Rabbi Mirsky and Family
Translation by Daphna Brofman Coordinated by Tilford Bartman
Before I write about about my father's turmoil on his last journey, I should like to pay respect to my dear mother Beila peace be on her, who died a sudden death on the 13th of January 1937 in Bialystock. She was brought to burial in the town of our birth Zabludow. May my words serve as an expression of the gratitude of a child to his mother and an expression of appreciation of the entire public, who knew her closely and was aware of her maternal devotion to all those who needed a good word and real help. She was active in welfare institutions and directed them; women's organizations for poor mothers shortly after giving birth, helping brides prepare for weddings and more. With her death a void was created in the organizations in which she was active. Great was the loss, may her personality be forever remembered with respect and admiration!
About my dear father's fate I learned from a fellow who is now in Israel. My father R. Yokhanan Mirsky was the last Rabbi of the Zabludow community and the most dynamic Rabbi. My dear father died in Auschwitz together with my sister Channa and her little daughter. The fellow told that they were in the same train car that took them to Auschwitz. Even while he was in the ghetto his spirit was not let down; he always had words of encouragement for the suffering people and he was a good influence as far as this hell permitted it.
The suffering reached its top in the cars that were painted with plaster, taking him and other Jews to Aushwitz; my father nearly lost his temper and struggled to jump off the train. These are the few details that I was able to learn about my fathers last days and his great suffering under the Germans rule.
My brother Tzvi (Hershko) was arrested by the Russians as he was crossing the border of Lita ( a short time before the Russian occupation 1939/40). He was a prisoner in a labor camp in Okhta- Arkhangelsk; this I was told by people who worked with him, and he was probably released with all other polish citizens. After that there were rumors that he was seen in an institute for the handicap in Russia. But the inquiries of people from Zabludow who were there, and searches conducted by my relatives from Stolpetzi, brought no results. My relatives from Stolpetzi are convinced that he died in Russia with thousand of other Jews who died of starvation, diseases and cold.
My younger sister Rachel settled in the land of Israel since 1938. She died of a heart attack in the fall of 1946. During her few years in the land she was fully active and devoted to the Mizrachi movement. Despite her poor health she took upon herself a hard role in organizing aid projects for the soldiers. All her friends appreciated her as a loyal and devoted member of the movement, as a soul who is always ready to give and make any necessary sacrifice. Her departure caused much grief and the Israeli press of the Mizrachi fully covered her activity.
This is the sad summary of my closest and most precious relatives. I was left all alone like an orphan.
And indeed, my heart is full of sorrow for the people of Zabludow. I would like to bring up memories from the good days, about friends and others I knew, who were close to me in the pre-war town. But I am unable to do so…
I would only like to express my appreciation to the editors of the Yizkor Book and to all the members of the committee and praise them for the holy project they took upon themselves.
May my words serve as an eternal memorial to my dear family members who died and are lost, and to the unforgotten Zabludow community that's been taken from this world.
Honored is their memory!
Click here for 1929 letter from Avraham Mirsky in Warsaw to his family in Zabludow
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