100%

Scanned image of the page. Keyboard directions: use + to zoom in, - to zoom out, arrow keys to pan inside the viewer.

Page Options

Share

Something wrong?

Something wrong with this page? Report problem.

Rights / Permissions

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials may be under copyright. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact the Bentley Historical Library at bentley.ref@umich.edu

October 24, 2003 - Image 77

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 2003-10-24

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

Russian and Polish regimes. But noth-
ing was like the annihilation the
Germans brought when they occupied
the area in 1941.
While the Nazis executed
thousands, including their
parents, Tuvia, Asael and Zus
Bielski slipped into the dense
forest with some of their sib-
lings. •
Over the next 2 1/2 years,
they kept one step ahead of
the Nazis, building semi-per-
manent settlements and mov-
ing them deeper into the for-
est when enemy danger
loomed.
Their villages, which even included
a makeshift synagogue and theater,
harbored up to 1,200 Jews, who also
fled the Nazis from nearby towns. The
inhabitants went on with life as best
they could in this "Jerusalem in the
Woods," learning trades, marrying and
having children.
The Bielski group allied with Soviet
partisans to often sabotage the Nazis.
At some points, the Bielski camp was
just a few kilometers away from the
Germans, but excellent protection and
evacuation systems prevented them
from being detected. Also, the Nazis
were mainly occupied fighting the
Russian army.
Duffy writes: "It's difficult to calcu-
late how many people are alive today
because of the actions of the Bielski
brothers. Many of the 1,200 people
who walked out of the forest in 1944
have since died. But their children
have borne children, who themselves
have borne children.

"Thousands of people in the United
States, Israel, Great Britain, France,
Germany, Austria and Russia owe their
existence to the brothers decision ... to
shelter every Jew who arrived
at the forest encampment."
To document the story,
Duffy talked to more than 50
survivors of the community,
including Aron, a younger
brother, and the widows of
Tuvia, Asael and Zus.
"I mined every available
document, memoir and pho-
tograph," he said, "and I even
found a long manuscript,
written by Tuvia, which had remained
unknown to the family." Duffy was
embraced as an honorary member of
the Bielski family.
Asael Bielski was killed in action in
1945 after being conscripted into the
Red Army. Tuvia and Zus eventually
moved to the United States, where
they both died in recent years.
"They received some recognition for
their efforts in later years, including
glowing speeches and a standing ova-
tion at a testimonial dinner in New
York, but not as much as they
deserved," Duffy points out. "That's
what I hoped to accomplish with the
book." El_

Peter Duffy speaks 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Jewish
Community Center in West
Bloomfield; free. (248) 432-

• Homemade Soups
& Salads

`9

•Greek Specialties

OOmelettes

ODaily Lunch
& Dinner Specials

• Homemade Sandwiches

visa

;.

ivt Canstepaeiti ..eacatio414

Detroit
Comerica Park Stadium

Birmingham

--
154 S. Woodwa`rd 'Ave.

Farmington Hills

30985 Orchard Lake Rd.
(between 13 & 14 Mile Rd.)

Li von rja
Millennium Park
(Middlebelt & I-96)

Bloomfield Twp.

6527 Telegraph Rd.

West Bloomfield

Canton

1735 Canton Center Rd.

Ann Arbor

1235 S. University

4763 Haggerty Rd.
(Pontiac Trail &
Haggerty Rd.)

Pontiac
3999 Center Point
Parkway

Dearborn Heights

26540 Ford Rd.
(The Heights Plaza)

Farmington Hills

37580 W. 12. Mile Rd.
(Halstead Village)

5 577.

••?, ...,M,

9845 Telegraph Rd.

Livonia

Laurel Park Mall
(37622 6 Mile Rd.)

Plymouth

15131 Sheldon Rd.
(Sheldon at 5 Mile Rd.)

Southfield

15647 W. 9 Mile
at Greenfield Rd.

Commerce & Carrol Lk. Rd.

Novi
47830 Grand River Ave.
(Grand River & Beck Rd.)

Milford

Royal Oak

512 N. Main

13 Mile Rd. & Woodward Ave.
Northwood Plaza

r

Taylor

Commerce

Royal Oak

41.1.11.411111110M

still married
after 60 years.
Suberman
speaks 4:30
.m.
Tuesday,
s d
a y ,
the

Coney Specials

Main Street
Downtown Royal Oak

Hercules Family Restaurant

33292 W. 12. Mile Rd. • Farmington Hills

YEN

Vo TOTAL BILL
OFF With This Coupon

Expires 11/30/03. Not good with any other offers.

Bunimy

I.

Rtsen Fed

4)14

Ron Ross writes about
chapter of Jewish history in:. a dra
mattc story 'centered on the life o
legendary boxer Al "Bum y

RESTAURANT

s•

VOTED BEST GREEK RESTAURANT

BY METRO DETROIT!

• PRIVATE PARTIES FOR 55 IN OUR DINING

Room

• PARTY TRAYS

•ALL MENU ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR CARRY OUT

•GREEK & AMERICAN CUISINE

% OFF TOTAL
FOOD BILL

•CHEF'S SPECIALS DAILY

• FULL BAR

Expires 11/30/03.
1 coupon per table.
Not good with any other offers.

10/24

2003

4301 Orchard Lake Road • West Bloomfield • Crosswinds Plaza

248-538-6000 FAX: 248-538-0932

77M0

77

Back to Top

© 2024 Regents of the University of Michigan