silence gripped the room. Ultimately it was decided that the grim news of the victims’ permanent disappearance would not be made public and that the entire Jewish community would be allowed to continue hoping for their return. The Anxious Wives “But it was difficult to conceal such realities for very long. The truth was leaked to the populace, even by some members of the Judenrat itself, reaching the wives, mothers and children of the vanished thousands. The victims’ wives began to feel that the Judenrat was deceiving them and concealing the truth. Consequently, they conducted daily, loud demonstrations outside the Judenrat building. Angered and embittered because they were misled, some of these women attacked various members of the council. In addition to lying to them, the wives and mothers complained that the Judenrat had taken away all their belongings when, in fact, they knew there was no hope for their husbands and sons. “The Saturday victims included: Dr. Dowid Kagan, pediatrician, and his elder son, Lola; Mojsze Zabludowski, instructor at the Hebrew Gymnasium; Pynchos Wajnrajch; Jerachmiel Lewin; A. Szliaser and his son; Meir Ajnsztejn; Dowid Kriwiaticki; Mordechaj Okun, a 16-year-old; Doniel Frank of Kowno, whole- sale cigar dealer; Rozenberg, realtor from Bielsk; Rozental with his two sons and two sons-in-law; the four Kaszicer brothers; Mojsze Farber, a weaver; Motl Makowski, an ordained rabbi; Mojsze Kramer, cop- persmith; Kapustin, a teacher from Zabludowa; Nochum Wilenski; Icze Kon, who worked at Malinjak’s formica factory; Grysze Halpern, the 16-year-old son of a feldsher [medic]; Gutman and his two sons who were students at the Hebrew Gymnasium; Ize Demoracki, bookbinder; Jakow Golombowicz, carpenter, who returned from Israel in 1938; Ch. Babicz, a tanner; Nichtfinster, a brushmaker; Kagan, a yeshiva instruc- tor, his son and grandchild; Mordechaj Saciler, princi- pal of Shalmei Emunah school, and his son; Jankl Fostat, carpenter; Szlojme Akronowicz, a tailor, and his cousin, Awreml Akronowicz, apprentice tailor; Judl Tankus; Ajzenberg from Luniniec; Lejb Jabka, tin- smith; Szlojme Motilski, a baker and his son, Jankl; Mojsze Faktor, a dairy merchant; Dr. Boris Pines, oph- thalmologist; Dr. Josef Welian; Dr. Jerenburg, dentist; Nochum Szmusz, an underground-pipes contractor; Mine Szmusz, kerosene salesman; Markuze, an 18-year- old; Bez, a 17-year-old weaver, Lejzer and Icze Gryn- Zwajg, weavers; Chaim and Motl Knyszinski, shoe- makers; Nochum Markman, water installations; Szmulke Szturmakewicz, an expert weaver; Diade Lew; Mot! Grosman, printer, Izak Lewin, a Sportsman; Mor- dechaj Nachimowski; Dr. Wilenski, engineer; Dr. Ger- szuni; Dr. Fiszer; Hemin, the medic’s 80-year-old father: Awrom Fiszer, Liowa Grynberg, sportswriter; Finja Fridman, a footfall player, and thousands more. 62 ‘Later the families of the victims formed their own committee, no longer having any confidence in the Judenrat. They made further collections of money, hop- ing that this might bring their loved ones back. It soon became apparent, however, that the situation was hope- less. The money was returned to the contributors. The ad hoc committee was dissolved. People feared, quite justifiably as it turned out, that this was just the begin- ning of a much worse future.”’ The ‘‘Saturday Martyrs’’ were never seen or heard from again. Pejsach Kaplan, the prominent author, cul- turalist and chronicler of the Bialystok Ghetto, com- posed a poem in memory of these victims titled, ‘“*Rivkele, the Victim of Saturday’’. The following is an English translation of this heartrending poem: PEJSACH KAPLAN RIVKELE THE SHABBOSDIKE Rivkele the victim of Saturday Is working in the factory, Twisting threads together, Fashioning a length of rope. Alas the somber ghetto Lasts too long And, with a heavy heart, I feel so sorry for her lot. Her devoted son Herszele Is gone, 1s no longer. Since that Saturday, Since that hour, Rivkele is in mourning, Crying day and night. And now she sits at her spinning wheel Bemused in deep thought. Where is my beloved son? Is he alive somewhere? Perhaps in a concentration camp, He works hard without rest. How bleak it must be for him there; How bitter it is for her here, Since that Saturday, Since that hour.... The above lyrics were sung by the Jews in the Bia- lystok ghetto during their worst oppression. It will always be remembered by survivors as a poignant elegy to the victims of that “Black Saturday.” The Bialystoker Memorial Book