A PLEA FOR HELP FROM LANDSLEIT ON CYPRUS Dear Bialystoker Landsleit in America: Once again we Jews from Bialystok and vicinity have found each other, this time on Cyprus, after an attempt to emigrate to Israel. We were resistance fight- ers in the Bialystok ghetto, partisans, concentration- camp survivors, Polish and Red Army soldiers, and exiles to the Urals and Siberia. Throughout the horrible war years, we sought each other, trying to remain close because we shared memories of our birthplace. Dream- ing together about that happy moment when we would meet again in Bialystok, finding our families and loved ones, we helped each other make life easier. Unfortunately, our dream remained a fantasy. We found graves and ruins in Bialystok upon our return, driven there by our longing and inextinguishable love for the town. It will forever symbolize our past, our youth and the peaceful family lives we enjoyed. We have since left Bialystok never to return, for we, like all the other Holocaust survivors, realize that our future lies in Israel. For almost a year, we have been wandering like nomads, from one camp to another, from one country to the next, climbing over mountains, crossing borders to reach our fatherland — the land of Israel. On an old merchant ship, which we named Patria (birthplace), we drew close to Israel’s shores. But our ship contained a breech in its underbelly, which allowed water to rush through. Moreover, we failed to circumvent the British coast guard. An airplane spotted our ship and soon afterward tugboats pulled us to the port of Haifa. Fol- lowing a long and bitter resistance, we were beaten and tear-gassed to transfer to another boat, which took us to Cyprus. Now we are in a concentration camp behind two rows of barbed-wire fences, under continuous watch by British soldiers. What awaits us in Cyprus 1s life without freedom. Nevertheless, we are neither downhearted nor in despair. We face the future with pride and courage. Sooner or later, we will go to Israel, to participate in the rebirth of the Jewish people. In this difficult hour, as prisoners in Cyprus, we, who as Bialystokers have shared a common destiny, address our attention to you, Bialystoker Relief Com- mittee. We recognize that you, better than anyone else, will do everything possible to support us both morally and financially. Following our ship’s mishap, many of us arrived on Cyprus with insufficient clothes and undergarments, without enough money to buy a postage stamp. Fur- thermore, the food we receive in the camp and our cigarette rations are inadequate. We believe you will be The Bialystoker Memorial Book able to assist us in these matters. Please send us publi- cations from your Center in New York. It is difficult to appeal to you for help. But your support will not be charity for poor brothers. You will see uS aS we are — pioneers of our people, who deliber- ately selected the thorny path of illegal aliyah to strug- gle for the freedom and independence of the Jewish people. Your assistance will enable us to carry on this effort. It is important that we be assured of your empathy with our physical suffering and your understanding of the ideals to which we were loyal and for whose realiza- tion we suffered so much. It is the Jewish State of Israel for which we fight, the ingathering of the exiles. Your adding your voice, American brothers, to our efforts would be not only comforting for us, but also a great boost to our morale. Your strenuous protests surely will cut short our imprisonment on Cyprus, unnecessary torment and an absolute waste of time. Do everything possible, Bialystoker brothers, to end our exile on Cyprus, for your satisfaction in having done good and our appreciation will be your best reward. With Zionist greetings, Dr. Szymon Datner Fisz] Galinski Awrom Konjak A LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM THE RELIGIOUS KEHILLA IN BIALYSTOK April 21, 1946 Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today we received the gifts the gracious Bialy- stoker /ands/eit in America have sent to us. We imme- diately distributed them to a poor woman who recently gave birth, as well as to many other needy and lonely people. May the Almighty reward your generosity. We are pleased that the gifts arrived in time for Passover. Twice we have received from you various food and clo- thing packages that were invaluable to us. May God enable you to continue doing such noble deeds. We request that if possible clothes be sent for young people between the ages of eighteen to twenty who walk around barefoot and poorly clad. Wishing you all the best, we remain, Sincerely, Bialystoker Religious Kehilla en 00 U0 139