|
At
first in agreement with the youth group Brith Trumpeldor in Riga,
the local Betar was made into a branch organization of the General
Revisionist Youth Movement with the goal of working from Czernowitz
to spread this movement to all parts of the newly created Greater
Romanian nation. The Czernowitz cell quickly became stronger. The
headquarters of the organization was in the school house of Safa
Iwria on Synagogengasse. Many meetings took place and lectures on
Zionist subjects were held, Hebrew was taught and in anticipation of
joining a Jewish army in Eretz Israel, physical training was done.
Betar sought and achieved a connection with the Romanian Boy Scout
Movement and later with the Strajeri and because of these
connections enjoyed the advantage of being able to operate
undisturbed by Romanian officialdom. An official ban on their
continued operation due to an unfounded accusation was soon lifted.
Now the way was clear for spreading this national Jewish youth
movement and its propaganda goal. Cells (Kenanim) were started in
almost every town in Bukovina that had Jewish residents. It soon
became obvious that the Zionist Revisionist Youth Movement had the
strength to withstand the agitation against Revisionism that arouse
after Arlosoroff was murdered and the Revisionist Zwi Rosenblatt
from Kotzman was one of those who were accused of the crime. In
1931, our speakers were stoned because of the murder. In addition to
the main organization in Bukovina (Galil-Betar Bukovina), new cells
originated outside of Bukovina in Noua-Sulita, Hotin, Piatra-Neamti,
Bacau and Jassy.
In Czernowitz, Betar
published a weekly newspaper, “The Jewish World,” directed by Jakob
Schieber and edited by H. Fekler. The Betarists [I've taken the
liberty of coining this word to designate Betar members] were not
afraid, in the interest of propaganda, to sell the paper in public
places. The meeting of the state organization in 1931 was attended
by representatives of most of the local organizations.
Almost every year,
summer camps were held for the members, the first one being held in
1928 in Wizenka. There as also in Wiznitz, Lopuschna, Ribnia and
other locations, summer meetings were organized at which also
non-Bukovina natives attended. Among others, a camp was led by Eisik
Remba (today publisher of the Cheruth) in 1928 in his capacity as
general secretary of the main leadership (Schilton Betar). Arie
Disenczik (fellow worker of the Maariv) [the evening prayer service
for Jews and a newspaper] was also a delegate of the Schilton. Many
went to Romania as teachers, among others Arie Ben Elieser (today
the vice chairman of the Knesset). In Czernowitz a Hebrew seminar
was started where many members from Bessarabia, who otherwise would
have been caught up by the Communist stream received a thorough
Zionist education. All the instruction was intended to prepare the
participants for life in Eretz Israel. For that reason, Hachscharoth
(training in agriculture) was created in Zastavna (leader of the
farm was David Schuster), Kuczurmik, Doroschoutz, moreover in
Nepolokoutz, Luzan and in Storozynetz on the estates of estate
owners Ornstein and Baron Flondor. When Jabotinsky stayed in
Bukovina he visited several Hachscharoth. At this point it should be
remarked that also other personalities from the Revisionist Movement
were interested in the accomplishments of Betar, like Aron Propes,
Eri Jabotinsky, Eisik Remba, Dr. Wolfgang and Noemi von Weisl. The
visit of the last named was organized by Betar. When Colonel
Wedgwood visited he was greeted by a mounted Betar unit with others
marching smartly. The English friend of Zionism took home a lasting
impression. He had met a youth group that was preparing itself
militarily for a life in Eretz Israel.
The young idealists
ran into difficulties again and again. The Zionist organization
wouldn't grant them the certificate, which alone would allow them to
enter the British mandate of Palestine. But they knew how to help
themselves. They traveled as escorts of transports by way of
Constanza or attached themselves to illegally traveling groups.
The leader of Betar,
Jakob Schieber moved to Bucharest in 1934 where two years later he
successfully worked with others on the organization of the illegal
Aliyah Bet which transported emigrants to Israel by way of the Black
Sea. After he left, the Bukovina organization was directed from
Czernowitz by S. Jungmann, A. Feiger, M. Steinmetz, Lecker and
others. The illegal Aliyah became a pivotal factor in the Romanian
youth movement.
The anti-youth policy
of the Romanian security police became more oppressive from year to
year. Emigration was the only possible path to relief. In 1936 the
young Edi Wagner died a martyr's death in Czernowitz, supposedly
because of participating in the murder of a Romanian theology
student. Another victim of the police for the same reason was the
Betarist Rudolf Mehr, of whom, no trace remained after he fell into
the hands of the Romanian police.
