from Warsaw and killed many of them. He found his death in the shooting which followed. A porter, called Kozibrodski, whom the Germans at Treblinka employed at collecting jewels from the doomed to death, was instrumental in providing means for obtaining clandestine arms. Some Plotzk Jews helped Captain Galewski, who was in charge of the prisoners, in the organization of the uprising, which took place on August 2nd, 1943. Several of the Jewish prisoners from Plotzk joined the heroes who overpowered the Ukrainian guards. One of them, Rudek Lubraniecki, caused a number of casualties among them and blew up a petrol station. Another group entered the arms-depot, took out rifles and distributed them among 200 people. Others attacked the Germans with axes, hoes, etc. Gas chambers were set on fire. A few escaped but many were killed by German reinforcements, who were rushed to the camp to crush the revolt. The last part of this chapter enumerates some deeds of individual heroism, shown by Plotzk Jews wherever they were, as for example, Moshe Bahir (Szklarek), who participated in the heroic uprising in the Sobibor death-camp. PLOTZK AFTER THE HOLOCAUST The destruction of the ancient Jewish community of Plotzk was complete. Only a negligible number of Jews survived, those who had managed to get "Aryan" papers or had found shelter in forests or in hiding places. These survivors came back to their former hometown in May-June 1945 and were joined later by those who had escaped to Russia at the beginning of the war. Altogether 300 people (out of 9000 before the Nazi invasion) returned. The whole Jewish quarter was demolished, while the rest of town remained intact. The Germans destroyed the interior of the Great Synagogue and looted all its ornaments. The tombstones of the Jewish cemetery were removed and the cemetery was converted into a pasture. Only the quotation from the prophet Ezekiel "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye die, o House of Israel" remained inscribed on the gatepost. The survivors organized a committee, which tried with all its means to restore Jewish life to town. The first task was to find work for the survivors. The Central Jewish Committee in Warsaw allocated some sums from which more than 20 workshops (tailors, furriers, glaziers etc.) were set up. The new Polish authorities showed the survivors sympathy and readiness to help. In 1946-1947 the Committee established an orphanage, a club, a library, a dramatic circle etc. A monument, planned by the architect Perlmuter, was erected in honor of the Plotzk Jewish War Victims. But in spite of all these efforts, and especially those of A. Blei, who was most active in restoring Jewish life, the few survivors did not find it possible to remain in their native town. Some cases of renewed anti-Semitism, even of blood libel occurred. Townspeople spread rumors that the Jews had killed a Christian boy for ritual purposes. The notorious Kielce pogrom occurred in that period. And though the authorities protected the Jews in general against onslaughts, a feeling prevailed among the Plotzk Jewish survivors that there was no place for them even in the new Poland. The "exodus" began in 1947. Some immigrated to Western countries, but the majority joined their brethren in Israel. Only 98 Jews lived in Plotzk in October 1947. In 1959 their number had decreased to 3. The old Chairman of the Committee who had devoted his last years to the restoration of Jewish life in Plotzk, died there without attaining this goal. Even the monument to the dead - according to witnesses - is in a stage of disintegration, as there is nobody to take care of it... THE JEWS OF PLOTZK IN EXILE Page 76
The common denominator of all those letters is the hope that the days of hunger and suffering and epidemic diseases will one day become a matter of the past. We further learn from them that the Plotzk Jews were discontent with the attitude shown to them by the Jews of Bodzentyn who in their opinion, did not offer them assistance. In fact all of them eventually shared the same fate, prior to their final annihilation. Among these letters there is also one written by Hayim Flachs, a popular Yiddish writer, who published several novels and stories. This bundle of letters ends with a detailed report compiled by prominent leaders of Plotzk refugees who lived in 1941 in Warsaw, concerning the position of the refugees in 8 different localities. This document, which is of great historical value, describes the tragic conditions of life of a few thousand hungry, sick and helpless Jews, who waited in vain for salvation, not knowing what awaited them. JEWS OF PLOTZK UNDER THE NAZI TERROR By D. Dąbrowska Page 76
