The Miracle

The Miracle

By Nossin Friedman, Newport, America

Published in the Glubocker Leben, March 25, 1932

Translated by Aaron Ginsburg

The story continues. Thanks to Margarita Kozhenevskaya for finding this article which was published in Yiddish in Glubokie, then in Poland.

 

A miracle once happened in Dokshitz. Forty years ago, when there were riots in Russia about Jews, someone, a Christian, an "emissary" from the town, and apparently a good friend of the Jews, as well as a member of the town government, wanted to make a pogrom of the Jews in order to rob Jewish possessions and property.

 

What does the non-jew do? When the non-jew tried to confuse the Jews, he did a very small thing: because there was a house where a Christian was a servant from far away, and also because the same house happened to have two people from Russia, so-called “flunkies,” probably thieves, he went with them to kill the servant at night and to blame the Jew who lived opposite him, and on the next day to make a commotion in the town and in the church that his servant was missing and he thinks that the Jews killed her for religious purposes.

 

It even happened on Shavuos. For the Gentiles must have confused Passover and Shavuos, and so it will be known to all Christians of the villages, and at the upcoming town fair a pogrom would take place and everything that the Jews possessed would be plundered.

 

Clearly, the servant was murdered in the evening a few days before the fair and only Jews had to be blamed.

 

Through Borisover Street then, late at night, at 12 o'clock in the evening, the courier used to bring packages and letters to the next station. After that no one was around. The two accomplices waited until the courier drove off the street, making sure that no one was left. They took the corpse of the maid wrapped in a sack and began to carry it across the street to the Jew’s courtyard.

 

And here’s where a miracle happens. The postilion had at this time forgotten his overcoat in post, but when he left the city, a cold wind blew, he felt something cold, he said to the coachman — “Oh, I must return to get the coat.” It was rather cold, and the coachman immediately turned the horse back, the goyim carrying dead bodies heard the bell of the post, they dumped the bag with the bodies into the middle of the street and fled.

 

The horses approached the sack and they began to smell the blood and stopped. The postilion takes a look, first he sees there is a large package near the horse in the middle of the street. He gets down from the carriage to see what it is, first he finds the flesh and head of a person. Bloodstains were found in the house, the guy was found ostensibly asleep and did not know anything. The goy placed the whole blame on the 2 flunkies.He was imprisoned in the prison for 1 and 1/2 years, but was released.

 

This is how the city of Dokshitz was protected from a pogrom, and the fair passed quietly, there was joy and gladness in the city, this is how the eternal miracle works with Jews. I believe that the Dokshitzer Jews, with the help of G-d, long ago forgot the miracle. If there was a pogrom, that people would still remember, but the story remained in my memory and writing my memoirs I remembered the story and wrote the episode or story, to let a young generation of Dokshitzers know a miracle happened then.

 

Original at https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/gln/1932/03/25/01/article/15/?e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1

From Dokshitz to Newport-America

From Dokshitz to Newport-America

Rev. Nathan Friedman

Gluboker Leben

March 18, 1932

translated by Aaron Ginsburg

 

The story continues. Thanks to Margarita Kozhenevskaya for finding this article which was published in Yiddish in Glubokie, then in Poland.

 

In the eighties of the 19th century, the stream of enlightenment poured into our riparian region. The Jewish youth then believed that redemption, the richer life, could come only through education. The urge for enlightenment, which had a strong impact in Germany for many decades, thanks to the theorist of the Romantic Enlightenment, Mendelssohn, finally came to Russia.

 

The Haskalah infiltrated the balabatish households, whose sons studied in the yeshivot and represented the religious aristocracy. In those days yichis (genealogy) played a great role, the so-called liberal man, the scholar, the priviledged were strrictly separated from the craftsman and simple man, the balabatish psychology was a whole cult that stood above the masses.

 

With the greatest effort, the young man used to try not to be a soldier. Apart from going to worship, it was a difficult thing because it took 6 years and people had to live in the filthy Russian barracks, eat treif and violate the Sabbath, worship was not considered a fine thing and every father had an assignment. “Avoid the draft.”

The tsarist administration had allowed itself to be ostracized almost everywhere, but if it had been a stricter place, people would have to register elsewhere where the administration allowed itself to act.

In a word, the balabatish avoided military service. Therefore, all the yeshivas were filled with the balabatish bridegrooms.Fathers used to take the young ones on trips, then they were forced to open a shop, and most of the women became the business leaders.

 

I was in Dvinsk for three years and could not do any business there, I came back to Dokshitz and went into business with Reb Iser Kaminkemich, a haberdashery shop, and as it did not carry the business for granted I turned over this business to my younger brother. I began to give lessons in Russian and Hebrew, and at the same time helped all Jewish organizations with deeds and with money, though it took a half part in a performance of the wisdom of Solomon for the benefit of Bekor Holim.

