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...In
the first days of August, Kaminsky informed the Jewish
Committee that the ghetto in Slobodka would be headed by an AEltestenrat
(Council of Elders) which would be elected by the Jews
themselves. But first of all they would have to elect a
"Head of the Jews" -- that was the demand of Hauptsturmfuehrer
Jordan, who was responsible for Jewish affairs in Kovno. This
created a very grave problem for the Kovno Jews: whom to elect
to this position of exceptionally great responsibility, which
was at the same time difficult and dangerous. For this purpose
the Council called an enlarged meeting of all those who had
been active in public affairs of any kind and had remained in
the city. The meeting was held on August 5 in the offices of
the Council in Daukshos Street, and about 30 persons attended.
This
Jewish meeting, the last in the city of Kovno itself before it
was left by its Jewish residents, was unusually dramatic.
Everybody was deeply aware that a solution must be found for a
problem that literally involved their lives. It was not easy
to find a suitable candidate for this unusual position. The
candidate would have to know how to find a common language
with the Germans, and know also how to appear before them as
the representative of the ghetto. Even if it was understood
from the outset that the man elected would be only "Head
of the Jews," that is, the lowly representative of the
"accursed Jews" -- in the defiled vocabulary
of the Germans - nevertheless it was also understood
that everything possible must be done that the man elected
would, despite everything, have a certain authority in the
eyes of the Germans and that they would take into
consideration what he said. Everybody understood that the man
elected must have qualities that enabled him to influence the
Germans to a certain degree. It was also necessary that the
man who would stand at the head of the ghetto must have a
clean public record, be a good Jew and a good man, discerning
and clever, courageous and of strong character, so that he
would not be easily discouraged and would not bend his knees
when he had to stand before the Germans as the tragic
messenger of an unhappy Jewish community, without salvation
and surrounded by ravening beasts.
Several
candidates were proposed at the meeting. However, none of them
could unite those taking part in the meeting around himself.
In addition, the candidates proposed all refused to accept
this task. A great feeling of depression spread through the
meeting. After lengthy discussions Dr. Z. Wolf, the chairman
of the meeting, proposed the candidacy of Dr. E. Elkes, a
loyal and Zionist Jew, and a famous doctor in the city of
Kovno. The proposal was accepted immediately by the whole
assembly, and with great enthusiasm. But Dr. Elkes refused to
accept this appointment. Again there was great confusion of
spirit. Rabbi Schmukler then rose from his place and made a
speech that was moving and full of pain, and shook everyone
deeply. "How terrible in our position" he said in a
trembling voice "that we are not offering the revered Dr.
Elkes the respected position of head of the Jewish Community
of Kovno, but the shameful and humiliating one of ‛Head
of the Jews,' who is to represent us before the Germans. But
please understand, dear and beloved Dr. Elkes, that only to
the Nazi murderers will you be ‛Head of the Jews'; in
our eyes you will be the head of our Community, elected in our
most tragic hour, when blood runs from all of us and the
murderer's sword is suspended over our heads. It has fallen to
your part to accept duties of unequalled difficulty, but at
the same time it is also a great privilege and deed of
charity, and you do not have the right to escape from it;
stand at our head, defend us, you shall be with us and we will
all be with you, until we arrive at the great day of
salvation!" When Rabbi Schmukler had finished speaking,
he wept, and all the assembly wept bitter tears with him. Dr.
Elkes stood pale and silent. All could see what was happening
in the depth of his soul and all felt that in these tragic
moments Dr. Elkes understood that it was his duty to make this
great sacrifice that a cruel fate had imposed upon him. A
feeling of relief descended on all, and a ray of secret hope
shone into the broken hearts of all those present....
L.
Garfunkel, Kovna ha-Yehudit be-Hurbana ("The
Destruction of Jewish Kovno"), Jerusalem, 1959, pp.
47-48. |