TESTIMONIES Pages 77-78 Lea Moszkowicz Dina Inowroclawska (Zylberman) Testimonies of Mrs. Lea Moszkowicz, the daughter of the melamed (Hebrew teacher) Benyamin Kopyto and of Mrs. Dina Inowroclawska, (ne'e Zylberman) The former describes the death of her father, who was kidnapped and killed by the Nazis, and the latter depicts her life, from her eleventh year onwards, in various camps in which she spent the war years. Regina Kalman Was expelled from Plotzk in 1941, together with 10,000 Jews of the ghetto. She was sent to work under the worst possible conditions in ammunition factories. Starved, beaten by Storm-Troopers and without proper clothes, she survived only by mere chance. She was released by the Soviet army in Leipzig. Felicja (Fela) Ravitzka Escaped death by acquiring Aryan papers and disguising herself as a 30 year old widow. With these papers she found employment as a cashier in a big Warsaw suburban store. Her employer never knew her real identity. At the end of the war she left for England. Unnamed Person The testimony of the above was obtained from the files of the "YIVO" Institute, New York. He describes the situation of the Jews in the Ghetto before February 20th, 1941, the day of its liquidation. On that date - according to his testimony - the first 3000 Jews of Plotzk were driven from their homes and transported in an unknown direction. Dr. H. Russak The above and his wife, both Plotzk-born, studied medicine in Paris at the beginning of the war. In May 1941 he was arrested and sent to a Nazi camp. His wife remained in Paris and maintained contact with his parents who had been deported to concentration camps in Poland. The description of the conditions in his camp, as well as his wife's correspondence with him and his relatives, convey an authentic and true picture of the terrible conditions in those camps and of their inmates' daily endeavors to survive. Dr. H. Russak's testimony ends with the approach of the Allied forces and the prisoners' last struggle with the typhus epidemic which broke out after the liberation. R Lichtman A letter written in Germany in 1946. R. Lichtman survived the Holocaust since he was capable of doing hard work. On his release from the Buchenwald concentration camp, his weight was only 37 kilos. He waited for the moment to leave Germany, whose soil is soaked with Jewish blood. Simcha Mintz A letter describing the conditions of work in a saw-mill at a little township in West Ukraine, where he lived as a refugee. He escaped there from Plotzk at the outbreak of the war and did not know at that time the fate which had met his brethren in his native town. A REMINDER ("REGARDS") By Haya Elboim-Dorembus Page 78
Regards... By Haya Elboim - Dorembus From the book in Yiddish: "Oyf der aryszer zeit" , written by the author and published in Tel Aviv 1957. This paragraph was published in the Yizkor book of Plock, "Plock, a History of an ancient Jewish Community in Poland, editor Eliyahu Eisenberg, Tel Aviv , 1967, pages 565-566, and translated from Hebrew by Mrs. Bianca Shlesinger March 1999 ... ...Here is Plock. My Plock. It is barely one year since I left and the town is not the same anymore. Rows of deserted houses on which red flags fluttered bearing large swastikas. Streets empty of people. Everything is full of the life that isn't anymore. At every corner - shadows of the past. The awakened shadows are kind of accompanying me, whispering with sad voices remembrances from the past. The eyes take in, with love and sadness, all that once was so near, so familiar. All the windows are hidden by curtains, most of the shops are closed. Silence everywhere, as in a cemetery. Here is Somkat street and there, by the corner, what was once my house. The shop, the window. The gate. Should I go in? Go on, go on. My steps resound with a faint and frightful sound. There, the coffee house of Gozakwitz. The door is closed, bolted. Does Rozke sill leave in her previous room? I wish she would be home. Three more houses, and two more. Suddenly steps. What do I hear, the Hatikva song here? I stand as petrified by the gate and am unable to move. A large group of Jews, with working tools on their shoulders, is nearing. They march in lines of four. A black square under the guard of two Germans. "Sing, Sing! Loudly! - Shouts one of them, rising the bat of his rifle. The loud song of Hatikva fills the empty street and rises above the roofs of the houses. The first Jew in the row is drenched in blood. Did they beat him in the eyes? His face is familiar to me, who is he? Yes, yes, it is Weinberg. His shirt and jacket are drenched in blood. He cannot see me. With his lonely eye he looks head, far away, his mouth open, full of blood, mumbling the words of "Hatikva". The German is not aware what kind of song this is..... "Louder, louder !" * * * *
