Brothers For Resistance And Rescue By David Gur

Szilágyi TzviSzilágyi ErnőBorn in Kaposvár in 1898Died in Budapest in 1973Member of “Hashomer Hatzair” and the “Gordon Circle”Tzvi was one of the prominent figures in his movement. He was a scholarand graduated from several universities. He was an active Zionist.From 1937 to 1940 Tzvi was the head of the Keren Kayemet LeIsrael inBudapest. In 1939 he represented his movement in the Eretz-IsraelOffice. He worked with Ottó Komoly and Mihály Salomon. From 1943 hetook part in the activities of the Relief and Rescue Committee and wasthe vice-president of the Hungarian Zionist Association. Tzvi also tookpart in the debates about the rescue of Jews held by Joel Brand andIsrael Kasztner. He assisted in the selection of the passengers who leftHungary on 30.6.1944 on the Relief and Rescue Committee train. Tzviwas involved in the attempt to rescue Jews in Szeged by applying to theSS officer. As a result, part of the Jews who were taken to the Strasshofcamp were from Szeged. Szilágyi himself left Hungary on the Relief andRescue Committee train. After the war Tzvi returned to Hungary but didnot take part in Zionist activities. He worked as a bookkeeper in one ofthe institutes of higher education and in 1958 he retired. In 1970 Tzviintended to make aliya and a suitable apartment was even made readyfor him in Kibbutz Ein Dor with the help of Arie Ya’ari. However, in theend he changed his mind.Szirtes LevSzirtes LajosBorn in Bácskatopolya in 1920Died in 1943Member of “Hashomer Hatzair”Lev was a member of the Újvidék (Novi Sad) ken. At the beginning of theHungarian invasion in 1941 he took part in the anti-fascist movement. Hewas enlisted in a forced labor unit. His death place is unknown.Brothers for Resistance and Rescue 238