WORLD COMMITTEE IRGUN YOTZEY PLOTZK
for the BE-ISRAEL
PLOTZK MEMORIAL BOOK (Plotzker Association in
Israel)
PLOTZK
(PŁOCK)
A HISTORY OF AN ANCIENT
JEWISH COMMUNITY IN POLAND
Editor:
ELIYAHU EISENBERG
Vice-Chairman, Plotzker Association in Israel
"HAMENORA"
Publishing House
Tel-Aviv, 1967
The Yizkor Book in MS Word File Format 
The Yizkor Book in MS Acrobat Format
Book Donated to
JewishGen Yizkor Books Database
Notes
The English part is not a complete translation of the Yizkor book of Płock but rather a synopsis, summary, and should be treated as such. there are 684 pages in Hebrew and Yiddish but only 96 pages in English.
I have translated and added the titles and page numbers of articles which do not appear in the English summary. I added the code "H" if article is in Hebrew, or "Y" if in Yiddish.
I have added also the sub-chapters to the various articles, which are not included in the original Table of Contents. On many occasions I have added from the Hebrew and Yiddish parts of the book also names of people mentioned in the articles, when that was possible, mainly in the Holocaust chapters.
I have also added the names of people who appear in the photographs to the captions in English which did not include these names, see pages
I wish to thank the Płock Landsmanschaft who encouraged me and gave me and JewishGen the permission to post the Płock Yizkor book in the Internet.
It is my hope that this book will serve as commemoration
to the Jewish ancient grand and holy community of Płock, exterminated by
the Germans during the Holocaust.
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THE PLOTZK JEWISH
COMMUNITY BETWEEN THE TWO WORLD WARS 1918-1939 |
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POLITICAL PARTIES, YOUTH MOVEMENTS,
ZIONIST FUNDS |
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The first Zionist
fulfillment |
Elisza Jecheskeli
(Czrnobroda) |
H-297 |
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M. Rubin |
55 |
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55 |
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The festivities of "L'g
Baomer for the national fund |
M. Rubin |
H-303 |
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55 |
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I. Tynski |
56 |
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E. E. |
56 |
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F. Fliderblum |
57 |
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Hehalutz,
Hehalutz Hatzair and Hapoel Getting organized The objection of the extreme religious "Hehalutz Hatzair" (Young Hehalutz) The branch activities Kibbutz Hachshara in town The visit of the 2 messengers
from Eretz The experiences of the Alyia "Hapoel" Training of young sportsmen Dedication to Jewish sport |
Y. Rosenblum |
57 |
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Summary of 10 years of
"Poalei Zion" |
R. Lichtman |
H-320 |
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58 |
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M. Rubin |
59 |
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The First World War The local politic work after the War The social-professional activity The cultural public work Aftermath |
B. Okolica |
59 |
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D. Shahari |
59 |
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"Agudat
Israel" in Płock and the Region The founding assembly The educational activity The members of Agudat The economic activity |
L. Geliebter |
60 |
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Under the czarist regime During the war years The first years of independent The visits of the "Bund" leaders Striving for victory Last words |
I. M. Oliver (Ilover) |
60 |
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The beginning of the movement as a scout Jewish movement Founding of Hashomer Hatzair in
Changes of the ideology and the human structure Two girls of the |
E. E. |
61 |
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62 |
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General Zionist Youth Movement ("Hashomer Haleumi" – "Hanoar Hazioni" – "Akiba") |
B. Galewski |
62 |
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"Akiba" in |
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H-345 |
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From our own ideas (the
ideological struggle for Zionism and Judaism) |
Meir Pagorek |
H-346 |
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Sh. P. |
63 |
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The
history of "Maccabi" in Płock 1915 1918 1923 1933 |
M. Rubin |
63 |
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A. Najman (Nowicki) |
64 |
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POLITICAL
PARTIES, YOUTH MOVEMENTS, ZIONIST FUNDS
FOUR
FRIENDS AND THEIR SPIRITUAL WORLD
By Moshe Rubin
Page 55
The author of this article, chairman of the "Plotzker Association
of Israel" pays tribute to four young people, aged 17, (Itzhak Rubin,
A. L. Perlmuter, Z. Baran, Z. H. Krook) who published, in the years of the
First World War, a Yiddish periodical "Di Shvere Zeit" (Hard Times),
which included articles, poetry, drawings, etc.
