Korczak prior WWII about leaving for Eretz Israel - If I could go there with all my children, I would be happy!

Klevan (Rivne County) - Hashomer Hatzair activist meeting. Zrubavel Gilad is first from the right.

In our Korczak Archives in Sweden, I found a letter (typescript) from Korczak, written on August 2, 1939*, to Józek (Arnon), in which he describes his meetings with Zrubawel Gilad. At that time, the Doctor was no longer living at the Orphanage, but at 8 Złota Street. It was there that Zrubawel visited him.

I was surprised by the description of their conversation: "/he spoke German, I spoke Russian/ it all worked out somehow," writes Korczak. This indicates that Korczak's German skills were passive. During this period, after his second visit to Eretz Israel, Korczak began to increasingly consider emigrating from Poland. However, he wrote to Józek Arnon about plans for a four-month stay in Eretz Israel**. The beginning of Korczak's letter*** is an interesting thread: For the last two months, I've been outside of space and time. I decided to refresh myself with salt baths in Druskininki and spend a month at a summer camp (Goclawek) as a young educator again.

Korczak wrote in correspondence with Zrubawel Gilad after his return to Israel: 

   -"We are having a beautiful autumn in Poland this year, you don't even have one like it here in Palestine! If I could go there with all my children, I would be happy! That's how it is, my friend."

We must remember that to enter Mandatory Palestine in 1939, one generally required a valid national passport and a specific entry permit/visa. However, the Third White Paper issued in March 1939 drastically restricted Jewish immigration, requiring strict authorization and limiting numbers, making entry incredibly difficult unless you were a permitted immigrant or had special permission. Issuing a new White Paper, Britain capped Jewish arrivals and prioritized Arab consent for new settlers. Of course, there were several restrictions concerning tourists.

It is known that Janusz Korczak and Stefa Wilczynska requested that the leadership of kibbutz Ein Harod issue special papers for them, a form of insurance that ensured they had work waiting at the kibbutz. That was necessary to apply for the Certificate to enter the Mandate of Palestine. It is known that after he decided to emigrate to Eretz Israel in 1939, Korczak met the representatives of the Jewish Agency in Warsaw.

Trzy wyprawy Herszka, with dedication to Edwin Markuze, and with reference to his letter at the end of the story.

It is possible that the Polish translation of the story of "Herszele" (Herszek), which was originally published in 1925 (1926 in Alim). Korczak handed over this never-published story to his friend, Jerahmiel Weingarten, and asked him to translate it from Polish to Hebrew. This short story is about an orphan wanting to reach Palestine. He sets off on this journey three times, but each attempt is unsuccessful. The book ends on a quote from a letter to Korczak written by Edwin Markauze, one of the three Markuze siblings who left Poland for Eretz Israel. First, in 1939 (maybe due to Korczak's decision to emigrate), "Trzy wyprawy Herszka" was printed in Poland, a separate addition to the category of books by Korczak, intended for the readers of Korczak's children's magazine "Mały Przegląd”.

Staff of Korczak's children's magazine "Mały Przegląd” - Georg Leon Glattenberg (top row, second from the left), later known as Ze'ev Harari; Edwin Markuze (top row, third from the left), Lejzer Czarnobroda (top row, fourth from the left), Madzia Markuze (top row, fifth from the left), Igor Newerly (top row, sixth from the left), Ludwig Mirabel (top row, seventh from the left), Kuba Kirstein (top row, on the right), Shlomo Kurzbard (top row, second from the right),
Efraim Rozen (top row, fourth from the right), Dycia Goldgraber (bottom row, second from the left), Dorka Goldgraber (bottom row, third from the left), Renia Herszenfus (bottom row, fourth from the left), Stefa Reif (bottom row, fifth from the left), Irena Librader (bottom row, second or fifth from the right), and Maurici Kotler. 1936.

Hechaluc Hacair (The Young Pioneer), No. 27, Warsaw, January 1938, was a Zionist youth periodical in Hebrew featuring Zionist ideals, youth movement news, and notably, a Hebrew translation of Janusz Korczak's story "The Tale of Herszke," highlighting its cultural significance within the Zionist youth community in Poland before the war.

* A letter (typescript) from Korczak, written on August 2, 1939, in the Korczak Archives in Sweden. Unfortunately, it is unknown who transmitted it, likely from Cesia Arnon from Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz, who said she would be a great-grandmother to my daughters. 

** Korczak was in contact with Sochnut during this period regarding emigration to Eretz Israel. *** The letter written on August 2, 1939, i.e., the "month at the summer camp" was July. Previously, Korczak was in Druskienniki in June. 

*** Druskienniki is a popular health resort located on the banks of the Neman River. Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, Stanisław Moniuszko, Juliusz Osterwa, and Hanka Ordonówna frequented Druskienniki. Józef Piłsudski had his manor house here, the so-called "Pagan."