When the Russians
marched into Northern Bukovina in 1940, all Zionist activity ceased.
Some tried to disappear from sight, but most just waited to be
deported to Siberia. As, however the Russians seemed to take no
measures against the former Zionists, the friends of Zionism began
to make contact with each other. The Betarists and other
Revisionists remembered the words of Jabotinsky that only the
existence of a Jewish state presented the right conditions for
social progress. So a movement started to reactivate the “Ken,” to
be sure, on a strictly underground basis. The initial goal was to
create a small “core” group which at the opportune moment could
quickly put together a large group. Among the most enthusiastic
proponents of the idea were the Betarists Liquornik, Axelrad
(perished in Transnistrien), Moritz Horowitz, Rennert and others.
The group came together mostly in public places always “armed” with
Communist literature which served at the same time as a discussion
theme and camouflage. The Russian propaganda literature had the
reverse effect of its intended purpose in that it deepened their
belief in the Zionist ideology. The Betarists, however suffered
deeply because of their isolation.
In May 1941, the long
feared deportation started and lamed every activity. When soon
thereafter uniformed Romanian and Nazi German criminals occupied
Czernowitz there followed constant persecution, house searches,
arrests and dragging away for forced labor. The last Betarists again
contacted each other and met relatively undisturbed in the courtyard
of the Jewish Hospital. Gradually young middle school students
joined the activities of the “Ken.” Even in the Czernowitz ghetto
(October, 1941) the secret activity of Betar continued unbroken.
Although most of the
active members had been deported, the work started afresh. Since
among other measures taken against the Jews, school instruction of
the Jewish children was forbidden, the children were threatened with
growing up uneducated. Here Betar started a new activity. Qualified
members gave group instruction in the homes of the parents of the
school children, among others Goldig, Schifter, Weiser, Thaler,
Schieber. Miliu Singer especially distinguished himself. He was a
man full of energy and ideas who significantly helped to build up
“Ken.” In addition to him should be mentioned the Betarists from
Poland who succeeded in finding a refuge in Czernowitz. In
particular, Izchak Ganzweich (Gan-Zwi) should be mentioned. Even in
the catastrophic years, education continued. An excellent library of
Judaic and Zionist texts was put together and also there was no lack
of books with socialist and political content.
Soon an event took
place that threatened to destroy the organization. Ukrainian
residents who had noticed the meetings of the members in a private
dwelling reported them for carrying on Communist activities. The
police blocked off the street, arrested the girl's group with their
leader Schmidt and Moschkowitz and 16 youths from the neighboring
houses. Luckily, with money and much effort the problem was
resolved. They were able to prove that the prisoners were not
Communists, whereupon they were freed by a military court.
In 1944, the front
came ever nearer to Romanian territory. Preparations were made to
evacuate the Betar members, most importantly, the illegal Poles, to
the Old Kingdom [the original Romanian state made up of the
principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia]. Unfortunately, several
were arrested on the trip including among others Ganzweich, but he
was freed in a short time. Finally, the Revisionists succeeded in
organizing the first Aliyahs from Constantinople and Bucharest.
Eight days before the Russians marched into Czernowitz, the first
transport left Constantinople. Two weeks latter began the manhunt
for the Revisionists. Fortunately, almost all of them had already
left Czernowitz.
With that, the
decades long activity of the Czernowitz cell came to an end. The
last transport not only brought the banner of the cell to Israel but
also many fighters for the independence of our land. Soon the
Betarists were in the forts at Latrun and Bethlehem, but also could
be found in the cells at Akko. The kibbutzniks Schneeweiss and
Merling fell in a battle with the Arabs. The son of Dr. Tamler from
Zastavna, the top leader of “Ezel” died a hero's death in the War
for Independence, during the fight for Haifa.
Besides the above
named, some other noteworthy members of Betar were: D. Kohn, Urzu
Geller, Nagler and A. Fabian (Sereth); B. Pasternak, Tennhaus,
Gruber, Bubi Sommer, Miliu Singer, Postelnik, Dr. Adi Mechel (Radautz);
Udelsmann brothers, Muli Muhlstein, Paul Beberer, S. Fischler, Fanny
Horowitz, the Mischoschnik family, Rauchwerger, Held, Zimmer,
Pasternak (Czernowitz); Lawyer Scheuermann (Gurahumora); Aron
Frölich and Kirmayer (Storozynetz); Fritz Baruch (Kotzman);
Ausfresser, Schuster (Zastavna); Rosen (who died together with
Strume (Wilavcze); Axelrad.
These and the many
that were not named in this report earned the thanks of the nation.
Honor their memory. |