Mr. Rubin tells us details of the biographies of those four friends who were, about 50 years ago, "carriers of the banner of culture and art" in Plotzk. He quotes a fragment of a Yiddish poem, published in that periodical, dealing with the tragedy of Jews who fight and die for the countries of their residence, yet their sacrifice is not appreciated.
"AGUDAT
Page 55
Zionism in Plotzk was always influenced by the great Zionist leader Yitzhak Grinbaum, one of the founders of the local "Hazamir" library, where cultural and Zionist work was carried out in the years preceding the First World War. The Zionists in Plotzk named their organization "Agudat-Zion" (Zion Association). It raised money for the Zionist funds, arranged national celebrations, propaganda tours and election campaigns to the Jewish communal organs.
Other activities included yearly "bazaars", whose proceeds were handed over to the Keren Kayemet.
In 1934, when the General Zionist Organization was split into two groups (General Zionists "A" and "B") the Plotzk branch remained faithful to its beloved and popular leader, Yitzhak Grinbaum. As a result of that split, the "Hanoar Hazioni A" and "Akiba" youth-organizations were set up.
"Agudat Zion was often visited by representatives of the National
Executive of the Zionist Organization in
Page 55-56
The Plotzk "Keren Kayemet" Committee was composed of representatives of all Zionist factions, under the presidency of Dr. Itzhak Feinberg and Azriel Kowalski as representatives of the Central Committee. The year 1931 was proclaimed as an anniversary year (50 years since the "Hibbat Zion" movement and 30 years since the Keren Kayemet were founded). The town was divided into zones and the local youth in the form of a "Gdud Keren Kayemet" went from door to door to collect money for the National Fund.
Its most popular source of income was the "Blue Box". Youth
movement members installed these boxes in almost every Jewish house where it
symbolized the link between the Jewish family and the upbuilding of the
National Home in Eretz
The 1931 anniversary year was outstanding as regards the sums collected and the positive response of Plotzk Jewry.
Keren Kayemet continued its fundraising until the outbreak of World War II. Its last successful drive took place in May 1939, when Wizo ran a K. K. L. bazaar. Nobody knew then that this would be the last K. K. L. function in Plotzk.
By Itzhak Tynski
Page 56
This faction, affiliated to the Zionist Workers movement, was established
in Plotzk just after the First World War. Its members were active for Zionism
by raising money for the Keren Kayemet (in which it distinguished itself),
organizing festivals and helping those immigrating to Eretz
Fishl Fliderblum, one of the leaders of this movement, served
as the last Jewish Community chairman and was elected a delegate to the last
pre-war Zionist congress, which took place in
Zeirei Zion eventually united with "Right Poalei Zion" and other smaller groups and together formed the "United Party", (equivalent to Mapai of Israel).
THE
AGRICULTURAL FARM OF MOSHE KRAKOWSKI
By E. E.
Page 56-57
An agricultural farm owned by Moshe Krakowski existed in Plotzk for 20 years prior to World War II. - Krakowski was born in a village near Izbica and at the age of 36, in 1918, acquired a farm in Milodroz, about 12 kms from Plotzk. He, his wife and children devoted all their energy to restoring the farm and within a few years, the Krakowski farm became an example. The Polish peasants had always regarded Jews as traders in flour or agricultural produce, but had never known Jewish farmers, who own and cultivate their land. Hence Krakowski was at first looked upon as someone unusual, but later the gentiles got used to the fact and held the new cultivation methods of this Jewish farming family in high esteem.
