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Transformational advancements in technology in today's world are making it possible for data scientists to develop machines that think for themselves. Based on complex algorithms that can glean information from data, today's computers can use neural networks to mimic human brains, and make informed decisions based on the most likely scenarios. The immense possibilities that machine learning can unlock are fascinating, and with data exploding across all fields, it appears that in the near future Machine Learning will be the only viable alternative simply because there is nothing quite like it!
With so many opportunities on the horizon, a career as a Machine Learning Engineer can be both satisfying and rewarding. A good workshop, such as the one offered by KnowledgeHut, can lead you on the right path towards becoming a machine learning expert.
So what is Machine Learning? Machine learning is an application of Artificial Intelligence which trains computers and machines to predict outcomes based on examples and previous experiences, without the need of explicit programming.
Our Machine learning course will help you to master this science and understand Machine Learning algorithms, which include Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, Reinforcement Learning and Semi-supervised Learning algorithms. It will help you to understand and learn:
The Machine Learning Course with Python by KnowledgeHut is a 48 hour, instructor-led live training course, with 80 hours of MCQs and assignments. It also includes 45 hours of hands-on practical session, along with 10 live projects.
Our Machine Learning course with Python will help you get hands-on experience of the following:
Machine Learning is an application of Artificial Intelligence that allows machines and computers to learn automatically to predict outcomes from examples and experiences, without there being any need for explicit programming. As the name suggests, it gives machines and computers the ability to learn, making them similar to humans.
The concept of machine learning is quite simple. Instead of writing code, data is fed to a generic algorithm. The generic algorithm/machine will build a logic which will be based on the data provided. The provided data is termed as 'training data' as they are used to make decisions or predictions without any program to perform the task.
1) Stanford defines Machine Learning as:
"Machine learning is the science of getting computers to act without being explicitly programmed."
2) Nvidia defines Machine Learning as:
"Machine Learning at its most basic is the practice of using algorithms to parse data, learn from it, and then make a determination or prediction about something in the world."
3) McKinsey & Co. defines Machine Learning as:
"Machine learning is based on algorithms that can learn from data without relying on rules-based programming."
4) The University of Washington defines Machine Learning as:
"Machine learning algorithms can figure out how to perform important tasks by generalizing from examples."
5) Carnegie Mellon University defines Machine Learning as:
"The field of Machine Learning seeks to answer the question "How can we build computer systems that automatically improve with experience, and what are the fundamental laws that govern all learning processes?"
Today, algorithms of machine learning enable computers and machines to interact with humans, write and publish sport match reports, autonomously drive cars, and find terrorist suspects as well. Let's peek through the origins of machine learning and its recent milestones.
Alan Turing created a 'Turing Test' in order to determine if a computer has real intelligence. A computer should fool a human into believing that it is also a human to pass the test.
The first computer learning program was written by Arthur Samuel. The program was a game of checkers. The more that the IBM computer played the game, the more it improved at the game, as it studied the winning strategies and incorporated those moves into programs.
The first neural network for computers was designed by Frank Rosenblatt. It stimulates the thought process of the human brain.
The 'nearest neighbour' was written. It allowed computers to use basic pattern recognition.
Explanation-Based Learning was introduced, where a computer analyses the training data and creates a general rule which it can follow by discarding the unimportant data.
The approach towards the work on machine learning changes from a knowledge-driven approach to machine-driven approach. Programs were now created for computers to analyze a large amount of data and obtain conclusions from the results.
IBM's Deep Blue beat the world champion in a game of chess.
Geoffrey Hinton coined the term 'deep learning' that explained new algorithms that let the computer distinguish objects and texts in videos and images.
The Microsoft Kinect was released, which tracked 20 human features at a rate of 30 times per second. This allowed people to interact with computers via gestures and movements.
IBM's Watson beat its human competitors at Jeopardy.
Google Brain was developed. It discovered and categorized objects similar to the way a cat does.
Google's X Labs developed an algorithm that browsed YouTube videos and identified those videos that contained cats.
Facebook introduced DeepFace. It is an algorithm that recognizes and verifies individuals on photos.
Microsoft launched the Distributed Machine Learning Toolkit, which distributed machine learning problems across multiple computers.
An artificial intelligence algorithm by Google, AlphaGo, beat a professional player at a Chinese board game Go.
The algorithm of machine learning is trained using a training data set so that a model can be created. With the introduction of any new input data to the ML algorithm, a prediction is made based on the model.
The accuracy of the prediction is checked and if the accuracy is acceptable, the ML algorithm is deployed. For cases where accuracy is not acceptable, the Machine Learning algorithm is trained again with supplementary training data set.
There are various other factors and steps involved as well. This is just an example of the process.
Various industries work with Machine Learning technology and have recognized its value. It has helped and continues to help organisations to work in a more effective manner, as well as gain an advantage over their competitors.
Machine Learning technology is used in the financial industry due to two key reasons: to prevent fraud and to identify important insights in data. This helps them in deciding on investment opportunities, that is, helps the investors with the process of trading, as to identify clients with high-risk profiles.
Machine learning is finding varied uses in running government initiatives. It helps in detecting fraud and minimizes identity theft. It's also used to filter and identify citizen data.
Machine Learning in the health care sector has introduced wearable devices and sensors that use data to assess a patient's health in real time, which might lead to improved treatment or diagnosis.
There are numerous use cases for the oil and gas industry, and it continues to expand. A few of the use cases are: finding new energy sources, predicting refinery sensor failure, analyzing minerals in the ground, etc.
Websites use Machine Learning to recommend items that you might like to buy based on your purchase history.
Machine learning has transformed various sectors of industries including retail, healthcare, finance, etc. and continues to do so in other fields as well. Based on the current trends in technology, the following are a few predictions that have been made related to the future of Machine Learning.
Understand the behavior of data as you build significant models
Learn about the various libraries offered by Python to manipulate, preprocess and visualize data
Learn about Supervised and Unsupervised Machine Learning.
Learn to use optimization techniques to find the minimum error in your machine learning model
Learn various machine learning algorithms like KNN, Decision Trees, SVM, Clustering in detail
Learn the technique to reduce the number of variables using Feature Selection and Feature Extraction
Understand Neural Network and apply them to classify image and perform sentiment analysis
Learn to use multiple learning algorithms to obtain better predictive performance
For Machine Learning, it is important to have sufficient knowledge of at least one coding language. Python being a minimalistic and intuitive coding language becomes a perfect choice for beginners.
Sign up for this comprehensive course and learn from industry experts who will handhold you through your learning journey, and earn an industry-recognized Machine Learning Certification from KnowledgeHut upon successful completion of the Machine Learning course.
365 Days FREE Access to 100 e-Learning courses when you buy any course from us
Interact with instructors in real-time— listen, learn, question and apply. Our instructors are industry experts and deliver hands-on learning.
Our courseware is always current and updated with the latest tech advancements. Stay globally relevant and empower yourself with the training.
Learn theory backed by practical case studies, exercises and coding practice. Get skills and knowledge that can be effectively applied.
Learn from the best in the field. Our mentors are all experienced professionals in the fields they teach.
Learn concepts from scratch, and advance your learning through step-by-step guidance on tools and techniques.
Get reviews and feedback on your final projects from professional developers.
Hands-on: No hands-on
Hands-on: No hands-on
Hands-on: No hands-on
With attributes describing various aspects of residential homes, you are required to build a regression model to predict the property prices using optimization techniques like gradient descent.
