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Luboml was a Zionist town. Among the youth
there was a general feeling and longing for Zion.
The adults of the town also longed for Zion,
though they did it silently. There were no anti-
Zionist organizations in Luboml, and if there
were signs of opposition to the movement, it was
only because it was a secular movement. In this
environment, which was sympathetic to the Zionist
cause and in which a great interest was
Yitshak Shapira, teacher of Jewish religion in the
Polish school, the first leader of Beitar in Luboml. (The
picture was taken in 1929.)
expressed in what was going on in Eretz Yisroel,
the anti-Jewish Arab riots that occurred in Palestine
in 1929 resulted in a psychological crisis
among the youth of our town. They asked if it was
possible that even in Eretz Yisroel Jews would be
victims of riots and pogroms. "Is it toward this
end that we are rebuilding our Jewish homeland?"
The answer to this question was obvious.
It presented itself in the form of a new Zionist
BEITAR IN LUBOML
By Yakov Hetman
214
youth movement called Beitar, "The Trumpeldor
Alliance" (Brit Trumpledor) ,whose motto stood
for activism and legionism.
Until it was established in Luboml, people
read about this movement in the newspaper.
Nevertheless, even those who were sympathizers
of the movement did not do a thing. They just
remained sympathizers. However, the news of
the 1929 riots aroused the youth and caused a real
revolution. Many of Luboml's youththose who
were organized and those who were notjoined
Beitar. Overnight, Beitar became a mass youth
movement.
As a young boy, I was the secretary of
HeChalutz HaTsair (Young Pioneers), and I remember
how all the members of the secretariat
decided to join Beitar. Almost all the rest of the
HeChalutz members joined us in enlisting in
Beitar, with the exception of the adult counselors
and a group of educated, well-bred girls. This
group of girls served later as the founders of the
reestablished HeChalutz HaTsair. They, among
others, did not and could not subscribe to the
military spirit and drastic disciplinary measures
instituted by Beitar.
The founding of Beitar in Luboml began at a
rally. This rally left a tremendous impression on
the population of Luboml and brought out the
special qualities of the new movement. The adult
promoters of Beitar invited a branch of the movement,
from Hrubyeshov, which was near Lublin,
to visit the town. These members appeared in
Luboml wearing uniforms and, most importantly,
armed with rifles. A brass band marched
at the front of the procession.
It is difficult to describe the strong impression
that this "Jewish army" made on us. It was