Declaration in 1917, when my mother donated her gold earrings to the Zionist cause. I have vivid recollections of attending the first school in which Hebrew was the language of instruc- tion, which opened in 1918, one day after the end of the German occupation and the creation of the new independent Poland. I remember my first membership in a Zionist club at our school. I treasure the notebooks of my history and geo- graphy courses and my Hebrew songbook. The well-known teachers Lejb Fajans and Mojsze Lewin were translating Russian books into Hebrew, since there were no Hebrew texts. In 1920, during the war between Poland and Com- munist Russia, my brother Kalman (Charles), while still in U.S. Army uniform, came to Bia- lystok and luckily we followed his advice and arrived at Ellis Island in N.Y. on January 1, 1921. In my later years, in the 1960’s and 70’s, I visited Israel and met teachers and many stu- dents of our class who emigrated there. I wish to impart a message and an appeal to the younger, English readers of this memori- ial volume. You, the second generation, chil- dren of Bialystoker parents, are our link to the future. We invested much time and effort to enable you to read about the heritage of our beloved birthplace in your own language. There is much in these pages that will inspire you, affect the way you think and feel for the rest of your lives. You will acquire an enhanced sense of your origins and thereby a richer con- cept of your identity. I hope you will have a clearer view of the direction your lives will take, as you embark upon the 2151 century. That 1s my message. I also appeal to you to serve as the vehicle for your parents’ immortality. There is much in our experience, particularly as Bialystokers, that will have meaning for you. Don’t let apathy finish what Hitler started — to eradicate the history and culture of our Jewish people. Let Bialystok and all that it meant to us live on through you and your children. Bialystok now has over 268,000 inhabi- tants -- seven are Jews. Its_ historical significance to Jewish life has come to an end. It is now just another page of our people’s history. You will find Bialystokers in every corner of the world, continuing in the spirit of their birthplace. This book represents my promise and hope for future generations to be mindful of their loss and proud of. their heritage. Max Ratner Cleveland, Ohio