This dataset classifies people described by a set of attributes as good or bad credit risks. Using logistic regression, build a model to predict good or bad customers to help the bank decide on granting loans to its customers.
Biodegradation is one of the major processes that determine the fate of chemicals in the environment. This Data set contains 41 attributes (molecular descriptors) to classify 1055 chemicals into 2 classes - biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Build Models to study the relationships between chemical structure and biodegradation of molecules and correctly classify if a chemical is biodegradable
In marketing, if you're trying to talk to everybody, you're not reaching anybody. This dataset has social posts of teen students. Based on this data, use K-Means clustering to group teen students into segments for targeted marketing campaigns.
Wine comes in various types. With the ingredient composition known, we can build a model to predict the Wine Quality using Decision Tree (Regression Trees).
Everything was well organized. I would definitely refer their courses to my peers as well. The customer support was very interactive. As a small suggestion to the trainer, it will be better if we have discussions in the end like Q&A sessions.
The instructor was very knowledgeable, the course was structured very well. I would like to sincerely thank the customer support team for extending their support at every step. They were always ready to help and smoothed out the whole process.
I would like to extend my appreciation for the support given throughout the training. My special thanks to the trainer for his dedication, and leading us through a difficult topic. KnowledgeHut is a great place to learn the skills that are coveted in the industry.
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I was totally impressed by the teaching methods followed by Knowledgehut. The trainer gave us tips and tricks throughout the training session. The training session gave me the confidence to do better in my job.
The hands-on sessions helped us understand the concepts thoroughly. Thanks to Knowledgehut. I really liked the way the trainer explained the concepts. He was very patient and well informed.
I am really happy with the trainer because the training session went beyond my expectations. Trainer has got in-depth knowledge and excellent communication skills. This training has actually prepared me for my future projects.
The Trainer at KnowledgeHut made sure to address all my doubts clearly. I was really impressed with the training and I was able to learn a lot of new things. I would certainly recommend it to my team.
Machine learning came into its own in the late 1990s, when data scientists hit upon the concept of training computers to think. Machine learning gives computers the capability to automatically learn from data without being explicitly programmed, and the capability of completing tasks on their own. This means in other words that these programs change their behaviour by learning from data. Machine learning enthusiasts are today among the most sought after professionals. Learn to build incredibly smart solutions that positively impact people's lives, and make businesses more efficient! With Payscale putting average salaries of Machine Learning engineers at $115,034, this is definitely the space you want to be in!
By the end of this course, you would have gained knowledge on the use of machine learning techniques using Python and be able to build applications models. This will help you land lucrative jobs as a Data Scientist.
There are no restrictions but participants would benefit if they have elementary programming knowledge and familiarity with statistics.
Yes, KnowledgeHut offers this training online.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a course completion certificate issued by KnowledgeHut.
Your instructors are Machine Learning experts who have years of industry experience.
Any registration cancelled within 48 hours of the initial registration will be refunded in FULL (please note that all cancellations will incur a 5% deduction in the refunded amount due to transactional costs applicable while refunding) Refunds will be processed within 30 days of receipt of written request for refund. Kindly go through our Refund Policy for more details.
KnowledgeHut offers a 100% money back guarantee if the candidate withdraws from the course right after the first session. To learn more about the 100% refund policy, visit our Refund Policy.
In an online classroom, students can log in at the scheduled time to a live learning environment which is led by an instructor. You can interact, communicate, view and discuss presentations, and engage with learning resources while working in groups, all in an online setting. Our instructors use an extensive set of collaboration tools and techniques which improves your online training experience.
Minimum Requirements: MAC OS or Windows with 8 GB RAM and i3 processor.
Machine Learning With Python Course in Noida
The tech capital of North India, Noida has grown from being 'just' a suburb of Delhi to a region that has benefited from government investments linked to promoting fin-tech giants. Currently, Noida is home to the branches of many Fortune 500 companies, especially in the IT sector. KnowledgeHut Academy has started Data Analysis using Python course in Noida, so as to help aspiring employees or students in IT who are aiming to become expert practitioners of data analysis practices.
What is this course all about?
Python has been a part of a quiet revolution in the field of computer programming, in recent years. The language is regarded as the best choice for serious programmers, owing to its flexibility and ease of use. Data analysis has also become an integral part of the current internet scenario, and this course goes through both of these topics as part of its curriculum. Students of the machine learning using Python in Noida are taught about Python packages like Scipy and Pandas, which are used in the field of data processing and analysis extensively. Benefits of the course: Data is the next big thing in IT, and the sheer amount of collected data would mean that experts of data analysis are in high demand in the computer sector. Data analysis training using Python in Noida has the capability to open a range of career opportunities for its students. It is an interesting piece of trivia to note that the average salary of a data scientist is quite high too.
The KnowledgeHut Way
The main advantage of machine learning training using python is the flexibility associated with it; students can schedule it according to their priorities with ease. The tutors of the course are proven experts in the field, so the students receive a real hands-on experience during the training itself.


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Information on COVID-19 for our merchants. Read more.
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Let your customers choose the way they want to pay. Whether it's via Chip and PIN, a tap of their card or phone, you'll never have to turn a customer away.
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View all of the products you've added to your catalogue. You can also add and edit the VAT rates for all of your products.
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Track sales and make taxes easy with personal revenue reports. Manage multiple employee accounts from one place.
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Keep track of your tips, handle cash payments, and send digital receipts all within the app.
When we created Air we selected the best components to make sure it is the most advanced in its category. Equipped with NFC, Bluetooth and an integrated Li-ion battery. Air sets the standard for mobile card terminals.
Free shipping within 2-3 business days. 30 day money-back guarantee.
*Price excluding VAT. 30-day-money-back-guarantee from date of delivery. Further conditions apply.

subset: commoncrawl


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Archaeologists plan dig at NY's 1755 battleground
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (AP) — An archaeological dig at a French and Indian War battleground in the southern Adirondacks has been given the green light.
Archaeologist David Starbuck says he has received permission from state officials to conduct excavations this summer in an area of Lake George Battlefield Park.
The park on the lake's southern shore was the site of the September 1755 Battle of Lake George. A force of Colonial American militia and Mohawk warriors defeated an army of French and Indians in one of the war's earliest battles.
The site to be excavated was the scene of extensive military activity throughout the Revolutionary War.
Starbuck leads summertime digs in the Lake George region as part of SUNY Adirondack's archaeology field school. His teams conducted digs in the battlefield park in 2000 and 2001.
News from The Associated Press, and a taste of the great journalism produced by AP members and customers. Managed 24/7 by these editors: apne.ws/APSocial Read more ›


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Dates to Remember
May 5th: Cinco de Mayo
May 14th: Mother's Day
May 8th - May 19th: Parent Conferences
May 25th: Moving On Celebration
May 26th: Last Day for VPK
May 29th: Memorial Day. Center closed
Parent Reminders
The Children's Learning Center at FSW News
Remember that Mother's Day is Sunday May 14th. Make sure you make her day extra special.
A mother holds a special place in the hearts and minds of her children. Mother's Day is May 14th and there is no better way to celebrate than with the whole family.
We're sure sleeping in on Mother's Day sounds nice and that having some alone time can make for an enjoyable day. But doesn't it sound like a better idea to make this holiday a family day? We encourage you to get outside and spend some quality time with your kids and loved ones.
The center was awarded a Safe Sleep Certification on April 24, 2017. All teachers/staff have completed Safe Sleep/SIDS questionnaires and on-line training.
