Bubbe's Place: Stories

Zionism

Sonya was a strong advocate of Zionism. In Tarashta she helped organize a Zionist group with 28 members. After the Revolution the government gave houses and land to the collectives. The Zionist group applied as a commune. They were given a house with a garden and five acres on the outskirts of the city.

Eight boys moved into the house. Girls had a harder time. Pious parents were shocked by the idea of girls living in a commune. Sonya was the first girl to agree to live in the Zionist House. She was nineteen and independent. Her mother was dead. Her father had remarried and moved away. She was living with her widowed sister Yetta. There was no one to restrain her. Her girlfriends were not as free. Their parents were pious. They raised many objections. "What will the neighbors think? A daughter lives at home until she goes to the marriage canopy."

The girls pleaded and argued. When a girl's parents appeared to waver, she announced, "Sonya, the daughter of Shlomo Gubenko, is moving into Zionist House." Finally, there were four girls to move into the Zionist House.

During the days they farmed their five acres. At night they had discussions and studied Hebrew. An informer reported them to the police. It was illegal to study Hebrew and be a Zionist. These activities were considered counter-revolutionary. He gave the names of the leaders to the police. Sonya and three boys were arrested and imprisoned. The police demanded that they sign a paper that promised that they would not study Zionism or Hebrew. They refused. The three boys were locked in one cell. Sonya was put in a cell with two women who had each committed a murder.

The cell was dark and dank. There were wooden benches to sit and sleep on. In the corner there was a chamber pot. Twice a day they were allowed out for a little exercise. At these times the boys would tell Sonya, "Don't sign. Stand strong."

Everyday Yetta and Genesee would sit outside the jail with their young children, pleading with the men who went in and out, to save their little sister. Yetta, Genesse, and their friends brought the Zionist prisoners food.

After two weeks, when they still refused to sign, the authorities sent the incorrigibles to jail in Kiev. The jailers rode horses. Accompanying them were two guards with horses and a wagon. The unrepentant Zionists had to walk. They walked about 85 miles to their new jail cells.

In Kieve they were again ordered to sign the paper that promised that they would not study Zionism or Hebrew. "Sign or you will be sent to Siberia!" they were told. Soon the leaders of the Zionist movement in Kiev sent a messenger to their cells and urged them to sign the papers and save their lives.

Chastised and frightened, the four young people agreed to sign the papers. Sonya returned to Tarashta and her sisters. She was determined to leave Russia with her sisters and their children.