Brothers for Resistance and Rescue 1 - CENDO

UNDERGROUND ACTIVISTS
NAMES AND BIOGRAPHIES
Adler Betzalel
Born in Irhóc (Vilhivci) on 9.5.1924
Died on 12.7.1988
Member of "Dror Habonim"
Lacking Hungarian citizenship, the Adler family was deported in 1941 to
Kamenetz-Podolsk. The family survived the massacre of Jews which took
place there, returned to Irhóc and Betzalel joined the "Hehalutz Hatzair"
movement. In 1942 he arrived in Budapest and became active in the then
outlawed "Dror" movement. In 1944 Betzalel underwent weapons
training. He obtained authentic Aryan papers and legally registered in a
police station. Under Neshka Goldfarb's guidance, he went on missions
to provincial towns and forced labor camps, where his fellow members
were being held, to supply them with documents and money, thus
facilitating their escape. He also supplied equipment for members who
were supposed to cross the border into Romania by means of the tiyul.
Upon the rise to power of the Arrow Cross Party on October 15 th , 1944,
Betzalel started wearing the fascist party uniform. Together with Patyu–
Martin Weingarten (Mordehai Karmi), he rescued Ephra Agmon and
Joseph Meir from being lynched by a crowd on Népszínház Street. He
participated in the establishment of bunkers, served as a liaison officer
and, riding a motorcycle, he supplied food to those hiding in the bunkers.
Betzalel rescued a group of Jews who were being taken by fascists for
execution on the banks of the Danube. He was caught and taken to the
Arrow Cross headquarters on Andrássi Street 60, where he was brutally
tortured but managed to escape. He was eyewitness to the capture of
Neshka, Zvi Goldfarb, and Vili Eisikovics in December 1944.
After the liberation in January 1945, he was instructed by his movement
to volunteer for service in the Red Army. In 1948 he was demobilized with
the rank of lieutenant. From 1951 he lived in Germany where he died.
Betzalel is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Brothers for Resistance and Rescue 30