Object numberM2009/039:038
DescriptionA list compiled by Sara Szymenczyk, the mother in law of Dr. Michael Turek, of items in her possession that she wishes to bring with her when she immigrates to Australia. The reverse shows that this document was approved by the President of the local government in Bialystok and that Sara could take these items to Australia. Document dated 3rd March 1947. The items she wishes to bring include: 10 towels, 6 tea towels, 10 sheets, 6 tablecloths, 9 pillow cases, 2 blankets, 1 down doona , 2 pillows as well as clothing and jewellery items and cutlery for six people.
Dr Moses Turek was born 6 June 1908 in Tykocin, Poland, to the Jewish doctor Abraham Turek and his wife Sarah. In 1928, Moses began his medical studies in the Karlov Medical faculty, Prague. In 1931, Moses was accepted into Wilno University, within a strict quota of Jewish students. In 1935, while at Wilno hospital, Moses met and married Raya, a nurse. In 1936, their daughter Ada was born.
After the German and Russian Non-Aggression Pact, Tykocin became Russian occupied and Moses was placed in charge of the new community hospital. Meanwhile, his brother Isaac was arrested due to involvement with the local chamber of commerce and a Zionist organisation. Eventually, Isaac and his parents were deported to a camp in Siberia.
In June 1941, the Germans broke the Non-Aggression Agreement and once again Tykocin became German occupied. On 26 August 1941, all the Jews were ordered to assemble in the main square on the following Monday. Thinking that the Germans would shoot the men but not harm the women, Moses and his brother Menachem sought refuge at the house of a Polish friend.
Eventually they ended up in Bialystok, joined the Jewish community in the ghetto, and worked at the hospital. Hoping to find his family, Moses visited patients in the country side whenever he could. Mr Lupecki, a friend and former patient, visited Moses in the ghetto and devised a plan to sneak him and his brother out.
On 28 January 1943, they escaped by mingling with workers walking out the main gates. The Lupecki's hid them in their barn. But when Lupecki became head of production (of food and crops), the farm was no longer a safe hiding place. They moved to the Chojnacki farm: the owners in their 70s, the farm very rundown, welcomed their help and the two brothers had a small amount of money to help pay for their keep. The brothers moved many times between the Chojnacki's farm and other Poles who risked their lives to hide them.
On 11 August 1944, the Russians defeated the Germans in Tykocin. When Moses and Menachem learned that a Soviet artillery regiment had been stationed in Tykocin to guarantee the town's protection, they decided to go back home. Their father's house had survived so Moses moved in and began searching for his family. He received a card from Siberia, from his sister-in-law Malka Szymenczyk, advising him that his parents and brother were well. From another source, Moses learnt that his youngest brother Gregory, who had joined the British Army, had been killed. By 25 August 1944, Moses discovered that his wife Raya and daughter Ada, along with most of the Tykocin Jews ordered to assemble in the main square three years earlier, were massacred and buried in death pits in the forest.
In 1945 spring, the Jews of Tykocin decided to move to Bialystok to be part of a stronger community. The Polish pro-Soviet Government appointed Moses to organise medical services in the district hospital. He was awarded two medals, the Silver Cross of Merit and a bronze decoration for Victory and Freedom by the Polish Government.
Moses married Raya's sister Malka (as is custom in Jewish law) and a year later they had their first son, Gregory. For three years they stayed in Bialystok, but, eventually, the old prejudices drove the family to Australia. In 1949, they arrived in Sydney. Moses' Polish medical qualifications were not recognised so he retrained at the University of Sydney, studying for three years. In 1957, he renounced his Polish citizenship and become an Australian.
Dr Moses Turek was born 6 June 1908 in Tykocin, Poland, to the Jewish doctor Abraham Turek and his wife Sarah. In 1928, Moses began his medical studies in the Karlov Medical faculty, Prague. In 1931, Moses was accepted into Wilno University, within a strict quota of Jewish students. In 1935, while at Wilno hospital, Moses met and married Raya, a nurse. In 1936, their daughter Ada was born.
After the German and Russian Non-Aggression Pact, Tykocin became Russian occupied and Moses was placed in charge of the new community hospital. Meanwhile, his brother Isaac was arrested due to involvement with the local chamber of commerce and a Zionist organisation. Eventually, Isaac and his parents were deported to a camp in Siberia.
In June 1941, the Germans broke the Non-Aggression Agreement and once again Tykocin became German occupied. On 26 August 1941, all the Jews were ordered to assemble in the main square on the following Monday. Thinking that the Germans would shoot the men but not harm the women, Moses and his brother Menachem sought refuge at the house of a Polish friend.
Eventually they ended up in Bialystok, joined the Jewish community in the ghetto, and worked at the hospital. Hoping to find his family, Moses visited patients in the country side whenever he could. Mr Lupecki, a friend and former patient, visited Moses in the ghetto and devised a plan to sneak him and his brother out.
On 28 January 1943, they escaped by mingling with workers walking out the main gates. The Lupecki's hid them in their barn. But when Lupecki became head of production (of food and crops), the farm was no longer a safe hiding place. They moved to the Chojnacki farm: the owners in their 70s, the farm very rundown, welcomed their help and the two brothers had a small amount of money to help pay for their keep. The brothers moved many times between the Chojnacki's farm and other Poles who risked their lives to hide them.
On 11 August 1944, the Russians defeated the Germans in Tykocin. When Moses and Menachem learned that a Soviet artillery regiment had been stationed in Tykocin to guarantee the town's protection, they decided to go back home. Their father's house had survived so Moses moved in and began searching for his family. He received a card from Siberia, from his sister-in-law Malka Szymenczyk, advising him that his parents and brother were well. From another source, Moses learnt that his youngest brother Gregory, who had joined the British Army, had been killed. By 25 August 1944, Moses discovered that his wife Raya and daughter Ada, along with most of the Tykocin Jews ordered to assemble in the main square three years earlier, were massacred and buried in death pits in the forest.
In 1945 spring, the Jews of Tykocin decided to move to Bialystok to be part of a stronger community. The Polish pro-Soviet Government appointed Moses to organise medical services in the district hospital. He was awarded two medals, the Silver Cross of Merit and a bronze decoration for Victory and Freedom by the Polish Government.
Moses married Raya's sister Malka (as is custom in Jewish law) and a year later they had their first son, Gregory. For three years they stayed in Bialystok, but, eventually, the old prejudices drove the family to Australia. In 1949, they arrived in Sydney. Moses' Polish medical qualifications were not recognised so he retrained at the University of Sydney, studying for three years. In 1957, he renounced his Polish citizenship and become an Australian.
Production date 1947-03-03
Subjectimmigration, lists, possessions
Object namelists
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- document height: 296.00 mm
width: 210.00 mm
Language
- Polish see notes
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Suzanne Binetter