Josef Szajn (born on 21 April 1915 in Czestochowa) about his wife Barbara Śpiewakówna, live in Częstochowa and Israel
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An English resume of an interview in Hebrew that took place in Israel, as a partof the Polish Roots in Israel Project. Interviewee name: Josef Szajn
Barbara Śpiewakówna was born and lived in Lublin. After finishing gymnasium, she entered the university at journalism faculty. She did not finish it as she went to Israel in 1934. In beginning of 1940s she married interviewee. She had a brother Daniel Śpiewak who was a colonel in Polish Army. Died in Israel.
Josef Szajn was born on 21 April 1915 in Old Square in Częstochowa from Perl (Paulina) Sztal and Joachim (Chaim) Szajn, both born around 1882 and originally from Częstochowa. He has four brothers and four sisters: Szlamek (born in 1920, killed by Germans as partisan 19.III.1943), Icchak (born in 1921, lives in Israel until this day), Mosze (twin), Chaim, Abram, Meir, Jadzia, Braindl, Ita. His grandparents from mother’s side were Hudys and Jakov Sztal, one of foundators of mykva at Spadkowa Street in Częstochowa. Interviewee’s father had sisters Szlama and Leia, interviewee’s mother had brother Kalman Sztal. Interviewee’s wife was Barbara Śpiewakówna from Lublin.
Interviewee lived for most of his life in Poland on Mirowska Street. He was growing up in very traditional Jewish family. Special cook helped to observe Jewish cuisine. He attended synagogue at 24 Warszawska Street with his father and brothers. Father had a mercer shop and little manufacture on the New Square in Częstochowa. Interviewee attended primary Jewish school at Krakowska Street and Jewish Gimnasium at Dąbrowski Street. He started learning box at the age of 15/16 years. At this time he joined Jewish Society of Gymnastics and Sport in Częstochowa (Żydowskie Towarzystwo Gimnastyczno-Sportowe), because wanted to improve himself as a man. Except for box he was training running for 3000 meters as well. His father, though deep inside proud of his son, never explicitly accepted son- boxer. In 1933/4 interviewee won Maccabi Championship of Poland and was granted a possibility to leave to Israel. He came to Israel in 1935. Except for the sport club, along with his brother interviewee belonged to Aron Azioni since he was in gymnasium. At that time, he said, everyone belonged to it so he saw it as natural to subscribe himself too. In Aron Azioni he learned Jewish dances and singing.
After coming to Israel in 1935, he went to Jerusalem and starting studying there in 1936 at various faculties, with physics as main faculty with specialization in metals.
His university studies were interrupted several times by appointments to various position in many organizations. In 1962 he became director of Sznat Szeirut organization in England (it organized recruitment of young man for a year of service in Israeli army). From end of year 1969 to end of 1974 he was working in Scandinavian countries as director of emigration department of Sahnut. In 1974 he was appointed by the same organization to go to Mezzo America and Mexico. He stayed there until the year of 1977. In the age of 65 he retired.
Since the very beginning of stay in Israel in 1935 he is a member of Hagana Movement. Now he is a person responsible for rest place for people fighting in underground movements in Israel (not only Hagana).
Interviewee’s cousin wrote around year 1952 a book in hebrew which was translated by interviewee. It was a diary of events taking place in Częstochowa Gettho. It was titled “Powstanie i upadek getta częstochowskiego”.
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