Kolgialna 11. Breathless I go up the steps and reach the door of Rozke's flat. I stop for a moment and then, gathering strength, I knock. I hear Rozke's voice. A boundless weariness overcomes me. The room spins around, together with me. Rozke holds me in her arms and cries, cries bitterly. That same evening I went to see Weinberg, in his flat on Seroka Street. In the small room, in the corner by the sink, flickered the feeble light of a candle. His wife went about the room , silently, like a silent shadow. Weinberg lay on the bed, fully clothed. A wet cloth covered his mouth. Suddenly he jumped up and the cloth fell off, discovering a mashed face. "You are here in Plock? How did you dare to put yourself in danger and come into this hell?" Broken words were exchanged, words of suffering and answers. I tell him the reason for my coming. Two burning hands press into mines: - "How I wish you to succeed to reach your home in safety. All my life I have dreamed of the Land of Israel, of a plot of land; of green pastures, of cows and sheep. I wanted to be a shepherd, a Jewish farmer in a Jewish village and eat form my own bread".... He was completely detached from the reality of his present life and hovered about on the wings of his vision. He looked at me with his one good eye as from the depth of an abyss and whispered to me his dreams. The yellow light of the candle added to the horror of his wounded eye. The eyelashes trembled and twisted. Suddenly, In the heavy silence, a bitter crying erupted. His head fell on the pillow. His wife came forward and put a fresh wet cloth on the would. Under the cloth red tears were flowing. - "Mr. Weinberg - I muttered - maybe you have a parents or a friend in Israel to whom you wish to send regards? If I will reach it , maybe I will reach it"...... Weinberg sat up brusquely. - A friend? A parent? All the Jews are my friends and parents; regards? I send them as regards our today's "Hatikva", that is our "hope". Take with you the song to your new life. The day will come and the promise will be realized : "And there they will dwell until they will be commanded, God's words. And I will rise you and return you to this place". - He fell silent. The tremulous, quivering light wandered around the room as if seeking refuge. Outside reigned the night, silver-green, and a sense of doom prevailed in the empty streets and in the silent houses, on which hovered the red flags with the big swastikas . A pale, sickly moon crawled toward the sky, with a wounded eye and a mouth twisted by pain.
Page 78
The author visits Plotzk, whose name was changed by a German decree to Schroetterburg, but decides soon to leave the place. In spite of the danger involved in using the same boat on the return journey, Mr. Zylberberg succeeds, thanks to his "Aryan" physiognomy, in returning safely to Warsaw, where he continued to live in the non-Jewish part of the city. I LEFT THE GHETTO By Helena Mairanc – Meiri Page 79
She and her husband lived in a Polish quarter until the ghetto was closed. After the July-"action" of 1942 many people, especially those with "Aryan" faces, tried to escape. Mrs. Mairanc-Meiri made contact with non-Jewish friends outside the ghetto and with the help of a Gentile who used to enter the ghetto, succeeded to leave it in his company at the beginning of 1943. Until that time she was employed as a "useful Jewess" in a factory which produced ammunition and spare parts for the German war effort. After leaving the ghetto she destroyed her "Ausweis" (work-card) and prepared herself for a new life, disguised as an Aryan Polish woman. I WAS A "SUBMARINE" IN A NAZI-CAMP By Judge Michael Koenigsberg Page 79
The author of this testimony was such a "submarine". In the possession of Aryan papers, he was sent by the German Labor Office ("Arbeitsamt") to Vienna at the beginning of the war. Throughout the war he worked there under horrible conditions, underfed and poorly clothed, disguising himself as a Catholic Pole. He tells an interesting episode - a short time before the liberation he met in the camp a Czech who, in a friendly conversation mentioned a certain book written by the Jewish author Shalom Ash. Mr. Koenigsberg pretended that he had never heard this name. He regrets that he never had a chance to meet Schalom Asch after the war in order to tell him of his popularity as a writer among non-Jews. A REVOLT IN HELL Page 79-81 This article is based on the testimony of Marian Platkiewicz, a Plotzk Jew, one of the few survivors of the Treblinka death camp. He lived until July 1942 in the Warsaw ghetto, when he was suddenly taken to Treblinka in one of the Nazi "Actions" (mass deportations There he was assigned to a working squad who collected the clothes of the camp victims, once they had been annihilated. He thus became an eyewitness to the process of killing people in the gas chambers. According to the quantity of clothes and the heaps of personal belongings (gold, watches, etc.) he could tell the number of Jews arriving in the camp daily (about 15,000 people). The members