Death of Nachman Gershgorn

Nachman Gershgorn, of blessed memory

Yesterday at 4 in the morning our pupil Nachman Gershgorn died in the town hospital. In the 5th class, where he studied, he was one of the best pupils. Punctuality, honesty, loyalty and devotion to the school were the main traits that characterised him. Before his death he asked to be allowed to say goodbye to his school friends, with whom he always spent time and did his lessons. Unfortunately his wish could not be fulfilled, and he died in his mother's arms with the words of farewell on his lips. In the morning, when the sad news spread through the town, groups of children gathered at the school and with gloomy looks told of the tragic event. The three highest classes of the "Yavneh" school took part in the mournful funeral ceremony, all wearing signs of mourning. At the house and at the cemetery heart-rending scenes took place; the children were very moved and depressed. Children's tears and sad faces told everyone of the strong feelings of grief that overcame them. The 5th class, where the deceased studied, decided not to sing or show any joy for a long time. The bench on which he used to sit has been specially set apart and marked. The class will bear the mark of mourning. The children also decided to plant a tree in the Herzl Forest in the name of the deceased, "so that the shade of the tree may enfold and recall the soul of the deceased child." At the children's request, the next section of "Bematanu" will be dedicated exclusively to the tragically torn-away, dear pupil.

Our forum.

Death of a friend and pupil.

Like an arrow from a bow the sad news passed, announcing the death of our friend Nachman. Not everyone knew he had been missing from school for a week; only his friends who sat with him on one bench, absorbed their learning from one atmosphere and sat in one room, only they knew Nachman was missing from the class. His place remained empty. No one dared take his place, knowing that in a few days he would rise from his illness and return to live with us our shared life, the life of the school: together we would learn, together sing, together dance our dances and together redeem our land. But it was not so. Cruel death snatched from us one of our most faithful pupils.

The strong bond between us and Nachman could be recognised in the impression his death made on his friends and teachers. All that day the school was not quiet; all prepared to accompany him to his eternal rest.

But my class, in which he was educated, was agitated from the day of his absence. On Wednesday, when they took him to the hospital behind the town, the children asked their teacher to promise they could go on the Sabbath to visit him. We did not know that on the Sabbath he would exchange his temporary dwelling for his grave, his eternal dwelling. Nachman was bound to his friends and teachers; his mother tells that before his death he asked to be taken to part from his friends, his teachers and the walls of the school where he had sat several years.

He intended to be one of the pioneers building our land. He helped as far as he could in the redemption of the soil, and rejoiced in the joy of our land. One dream he dreamed together with us: to see our land alive, to work it and bind himself to it. He was one of the good pupils, devoted to everything in the school.

But the loss is not only ours, those close to him, but our whole people's. True are the words of the poet who says of children: "Guard the little ones, our dear children, love the generations coming after us; remember that in them lies the solution of our dream, and one of them is our righteous Messiah." And perhaps? Perhaps he was the redeemer, one of the redeemers of our land for our people from the hands of strangers.

May his memory be blessed! A. L—n.

The news that reached me that Nachman had died stunned me, and I could not by any means believe that the child who a week ago sat on the bench in the fifth class had died. When I came to the class, sadness lay over everything. The pupils walked about sunk in thought; they did not sing or laugh as every morning. We had only one lesson, in which we spoke about our dead friend. Many pupils cried. And how could they not cry? We can sing of him as of H. N. Bialik of blessed memory: "Before his time this man died, and the song of his life was cut off in the middle"; but Nachman's song was cut off at the beginning. As I learned, he was one of the good pupils in the class. As a sign of mourning we decided not to sing, not to laugh and not to rejoice for a long time. Nachman has died, but his memory will never depart from among us. Yosef Gombinski (6th class of the Yavneh school)

On [unclear] I came to the class and our dear friend Nachman was missing. Nachman was a good pupil and a faithful friend; he played various games with us, went walking with us and rode in the sleigh. Suddenly I learned that our friend was very ill. We went to visit him. His condition was bad. On Wednesday they took him to the hospital, but they could not help him because he was dangerously ill. And on Thursday he died. In the school there was great mourning; many pupils cried. We were very sorry that our dear friend had died. As an eternal memorial to our friend we are planting a tree in the Herzl Forest in the name of our beloved friend Nachman Gershgoren, may he rest in Eden. Avraham Friedberg (5th class)

In our class there was a faithful friend named Nachman. He was a very good friend and also a good pupil. Once we came to the class and heard that our dear pupil was ill. We asked, "Which pupil is ill?" They told us: Nachman Gershgoren. We were very sad and began to cry. Afterwards we went to visit him. He was dangerously ill. Suddenly he said to his mother: "My stomach hurts very much." They took him to the hospital. They gave him medicines, but it did not help, and in the night from Wednesday to Thursday he died beside his mother. Before his death he said these words: "Mother, it is dark in my eyes." His mother led him to the electric light so that he could see. But he saw nothing; he said that a black man was standing before him, and a few moments later he died. When we learned of it we cried bitterly. At 11 o'clock was the funeral. The school together with the teachers went to the funeral; we cried very much. At the funeral were almost all the people of the town, for all knew him and knew he was a good pupil in the class and also obedient to his parents. Everyone cried. The parents no longer had strength to cry. They brought the dead boy to the cemetery, opened the coffin, and we went to look at the beautiful, bright face of our dear friend. When the grandmother looked at him she fainted and it was hard to revive her. When they revived her they put her in the sleigh and took her home. Afterwards they came with the sleigh and took the parents, and the funeral ended. Towards evening there was a minyan at his home; we came with father to pray mincha and maariv, and so they prayed all week. We know that our friend Nachman, may he rest in Eden, will never return, but his name will be remembered forever.

Feivel Nitzberg and Gedalyahu Feinbir (5th class, Yavneh school)

With my friend Nachman Gershgoren I studied in one class; we played together in various games. He was a diligent pupil, always knew the lessons and in general was a good child. On Sunday he did not come to class. I ask the children: why did Nachman not come? They answered me that he was ill with a stomach illness and had been taken to the hospital. The next morning I am going to class; a friend meets me and tells me: "Nachman Gershgoren has died." Then I was very upset and became very sad. I came to the class and the children were sitting sadly and talking about Nachman Gershgoren. At 12 o'clock we all gathered in the schoolyard and went to the funeral. On the way to the cemetery all the people cried. When they came to the cemetery and took the dead boy out of the coffin, the weeping grew. After they buried our friend we went home sad. Zeev Golubovich (5th class)