 

At that time our first son, Mordecai Matel, was born to us. We spent a very short time in Doskhitz then quickly returned to Dvinsk, and immediately I got a job giving private lessons from a rich man, teaching Hebrew to his two sons who were in the gymnasia. Through this man I became acquainted with other rich men. I became well known and friendly with the Dvinsk city administration, where I was able to help many people, make a living, give Hebrew and Russian lessons, and also with advocacy before the justice of the peace.

 

And in my spare time, I assisted my father-in-law, R 'Isaiah Meyerson, in his business dealings with the goods and grain on the Tavarni Station, on the Calcio Livov-Romansky railroad.

From Dokshitz to Newport, America part 1

Rav Nossin Friedman

From Dokshitz to Newport, America

Gluboker Leben

March 4, 1932

translated by Aaron Ginsburg

 

more news from Dokshitz as printed in the Gluboker Leben, a yiddish newspaper, on March 4, 1932. Thank you to Margarita Kozhenevskaya fro finding it. The article, "From Dokshitz to Newport, America was by Rabbi Nathan Zalman Friedman. He and his wife Dora settled in Newport, Rhode Island. In the 1930 US census in addition to English he spoke Jewish and his occupation was listed as Rabbi, industry as Hebrew teacher.At the end of this article we learn that at Rabbi Friedman's wedding to Dvora Meirson, Rogatchover Rabbi Ilui officatiated. I mention this to Rabbi Marc Mandel of Touro Synagogue, Newport, RI who told me that the Rogatchover was very prominent Talmud interpreter. You can learn more about him at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Rosen

 

 His great-grandson Bernie Friedman reports, "He retired in 1935 after 25 years of service to the Congregation. He was the chazzan, ritual slaughterer, teacher, and anything else the Rabbi delegated to him. He lived above my Grandfather’s [Bernard C Friedman] Dental Office. My dad would tell stories of his grandfather slaughtering the chickens in the basement and how exciting that was at the time. There was a tribute dinner to Nathan upon his retirement and a beautiful kiddush cup was given to him that we use today. There are photos of the tribute dinner."

An imperfect translation follows: 

 

Rav Nossin Friedman

From Dokshitz to Newport, America

 

The rabbis sent me out from Heder at the age of 16 years. I knew the Talmud quite well, was a good baal Kore, was versed in the entire Talmud, and the Hebrew language, I learned math well, and had studied a bit of accounting. I spoke the Russian language fluently; my Polish language skills weren't bad. I also studied after that to take the chancellor's exam which I took in the Russian language.

I had fine friends, helped my parents with their business and was familiar with the owners of the courtyards with which my parents used to do business. I also was active in public Tzedakah, ?, talmud torah, bikur holim [visiting and caring for the sick] and Shul activities.

 

We worked hard to collect money for bikur holim. Hevra went with charity boxes to different parts of town. I brought more money in than anyone else because each time I raised money from my cousins, about 40-50 people. I was a hero in collecting donations.

 

I worked as a secretary in the Municipal government while my father was a magistrate? in the town. In those times Jews were allowed to stand for the government’s “Galileo'' exam and they did well. [discussion of other examinations and awards]

 

Overcoming my shyness, I became engaged in Dvinsk-Dinenberg to a beautiful woman from a large family, Dvora daughter of Reb Yishiyahu Meirson. who was born in Dokshitz and lived in Dvinsk-Dinenberg.

 

Being in Dvinsk-Dinenberg to get married, I got to know young people who were studying Russian from a teacher of Russian, a student in the sixth class of the Realschule (name of school) which had given my bride a lecture in Russian.

 

I persuaded him to go to Dokshitz as a teacher and indeed I immediately brought him down to Dokshitz and all the young people of Dokshitz were enthusiastic and thanked me.

 

But the joy was not long away. It was seven weeks until my wedding on Erev Shavuot 1887. The entire town of Dokshitz was upset when the teacher had to depart for Glubokie.

It was a second kind of learning… The teacher was named Robert Weiner. A few Glubokers must remember him. Today he is a famous medical doctor in America in New York City, and still my good comrade and friend.

 

I had a big wedding in Dvinsk at a large hotel. Officiating at the kiddushin was the well-known rabbi from Dvinsk, the Rogatchover Rabbi Ilui. (to be continued)

Letter from Dokshitsy and response

On November 3rd, I received the following letter:

Republic of Belarus

Dokshitsy Regional Magistrate

October 22, 2007

Dear Aaron Ginsburg :

Dokshitsy District Soviet asks for your help in the reconstruction of the Jewish Cemetery in the town of Dokshitsy.

During the WWII, in May 1941, Germans killed about 3000 to 3500 Jews, who were buried at the Mayakovsky Street.

In 1964 in accordance with the Decree by Dokshitsy District Soviet the Jewish Cemetery was eliminated. In 1965 in the place of the Jewish Cemetery a park was planted.

In 2005 during repair works on Pionersky Street some grave stones previously covered by soil were discovered. The Dokshitsy District Soviet considers it is necessary to preserve the remnants of the Jewish Cemetery: to beautify the place, to install a memorial.

