The
Hashomer Hatzair youth movement played an important role in
Losice’s Jewish youth. This movement attracted many of
Losice’s young and instilled the pioneer mood into many Jewish
homes.
The movement’s center employed many activities: scouting,
games, music, forest trips, etc. In addition, members were
preparing for Zionist and pioneer activities according to Ber
Borochov’s doctrine: Jewish land to productive, indoctrinated
people. The atypical Jewish social structure in Poland
required hard work and education about the Zionist
revolutionary ideas. The movement’s instructors invested many
efforts in educating the youth to Aliya and Kibbutz life.
We proved that such pioneering ideas were the only solution
for Jews in the Diaspora and in Poland in particular. Many
of us were not privileged to reach Israel. Some could not
pass the test common life experience in our centers. Some
preferred to immigrate to South America and other countries.
photo: Group "Havazalet" of Hashomer Hatzair.
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This applies as well to our teacher Gad Rozenberg,
an educator and lecturer devoted to every Zionist
activity in town. He helped us to establish Hashomer
Hatzair in our town, but alas, he did not make Aliya
but immigrated instead to a foreign country against
his wishes.
The semi-fascist regime in Poland during the 1930’s
drove Jews out of many professions. The hardship was
enormous. In search of work, hundreds of young
people moved with their families into cities,
especially to Warsaw where part of the commerce and
light industries was still in Jewish hands.
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The leaders of Hashomer Hatzair
Losice, Poland
1932
From right: Standing Adel Zielonilas,
Mosze Fajgenboim, and Cwia
Rozal.
Sitting: Icchak Hajblum,
Bracha Zylberberg,
and Yosef Jastrzomb (Ben Jakob). |
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Group
of Hashomer Hatzair
Losice, Poland
1929
Head of group: Menachem Rozal and Tema Blostein. |
But we advanced our cause in spite of many obstacles.
We stayed in summer colonies, visited local
Kibbutzim and established work locations. We were
the largest Zionist movement at that time. We broke
the closed old Jewish life wall, and some of us
arrived in Israel as dedicated pioneers. Our
enthusiasm was very high. We were happy to stay
under a small tent and eat little bread, as long as
it was in a Kibbutz in our motherland.
The connection between the movement in the Diaspora and
Israel was strong. Some of Losice’s Jews even
managed to visit us before the Holocaust. They came
to encourage us to proceed forward with our ideas.
Youth on the waiting list waited eagerly to make
Aliya. Some of them graduated all pioneering
activities and become frustrated while waiting their
turn to make Aliya. This caused misery and
insecurity.
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HASHOMER HATZAIR IN LOSICE |
While we were in the midst of our activity came the Holocaust
,and
everything vanished in the cruelest way. All the Jews
were gone, gone in a final way: parents, youths, children, the elderly, the babies, Mitnagdim, and
the Hassidim.
And the world was silent. There are no longer any signs
of the
Polish Diaspora and our Losice Kehillah.
photo: From
right, standing - Mosze Rozencwajg, Mosze Rozenboim
(from Janow Podlaski), Mindl Kohen, and Naftali
Kliwanski (from Slonim).
Sitting: Szajna Rozenband, a comrade from Janow, Belcia
Goldband, Fajga Finkelstein, Malka Krakowiak, comrade
from Janow, and Leacze Jastrzomb.
Sitting on the floor - a comrade from Janow, and Sara
Hochman.
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