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Zionism in Europe
Hashomer Hatzair in Losice, Poland

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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.

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.
 

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).

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.



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.

 Łosice 2
* -- From the Losice Yizkor book, article: “'Hashomer Hatzair” movement in our town'," by Rachel Hochman and Menachem Ruzal. Translated by Meir Garbarz  Gover.
 


 



 

 


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