ZWI KLEMENTYNOWSKI THE LAST KEHILLAIN BIALYSTOK (Editor’s note: Our worthy Bialystoker /andsman, Zwi Klementynowski, serving today as a prominent lawyer in Israel, is well known as a leader in Zionist and other circles. He is highly regarded by Bialystoker Jews. One of the tireless leaders of the /rgun Yotzei Bialystok in Israel, he was chairman of the final Jewish Kehilla in Bialystok before the outbreak of World War IT. He was also elected a councilman in the last Bialystok Munici- pal Council, shortly before the war. When the Soviets occupied Bialystok at the beginning of the war, Mr. Klementynowski fled to Lithuania. After a period of wandering and dislocation, he reached Israel in 1941.) When Poland assumed Jurisdiction in Bialystok after World War I, the government granted the Jewish Kehilla religious autonomy. Consequently, the Kehilla became the sole representative of the Jewish population in Bialystok and vicinity. The Kehilla had the right of self-government in religious affairs and was empowered to impose taxes on the Jewish population. Although the Kedhilla, according to law, was sup- posed to function solely as a religious body, the admin- istration broadened the definition of ‘“‘religious self-government,” extending its control over all the social, cultural and philanthropic interests of the Jewish community. In fact, it evolved into an important politi- cal organ. Whenever an issue arose of interest to the Jews of Bialystok, the Kehi/la became involved. To a great degree, this activity was encouraged by the fact that elections to the Kehilla were democratic — universal, direct and secret. During elections a strong campaign was waged among the various parties repre- senting all the political views of the Jewish populace. At meetings of the Kehilla Council all political issues of concern to Bialystok’s Jews were addressed. Our Kehilla administration also involved itself with Jewish educational institutions, the libraries, the Jewish Hospital, the charity organizations and other bodies. When a question arose about Jewish rights — such issues frequently came up — or the security of the Jews, the administration intervened. If needed, the Kehilla would send a delegation to the Municipal Council or even to the authorities in Warsaw. The Kehilla con- cerned itself as well with the interests of Jewish mer- chants, small businessmen and workers in the city. All Jews who paid their taxes were entitled to vote in the Kehilla elections, which in practice meant that virtually all Jews voted. The various political parties including the Zionists, Socialists and the religious groups, ran slates of candidates, as did commercial Organizations. The campaigns were always lively with many rallies and meetings. The Jewish newspapers con- ducted debates about the merits of the candidates and The Bialystoker Memorial Book platforms. The election for the last Jewish Kehilla in Bialystok took place in 1938. I still remember the dis- putes I had at the time with candidates of the Bund in the press and at public meetings. I was elected to the Kehilla Council, and then a second campaign began for Chairman. I was supported by the Zionist leaders for this position, as well as by representatives of economic organizations and the Poale Zion, and I won, thus accepting a tremendous responsi- bility. I intervened often with the Polish authorities, fighting for Jewish rights, protesting adverse edicts, demanding justice for our interests, as did every Jewish leader in prewar Poland. At that time, in addition to my posts as Council- man and Chairman of the Jewish Council in Bialystok, I served as the Chairman of the Zionist Organization. During the last winter of the Kehilla’s existence in 1938- 39, elections for the Bialystok Municipal Council were held. I was elected, together with the late Ruwen Nachumowskli, to the Municipal Council. We also had to fight for Jewish rights there. In the Council, two Jewish factions competed, the Zionists and the Bund. The last Kehilla in Bialystok made a major contri- bution to the Jewish community, fighting on many fronts for the benefit of its constituents within the town and in the surrounding communities. No one at that time dreamed that the horrific Holocaust was approaching — a deluge of blood, tears and annihila- tion, which brought upon our people unspeakable dev- astation. The existence of our Kehi/la, unfortunately, did not last long. World War II erupted, destroying everything in its wake. As the representative of the Kehilla 1 had many difficulties as the war began, partic- ularly when the Red Army marched into Bialystok in September 1939. RABBI GEDALJA ROZENMAN Chief Rabbi of Bialystok from 1920 to 1943; scholar and author of an important scientific book on shechitah; perished with all the Jews of the ghetto in 1943. 41