Krakowski's place was used as a "Hachshara"
(Training Farm) for Jewish youth preparing for Aliya to Eretz
The Krakowski family's desire was to establish a new
agricultural settlement in
"HACHSHARA"
KIBBUTZ ON THE NAME OF "BOROCHOW"
By Fishl Fliderblum
Page 57
A translation of an article, published in January 1936, in a Yiddish
periodical called "Dos Plotzker Wort". The author gives a short
history of the kibbutz which served as a training center for Jewish boys
and girls prior to their Alyia (immigration to Eretz
They were trained in various branches of manual labor (at a saw-mill,
oil factory, tannery, etc.) and in spite of the fact that most of them came
from well-to-do families, they were always happy and satisfied with their way
of life. They were idealistic and saw themselves as pioneers of great Jewish
masses who would follow them to
The author describes the daily way of life of these youngsters. Their
hard work and the nature of their leisure hours: reading and exchanging views
on their future life as pioneers in
He concludes by demanding that the Jewish public of Plotzk help the
"Hachshara" center, since it contributed so much both to
Zionism and to the preparation of pioneering immigrants to the
HEHALUTZ, HEHALUTZ HATZAIR AND HAPOEL
By Y. Rosenblum
Pages 57-58
The first group of "Hehalutz" began its activities in our
town in 1923. The organizers made it clear that the real aim of this new
organization was the "Alyia" (immigration to Eretz
While the "Hehalutz" organization consisted of young people
over the age of 18, who were preparing to go to Eretz
In 1931 a "kibbutz" was established in Plotzk by two young
boys (Benzion Altman and Aron Bricker) who were delegated for
that purpose by the Central Committee of the organization. A year earlier two
young men from Eretz
In the thirties many young boys and girls left town for Eretz
The young pioneers of Plotzk who did not succeed in reaching
*
Among other sports organizations there existed in the thirties a local branch of "Hapoel", affiliated to the central organization of this name. All sorts of sport activities were carried out by "Hapoel" football, ping-pong (table-tennis), athletics, physical exercises, gymnastics and bicycle-riding.
This organization was established in 1931. Its members distinguished themselves especially in football and some of them were members of the regional team.
Thanks to the devotion of some of the founders and sponsors of this and other sports organizations (like "Maccabi", "Stern" and "Morgenstern"), various spheres of sport became popular among Jewish boys and girls in town. Their activities made the Jewish public proud of their younger generation.
Like others, most of these Jewish young sportsmen and sportswomen perished in the years 1939-1945.
page 58
A branch of the Zionist-religious movement "Mizrahi, was founded in Plotzk after the first world war. It distinguished itself primarily in its devoted work for the National Fund and in popularizing Zionist ideas among the religious segment of the community, in synagogues, etc. The first Hebrew kindergarten in Plotzk was founded through the initiative and with the help of that movement.
"Mizrahi" members cooperated with other Zionist groups and
had considerable influence in town. In 1937 two of their representatives were
elected to the Kehila Council.
The author regrets that lack of material on this subject does not
enable him to publish a more detailed report on that movement. Very few
"Mizrahi" members succeeded to come to
Among its founders: Jakob Aszkenazi, Szlomo Wilenski, Abraham
Flaks. Jeszayahu Muszkat, Reuwen Kanarek, Herszel Majranc, Efraim Dawid Elberg,
Jechiel Wosulk, Szlomo Rozen.
By Moshe Rubin
Page 59
The author was one of the founders of the youth organization "Herzlia". In 1918 several members of "Hashomer Hatzair" left that movement, because it had turned, in their opinion, into a political party, and consequently founded "Herzlia".
"Herzlia" developed educational activities in Plotzk, organized Hebrew courses and trained its members to become devoted Zionists and go on Alyia.
The development period of the organization continued till 1922, when most of its leaders left Plotzk. Despite its relatively short existence, "Herzlia" played an important role in the Zionist education of the young Jewish generation in that period.
By Beza1el Okolica
Page 59
A branch of the "Poalei Zion" movement was founded in Plotzk
in 1904. After the Russian revolution of 1905 its activities were outlawed by
the Czarist police, and "Poalei Zion" members went underground. Only
after the First World War and the establishment of the
"Poalei Zion" took an active part in the elections of the Jewish community, the municipality and the Parliament. They also established evening courses for workers and organized them in trade unions, which were responsible for strikes in several workshops, as a result of which the employers had to pay higher wages.
A dramatic circle and a sports club named "Stern" (Star) were established in 1925.
"Poalei Zion" members distinguished themselves in their
bitter fight against anti-Semitism in the pre-war years and as anti-Nazi
fighters during the war. Some of them survived and live today in
Members mentioned: Chaim Makowski, Olesznik, Lamaniec, Zilberstein,
Czok, Ostrower, Kowal, Cukier, Josef Malanek, Sendzen Wint, Magner, Okalica.
By Dov Shahari
page 59-60
Two small groups of young Zionists-Socialists, one from
The author describes how study-groups and summer-camps were organized,
the first of which took place in a village near Plotzk in 1929. That camp was
attended by Zeev Sherf as a representative of the Central Committee in
Several young boys distinguished themselves in leading the movement, especially Fishl Fliderblum, who helped those youth groups in many ways. He was elected member of the Plotzk Municipal Committee and served as the last Chairman of the Jewish Kehila before the holocaust.