of the squad to which he belonged were of course doomed to death, once they would have completed their work. The death camp was for many months disguised as a "transfer-camp", from where people were supposedly sent to "work" somewhere in the East. The signposts (like "waiting rooms", "buffet", "hospital") were fictitious, and were planned to deceive the new arrivals who would not believe until their last breath that they were led to their death. Only those camp workers engaged, as Platkiewicz, in collecting the victims' personal belongings and other tasks, such as burning the bodies, knew the real nature of this disguised camp, which was in operation from August 1942 until August 2nd, 1943, when an uprising broke out. The preparations for the uprising began at the beginning of that year. The first task was to accumulate the necessary amount of arms and ammunition and this could be done only by careful and extraordinary planning, which took into account the special conditions of the camp, where the various groups of prisoners were completely isolated from one another. The initiator, planner and commander of this revolt was the unforgettable Captain Galewski, an engineer by profession. He planned, and with the help of others carried out an onslaught on a German depot of arms from which rifles and hand-grenades were taken and well hidden. The second task was to organize groups which were to assume separate and special tasks in the general uprising. In accordance with the plan, the first act would be a hand-grenade attack on the German officers' club. The plan worked out well and on the appointed day, late in the afternoon, the workers passed by the club and after having seen the boy taking off his hat (a sign that the Nazi officers were all inside their club) they attacked the premises with hand-grenades, which immediately started to burn. This served as a signal for several other groups of fighters who attacked the Ukrainian sentries and then destroyed the gas-chambers. Unfortunately, the attackers did not succeed in cutting off the high tension electricity line and many of the inmates who tried to escape, according to the plan, were electrified to death by touching the barbed wire. The commander of the revolt then gave an order to open fire on the wired fence and thereby enabled the people to make a break-through. The surprised Germans had no idea that a revolt had broken out inside the camp and thought that they were attacked by partisan fighters from the outside. Many of them were killed by the Jewish fighters who, after completing their task, escaped together with the rest of the camp inmates. Unfortunately, they had no place to hide. They took temporary refuge in a nearby small forest where they could stay only overnight. During the night the Germans encircled the forest with troops and the majority of the fighters were killed by the Germans and their Ukrainian collaborators in the morning. Platkiewicz, and a few of his friends, dared and succeeded to break through the German lines before dawn and later hid in a nearby village. They lived for several months in a hideout behind the barn of a friendly peasant and later joined the partisan groups which attacked German arms and supply trains and carried out many other acts of sabotage, which all contributed towards the final victory of the allies over the Nazis. Platkiewicz survived and lives now in Israel. In 1964 he gave evidence before a Dusseldorf court in the criminal case against Kurt Franz, one of the Nazi commanders of the Treblinka camp. Unlike the revolt in the Warsaw ghetto which is widely known in the world, the uprising in the Treblinka death camp has not yet come to the attention of the public at large. These two historical events (as many others) refute the widely held belief that Jews were led to the slaughter like lambs, without offering resistance to their cruel oppressors. The extraordinarily daring and heroic Jewish uprising in Treblinka, under indescribable difficulties, proves that the contrary was true. POST-WAR EFFORTS OF REBUILDING JEWISH PLOTZK CAN NOT BE REBUILT By Israel Gershon Bursztyn Page 82
The late Mr. Bursztyn, who died several years ago in the U.S.A., was a leader of the Jewish Workers' Party in Plotzk, the "Bund", and as such all the pre-war Jewish places of Plotzk were dear to him. He describes with great nostalgia the town as it was, as well as the subsequent destruction. We learn from this article that there were people in the town who did not surrender to the Nazis and once they realized that the destination of the deportees was extermination, they fought and encouraged their brethren to do likewise. He recalls the case of a young man who delivered an ardent speech against the Nazis and prayed that God would take revenge on them, right in the truck which took him and many others to their death. He also describes the social activity of a man who took care of the Home for the Aged and stayed with the old people until the last moment. (A case similar to that of the Warsaw teacher Janusz Korczak, who proudly marched together with his pupils to the death-camp). After returning to Plotzk, Mr. Bursztyn and his friends arrived very soon at the conclusion that they would have to leave this "valley of death", and find another place of residence. All their efforts to renew Jewish life in Plotzk were in vain. "The plant did not take roots again" - concludes the author. I RETURNED HOME By Israel Gershon Chanachowicz (Kent) Page 83
