Not far from Bialystok is the town of my birth "Z" (Zabludov). Small and shaggy it is, but known in the whole "HaGalil" (Hagalil is a rolling hill area in Hebrew, but it is also a area in Israel that is known as the Galil Elion and Tahton which is in the North part of Israel). Zabludov is inhabited by about 3,000 people from which about half are Jews. They make a living from the nearby villages.
Zabludai (Z-ai, apparently referring to a person) lives on Sunday morning in a wagon, pulled by a shaggy and skinny horse (like the horse of Rabbi Mandel). A heavy wooden box is loaded on top of the wagon to make a great impression as if it were loaded with fantastic treasures, but in reality in it are a few boxes of "Kogut" soap, a few boxes of matches, some needles and a basket- and that is all. With this load of merchandise the Jewish peddler sets out for the villages to barter and earn his livelihood until Friday.
The situation of the town shopkeeper is not much better. The inventory in the store is worth a few golden pieces. Pickles, a barrel of herring, a few pots and pans, and here you have the whole inventory of the Zabludai merchant. The landowners around the town were jealous even of this "wealthy" shopkeeper. They set up a cooperative store for themselves and in this way got rid of the Jewish "merchant" that took advantage of the "poor peasant".
Until a few years back, the Jews of the town received help (support) from relatives in America. Now, the letter carrier brings them instead of a closed letter with few dollars, only a "remainder" from the tax office. (Apparently letters were now being opened by Authorities and the funds being taxed).
In spite of all this, the situation in town is improving. The "Urbanization" is working. Old houses are torn down and new ones are being built in their places. Houses and fences are being painted, floors are being repaired, electricity is being installed and pretty soon, the town will look like a Metropolis.
Thanks to the Town Rabbi (Rabbi Joachan Mirsky), a person of energy and know how, the Cultural and Social life is improving. New schools, Help centers and Unions are being established. In all of them, you can see the imprint of the Rabbi. In his plans, you can see the thinking of the European Jewish movement.
Often, tourists visit our town from far away. The magnet that brings them here is our old Synagogue that was built in the times of the Jagiellonian Kings. In spite of it's age the synagogue stands firm, as an old grandfather who stands tall and peers beyond the houses, a silent witness to the events and adventures of the townsfolk.
Website: 2003 Tilford Bartman