Some members of the "Freiheit, organization immigrated to
"AGUDAT
By Leib Geliebter
Page 60
"Agudat
The speakers at the first meeting emphasized that the Jewish Kehila (community) was run by assimilationists who constituted a minority in town, and that the time was ripe for giving orthodox Jews their rightful place in the Kehila.
In the following years the Aguda established several Jewish religious schools in town. The movement secured a prominent place in the Kehila for itself, and its representative was elected its Chairman. It took part in the municipal elections and its representative who became councilor, obtained the agreement of the municipal authorities to employ religious Jews in their service without their having to desecrate the Shabbat.
The economic activity of the Aguda included the establishment of a prosperous bank, which extended loans on easy terms to small merchants and artisans.
When the Nazis invaded Plotzk they confiscated the property of the bank, arrested the author of this article who was tortured and wounded, but survived thanks to the medical treatment of the unforgettable Dr. Feinberg.
Members mentioned: R' Iczel Burstyn, R' Jakob Jaszjewicz, R'
Jeszayahu Spierstein, R' Kalman Lajbisz Kilbert, R' Fiszel Benet, R' Icchak
Meir Zilberberg, R' Dawid Warszawiak, R' Mosze Mordechai Geliebter, R' Jakob
Nagel' R' Arie Kosowocki, R' Sinai Wolf Rozen.
By J. M. Oliver (Ilover)
Page 60-61
Like other leftist movements, the "Bund" party's primary aim was the organization of trade unions among Jewish workers. Only after the First World War were they free to engage legally in their work.
The "Bund" movement was very popular in Plotzk and most Jewish workers voted for its list at election time. In 1920 it had two seats on the municipal council.
The local Bund branch organized the Jewish working youth in a special group, called "Skif". A Bund representative, Israel Gershon Burshtyn, was Lavnik (senior municipal councilor) of Plotzk and was very popular with all Jewish and non-Jewish citizens. He particularly distinguished himself in frequently preventing the eviction of poor tenants from their homes for non-payment of rents.
In the last years preceding the war the Bund tried to combat anti-Semitism in joint action with the Polish Socialist Party (P. P. S.).
I. G. Burshtyn survived the holocaust and spent the last years
of his life in
By E. E
Page 61
This youth movement, which combined Zionist aspirations with
"self realization" (i. e. going to Eretz
a) From 1921 to 1927, when this youth organization was linked to the local ''Jewish Gymnasium''
b) From 1927 to 1939, as an independent unit.
In its first period its pattern was that of a purely scouting
organization, on the lines of the "Blau Weiss" Zionist youth movement in
During the second period (1927-1939) the local branch became more dependent
on other factors in the community and distinguished itself by its activities.
It exerted great influence on the younger generation and many of its members
played an important part in re-settling
Two young girls of the Plotzk branch of "Hashomer Hatzair" (Tova
Beatus and Rozka Korezak) belonged to the anti-German Partisan
units, who fought in the ghetto of Wilna against the Nazis. The first one
perished on one of her missions and the other lives now in a Kibbutz in
Page 62
As in other towns and townships in
The Beitar youth movement had a number of adherents in Plotzk and like
other youth-groups organized summer-camps and pre-military training. It called
upon its members to immigrate to Eretz
Due to the lack of documents the editor is unable to quote figures and mention names connected with Beitar. None of its members survived after the war, and no photos are left.
The editor concludes by paying tribute to this extreme Zionist group which played its part in the sphere of Zionist education in Plotzk.
GENERAL
ZIONIST YOUTH MOVEMENT
("HASHOMER
HALEUMI" – "HANOAR HAZIONI" – "AKIBA")
By Benyamin Galewski
Page 62
This movement comprised two groups: "Hashomer-Haleumi", later known as "Hanoar Hazioni" and "Akiba". The first group was founded in Plotzk in 1929 after a lecture held there by its leader Dr. R. Feldshuh (Ben-Shem). It had a considerable influence on the Jewish youth in town and distinguished itself in educational and other activities. "Summer colonies" (camps), where intensive Zionist work was done, were organized every summer. In 1930 the movement split into two groups. One of it joined the Progressive General Zionist faction, led by I. Grinbaum. The second movement, called "Akiba" was founded in Plotzk in 1931, and comprised mainly students. This movement adhered to Jewish tradition, although it was not orthodox in character. A summer-camp held in 1933, in which a youth group from Plotzk took part, had a considerable influence on the future of "Akiba" in town. The author quotes, in this connection, some excerpts from periodicals which praise the important work done by "Akiba" in Plotzk.