pages 83-84 A MEMORIAL MEETING IN LIBERATED PLOTZK On March 3rd, 1946 a meeting took place in Plotzk of' the handful of survivors, who had returned to town from the death camps, from Russia, from hideouts or places where had they lived disguised as Aryans. The chairman, Alfred Blei, paid tribute to' the memory of the nearly 9.000 Jews who were annihilated. Messrs David Lichtenstein, Koenigsberg, Zielonka, Eisenberg, Platkiewicz and Margolin described the sufferings of the Plotzk Jews in the war years at all the stations of their torturous road td death. One of the participants of the Treblinka uprising dedicated his" speech to the Plotzk Jews and other inmates of this death camp who had planned and carried out an attack on their Nazi oppressors, killed many of them and freed hundreds of Jews from that camp. Unfortunately they were eventually overpowered by the Germans and their Ukrainian helpers, and many of' them were killed. But with their death they proved that the Jews, whenever possible, made valiant attempts to fight their oppressors. The chairman A. Blei encouraged the remnants of the old Plotzk community, among them a number of people from nearby Sierpc, to carry on Jewish life. RE-BURIAL CEREMONY OF NAZI VICTIMS On October 21st, 1946 a re-burial ceremony of 25 Plotzk Jews who were killed by the Nazis near Imielnica village, was held. All the survivors who had returned to Plotzk as well as Government officials attended the ceremony. The dead were commemorated in speeches held by the Committee Chairman Alfred Blei and others. Judge Koenigsberg gave a historical survey of Jewish life in Plotzk. Representatives of nearby localities were also present. SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITIES BY THE COMMITTEE OF PLOTZK SURVIVORS This is an excerpt of an article published in "Dos Naye Lebn" (New Life) Warsaw, No.20 of 1948, by M. Tirman, after his visit to Plotzk. He describes the life of the survivors who tried to resettle after the war in Plotzk. Those who returned were assisted by central Jewish institutions in Poland and abroad. Great efforts were made to establish social and cultural institutions and to rebuild Jewish life. Alfred Blei and Mr. and Mrs. Koenigsberg distinguished themselves in this task and helped all those Jews who returned to town. 50 Jewish children were born in Plotzk after, the war and a lot was done to make conditions easier for their young mothers. A drama circle was established in order to restore cultural life, as it had been before the war. The author also mentions the preparations made by the Architect Benjamin Arye Leib Perlmuter and the heads of the community towards the erection of a monument in memory of the martyrs. UNVEILING OF THE MONUMENT A few hundred survivors of the Plotzk Jewish community assembled on October 23rd, 1949 and unveiled a monument in everlasting remembrance of the town's community. Representatives of nearby Jewish communities as well as of the authorities, were present. The Mayor of Plotzk, who was honored by unveiling the monument, noted that Jews had lived in Plotzk since 1237 and had always been loyal to the town. The white stone monument was erected according to designs drawn by the Plotzk Jewish Architect Benjamin Arye Leib Perlmuter, in the shape of a tent. Its inscription reads "For these things I weep" (Lamentations, 1, 16) and a list of names of the 25 victims, whose bodies were exhumed there from their temporary graves, is added. Representatives of the Polish army, the Central Committee of the Jewish survivors in Poland and of the Jewish combat organization delivered eulogies in memory of the victims. ASSOCIATIONS OF PLOTZK JEW ALL OVER THE WORLD PLOTZK JEWS IN ISRAEL Page 85-86 We have no details regarding the first immigrants who left Plotzk for Eretz Israel in the years before the Zionist movement was founded. Only one of them is known: Rabbi Tuvia Rubinstein came to Eretz Israel in 1875, and was known in Jerusalem by the name "Tuvia the Plotzker". Julian Golde came to Eretz Israel in 1909, and joined the Kinneret group. In 1925 there were already about 30 former Plotzk people in the country and in that year they held their first rally in Tel-Aviv. Although they did not establish