Parent Conferences are scheduled for May 8 through May 19, 2017. Sign-up sheets can be found outside your child's classroom. This is a good opportunity for you and your child's teacher to discuss the progress your child has made this school year. This is especially important for VPK children who are moving onto Kindergarten.
There will be a "Moving On Celebration" for the children going to Kindergarten. It will be held on Thursday, May 25 at 10:30am. The celebration will be held on the center's playground. (Bring your own chair.)
Light refreshments will be served.
What are your child's plans for the summer? Will he/she be attending the center with the same schedule? Do you have a vacation planned? Please let Ms. Andrea or Ms. Martha know your plans so that we are able to schedule teacher's vacations, as well as plan for food for the children.
VPK children and School agers have been sent a Weekly Summer Camp schedule. We have asked that they be returned by April 28, 2017.
1. First peel the bananas and cut them into thirds.
2. Then dump some cereal onto your wax paper, smear the bananas in peanut butter, and roll the peanut butter bananas in the cereal. That's it! You're done!
Another great way to stay connected is our Facebook page. If you have a personal Facebook page, find our page…….The Children's Learning Center at FSW…… and LIKE it. Now you will be able to see activities around the center or perhaps even your child.
Monday, May 29th: The center will be CLOSED for Memorial Day.
"On Memorial Day we celebrate all American soldiers in a day of remembrance."
Our Friendly Teachers
Blue Room: Ms. Ally & Ms. Varinia
Yellow Room: Ms. Diane & Ms. Nicole
Red Room: Ms. Stephanie & Ms. Cookie
Purple Room: Ms. Jessica & Ms. Tanzie
Coral Room: Ms. Jenna
Teal Room: Ms. Julie & Ms. Chandra
Thank you teachers for all you do!
Child Care of Southwest Florida 6831 Palisades Park Ct. Suite 6 Fort Myers, Florida 33912 You received this email because your child is enrolled at one of the Child Care Centers of Southwest Florida. Our 6 locations: The Children's Learning Center at FSW | Joseph H. Messina Child Care Center | P.A. Geraci Development Center | The Community Children's Center | Children's Garden of LaBelle | Harlem Academy Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails


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hm. whenever there is money spent by the government, someone will find a way to divert it into his own pocket. Tesla's decision to sell its vehicles not via dealers comes into new light...
My thoughts exactly. Volts also sell quite poorly. Much less than I expected. Maybe it is the looks of the car (it is ugly) but that doesn't explain why Leaf then does sell (it is even uglier).
Curious about your comments on the Volt. In NE TN we are not yet offically allowed to have Volts but a local dealer traded for two of them and sold them both for full stick within hours of getting them.
I had a chance to drive one and while it is no Tesla I thought it performed quite well as an economy car. It was MUCH better appointed, comfortable and quieter than our Prius.
At this stage in the game I am encouraging ANY electric. We need them all to get the infrastructure in.
In Spokane, WA:
I talked to a Chevy dealer a few weeks ago, and Washington wasn't on the original list for Volts.
He said they wouldn't be getting any in until September.
The Nissan dealer also said they wouldn't have any, and that all sales were online.
Of course, I want a Model S.
I just have to convince my wife.
It doesn't matter where the money comes from, gov't or otherwise. There's always an asshole somewhere waiting for an opportunity to screw over as many people as possible for his/her personal gain.
I've read conflicting reports on the Volt sales issue. The "poor sales" in the US seem to be a combination of:
a) no vehicles to sell due to low manufacturing volume and sales limited to few markets;
b) dealerships charging more than MSRP; and
c) dealerships selling them "used" as noted in this post.
None suggest insufficient demand for the car. I haven't heard of any polls or such that shows demand for Volts in the US being close to, or lower than, the number of Volts currently being produced.
In fact, the reports of these dealerships doing what they've done proves that demand is high - they wouldn't ask for more than MSRP if nobody wanted them; they wouldn't pull this "used" stunt if there was insufficient demand to guarantee sales.
In this "information age", no-one can profess to know of every legitimate documented study, press release, poll, etc. If anybody has reliable sources of information to add to, or contradict, my three-point list above, I'd be interested to know. I don't really care since I have no power and I'm not planning on buying one - just curiosity and fodder for this thread.
I really detest the classic care sales model. I'm so glad that Tesla is keeping their dealerships in house.
As usual, not well-considered law provides for unexpected and negative side effects. I swear, I sometimes think a 7 year old
could do better at making laws. I remember a study years ago that
did what the govt never does - follow up on results of their laws. It was appalling - most laws don't come close to achieving their stated purpose and a large number had unexpected consequences.
The Volt sales numbers seem to be very weird. We know that Nissan has plenty of buyers and can't produce them in the volume they had
expected, apparently for several reasons, one being a lot of
engineering goofs. Nissan was quite embarrassed about those.
But the Volt numbers don't make much sense - GM keeps talking about ramping up to a gazillion per year, but only seems to sell a few hundred a month. They had plenty of folks on their waiting lists, so I have no clue what's going on there. And today I read a story in one of the gas guzzling websites (jalopnik) that claims that electric cars are hard to build and should be left to the pros (you,know, like the recently bankrupted GM or Chrysler).
As if GM had 10% of the knowledge of Tesla.


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Kana Okada
This is a clever combination of steak au poivre and Stroganoff.
- Yield
- Makes 4 servings
- Active Time
- 30 minutes
- Total Time
- 30 minutes
- 1 tablespoon coarsely ground peppercorn melange* or black pepper
- 3 8-ounce beef tenderloin steaks
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 8 ounces crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, halved or quartered if large
- 1 1/4 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Cognac or brandy
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 8.8-ounce package wide egg noodles (such as De Cecco)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
- * A mixture of black, pink, green, and white peppercorns; available at many supermarkets.
- Sprinkle pepper melange and salt over both sides of steaks; press to adhere. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks; cook to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer beef to plate; tent with foil. Add 1 tablespoon oil and mushrooms to same skillet; sauté until browned, about 4 minutes. Add broth and Cognac; boil 2 minutes. Add cream; boil until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Whisk in mustard.
- Meanwhile, cook noodles in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Return to pot; toss with parsley and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among plates. Slice steaks; place atop noodles. Spoon sauce over.


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How to Subscribe to the Publib Listserve
The recent migration of Publib to OCLC resulted in a non-intuitive subscription process. As of the time of this posting, the module is incorrectly configured and Publib archives are in a private area. The following steps are a work-around that will allow new subscribers to register. These steps should also make it apparent how to access the archives.
Update – Jan 15, 2012: The following process provided by OCLC will allow new subscribers to register without using the steps below for the GUI:
From the email address you wish to use for your interaction with the list, send an email to: firstname.lastname@example.com and put subscribe publib in the body. You can put this in the subject line as well, but it is not required. (Note from editor: leave subject line blank OR put subscribe publib in it)
Step 1.
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Step 8.
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Please join us on BestofPublib Facebook
The Publib Archives
The Publib archives from the Webjunction listserve are available here: Archives
Archives compiled after Dec. 7, 2011 are available here: Archives
Filed under: Administration, Public Services, Questions unanswered, Software, Technical Services, Technology, Web 2.0 / 3.0 | Tagged: Archives, listserve, OCLC, publib, Subscription | 5 Comments »


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Registration Worksheet
Alternate PIN: __________________________________
Note: Not all students are required to use an alternate PIN. See the Banner self-service section for details.