Work on the reconstruction has been started, however financial resources are needed to continue the work. We ask for your financial help in the beautification of the place of the former Cemetery. We hope for your support and understanding in the intention to create a Memorial to the hundreds of Jewish citizens of Dokshitsy.

Vice - Chairman S.M. Demeshko

I was very happy to have received a letter directly from the authorities. Although I did not know about the letter, I had arranged for Franklin Swartz to drive to Dokshitsy and meet with the authorities, which he did on November 2rd, the day before I received the letter. In a long call via Skype on November 5th, I learned from Frank how the town had done a good job erecting the stones, and we discussed how the Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy could help.

Today, I responded to the letter from S M Demeshko with a letter of my own, although, of course, his letter was overtaken by events. Here is the text of my response:

The Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy, Inc.
c/o Aaron Ginsburg, 43 Ames St. Sharon, Massachusetts 02067 USA
A Massachusetts non-profit corporation formed to perpetuate the memory of the Jewish communities of Dokshitsy, Parafianov, and nearby villages. Aaron Ginsburg, President and Treasurer, Richard Fein, Clerk,
Ruthann Ruthchild, Noah Horowitz, directors.
web site: www.jewishdokshitsy.org E-mail:info@jewishdokshitsy.org Phone:1-508-682-3115 skype: aaron.ginsburg


Chairman S M Demeshka
Dokshitsy District Executive Committee of the District Soviet of People's Deputies
211720 Dokshitsy Lenina 31
Belarus
November 23, 2007

Dear Chairman Demeshka,

Thank you for your recent letter. Ironically, I received it the day after you met with Dr. Franklin Swartz, although I did not know the result of the meeting at the time I opened the letter. I want to reconfirm that I have asked Dr. Swartz to work with you on my behalf both to finish the work that the town of Dokshitsy started, and to plan the re-dedication of the Jewish cemetery on May 23, 2007. I have full confidence in Dr. Swartz. In addition to being a good person, he has the necessary knowledge and experience. I will generally communicate through him. However, if you feel the need to communicate with me directly do not hesitate.

Dr. Swartz has informed me how carefully the tombstones have been re-erected, and I am grateful. With his help, I am coming up with plans to build a fence around the entire site, assist in landscaping, and erect a memorial stone to the Jewish community. Across the street at the massacre site, I hope to somehow point out that in addition to other residents of the town, most of the Jewish residents of Dokshitsy were killed in May, 1942. I will work with you to come up with the appropriate wording.

You may wish to explore the website I have created at www.jewishdokshitsy.org. I have updated it to refer to the work that you have done, to the dedication, to include the pictures Frank sent of the cemetery, and to add a blog.

By respecting the dead as best we can, we are also showing respect for the living. The good will that Dokshitsy is expressing will help to correct the one-sided view of Jewish life there, that not surprisingly, tends to be obsessed with the Holocaust.

I plan to attend this event, and hope to be accompanied by people from Europe, America, and Israel. I look forward to meeting you and the citizens of Dokshitsy at that time, and to working with you on this and similar projects.

Sincerely,


Aaron Israel Ginsburg

Sharon, Massachusetts, USA

Creation

I have created this blog to record in detail the activities of The Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy, Inc. I created the Friends to help save the remains of the Jewish cemetery in the town in Belarus where my father was born. Just yesterday the town of Dokshitsy signed off (in a phone call with Franklin Swartz on the dedication day of May 23, 2008, which is Lag B'Omer(the 33rd day of the month of Omer in the Jewish calender. The date was proposed by my daughter Rebecca on Saturday when I was discussing the cemetery and the site of the Shoah directly across the street. I happened to mention that most of the Jewish residents were herded to their deaths on Lag B'Omer, 1942, and should pointed out that this was when the dedication should occur. I realized immediately that this was the best possible date, and was superior to my initial proposal of Yom Hashoah. I sent a message to Eitan Kremer, a leader in the group of Dokshitzers and their descendants in Israel, who concurred and who may bring a group to the dedication. By chance I got a message from my cousin Mark Izeman yesterday. Mark is an attorney currently residing in Moscow. Mark intends to be at the dedication.

On November 2nd, at my request, Franklin Swartz, an American residing in Minsk, met with the officials in Dokshitsy, including the chairman (mayor). To my surprise and delight the town had started to restore the cemetery by erecting the extant tombstones, of which there are at least 150. Frank informed me that the work was carefully done, and sent pictures that confirmed this. He was assured that the entire cemetery, most of which is a vacant lot, would be preserved, because, after all, it is a cemetery. Help was sought to build a fence around the entire property. Frank and I also discussed a memorial stone in the cemetery, landscaping, and a corrective plaque or monument at the site of the Shoah, where the current monument makes no reference to the fact that most of the Jews of Dokshitsy were murdered there.

Since November 2nd I have been in a tizzy, since this is the culmination of almost two years of effort. There is much planning to be done. Fund raising needs to resume in earnest.

In future posts I will review how I became involved in this project, the history of the project, and going forward will try to regularly share developments and ideas. Your input is always welcome.