a permanent organization, they used to meet, arrange parties and visit each other from time to time. Most of them lived in Tel Aviv, where the Shoshani home served as their centre. Organizational activity started only in 1945, when survivors of the war began to arrive in the country. A Committee with members from Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem was elected that year. Its primary function was helping newly arrived Olim (immigrants to Eretz Israel) and sending money and clothing to the survivors in Plotzk, France, Holland etc. The organization came into contact with former Plotzk people in the U. S. A., Argentine and elsewhere, asking them to render assistance to the survivors. Once the relief work came to an end, the organization suffered a setback. Only after 1949 a group of members: Itzhak Ben-Shai, Eliyahu Eisenberg and others constituted themselves as an executive committee. Their main task was to help Olim to settle in the new State by granting loans, finding suitable employment and housing for them. The 28th of Adar - on which the Jews of Plotzk were driven from their town by the Nazis - was proclaimed as a Memorial Day. On that day all Plotzker Landsleit in Israel convene every year in Tel Aviv with their families and after a memorial ceremony and the "El Male Rachamim" prayer, the committee reports on its activities in the past year and a new committee is elected. The 1951 convention was attended by Itzhak Grinbaum, and the establishment of "Irgun Yotzei Plotzk" (the Organization of Jews from Płock) was then formally announced. When after 1957 scores of Plotzk-born families arrived in the country, the association increased its activities and the newly established Loan Fund (based on the legacy of the late I. G. Burshtyn) made it possible to grant interest-free loans to all the needy arrivals. The committee passed a resolution to publish a Memorial Book of Plotzk. Although two such books in Yiddish already appeared, one in the Argentine and the second by the late Shlomo Greenspan in New York, it was felt that a book in Hebrew was needed, since Hebrew is the language of all Plotzk people and their children in Israel. Eliyahu Eisenberg, the Vice-Chairman of Irgun Yotzei Plotzk, was appointed as Editor and he worked together with an editorial board, consisting of Messrs Moshe Rubin (Chairman' of the organization), Itzhak Ben-Shai, Itzhak Tinski, Benyamin Galewski and the late Shlomo Greenspan. The Committee found several other suitable ways to commemorate the Plotzk Jewish Community. - A forest of 2.000 trees was planted in the "Martyrs Forest" of the Jewish National Fund near Jerusalem. The funds for the planting of these trees were collected from landsleit in Israel and in U.S.A. A memorial plaque was put up in the Martyrs Chamber on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. * IN MEMORIAM Pages 86-87 ITZHAK BARAK (ZELIGMAN) Born 1893, a founder-member of "Maccabi" in Plotzk and gymnastics teacher at the Jewish Gymnasium. From 1923 on one of the leaders of "Hehalutz" in town, he went with wife and daughter to Eretz Israel in 1925. Continued in his profession and became active in the Hagana, where he was put in charge of the underground arms production. He foiled many attempts by the British to discover arms and ammunition, and was very popular with members of the Hagana. Was given the rank of Lt. Col. in the Israel army, and went on several missions to various countries, in order to purchase arms, although his health, and that of his wife Clara, had suffered during the time of the underground. Was active in the Plotzk Association and always tried to help those in need. Passed away in 1954. MORDECHAI LICHT Born in Plotzk, educated at the Jewish Gymnasium, where he interrupted his studies to go on Hachshara. At the age of 18 he went to Eretz Israel, worked first in Rishon Lezion and joined afterwards, with his wife and their two sons, the Moshav of Ein Vered. He devoted all his strength to the development of his farm under most difficult circumstances. During the disturbances of 1937 he was ambushed and murdered together with three friends by Arabs on their way home from the fields. JOSEF ROSENFELD Born 1926 in Plotzk, was brought to Eretz Israel by his parents at the age of eight. Worked as a mechanic in British army camps and joined the Hagana in 1943, where he carried out several important tasks with great devotion. Was sent together with another 14 people to destroy a road bridge in Western Galilee – "Gesher Haziv" - where the whole group found their heroic death. He will always be remembered as one of the freedom fighters of Israel. ELIAIIU KRUVI (KAPUSTA) A member of Hehalutz in Plotzk went on Alyia in 1938. Worked at carpentry in Rishon Lezion, where he was socially active on behalf of his fellow-workers. Was killed in the bombing of Rishon