Referring to Class Search, Banner Self-Service, and MyMcNeese Portal, record the course reference numbers of the courses being added or dropped in the table below. Alternate courses should also be listed in case a course is closed or cancelled.
|5-Digit CRN
|Subject Abbr. & No.
|Section Credit Hrs.
|Day & Time
|Bldg. & Room


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Stendhal Syndrome occurs when a person is in the presence of artwork that literally overwhelms the viewer, causing symptoms of dizziness, hallucinations, delirium, rapid heart beat, and occasionally fainting.
The syndrome was named after Stendhal (the pen name for Henri-Marie Beyle) a French author who experienced the syndrome during a visit to Florence, Italy.
In novels, Stendhal Syndrome has been seen in:
Astoria, by Robert Viscusi
The Importance of Being Seven, by Alexander McCall Smith
among others.
It can also occur when viewing beauty in the natural world.
So, okay. Some people have blamed the reaction by the infamous Double Rainbow video guy on Stendhal Syndrome.
Others have blamed...er...more illicit causes.
You be the judge.
Have you ever experienced Stendhal Syndrome?


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[Page 518]
Edited by Dale Rosengarten, great-niece of the author.
In Kryvitsh for a Hearing
Four months had passed since the day I was brought into the prison at Vilayke, and I am still sitting there Could they have forgotten about me? Oh, no. They never forget That is out of the question! Since that time, I have heard nothing and know not a thing about the fate of my wife and children. Who knows, who can know? Surely, it must be very hard on Hannah Children miss their father, and become obliged to take his place.
One night late after midnight I was called out of my cell. I was told to take with me everything I had in the cell, and was led out. I noticed four men standing facing the wall: One of them was Jacob Katzovitch, whom I recognized at once. They led us right to the iron gate, which opened for us and soon we were outside the prison walls. I walked beside Jacob. We were accompanied by an armed convoy, led by one of the guards a young Jewish boy from Kryvitsh, Abraham Zilbergleyt. Avreml (this is how we used to call him back home) was most cordial to us, walking calmly beside us. I whispered to him: Avreml, where are they taking us this time? He whispered his reply: To Kryvitch for a hearing. This news made us a bit more cheerful. A warm hope nourished us: Perhaps we might even be able to catch a glimpse of our dear ones, our family members in our home town .
We reached the Vilayke train station. We were immediately pushed over into a corner to keep us away from everybody else. It was three o'clock in the morning. The station was filled with people travelers and wayfarers. Several Christian women recognized me immediately and some even began to cry. Looking at me with questioning glances, as if to say, Do you need anything? I motioned that I could use a cigarette, but they thought I meant food. One of them immediately ran to the buffet and bought me a roll which she tossed to me from a distance, since they were not permitted to get close to us. Again I indicated that it was a cigarette that I wanted, and pretty soon, a pack of cigarettes was tossed in our direction.
Among those onlookers, there were some who knew that living quite close to the railroad station, lived my niece (also my sister-in-law) she had married my wife's brother Shosha. They notified her without delay, so that within the half hour, Shosha arrived on the scene with a quart of warm milk and some white bread. It was enough for all of us.
Soon we were herded onto a separate railroad car, and the train began to move. On the platform, stood my niece, Shosha, weeping.
Only a half hour later, we arrived at the Kryvitsh station. Now a convoy would be taking us in to the town, a distance of approximately three kilometers. The early morning light had appeared. Men, women, and children were already leading their cattle and livestock to pasture. We were exhausted, pale and weak. As for how we looked may it be said of the enemies of Israel, wherever they may be in all the world! like the downtrodden that we were, with our sorrowful faces, our badly creased clothes which had served us as bedding on the cement floors which were our beds gave us the kind of appearance .
The news of our arrival swept the town from mouth to mouth that we had arrived under lock and key, by the military. We were put away securely, with the windows boarded over. But we managed to see something through the cracks in the boards. You can imagine how Jacob and I never budged from the spot, straining our eyes and sharpening our glances so that not even a shadow could go by unnoticed
Pretty soon, Jacob's children passed by as though they had an urgent errand in the vicinity, and soon, they were back again, as though they had forgotten something important. They feigned all of this, of course, so that the military would not notice them and become suspicious.
They kept passing back and forth hoping for a glimpse, but in vain. We saw them, but they could not see us in spite of all their efforts. The same happened with my own children. They passed by several times. Yes, I saw them, but the poor things could not get a glimpse of me.
Our cell window, which permitted us to look out, faced the street. On the opposite side, stood my house, which had been appropriated by the N.K.V.D. for use by their officials and personnel. The house next to it had been Gnesye's, my older sister's, where she had lived together with her family members. My two younger children, one around ten, and the little one, Haym, two and a half, sat on the steps of that house for hours at a time, straining for a glimpse of me, even if only for a second . Much as they wished with all their hearts to see me, I, still more, yearned to be able to appear before them.
After a while, I felt I could no longer tolerate it, with their intense longing to see me setting fire to me. I asked one of the guards to take me out of doors for personal necessities. This ruse made it possible, at least, for them to catch a peek at me Until this day, I am caressed by those loving glances of theirs All the more, since our bitter fate decreed that those glances were to be our last farewell, separating us forever .
Ten days passed in this way. During the day, in the stuffy, locked cell, the heat was insufferable. At night, trying to get some sleep out of exhaustion, we would be dragged out several times a night for interrogation regarding a kind of third-degree investigation about our so-called sins. It was a malevolent black comedy played for effect.
The N.K.V.D. chief himself handled my case personally great criminal that I was, no one else could be trusted with it. I'll crack this tough nut myself! he boasted. At our first interview, he bestowed on me his three-fold Russian blessing in his own special manner, with an additional insult regarding my Jewish chin. In a biting tone, filled with venomous irony, and with murder in his eyes, he asked, Well, my dear friend, do you feel at home in your old house? I remained silent and did not answer him. This fired him up even more. Again followed a succession of incomparable Russian blessings with chin-swipes and many colorful insults and curses all in order to hurt me more and more.
Speak to the point I have heard those friendly blessings of yours before, I was courageous enough to say. Ask me questions, and I will answer them.
How did you treat your employees? What kind of relations did you have with your workers, and they with you?
This is something you should ask them, I replied.
I asked you, you Jewish impertinence! You will answer!
Isn't their response sufficient? Is it so hard to believe them? Ask them .
And how did you handle people when you were chairman of the folk-treasury, the Free Loan Society?
I did so properly, humanely, and honorably, I replied.
Thus went his line of questioning, filled with rhetoric, and elaborately worded, but bearing not at all on my arrest and investigation. Night after night, I was plagued in this way, from early evening to four o'clock in the morning. I would be left alone for hours at a time in an investigation room, illuminated by a strong, harsh light. The others who were brought with me, like Jacob, were treated in the same way kept awake when others were sleeping.
In the dark night of my investigation, two witnesses were led into the investigation chamber to testify against me. I had had absolutely no previous dealings with them. One of them was named Zazulke, and the second, Hoydzianik. The official pointed at me, and asked, Do you know this person? And how do you know him?
Both of them answered simultaneously, as though prompted, Yes. He asked me whether I knew these people. I answered categorically that I did not.
Again he turned to them with the question as to how and from where I was known to them. Zazulke said he had worked for me and that I had exploited him and underpaid him. (Like all the rest, it was false from start to finish. He had never worked for me.)
