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138 LUBOML
telegram bore important information directed at
the entire community.
The train would slowly enter the station at the
edge of the town. Then it would apply its brakes
with a deafening, shrieking noise and eventually
stop at the entrance of a wooden building, painted
green, on which it said "Luboml" in Polish.
Most of the time, cargo from the trains was
distributed among the town's merchants. Then
the train would return, carrying few passengers.
During certain seasons the merchants would
send out freight trains full of crops and cattle.
Sometimes a traveling salesman would be
sent to the town. This man would stay at
Tseylingold's Inn or in a furnished room provided
by Kaminer. Where he stayed was determined
by the coachman who brought him to
Luboml. Only on the evening of certain holidays
and during the week of certain holidays was
there any real use of the train in and out of Luboml.
Single men from Luboml would travel to neighboring
or distant towns to look for mates. Also,
many bachelors came to Luboml looking for
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A view of the market square on a market day, 1926.
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spouses because our town was not lacking in
pretty young women. Unfortunately, many of
them were without a dowry.
The plain folks made their way in wagonsgoing
on the holidays to visit the rebbe and ask for
a blessing and during the summer vacation to visit
their rich uncles.
I left Luboml on the train to serve in the
Russian army. It never occurred to me that this
would be the last time I saw my hometown and its
Jewish citizens.
On the Ruins
It was midnight when I jumped from a freight
train that had slowed down by the railroad
station of Luboml. It was five years since I had
last seen my hometown; five years since I was
escorted by my family to the train station on my
way to serve in the Red Army. This time I stood on
that same platform all alone and not one person
came to welcome me home.
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