THE BIALYSTOKER COMMUNITY IN VILLA LYNCH When one refers to the Bialystoker Jewish community in Buenos Aires, he means several hundred Jewish weavers in Villa Lynch, who up until twenty years ago were factory workers. Today many of them are success- ful textile manufacturers who have made real achieve- ments in the weaving industry. Villa Lynch, a suburb of Buenos Aires, has become synonymous with Bialy- stoker ambition and initiative. These entrepreneurs won the respect and admira- tion of all Argentinian Jews for their philanthropy, as well as their enthusiastic involvement in Jewish commu- nal affairs. Their charitable contributions increased in many cases tenfold from several years ago. Despite their newly acquired wealth, they have remained loyal to the Jewish community in Argentina. They maintain an interest in Yiddish language, theater, Jewish schools, and raise their children in a Jewish environment. Bialystoker Jewish immigration to Argentina be- gan in the 1890’s. In fact, the colony of Los Palmeros, near Palacios and Mosesville, was named Bialystok. Succeeding generations of Bialystoker immigrants did not build up this suburb but sought work opportunities elsewhere in weaving. They were determined to trans- plant their textile industry from Bialystok to Argentina, inspiring older Bialystoker immigrants to do the same. The community in Villa Lynch, owing to its fantastic success and prosperity in textile manufacturing, has been called the ‘‘Jewish Manchester.” The life style of these Bialystokers is truly amazing. All day long they are feverishly preoccupied with their industrial interests. At night they devote themselves to the affairs of the Jewish community: schools, libraries and relief campaigns. Their dynamism boggles the mind. Our Jands/eit in Villa Lynch are contributing to all facets of Jewish life, including the welfare of remain- ing Jews in Bialystok. We can be very proud of their activities. A Group of Bialystoker Landsleit at a Welcome Celebration in honor of Dr. Chaim Shoskes (sitting fourth from right) in Buenos Aires in 1945. Seen in this photo are well-known industrialists and communal leaders: Zorach Ponieman, Hersh Woltshansky, the brothers Kulish, Abraham Epstein, the brothers Deitsch, the brothers Cantor, the brothers Musikansky, Fishel Wolkowisky, Velvel Rojsman, Yitzchok Munacker, Abraham Shewach, H. Bez and others. 196 The Bialystoker Memorial Book