The second one, Hoydzianik, told that he had seen me going for a walk with the Polish police captain (Is there a greater sin or a more dangerous crime?) This is how the trumped-up charges were heaped up onto me.
After these highly reliable and trusted witnesses left, they again left me in the investigation chamber under the harsh light. Hours passed possibly three or four, seemingly interminably. Then the N.K.V.D. chief appeared in the room, placed a paper on the table, handed me a pen, and asked me to sign. I refused to do so.
He yelled a number of threats at me, and hit me with his revolver. I said, My fate is in your hands. You can do with me anything you want, but I refuse to sign anything about myself!
You are a swine, and your wife and children are pigs! he shouted at me like a wildly inflamed tiger.
Right, I said to him. You are well-schooled and knowledgeable. No denying it. But other than that, you are a great big jackass! That's easy to see: You have only me to deal with. Why bring in my wife and children? You call them by the vilest names do you have evidence and witnesses against them too? How about it?
Silence! he shouted, and rushing toward me, caught me by the collar, and gave me a rough shove. I fell down. He helped me up and led me back to my cell, locking me up.
About twenty minutes to a half hour later, another official unlocked my door, and with a saccharine smile, inquired: How are you feeling? I was tempted to respond, What concern is that of yours? But, after all, I was in his hands Why aggravate the situation? I answered Good. He left, and in a short while, I was called out again, and again asked to sign. Naturally, I refused.
Do you really think you'll get away without signing? asked the officer, without anger. Do you think you will be released? Never! We don't need your signature Take him back to his cell! This marked the end of my hearing.
On the tenth day, we were returned to the Vilayke prison by the same convoy that had taken us to the hearing. Back in jail, Jacob and I were separated, and placed in different cells. Four months passed during which no one called for us and no one asked about us. Suddenly, without advance notice, one Thursday, the chief warden appeared among our cells, and advised those inmates who knew the whereabouts of their families to get in touch with them. We prisoners were advised to request that warm clothes be sent to us. It soon became clear that we were going to be taken far away. I asked whether we could request food as well, and we were given permission. We were advised to ask for a minimum of fats.
Sheets of paper, envelopes, and pens were handed out so that we could write our letters. First of all, I wrote to my niece, Shosha, in Vilayke, so that the letter would arrive in the shortest possible time. In addition, I was completely uncertain whether my family members were still quartered in the same place. In the period during which I was interred, thousands of families had been deported to distant places. And if my wife and children still remained where I had left them, they would find out anyhow, through Shosha.
The next day, Friday evening, I was called out and handed a package of food, still warm. I knew immediately that it had come from Shosha. Without any hesitation, I gave the package of food to the orderly in charge of my cell block, and told him to distribute the contents to my fellow-inmates. He gave me one-third of what the package contained, and two-thirds went to the other prisoners. He voiced his own thanks and that of the others most warmly. Several hours later, I was called out again. This time I was handed a large package of warm winter clothes. From this, I gathered that my wife, Hannah, and the children, were nearby.
And, much later, in the middle of the night, I was called out for the third time. I was told to take everything which I had in my cell, and was led down to a cellar. At a small table, a man dressed in officer's uniform was seated by the light of a small lamp. At both sides stood two goons tall, broad-shouldered, brawny, armed soldiers. The man looked at me with a harsh, severe glance, and asked me for my surname. After I answered, the officer read the contents of a paper he had on the table before him. Three judges had sentenced me in my absence My accusation was with reference to paragraph 54 in the Soviet Codex. Sentence: Eight years of hard labor in Siberia.
He handed me a pen and ordered; Sign here! I neither answered him, nor did I sign. He glared at me angrily taking me in from head to toe, and said: I give you three minutes by the clock, taking out his pocket watch and putting it on the table. In that time, you are to sign this document. The three minutes passed. Again he handed me a pen. There I was, pen in hand, now intimidated enough to waiver. I don't know what to do. I had noticed his glance from right to left at the thugs he had on either side members of the Red Army. Has he motioned to them? I asked myself That wouldn't do
Then I said to him somewhat querously [querulously], What was that you read to me? I don't think I heard it all I don't know what it is that I have to sign
Hmm Are you deaf? I concurred by silence. Again he read the document, loudly, this time. I signed my name. They led me away to another cell. This is the way in which I spent the rest of the night. In the morning, at dawn, I saw Jacob Katzovitsh sharing my quarters. We were both overjoyed to see each other. It turns out that we will both be going together. I looked around at the cell. Two stretchers stood in a corner, on which two people were lying and moaning. They cried out as in pain from time to time, Oh, mama! I found this to be so extraordinary, that I was moved to ask out loud: How is it that sick inmates are quartered in the same cell with healthy ones? Jacob knew the answer: These were people who had refused to sign, and were beaten up mercilessly by those two thugs I had noticed. They had been brought in during the night, bloodied up and injured. I asked no more. I only commented to Jacob that I came close to being treated the same way. But, after all, I did sign
The following morning, shortly before the transport was to be sent out, I suddenly fell ill. I was taken to the sick bay. The doctor arrived, examined me, and said No, it's impossible for him to leave with this convoy. The transport did leave, taking Jacob with it. I remained in jail, where, after several days, I recovered. But it took about a month for a second transport to be arranged.
My dear wife, Hannah, (May the good Lord avenge himself for the innocent blood of our children and of hers!) discovered that I was ill, and thus was not sent off with the others. I have no idea how she managed to obtain permission to visit me for a few minutes.
It had been an especially frosty day. The cold air seared and burned painfully. They had called me out of my cell to the court-yard. How unexpected! . In my great joy and surprise, I lost control of my emotions. I cried. My good Hannah comforted me gently, caressing and encouraging me. I asked her: Why are you so pale and thin? How are the children? Tears found their way and flowed freely.
Don't worry about any of us. Think of your own welfare. We will find a way to manage, somehow, she said. But you, dear Szaie, will have to manage all by yourself, without us. Take care . We've already had a letter from Jacob, and we sent him a package of food. We'll send you food as well, to Marinsk-Novosibirsk Oblost. Don't be afraid, Szaie, and don't lose your courage. We won't forget you Now give me a smile, Szaie, that dear smile, just the way you used to, not so very long ago It will still turn out good for us! As they say, the sun will shine into our window some day.
She smiled gently and lovingly Those were her last words. She had really believed in what she was saying. As for me, I was afraid, terrified of the long journey ahead of me The guard motioned that visiting time was over.
We said farewell. I never saw her again.
On February 29, in a bitter, burning frost, accompanied by a wind storm, I departed with the transport.
Jews Everywhere Shall Pledge to Care for One Another[1]
This time, I was the strong one in the partnership, with Jacob seriously ill. There in the tiny village of Ulu[2] where the Second Brigade was quartered, there was an empty hut into which we had been obliged to move.
Because of Jacob's condition, I was unable to go out to work, and so I remained at home with him. And without working, one was not entitled to receive the rationed bit of dry flour and the few rotting potatoes.
Fortunately, I still owned about ten rubles, and so, I bought some provisions from the village Cossacks a bit of milk and a loaf of bread, and then I ran home. I do everything I possibly can anything at all to be able to rescue Jacob! He doesn't improve He keeps sinking, getting weaker. I sit with him and try to comfort him as well as I can. He is far away. My words of comfort do not reach him.
Suddenly, he turns to me and says: Szaie, something is happening to me I can't feel my left hand, and I can't feel my left foot either.
