PRUZHANY YZKOR BOOK
1983
THE FIRST ORGANIZATION OF PRUZANA JEWS IN THE US
By Adina Gross (Eydl Averbuch)
On June 14,
1888, the Pruzana-born Jews in New York set up the Pruziner Charity and
Benevolent Association which included Jews from Pruzana and the surrounding
area. They even bought a special cemetery in New York. The organization was
headed by my uncle (brother of my father), Moshe Aharon AVERBUCH and he was
joined by several relatives called HALPERN and three more Pruzana Jews. In 1920
or 1921, Moshe-Aaron came to visit his family and brought gifts with him money
and regards to the inhabitants of Pruzana from their relatives in the United
States.
From morning to
night, people came to my grandfather's home (Hananya AVERBUCH). He lived in 12
Sherschev Street where my uncle stayed and people came to receive greetings and
money from their relatives in New York and its environs. My uncle visited Rabbi
David FAYGENBAUM, may his blood be avenged, to clarify what the Pruzana
organization could do to help residents in need of financial aid. When my uncle
returned to New York, he reported to the organization about his talk with the
rabbi. It was agreed that a sum of money be sent each year to the rabbi for the
purpose of "Passover charity". My grandfather and father and a few
more inhabitants would divide up the money to poor families, according to need.
It is very hard
to believe that there are no more than three Jewish families in Pruzana. This
is what my brother told me when he visited my home in Atlanta, Georgia in 1969.