‘ments of law, there may be found a small message in Polish, while the rest is in the Yiddish jargon printed in gigantic letters.” Bialystoker Jews paid little attention to these trans- parent instigations, whose sole motive was jealousy. Once again, however, Jewish Bialystok carried out a campaign for political rights, for easing the economic burden and satisfying the cultural needs of the Jewish population. Yiddish theater announcements did not disappear from the streets of Bialystok. In fact, the popularity of the Yiddish language, resurrected through Yiddish theater, stimulated the demand that foreign films con- tain Yiddish subtitles. Bialystok produced a significant number of its own actors and entertainers: Jehuda Grynhojz, Isroel Beker, actor and director of Habimah National Theater in Israel; Jakow Suzanowicz, Zalmen Kolesznikow, Renje Glikman, Ester Zewkina, Isroel Birnboym, Szymon Osowicki, Izchok Gelczynski, Nina Sibircowa and oth- ers. In the late 1920’s a small Yiddish theater troupe named Gilah Rinah was established, funded by the Linas Hatzedek (charity institution) in Bialystok. Its founders were Wiktor Bubrik and Tepicer. Its first programs consisted of Russian comedy, translated into Yiddish by: Pejsach Kaplan, Mend! Goldman, Sztejnsapir and others. The musical director was M. Szaberman, the art director, Rozenecki. This company came to enjoy much success, specializing in original Yiddish repertoire and songs, and avoiding translations from other languages. In the early 1930’s, three leading figures in the Yid- dish theater movement in Bialystok, Jehuda Grynhojz, Szeftel Zak and Hersz Flojm, organized a permanent cooperative troupe at the Palace Theater, which rou- tinely invited guest stars. This company stayed in Bia- lystok for eight years, also entertaining in approximately twenty towns and villages in surround- ing provinces. Particularly during its first season, 1931-32, the company was quite successful. A committee known as “Friends of Yiddish Theater’ was formed. One of the long-time members of the Bialystok Municipal Council, Binjomin Tabaczynski, after great efforts obtained sev- eral subsidies for the troupe as well as a tax reduction from the local government. This significantly improved the financial condition of the Bialystok Cooperative Theater Company. Bialystok, being a relatively smaller city, had to depend on artists from larger communities in order to generate a diversified repertoire. For this reason, Bia- lystoker Jews were fortunate in having some of the best performers appear in their theater including: Ajzik Samberg, Zygmunt Turkow, Ida Kaminska, Jonas Tur- kow, Dyana Blumenfeld, Cyli Adler, Kurt Kacz, Dina Halperin, Sam Bronecki, Moris Lampe, Roz Szoszana, Simche Natan, Maurice Schwartz, Dowid Zajderman, Chana Lerner, 5. Goldberg, Szlojme Prizament, Gizi Hajdn, Wiera Kaniewska, Pol Brajtman, Regina Cuker, Karl Cymbalist, Drzeni Lowicz, Chaim Lewin, Ben-Cion Witler, Jack Rechtzeit, Irving Jacobson, Pejsachke Bursztejn, Aleksander Gornach, Ana and Hajmi Jaku- bowicz, and others. The Jewish press in Bialystok and at large warmly received the permanent ensemble, gratifying not only our city but also the towns surrounding it. After the Soviet occupation in World War II, the state-run Yiddish theater got off to a promising start in the Palace. In June 1941, when this company traveled outside Bialystok for summer stock, its future was shor- tened by the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Women of Bialystoker Jewish Aristocracy SARAH RYBALOWSKI Known as “Sarah from the Railroad.” She was the owner of the hotel near the station; well-known for her many charities and good deeds; died in 34 SARAH TZIVYA RAPOPORT A beloved personality and famous for her kindness and charitable good deeds to the poor and unfortunate. She was the wife of the famous 1925. citizen and scholar, Abraham Zalman Rapoport, and the mother of the writer, I. Rapoport. FEIGELE GORDON Socialite and wife of the well-to-do Reb Mordecai Gordon. She was known for her kindness and charitable deeds. The Bialystoker Memorial Book