In a panic, I sat up with him all night. First thing in the morning, I ran to the kolkhoz[3] chairman and brought him to the invalid. I attempted to communicate with him through sign language. He gave me a team of oxen hitched to a cart, together with a man from the kolkhoz to help out. Together, we managed to bring poor Jacob to the hospital, about four kilometers from the Cossack village, Ulu, where we lived.
Arriving at the hospital, we removed him carefully from the cart, and carried him into the corridor. A woman doctor came out and declared that [she] could not admit our invalid. All the beds were taken No, she can't admit him. Take him back! None of my entreaties, complaints were heeded. Again I made an effort to convince: There's no place where I can bring him!
Take him back to wherever he was before, she answered. I went out and hid behind a tree to see what would happen. Perhaps, I hoped, seeing me gone, they would take him in and not dump him out on the street. But my ruse did not help.
He was soon carried out and put down right on the pavement. Seeing that there was no other choice, I put him back on the cart and tried again to speak to the woman doctor. She, however, had disappeared, or hid, and I was unable to find her. Nothing helped. We set out again on our drive home. Night had fallen, and it was a very dark night. A drenching rain grew stronger every minute a deluge. It was horrible. Only after midnight, and after we had heard the cock crow, did we arrive back at our hut.
I heated some water, gave some to Jacob, and had a sip myself. He lay there silently and looked at me, with sorrow in his eyes. He did not sleep Suddenly, he asked a question:
Szaie, will you be able to let them all know at home? His question disturbed me. Had he lost his senses? Is his illness affecting his mind? I was wrong.
The next morning, around ten o'clock, the woman doctor arrived together with another doctor. It turned out that she was, after all, a living limb of a Jewish body. I only learned now that she was a Jewish woman. She examined the invalid in silence. I heard her exchanging unintelligible terms which I could not make out, with the other doctor.
Finally, she turned to me, speaking in clear Yiddish: Not good with him A few days more is all he has left. He may have even less time than that .
I felt my eyes brimming with tears, and made no effort to control them Poor, unfortunate Jacob! He has all his senses, and is aware of his sad state, and of what is going on around him
The doctors left. Again the two of us remained alone. The end was drawing near, very soon. I sat up with him for hours at a time and talked about everything I could think of, so that he would not grasp, God forbid, how close things were with him But he did, he knew and understood everything; however, he avoided talking about it possibly to spare me Thus passed the day as well as the night. Another day went by as well. At ten o'clock, he expired, breathed his last.
The good, dear Jacob is no longer . I remained rooted to the spot. After a sleepless night, after a whole series of such nights, and now as well, no sleep. Many thoughts rose up and disappeared. I was incapable of organizing them Finally, the dawn arrived.
First thing in the morning, I hastened to the headquarters of the kolkhoz chairman. I requested a cart and some boards and some help, in order to build a coffin. After all, I had an obligation to bury the corpse of my friend, Jacob. He did not refuse, and together we went to a hill not far from the kolkhoz (its name was Tonkaruz.) There we dug a grave. We sawed up the needed boards, and together drove back to the hut.
There, I heated some water, washed the corpse, placed him in the coffin, and buried him. I stood all alone at the graveside, and recited a eulogy as well as the prayer for the dead. In fact, I recited the Kadish for everyone
Back to the cart but my feet refused to obey. They wouldn't walk. My helper, the Cossack, helped me to the cart, drove me back to the hut, practically carrying me, and left. For hours, I just lay there all alone. No one came in. One thought, one fearful idea, kept me from resting: I am talking to my dear dead Jacob For you, may you rest in peace, I was there to take care of doing whatever was needed to be done in your final hours on earth washing you and burying you But who will be there to do it for me? After all, my time is due to come. Not eating, not drinking, one's heart embittered, how long can a man endure and live this way? Is this how I will die, lonely and all alone? I remained lying down, I do not know for how long
Suddenly the door opened. A child of about nine entered. He said Good morning to me in Russian. I had not heard a Russian word in a long time. With difficulty, I lifted my head and said, Who are you, my child?
My name is Lifshitz, from Minsk, he said. My mother, together with my younger brother, sister, and I, are all stationed at the Third Brigade. We were told today that an old man had died, and that there was another invalid there. My mother told me to come to inquire. Then the boy ran out. Of course, I knew immediately that this was a Jewish child. I will not die all alone my heart lifted with joy .
A short time later, the door opened again. Three women came in with the kolkhoz chairman in tow. They took one look at me and assailed him with loud complaints: Is this how you bring people here, so that they will die from filth and hunger?
He motioned them out, but in a short while they returned. This time, they arrived with a cart loaded with provisions. They carried me out to their cart, where they lay me down, and drove me to the Third Brigade. There I was given a warm bath, was supplied with clean underwear, and was put to bed. Every few hours, they brought me some food, and thus my recovery was begun.
In short, these women, and especially Fanya Lifshitz, the wife of a Red Army captain, rescued me from certain death The Lord's providence had ordained that I was to remain alive. This is how three Jewish women saved my life.
Because, as it is said, Jews everywhere shall pledge to care for one another.
People Along my Wanderings
Again I arrived at the railroad station in the little town of Lienger-Ugol, Kazakhskaya Oblost.[4] It was from this place, where I had been brought together with Jacob, may he rest in peace, for the first time, in accordance with the decree It was here that one of our most tragic chapters began one that could easily have been my final chapter, my end.
This time, it was the place where I said farewell to the three Jewish women who had saved my life and put me back on my feet. They had not known me, nor I them, but see how our acquaintance demonstrated the power of humanity present among our Jewish fellow-men!
Fanye Lifshitz, the mother of three children (including the little boy who had found me ill and exhausted), had been evacuated from Minsk. She was the wife of a captain in the Red Army, but had not heard from him and had no idea of his whereabouts since he was mobilized. The other two women, also officers' wives. That is, their husbands were mobilized reserve officers. They were two sisters from Orshe (Orše).[5] They had received no word from their husbands since the start of the war. At the evacuation of Minsk and Orshe, and at [the] time of the occupation by the German people-devourers, the three women and their young children were brought to the kolkhoz so that they would be relatively safe, and so that the organized farm community could support them.
During the two years of their internship, they had become bosom buddies, and had adopted the regional ways, even being influenced by the Cossack customs. And Fanye, especially, full of energy, and natural leadership, had become a chief in the power elite of the kolkhoz. It was she and her friends who brought me back to life from almost certain death.
One day, almost incidentally, the news reached Fanye that her captain was gravely wounded, and was in a hospital in far-off Siberia. A few weeks after this news, Fanye received a letter from her husband himself. He wrote that she should make plans, since he would soon be sending her money via a courier. She would be joining him, together with the children. Great was the joy at this news! The two sisters from Orshe, stated openly, that they would go along with her. Without Fanye, they could not remain on the kolkhoz. The three decided that they would under no circumstances allow me to remain there without them. They were certain that I could manage much better outside of the kolkhoz.
In this way, then, we all arrived at the little town, Lienger-Ugol. They took care of all kinds of details for me, and arranged for me to remain there well taken care of. They arranged connections for me, so that I should not, God forbid, remain all alone.
It did not take too long, before the courier from Fanye's husband arrived. I accompanied the women to the railroad station and said my warm and grateful farewell to them and to their children.
And so, I was alone once more. I headed back into town, where several hundred Jews lived. They were chiefly refugees and exiles. There were some Russians as well, who had been evacuated from the regions occupied by the Nazi hordes. By this time, those good women had helped me to make acquaintances, so that I was not entirely lonely. I had entree into many good homes, and could pass the time pleasantly with social contacts. But one thing has nothing to do with the other. It was necessary to get some work, to earn a livelihood.
