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Z. also gave a
series of successful performances in the 'Young
Theatre' offerings, in 'Boston,' 'Dos lebn ruft
(Life Calls?),' 'Tanentsap,' 'Simkha plakhte,' 'Vatshek'
and 'Protses.' He was especially successful
in the role of 'Kops the Bookkeeper' in Herman
Heyerman's 'Di farlorene hofnung (The Lost
Hope?).' "
In his book,
"Memories," Dr. Michael Weichert writing about
the "Young Theatre," makes some comments about
Z. He said that in the performances of "The
Travels of Benjamin the Third," he played the
role of "Mendele"; in Hofenung (Hope)" -- the
role of "Kops," and concerning his playing in "Taentsap,"
he writes: "A dear "Litviser Baldarsn" reached
out to Pinye Ziegelbaum; about "Life Calls":
"Especially excelling was Pinye Ziegelbaum in
the role of the aristocratic intelligentsia
Professor Savitsh, a type who had him --
the Jewish worker -- must be completely
foreign"; and about "Vatsek": The important
roles that were played: D. Fakel (Marie), Pinie
Ziegelbaum (Doctor)." |
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as "Litviser
Baldarsn" |
Sh. Bliacher portrays
him this way:
"Straight over, over-combed
hair ... chestnut hair, deep, clear eyes, a long nose
and narrow lips."
According to the actor
Zalmen Koleshnikov, he went with Z. to play in
Bialystok's Jewish State Theatre, then in the "Baveglekhn"
Theatre. He was very ill, it seems, from tuberculosis.
He looked very bad. He was released from his office as
deputy director and left for Vilna.
About the last stage
activity and tragic end, Sh. Bliacher writes:
"With the outbreak of the
German-Polish war, Pinye Ziegelbaum fled, together with
his wife, from Warsaw, where they had then been found,
to Bialystok. When in Bialystok, which at that time was
closed to Western White Russia, there was organized a
Jewish State Theatre, Pinye joined the theatre. Fearing
that he should not suffer for his previous political
affairs, he switched over his family name to Ostrovitsh
(his wife's family name). Here the Ziegelbaum's bore
their first child -- a young boy.
From Bialystok Zeigelbaum
was engaged in Vilna's State Theatre, wherever he goes
with his wife and child. In Vilna he performed in the
role of Dr. Bublik in Korneytshuk's 'Platon kretshet.'
His last role was 'Koltun' in Sholem Aleichem's
'200,000.' Immediately as Vilna was taken by
the Germans, bitter times began for him. He was an
asthma sufferer, and therefore he didn't have any
possibility to do hard, physical work, and due to this
could not be legalized. Wanting to help his family, with
his last bit of strength he moved away to Burbishki to
work. However, he fell there weakly and had to give up
the job. The hunger became afterthought to them inside
the house, later all the Jews were brought into the
ghetto, their situation became even worse. When the
'cleansing' had begun, and under various excuses Jews
were taken away, and he became very nervous and trembled
all the time. He was overly concerned about his tiny
son. However, he could not help himself or his love. It
was then added that his wife had proposed that they
should cut themselves off from their child, and thus
stave off their hard lives. In addition it turns out,
they lacked courage. Not having any pouch-shining,
they had to survive in the second ghetto, and after
being sacked for several days, they were taken with the
child in the direction of Ponar. "
In "Destruction of Vilna,"
Sh. Kaczerginski (incorrectly giving his name as
Ziegelman):
" ... came with his wife and
child from Bialystok to Vilna in May 1941. On 23 June
1941 they left on the road. Notwithstanding what to do,
exhausted from the dull sleep of their child, they
returned. They were driven into the second ghetto, and
from there away to Ponar."
M.E. from Zalmen Koleshnikov.
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Sh. Kaczerginski --
"Destruction of Vilna," New York, 1947, p. 225.
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Sh. Bliacher -- "Eyn
un tsvantsik un eyner," New York, 1962, pp. 70-72.
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Michael Weichert --
"Memories," Tel Aviv, 1961, Vol. 2, pp. 237, 263,
282, 322, 323, 328.
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