The following are unedited excerpts from the " Nadworna Memorial Book",
the Yizkor book of history and remembrances about the Jewish shtetl of
Nadworna written by Schmerler Family survivors after World War II.
I have not been able to determine to which branch of the Schmerler Family
these Schmerlers belong.
It remembers the pogroms of Chmielcki and Nalavieki. Many a victim of those assassins is laid to rest there.
There used to be tombstones hundreds of years old; others, “newer ones”, with names engraved and stylized pillars. On some the blessing palms of the Cohen, on others the candelabrum (Menorah), showing that here a religious girl has been laid to rest. You had to walk around the cemetery - reflect, study and look at the tombstones covered with moss, some of them sunk deep in earth and others bent for old age.
This cemetery has been a real garden of death, overflowing with greenery and flowers which could be better cultivated here than anywhere else. A stooping birch tree weeping over a girl deceased in childhood. Old graves shaded by oaks and pine trees which would tremble even after the winds would stop blowing.
For all that, natures first changes were notable right in the cemetery. Here the first flowers could be found under a blanket of snow, here the first violets would peep up as well as the first flax. Here too, singing birds would build their nest and sing their songs. You could find the most fascinating butterflies. Maybe - there were the spirits of the dead children who reappeared, disguised, in order to enjoy the spring.
Later in autumn, when the leaves would yellow and winds blow over the cemetery, black crows would stop here croaking sorrowfully and heartbreakingly.
When it snowed, the graveyard would be covered in a white blanket. Absolute stillness, with only the wind blowing over the graves.
This cemetery contained two “tents” - made of sandstone, burial places of two Hassidic Rabbis. Rabbi Mordechai and family, and Rabbi Aharon Leib. Rabbi Mordechai was a great and righteous man whose wonderous deeds made him famous past Polish Galitzia into Hungary up to Munkatz. He had followers even in Marmorosch, Sigat, Uzhurut and Barzowo. In the second “tent” Rabbi Aharon Leib, well known for his piety and honesty found his rest. On Hoshha’na Rabbah (the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles) pious Jews and Jewesses would rush to these tents bringing along the “Kwittlach” (written requests) and if - heaven forbid - a godsend punishment such as a disaster or another blow befell them, they would come in order to ask for aid of the righteous.
In this cemetery there is also buried a couple - husband and wife - whose tombstones are connected by a frame - as though death did not part them. The legend says that they were found dead, after a cloudburst lying hand in hand, and so they were laid to rest, their tombstone inscribed “the cloud brought them”, (“die chmary hot sei gebracht).
The cemetery often sheltered the persecuted. At the time
of the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the first of the rebels
and deserters made the cemetery their hideout. The gendarmes looked
for them everywhere, however they dared not enter the cemetery as the deserters
were armed.
You would enter the synagogue by descending steps. as though into a cellar. The reason for this was, in the past, Jews were not permitted to build their prayer-houses above ground, therefore they built underground Once you entered, you could see the synagogue in all its glory.
If this synagogue could talk, it could tell endless stories of the happiness and sorrow of Nadwornian Jews, since its existence.
On the nights of Kol Nidre the light would burst out of the windows of this same synagogue and the wonderous chant of prayer would resound. In chanting prayer the answer would sound from neighboring synagogues the “Kotzkeri” (das Kotzker Schulchel) the old and new Kosowai Talmudic study (dos Kassower) Otonie of Wishnitz and the German (das deitsche Schichel).
From the great synagogue Lazar Rom (Lazer der Biecher) would lift his voice, from the old school the voice of Michel Shoichet and from the new the voice of the Rabbi of Pasierczna, at “Kosower” - Schmiel Kressel and at Otonie - Duzi Rosenhack. In the synagogue of Wisnitz - Mosheh Rosenberg and at the “German Schmiel Samler”.
At Penitential prayers (Selihoth time) one could hear the footsteps of the people on the cobblestones while it was still dark outside; one could hear old Salman Paswek coughing while he would go at dawn, a torchlight in his hand, to “Shilgass” (road of synagogues) and voices would burst forth at dawn resounding form the synagogue, chanting - “Whose every being is in his hand, ... the spirit is yours”
In this same synagogue, various outstanding Rabbis would hold their sermon and the Maggid (preacher) from Bialystock (der Bialystocker stodt maggid) would attend sermons too. There too addresses were heard upon learning of the Balfour Declaration and here the “Tikva” hymn was sung.
Here too the “Jescze polska nie zginela” was sung on the 3rd of May, in the presence of representatives of the government, the Mayor of Androvski, and the city policemen Brilk and Diminizik or Vassil Swischetz.
Return to Schmerler genealogy page.