Jobs were not hard to find. But only Soviet citizens were being hired. There was a law in effect at that time, forcing all refugees and evacuees to become Soviet citizens. All those who refused to do so were to be interned, and jailed.[6]
Some of my acquaintances (Polish citizens) stated that they refused to take on Soviet citizenship, since doing so would prevent them from ever being able to leave the Soviet paradise.
However, I did decide to become a Soviet citizen, for the following reasons: First, I felt that if I held out stubbornly, and landed in jail again, I would not be able to tolerate it. Second, I argued mentally that the war was not over yet and nobody could predict what conditions would be when it did end. Only time could tell.
Thus, I became a Soviet citizen and got a job working in a saw-mill. At first I was put to work planing boards. This lasted only two days. Before long in only two weeks I was elevated to an important position in the saw-mill. I was actually put in complete charge of the entire saw-mill. And this is how it happened:
By my third week, I was put practically in charge of the entire management of the saw-mill. Only on the second day after I had begun to work there, a brigadier showed up to check up on what I had done. He made entries in a book, made measurements, and much to his surprise, he found everything completed satisfactorily. He asked me whether I had ever had experience working in a saw-mill. Of course I answered, yes. He left pleased, and the next day, he had put me to work at saws and crosscut saws, and pretty soon, I become a kind of foreman. Is this any wonder? After all, wood and saw-mill work had been my specialty. I had once had my own saw-mill in partnership with Shlome-Haym, may he rest in peace, in Vilayke.
As a whole, skilled labor was in short supply. The war had taken large numbers of employees to the front. It was especially the young and strong who were missing. The saw-mill had to service the coal mines nearby, where about 16,000 people were employed. In addition, the town had to be supplied with telephone poles, building materials, etc. For all this, it was essential to have responsible and knowledgeable leadership. In short, this was a good earnings situation for me. Thousands could have wished to be in my position.
However, there was one matter which gave me no rest worries about my family members. I had no peace thinking and wondering about where they were. I had had no news at all from them during the entire duration of the war and the Nazi gains on all the fronts. I had plenty of reason to be seriously worried. This was 1944. Leningrad had been liberated from its siege and blockade. The Red Army had already retaken large areas of White Russia, and were daily approaching our own vicinity. I made inquiries, wrote letters wherever and to whomever I could reach to no avail.
Once I read a newspaper account that an organization had been founded in Moscow to help establish communication lines between Soviet citizens and their relatives abroad. I wrote at once, hoping that I could learn the addresses of my brother and sister in the United States, via telegraph. About eight days passed, when I received a request for fifty rubles to pay for the telegraph charges. I did this immediately. And again two months elapsed, until one fine day, I received a telegram from Moscow containing specific information: Two addresses, those of my sister and of my brother, in the United States. A few days earlier, I had received two packages of food from America. This had already indicated to me that I had established contact. It was a faint ray of hope amid the despair . I wired my brother at once: I am feeling well. Many thanks for the packages. The fate of my wife and children, as well as the rest of the family, not known. Am worried and desperate.
Early in July, 1944 our Kryvitsh was liberated from the Nazi fiends. At that time, I wrote to the postmaster of the Kryvitsh post office his name was Oksiyuta, and asked him to notify me whatever he knew about my family's whereabouts and their condition. Apparently, he lacked the courage to do so. It was his father, Joseph Oksiyuta, a liberal Pole, who wrote me, broken-heartedly, the bitter truth. No one had survived, not my wife, my children, my sisters, brother-in-law, their children, and no one from Jacob's family.
At once, I wired my brother in Brooklyn, that No one remains. Now I knew that I was all alone, and was totally unnerved at the tragic news. I fell ill and did not recover for six months.
During the time of my illness, negotiations were taking place between the Soviet government and that of the Lublin-Polish regime (strongly pro-Soviet) regarding a repatriation of all Polish citizens. It concerned those Polish citizens who wished to return to their homeland in order to build a Socialist Poland, a people's democracy. Finally, a written agreement was arranged. Even those, who because of circumstantial pressures, had become Soviet citizens, could be included in the repatriation process. Quite understandably, I wished to avail myself of these benefits.
The preparations concerning the details of carrying out the repatriation agreement dragged on interminably. My brother from Brooklyn wired: Don't travel anywhere. (He meant Kryvitsh. Unfortunately, I had no one there to go to.) However, go to Warsaw, without fail. It seems he was arranging to go there to see me.
By the time everything was arranged, and troop trains were coursing, I had recovered, and was on my feet to make this long-hoped-for journey. It seemed that I was about to leave this land of despair But I was even more certain that I was to traverse a land that was even more blood-drenched and filled with tragedy. How could my brother come this way to see me? It would be better for him not to come Things are far from quiet here Attacks against Jews are still taking place.
Encounters in Warsaw
One mountain will never meet another mountain, but one person can meet another person. (An old folk-adage)
In the Spring of 1946, I set out on the troop transport bound for Warsaw. Stopping at Saratov (now Kvibishev[7]), I wired my brother in Brooklyn: Greetings from my journey. I'm on my way to Warsaw. Not necessary for you to meet me there. You will hear from me again after my arrival there. In the train along with me, there were many Jews, a small number of Christians, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Among all of these was a good friend a Jewish woman, Fenshikova, the sister of the well-known diplomat of the new Poland, who was a representative at the U.N.[8] Professor Katz-Suchy.
Our train sometimes dragged along slowly, and at other times, went quickly. It went directly to Upper Silesia, with a short layover in Warsaw. On the twelfth of May, 1946, we arrived at the Vilna station in Warsaw-Praga. I had decided beforehand, in accordance with my own plans and my brother's wishes, to remain in Warsaw. The reason for this was that it was relatively simple to communicate with the United States from Warsaw. It was also the reasoning of Frau Fenshikova. She wanted to be near her brother, after her long exile so far away.
As already mentioned, our train stopped only briefly at the station. We tossed off our few meager belongings, and Frau Fenshikova and I got off the train and remained standing on the platform. The train started up almost immediately. A soldier on patrol noticed us, but I bought him off with a bit of a bribe.
And so we were left at the Vilna Dvazhetz just a crudely put-together barracks built of wooden boards. I took off immediately to look for Professor Katz-Suchy, leaving Fenshikova in the barracks-style station.
Warsaw, which had been such a beautiful city before the war, was in ruins, filled with rubble. Despite all of this, I somehow, with a minimum of trouble, found the indicated address, but the Professor was not in. An armed soldier, of the diplomatic guard, informed me that the Professor and wife had left. He does not know where they went nor when they would return. I left a written message stating that the Professor's sister was waiting at the Praga station, where she had arrived at three o'clock in the afternoon on the transport train from Kazakhstan.[9]
After I left the note, I returned to the station, and sat down with Fenshikova to wait for her brother. Hours passed. It was getting dark, and the brother had not arrived. We looked for a place where could spend the night, but to no avail, and so we were forced to spend the night sitting up in the barrack-like station. Frau Fenshikova was exhausted, and dropped off to sleep. I remained awake, waiting. It was ten o'clock at night, and no one had come. Fenshikova was fast asleep. It was already after eleven, when I noticed a man and a woman looking around, peering into the faces of everyone there on the station platform. Were they Fenshikova's brother and sister-in-law? I stirred her gently. When she awakened and put on her glasses, she recognized them immediately. He too had noticed her.