Lezion during the War of Liberation (1948). ITZHAK ROSENFELD Came to Eretz Israel from Plotzk in 1925. Worked at a metal plant in Haifa. Was killed in the air-raid of the Tel Aviv Central Bus station in 1948. URI KINAMON Son of Frida, ne'e Makower, and Josef. Born 1935 at Kfar Hess, he received in his parents' home an education which led him to a life of pioneer ideals and agricultural work. Serving in the Israeli Defense Army he was among the members of a new border settlement, Amatzia. He lost his life on duty in 1956 in the Negev. HERSH COHEN A wealthy merchant in Plotzk, which he left in 1921 together with his family to settle in Eretz Israel. He experienced great difficulties of adjustment, but stayed on in spite of many crises. A horse, gone wild in the streets of Tel-Aviv, caused his death. YECHIEL AVIVI (FLIDERBLUM) Born in Plotzk, educated at the local high school, joined "Hehalutz" and immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1926. A founder-member of Kibbutz Givat Hashlosha, afterwards worked in the building trade and with the Railways, where he was elected to the Workers Committee. Later on took a job in Haifa port. After the establishment of the State of Israel he founded a Histadrut company for the handling of imported goods which he headed till 1953, when he established the "Maritime Company" for Customs Brokerage. For many years chairman of the Customs Brokers Organization in Haifa and active in communal work. A serious illness brought his life to an all too early end. YAAKOV FISHMAN A leader of Hashomer Hatzair in Plotzk. Studied at Warsaw University and was a teacher at the Prilutzky Hebrew Gymnasium there. Went to Eretz Israel at the end of the thirties, worked hard in building and porterage, but eventually returned to teaching. For many years Director of the Elementary School - in Bet Chanan, he educated the local youth with great love and devotion. A serious illness caused his death in 1966. HISTORY OF THE PLOTZKER YOUNG MENS' ASSOCIATION IN NEW YORK By Harry Lipner – Secretary Page 88-89 In the last few years of the 19th century many Plotzk Jews left Poland and emigrated to the United States of America. Because of economic necessity, and a desire to keep their social contacts with their fellow landsleit, they organized themselves into a society, under the above name, in the year 1893. The early leaders of this. group were A. Sanitsky, L. Langman, S. Kaufman, M. Heyman, I. Raphael and J. Safian. The primary functions of the Society were to provide financial assistance when necessary, Sick and Sheva benefits, funeral allowances to the families, and Death Benefits to the widows of deceased members. In later years the Society took a great interest in general and national Jewish organizations, and is making annual contributions to the United Jewish Appeal, Histadrut, Hias, Ort, and Federation of Jewish Charities of Greater New York. Throughout its history our Society has been one of the most active and respected branches of the Federation of Polish Jews in America. During the depression years of 1929-1930 many of our members were out of work and in great financial need. Through the generous contributions of some of our members a Loan Fund was quickly established. This fund took care of all our members in distress, and has been functioning satisfactorily ever since. After the First World War our Society, together with a group of Plotzker landsleit, raised a fund of several thousand dollars to help our brethren in our home town. We also sent a sum of money to the Jewish Hospital in Plotzk, to establish a. ward in our honor. After the Second World War we, together with our Ladies Auxiliary, again raised a fund of over $ 9000.00 which we distributed in cash, clothing, food packages, or machinery, to our surviving landsleit in Plotzk, DP Camps in Germany, Sweden, Canada, United States and Israel. This timely aid helped many individuals and families to start their lives anew, and to tide them over the initial difficulties of readjustment to post-war conditions. With the establishment of the State of Israel we raised a substantial sum of money to help our landsleit in Israel establish a Loan and Relief Fund; plant over two thousand trees in the Plotzk section of the Martyrs Forest in the Judean Mountains, and prepare and publish a Memorial History in honor of the Martyred Dead of the Plotzk Jewish Community. During the past ten years the Society purchased over $ 5000.00 worth of Israel Government Bonds. A few years ago, when the Society purchased new cemetery grounds, an impressive Memorial Gate was erected at its entrance to honor the memory of the Martyred Dead of Plotzk Jewry. Throughout its long history the Society has been - blessed with able and devoted leadership. Among those who have already passed to the Great Beyond, besides those mentioned above, were