Celebration of the First Anniversary
of the Judenrat in Bialystok
(June 29, 1942)
...It is difficult to describe in detail the history of
the establishment of the Judenrat. We placed before ourselves one aim: to
coopt for the work persons of influence, who were honest and capable –
courageous people. There are such people among us, I will not praise them
here. But one I will praise a little to his face, Engineer Barash, who is
also the director of our industry, with his great ability and exceptional
energy – everybody knows and respects him. The German Authorities have
been persuaded that we work without profit to ourselves and the attitude
towards us has, in time, become tolerable... Our industry has developed, as
you know, and its importance to the ghetto is so great that we saw the need
for Eng. Barash to be in charge of this industry, and this has raised
our reputation in the eyes of the Authorities.
Today a year of labor has ended that has been hard but
full of blessing, and a new year begins, and we pray that in this
new year we may be remembered for life! May the Lord, Blessed be He,
continue not to abandon us; that we may be able to continue with our tasks
to the benefit and good fortune of the whole population.
Eng. Barash: We could not let this day pass
without gathering together and talking at least with those who are closest
to us. There is nobody who could describe what has happened to us, what we
survived during these past 365 days – no artist, no writer, no painter.
We can scarcely believe it ourselves, and I think nobody will believe it in
the future, all that has happened to us in this period. It is lucky that we
cannot foresee the future, for if we could – we would not have lived and
reached the present stage. If I were just to recite the record of our
troubles, just a list without describing them, it would take a long time, a
very long time. I will just recall the worst and most unexpected of
them....
In short we did not have single quiet day, one in which
there was no scent of danger. Many of the dangers that threatened us were
countermanded, as you know, as a result of our actions.
We did many useful things:
1) Our factories, which often had to "make bricks
without straw," which caused admiration among those who hate us. 2)
The exhibition that was arranged outside the ghetto demonstrated our
achievements and our ability to succeed. 3) At the same time we established
a system of schools and trade schools. 4) Our social welfare... hospitals,
etc., in many cases are more extensive than similar institutions that we
had before the war. 5) Our vegetable-growing and other work show that the
Jews are a very productive element.
There are differences of opinion concerning the actions
of our Judenrat. But one must take the position of the Judenrat into
account. After all, we are hostages, held responsible for everything that
happens in the ghetto. And you have seen what that means in other cities.
The members of the presidium went gray there before their time. The
devotion, heart and soul, of the presidium cannot be described in words. If
we survive, whole books will have to be written about it. Later there was a
total change in our position, which distinguishes us from the people in all
the other occupied areas and ghettos. There is nothing new to it, when the
weak pay compliments to the strong, that is familiar flatter. But that
we, the weak, hear compliments from those who are stronger, from those
who have the power. This change came about as the result of our productive
work.
I am full of admiration for the close harmony that
reigns between the members of the Judenrat. Differences of opinion simply
do not happen. All our decisions and actions are unanimous.
In truth, there is no place for optimism in the ghetto,
but when I consider the road along which we have come and our burdens, then
I am sure that we will take the Bialystok ghetto through to a happy end.
(Loud applause)....
Mr. Sobotnik: ...The Judenrat did not start out
as what it is today: It developed in time as it worked, thanks to the
efforts of its first members who created everything that we now have. As I
said, we were not chosen by anybody. The respected Eng. Barash convinced us
to accept the great and difficult duties because he understood the needs of
the hour. Now it has become a government, so to say, with all the offices,
departments, ministers. The official chairman, Dr. Rosenman, walks around
by himself to find workers for the Germans. He has gone through a great
deal. His most important contribution was to have appointed the respected
Eng. Barash, because the Rabbi did not have the strength to do everything
that was needed. I do not wish to praise the individual, what matters to me
is the job, the achievement. The respected Eng. Barash is the prime
minister in our "government," as well as the minister of the
interior, minister of industry, because in the ghetto everything must be
concentrated in one hand. Industry, for instance, is connect with the
Wehrmacht, so it becomes a matter of foreign policy. Sometimes we are
surprised how he gets it all done, how it all works out. It seems like
Divine intervention, particularly in the past few weeks. Everything gets
done in the best possible way. The other responsibilities, it seems to me,
are carried out by the other members, but it is the spirit, the direction,
which is the most important thing....
What is our direction? In matters concerning the
community we try always to reach agreement, compromise, so that everybody
may be satisfied. From now on we shall have to stand by the letter of the
law! Let him who is fearful and fainthearted return to his house! We shall
have to cling to this principle if we wish to stay alive. And the ghetto
must remain a productive element as well.
Of all our prayers for "Life," for a good
life, for a livelihood, for a life without shame or disgrace, etc., we must
today make do with just "Life"; and that thanks to Rosenman and
Barash: we only help, but they, and especially Eng. Barash, labor for
us!...
Blumental, pp. 214-220.
Source: Yad Vashem |