Is it possible for me, with my prosaic and limited means of expression to portray this sort of reunion, after seven years of separation, filled with such tragic and bloody events? No, I am unable to do justice here.
Frau Fenshikova left at once with her brother and sister-in-law. I remained sitting in the barracks all night until the dawn. That morning I went to the Central Committee concerned with the welfare of survivors of the extermination camps. It was there that one could obtain a night's lodging, look for relatives, friends, to learn the latest news, etc. In fact, a few days later, the committee helped me to reopen contacts with my brother and sister.
It was here that I was supplied with a temporary lodging. The secretary informed me that two women had been looking for me, and that they would come back the next day at eleven o'clock. From the description, I gathered who these women were
The next morning, I arrived promptly at the agreed rendezvous. Frau Fenshikova and Frau Katz-Suchy were already waiting for me. Frau Katz-Suchy, a splendid Jewish woman, a native of Grodne, apologized profusely, yet modestly, for leaving me alone on the station. They could not have avoided doing so, with all the goodwill at their command. They have only one small room. And she gave me the address of her husband's office, in case I should be in need of help or of advice. He would never refuse. They simply did not leave my side from then on, until I promised that I would come to see them. They only left after reminding me again of my pledge. I kept my word. A few days later, I called on them, and was received most graciously. We sat in their tiny room and conversed pleasantly. Professor Katz-Suchy was also at home. And, what's true is true! I admit that, later on, when I needed it, he helped me with all his heart and soul from an exit permit, to a visa to France, to the special permission to fly on a military plane to France, as well as the plane ticket.
Several days later, I came to the committee again. Suddenly, and unexpectedly, someone called out my first name: Reb Szaie, Reb Szaie! I turned, and saw the friend of my older daughter Mira, Malke Shimentshik! (She was a sister of Joseph Shmir, now in Australia.) She ran to me with tears and kisses, embracing me and falling to my feet. She too had arrived not long ago together with her mother and brother from the far north (Siberia) on a troop train, for repatriation. After I had recovered from the shock of meeting her, I asked Malke about her mother and about Joseph. Her answer was that Joseph was on his way to Israel (Palestine at the time), and that her mother was there with her in Warsaw. We went to visit her mother, Frau Sonia Shimentshik. Again, a crumb of joy in the vast landscape of despair a celebration and an unexpected reunion, amid the misery of the circumstances in which we found ourselves. We spent several days visiting together and reminiscing.
Here, then, is the tragic reckoning: There was once a shtetl a life-style, carried on for generations. Nothing remains. All is ashes and ruins. The few survivors have scattered to the four corners of the earth, even as far as Australia. I went to Paris, Joseph Shmir, as mentioned above, Malke's brother, to Palestine. Lazar and Reyeh (Turek), the other two children of Sonia Shimentshik, did not survive. Lazar had been murdered by Beria's agents in the woods near Katyn[10] along with 12,000 Polish army officers. Reyeh shared the fate of the six million Jews. Together, like the rest of the Tiktin community (near Bialystok), she perished along with her little daughter, Sonia's first grandchild. The Jews of the Kryvitsh congregation, shot up, burned out and we, the remnants, wandering shadows, float over the silhouette of a world that once was, which has disappeared.
At long last, the Kryvitsh family members, both in Israel and in the diaspora lands, woke up decided to establish an eternal light, a burning flare to light up the spirits of all of our dear ones, and to transmit our values and our roots to our grand-children and great grand-children, to continue forging the chain of the people of Israel! Blessed forever be the hands that toil! Long life to them!
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text:
We are very interested in ditching our Adobe Flex charts and replacing them with the new GXT 3.0 charts. But, due to performance / scalability issues, this does not seem to be a viable option and we suspect that we may not be alone in making this observation.
The charts on GXT 3.0 Explorer Demo typically show three or four series over (at most) twelve monthly time periods and the response time is very good. However, our charts generally have more data series and a greater number of time periods.
With that said, while working with the new GXT 3.0 Column Chart (using Developer Preview 5), I encountered performance / scalability issues in both Firefox and IE when I increased the number of series to nine over 90 daily time periods (code attached for your review).
The chart in the attached code takes around 30 seconds to render in Firefox (almost 60 seconds in IE), and I must click ōContinueö on the proverbial Firefox dialogue ōWarning: Unresponsive script ¢ A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped responding. You can stop the script now, or you can continue to see if the script will complete.ö
The attached code resizes the presentation when the end-user resizes their browser window. When I resize the browser window the chart takes a very long time to resize, does so multiple times without warning and I again encounter the proverbial Firefox dialogue ōWarning: Unresponsive script ģö several times.
Also, when the chart is rendering for the first time and resizing later in response to browser window resizing there is no progress indicator. Further, when the browser window is resized, the display is locked up until most of the process completes.
As a comparison, I maintain a similar Adobe Flex chart that has nine series over 200 hourly time periods that resizes when the end-user resizes their browser window without any of these problems. If you can get the GXT 3.0 charts to do the same then a lot of developers would regard them as a viable alternative to Adobe Flex.
If I am doing something wrong here then please let me know. I am hopeful that I can replace the Adobe Flex charts with the new GXT 3.0 ones.
By the way, I really enjoyed the Austin conference.
Thank you,
John Lewis


text:
This summer, students from the University of Houston's Graduate Design/Build Studio (GDBS) worked diligently designing and constructing a new outdoor amphitheater for Houston's T.H. Rogers School. Now, they're ready to observe the fruits of their labors with T.H. Rogers faculty, students and parents.
At 1:30 p.m., Oct. 8, the T.H. Rogers Parent Teacher Organization and GDBS will celebrate the completion of the amphitheater, which will serve as a space for both learning and socializing. During this ceremony, T.H. Rogers students will deliver performances in the new amphitheater.
"Our students worked exceptionally hard on this project, and it shows," said Patrick Peters, GDBS director. "It was an incredible learning process for them, and I am pleased to see that the amphitheater will continue to serve students as a tool for education."
The T.H. Rogers amphitheater is wheelchair accessible and includes three levels of bench seating and a stage. Arched steel beams extend overhead and support a tensile fabric canopy. It is GDBS' 21st project.
The project kicked off in April and continued through August. GDBS students rendered its design and took the lead role in its construction.
The studio is part of UH's Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. Each year, it creates community-enhancing projects for Houston non-profit organizations. Past projects have included an outdoor classroom and film projection canopy at Hamilton Middle School, an outdoor performing arts stage at Roberts Elementary School and an ecological classroom for the UH Charter School.
Projects are funded by clients with support from donors. The organizations that have contributed resources and expertise to the T.H. Rogers amphitheater project are Morris Architects, Murrell Tensile Works LLC, United Galvanizing Inc., Tolunay-Wong Engineers, CMC Construction Services, Bovis Lend Lease, Asakura Robinson Co., W.S. Bellows Construction Group, Ground Hog Foundation Drilling, Bright Landscape Designs, CBM Engineers Inc., Southern Star Concrete, Grounds Anderson LLC, School of Automotive Machinists, Tree Care Inc. and Tree Town USA.
To learn more about UH's Graduate Design/Build Studio, visit its website at http://www.uh.edu/gdbs/.
|Celebration for T.H. Rogers Amphitheater
|1:30 p.m., Oct. 8
|T.H. Rogers School (5840 San Felipe St.)
|UH Graduate Design/Build Studio, T.H. Rogers Parent Teacher Organization