Chelm & Surroundings – Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates

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Birth Certificate of Shmuel Ziegelboim (son of Avraham). Original in Polish. View the translation.

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Marriage Certificate of Avramel Ziegelbaum  (to his second wife). Shows the names of his parents, where they lived, and their occupations at that time. View the Russian translation.

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List of documents in the Chelm Archives. Shows the names of Shmuel’s family etc.

“Anu Banu Artza”  - We came to the land of Israel

Immigration of holocaust survivors (written by Uri Egozi)

A few words of introduction: The first generation of immigrants who arrived from the Diaspora, after having survived the holocaust had papers and documents of a unique nature, which should interest the younger generation, the “sabras”. The story of the immigration, with all its problems, can be told by means of the papers and documents. This should be valuable in the future to the youngsters when they have to prepare their “roots” project.

Documents issued in the displacement camps in Germany, in 1948:

Document – Immigrant Census Certificate from the Jewish Agency for Israel.

This document had dual significance:

1. To find out which of the displaced persons intended to emigrate to Israel, and which of them intended to travel to America.

2.   This document gave the displaced persons a new identity. They were previously Polish citizens but this was over. They did not want Polish citizenship and Poland did not want them. Also, Poland had turned communist, and they had had enough of the communism they had encountered in Russia. They were guests in Russia, without citizenship, and in any case they quickly left. In Germany they had refugee status, without citizenship, and Germany at that time was not a State but was divided into four occupied sections. They were refugees in the American/British section of Germany. They had no citizenship and no identity - “human dust”. The Jewish State had not yet been established, this would happen six weeks later. The Jewish Agency arrived and gave them an identity. “You are part of a nation. You are destined for the State of Israel when it will be established, and when it will be possible to emigrate there”. This document has interesting details. Each word is very meaningful. This document was given to them in Germany, before they emigrated to Israel.

Document – Financial donation to the fundraising campaign of the Fighting Nation.

Despite the fact that they were refugees and penniless, and they did not have enough money to buy a pair of shoes, they contributed to Jewish settlement in the State. This was a fund-raising campaign in the land of Israel but the refugees in Germany were called upon to participate. On the one hand it is a pity that money was taken from them but on the other hand it gave them a feeling of belonging. No longer “human dust” but part of a nation. This gave them a new identity, instead of them being previously Poles or strangers – Russian residents – they became part of the body that would build the Jewish State.

Document – “Teudat Oleh” – Immigrant Certificate.

This document was given to them upon their arrival in Israel, by the Jewish Agency – Absorption department. The details in the document are fascinating: rubberstamp of the Pardes Hana transit camp; the Talpiot transit camp; names of relation in Israel: Yehoshua Krotman; a list recording 4 blankets and 4 sheets; the name of the ship etc.

Memorial Groves – Keren Kayemet LeIsrael Certificates

 Impressive Certificate shows that Doba Buchstein donated a grove of 33 trees in the “Poland Forest” in the hills of Jerusalem, in memory of the Krotman, Zigelboim and Kornfeld families. A page is attached with the names of those who died in the holocaust.

Certificate for 5 trees, planted in memory of Shmuel Buchstein.

Interesting certificate (torn), issued by the Keren Kayemet in Germany. It shows that Shmuel Buchstein planted a tree in the Polish victims section, in the grove of the city of  Krasnystaw, in memory of his mother, Beila. The Keren Kayemet took money from the poor displaced persons by appealing to their most sensitive heartstrings. However, as aforementioned, this did help to give them a new identity and also to commemorate their lost loved ones.

“Ketubot” - Marriage Certificates

Ketuba of Doba & Shmuel Buchstein. This document traveled from Poland, crossed the Soviet Union, traveled through Siberia, returned to Poland, to Germany, and finally – to Jerusalem. This Ketuba was folded up small and hidden; from fear of confiscation by the authorities. Today it is framed and displayed in the home of Hana & Uri Egozi.

Other Documents

A poem (in Yiddish), written by Yoske Zigelboim, father of Shmuel, Arthur Zigelboim.

Drawing of a tombstone located in the Holon cemetery, that says that under the tombstone are ashes of the martyrs of Rejowiec, who perished in the holocaust (very impressive).