Based on the memories of Shmuel Englander, working together with Shmuel, drawing from his formidable memory, I drew and polished this map of Volchin:
Shmuel Englander telephoned me on Friday, March 15, 2001, and informed me that he had drawn from memory the map of Volchin as it was, i.e., from before the Second World War.
March 2001
This map was recalled from memory by Shmuel Englander,
son of Volchin and saved from the Holocaust,
the son of Yitchak and Hindah Leah Englander z"l.
He informed me that he had sent me the map, of large dimensions, in a big envelope by mail. He sent it to me, Dov, “the authoritative one”, so that I could go over it and correct errors in writing, in words he wrote in Hebrew, and in general, so that I could check the map.
When the map arrived I was pleasantly surprised — this was indeed a large map, both literally and figuratively. Shmuel took care to draw every single house in that townlet and even took care to write the names of the houses' owners. He drew all the institutions that were in the townlet, the Jewish institutions and the non-Jewish institutions. He didn't omit a single detail. Real memory and knowledge – from first-hand knowledge – not the usual kind. He related to me earlier on the telephone that the memory of his youth, suddenly, returned to him in great clarity. This is in contrast to his or current memory --or, more correctly-- to the forgetfulness that prevails within him today. Lately he, for example, does not remember where he put his glasses a moment ago.
When I received the map, I immediately “attacked” and began to hone it. I corrected the few Hebrew mistakes. I preferred to touch it as little as possible, leaving all of it, including the explanations and the place names in Yiddish. And since I do not think that Hebrew is preferable to Yiddish, a language that is beloved of me as well, I left idioms and names as they were written. And moreover, as Shmuel's handwriting is clear and excellent. Regarding someone who does not understand, s/he should make the effort and find someone to translate it.
In addition, I prefer his handwriting, that it should remain a remembrance to future generations, that through his writing they will be able to shadow the walking encyclopedia, Shmuel Englander, who made the effort and labored over the years, and took it upon himself to be in touch with the remnant of the survivors and their descendants, and the Volchin emigres over the generations. Who always remembered to send letters and to remind us of Yom HaShoah and the time of our gatherings next at the Holon Memorial for the Jews of Volchin.
Note that
Shmuel left
Volchin to enroll in the Red Army in W-L a short while prior to the
invasion of the Nazis June 22, 1941 and did not return until 1997, when he spent two days in the town, devoting much time to interviewing old Gentiles of the town.