the late Ex-presidents H. Domb, J. Wollman, D. Goldberg, L. Davis, I. Wisla, B. Dolman, M. Roberts, A. Rosenthal, S. Iron, and J. Gluckson. The living Ex-Presidents, who have given much of their time and. efforts for the welfare of the Society, are S. Bornstein, Sol. Hyman, H. Lipner; L. Bomson, S. Sturman, M. Levy, J. Gomberg, S. Steinberg, B. Kosh, and M. Magnes. At the present time the officers of the Society are" Pres. - Geo. Seeman V-Pres. - Dr. K. Bach, and C. Okolica Treas. - S. Bornstein Fin. Secy. - H. Lipner Rec. Secy. - J. Gomberg Trustees - M. Weitzman; J. Bernstein, N. Fink * Looking back at the record of the Society, extending over a period of seven decades, we see a record of many great accomplishments. We are proud of this record. The only sad note in this story concerns the ever-dwindling numbers in our membership. With the complete annihilation of the Jewish Community in Plotzk, and the complete stoppage of immigration to the United States, the main source of new membership has been destroyed. The younger people born in America consider themselves as American Jews only, prefer to join national Jewish organizations, and do not see any reason for continued existence of a traditional attachment to the memory of a Jewish community that exists no more. The active and older members of the Society can hardly 'find any fault in this attitude when we see a considerable number of refugees, born in Plotzk and now settled in the United States, turning a deaf ear to our appeals to join our Society. SHLOMO GREENSPAN - IN MEMORIAM By Bezalel Okolica Page 89
The Scientific Institute in Plotzk decided after his sudden death, to award him a posthumous medal. Shlomo Greenspan made arrangements to settle in Israel, but unfortunately he did not live to see the realization of his life-dream. May his soul rest in life eternal. PLOTZK JEWS IN THE ARGENTINE Page 90
Page 90
At the outbreak of the war some of them joined the anti-Nazi underground movement and found their death in the fight against the oppressors or in the annihilation camps. The small group of Plotzkers, who survived, established there the "Association of Jews from Plotzk and vicinity", with the purpose of helping survivors financially and morally. A touching last letter of a Plotzk Jew named Menachem Banach, who, before being put to death in Drancy concentration camp, wrote to his wife and daughter asking them to carry on and wait hopefully for a better life in a new world of peace and happiness, is quoted in the article. PLOTZK JEWS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES Page 91
About 30 families from Plotzk live in Australia, mostly in Melbourne. The activities preceding the publication of this book arose their interest and they raised monies and contributed material. At the head of this undertaking stood the well-known Mr. I. M. Oliver (Ilover), assisted by D. Kowal, R. Strzyg, G. Szwarc, S. Rechtman. Regular correspondence with the Plotzk Association in Israel has been started. ENGLAND Five families from Plotzk live in London and vicinity. The contact with them is weak and actually only Michael Zylberberg, who occupies an important position in the Jewish cultural live of England, is taking an interest in the commemoration of the Plotzk Jewish Community and has supplied important material for this book. His visits to Israel and various European and American countries have enabled him to meet with many of our landsleit. USA - WEST COAST Approximately 15 former members of the Plotzk Community live in Los Angeles. They have met several times during the last two years thanks to the initiative of Benjamin Grey (Graubart), who has made great efforts to raise funds and assist us in our endeavors. CANADA Ten families, who hail from Plotzk, live in Toronto and Montreal. Mr. Harry Koren (Korzen) maintains contact between them and the Plotzk Association in Israel. IMAGES OF THE PAST ILLUSTRATIONS pages 92-96
I have added all the names of the people in the photographs which appear only in Hebrew or Yiddish captions! I apologize in advance for any spelling error I might have had and will correct if be advised of such error. I believe that the order of the people is usually from right to left, but in most of the photographs it is unfortunately not mentioned. I also added source of the image when was not available in English and the date it was taken, when available but not mentioned in the English caption. My hope is to scan all the photographs and post in the Internet in the near future. I welcome any volunteers who agree to help me in this important task. "There is a whole world behind each name"... Every martyr had a name and a face and a history... The photograph which captured it commemorated the person for eternity. Ada Holtzman, April 19th, 2004, Yom Hashoah 5764
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