Three members (Meir Pagorek, Benyamin Galewski and Eliyahu Eisenberg) were elected members of the Central Committee of the movement. The activities of "Akiba", continued until the outbreak of war in September 1939.
By Sh. P.
page 63
The Communist party in Plotzk, as in all other towns of
When the frontier between Nazi-occupied
THE HISTORY OF "MACCABI" IN
By Moshe Rubin
Page 63-64
The author of this article was one of the top leaders of the "Maccabi" organization in Plotzk, who served many years as its Honorary Secretary and Vice-Chairman.
First steps to organize Jewish youth in a sports-organization were taken
during the First World War (in 1915). A group of Jewish boys used to gather on
a free plot near the "New Market" and do exercises under most
primitive conditions. They were assisted by ex-students of the
That year a special sports-gathering took place in the local theatre which marked the beginning of Jewish sports activities in town.
"Maccabi" organized a great festival in 1916, in which hundreds of its members from Plotzk and neighboring localities took part. When the town came under Polish rule, the authorities did not view Jewish sports activities with favor and tried on many occasions to limit them, but in spite of it, "Maccabi" grew in members and opened various branches of sports activities. Its members also took part in many general Jewish and Zionist campaigns. The outbreak of the Polish-Soviet war 1920 restricted the "Maccabi" activities, but later on, when Poland was re-established and battles ceased, many instructors and leaders of "Maccabi" left for Warsaw to study. A newly-elected committee redecorated the sports-hall, bought equipment and organized new groups. The years 1923-1934 marked a steady development of "Maccabi", which became a part of Jewish life in Plotzk and played an important role in the physical training of Jewish youth. New sections were organized: for light athletics, boxing, bicycle-riding, ski, etc. Members of "Maccabi" were in that period engaged in general cultural and Zionist affairs, besides their sports activities.
The author recalls one of the most significant events in the
community's life: The arrival of Jewish sportsmen from Eretz
The dedication of the "Maccabi" flag became a Jewish national festival. An article published in the Warsaw Yiddish daily "Haynt" (The Day) gave a detailed report of that important event and its influence on Plotzk's nationally minded Jewish youth.
At the end of 1934 the author left for Eretz
THE LAST TWO YEARS OF "MACCABI"
By Adam Najman (Nowicki)
Page 64
The "Maccabi" sports-organization played an important role in the sport-life of the Jewish youth in Plotzk. It contained all possible sections: football, gymnastics, light athletics, basket-ball, hockey, boxing, table-tennis, etc. The local Jewish youth of the town, being prevented from joining gentile sports organizations due to the prevailing anti-Semitic trends, flocked into the Jewish sports-organizations, and especially to "Maccabi".
The author describes various sports activities which were the pride of
the Jewish public and mentions the last football-match which took place in the
summer of 1939 between the local "Maccabi" team and the
The author mentions with appreciation the activities of the following: Felix Margulis, and Henryk Shenvits, the last two chairmen of "Maccabi"; Vice-chairman Artek Galevski and General Secretary Abraham Altman. They contributed a lot to the prosperity and success of local "Maccabi".
Sportsmen mentioned (partial list): Artek Galewski, Leon Szczyg,
Israel Lisser, Israel Goldman and his brother Romek, Leon Strach, Szlomo
Szczyg, Szymon Prusak, Menczyk, Lubranicki, Dawid Krajcer, Dr. Matias
Marknstras, Henryk Szenwic, Malgot, Gad Tynski, Eliyahu Baran, Pawel Gombinski,
Rudek Lubranicki, Jarzyk Goldberg, Gutek Flajszer, Hela Goldman, Sala Plocer,
Sala Kot, Mitek Wasserman, Salek Zilberstein, Alek Rusak, Altrowicz, Gold,
Salek Lichtenstein, Adam Najman, Zosia Goldberg, Fela Koza, Teresa Strach, Sabinka Eisenberg,
Heniek Najman, Adam Goldberg.
Last updated May 17th, 2004