The Accidental Anarchist (45 page)

Anita Marateck Wincelberg

Author's Note

As the third and final author of this book, I approached the task differently than my parents had when they produced The Samurai of Vishigrod, based upon the first twelve of my grandfather, Jacob Marateck’s, 28 diaries. While they had been faithful to the translation of the diaries, I didn’t have access to the original translation but rather to what my father had done with it, so I began with what he had done and directed the narrative to follow a storyline of which the multiple death sentences formed the spine. The objective was to create an entertaining and enlightening narrative without changing the story.

Creating a cohesive story line occasionally necessitated combining incidents that made the same point. I also eliminated redundancies and corrected discrepancies, and excised chapters or scenes that did not fit with the storyline and were distractions. Sometimes, it was necessary to develop additional material based upon what I knew or could surmise from the text in order to fill in gaps. I also tightened the narrative, while expanding on the dialogue and description in areas where I felt it was lacking. On occasion it was also necessary to relocate certain scenes to better emphasize the point they made. What I hope is not obvious from reading this book is where my grandfather’s or father’s words end and where mine begin.

For contextual understanding, and often to satisfy my own curiosity, I tried to identify some of the historical individuals referenced in the book. (To my great disappointment, I was unable to locate or identify Captain Mikhailoff, my grandfather’s rescuer on one occasion, or “Left-handed Stepan.” I am also aware that some of the names had been changed, but other than Pyavka’s, I don’t know which ones.) Later, by following clues in the text, I tried to figure out the location of the transit camp from which my grandfather had escaped, merely for the purpose of showing, on the map, his journey home from Siberia. Yet none of these changes affected the essence of my grandfather’s stories.

As my mother recognized, it was important to include some background information about my grandfather so that the reader would understand who Jacob Marateck was and how he ended up in the positions in which he found himself. To provide this context, I reused and rewrote some material that had previously been published in The Samurai of Vishigrod.

While my grandfather didn’t live long enough to produce more than a first draft, it is his unguarded, unedited personal thoughts and feelings that give his story its unique intimacy. Although the original purpose of keeping a diary had been to leave something behind for his parents in the event that he didn’t survive the war, what he left, instead, is something that brings each of us closer to his heart.

Bryna Kranzler

Footnotes

Chapter 1

1 Hebrew: Jewish educational institution at elementary or high school level, or beyond

2 As St. Petersburg was known at the time

3 Hebrew: Commentary of the great rabbis from centuries past; focuses on Jewish laws, customs, etc

4 Hebrew: Seven-day mourning period for the dead

5 Spelled, in Polish, Warszawa

6 Hebrew: Refers to any Jewish holiday

7 Yiddish: The Sabbath

8 Yiddish: Member of Jewish Socialist Labor Party

Chapter 2

9 Spelled, in Polish: Wyszogrod

10 A nickname for ‘Ivan’ used as a general term referring to all Russians

11 Yiddish: Supported or ‘kept’ son-in-law

Chapter 3

12 Russian: Province

13 Spelled, in Poland: Siedlce.
NOTE
: The Siedlce pogrom actually took place in 1906, not prior to

Marateck’s conscription in 1902. It is likely that, since he didn’t write down many of his stories until

years after the events described, Siedlce had been the pogrom foremost in his memory, and he had

simply confused the dates.

14 Yiddish: Taken from the Russian word for 'devastation.' Refers to a sanctioned attack carried out against one group of people (such as police) against another group (usually Jews) that involves destroying property, looting and murder

16 Russian-Yiddish: Nationalistic term for a Russian person; someone who is wholly Russian, not a

hybrid with another nationality

17 Russian: Jacob

18 Hebrew: A prayer said for someone who was ill. Here the term is used sarcastically

19 Russian: Authorities, or Officials

Chapter 4

20 In Jewish Folklore, the golem was created from mud, and became animated when the name of God,

written out, was placed in its mouth

21 Chief Minister of King Ahasuerus of Persia (aka Xerxes, 486-465 B.C.E.) who wanted to exterminate

all the Jews in the kingdom, using a lottery to choose the date on which to do so.

22 This Biblical text retells the story of Purim, and Esther and her cousin, Mordechai’s, roles in

preventing the destruction of the Jewish people

23 ‘Purim’ comes from the Hebrew word for ‘lottery.’ The holiday celebrates the Jews’ reprieve from

Haman’s plan to determine the date for annihilating the Jewish people by drawing lots

24 Russian: Colonel

Chapter 5

25 The Japanese attacked the Russian Pacific fleet in Port Arthur, Manchuria (which was of strategic

importance to both Japan and Russia), on February 8-9, 1904. It was the first battle of the Russo-

Japanese War, which Russia formerly declared on February 10, 1904.

26 Respectful way of referring to the Czar

27 Commentator on the Torah (Hebrew Bible), who lived from 1040-1105

Chapter 6

28 The Battle of Liaoyang, one of the major battles of the war, took place from August 24-September 4,

1904

29 A simple biscuit or cracker used during wars, extended seagoing voyages (where they are

known as “sea biscuits,”) or wherever perishable foods would not endure

30 Hebrew: Short for Shema Yisroel, a central Jewish prayer: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God; the

Lord is One”

31 Hebrew: Phylacteries. They consist of leather straps and two square leather boxes, and contain four

sections of the Torah written on parchment

Chapter 7

32 Convicts and Jews made up much of the early population of Siberia, however there was strict

regulation of Jews’ movement and actions. Later, when the Pale of Settlement in far western Russia

became overcrowded, Siberia became the only other location in which Jewish settlement was permitted.

33 Cathay is another name for China

34 Hebrew: The Day of Atonement

35 Aramaic: Prayer said on the eve of Yom Kipper before beginning the service

36 Hebrew: Pertaining to a Hasid, a member of a strict sect of Orthodox Jews

37 Jewish holidays begin on the eve before the holy day

38 Hebrew: A good deed

Chapter 8

39 Hebrew: Holiday commemorating the rededication of the Old Temple in Jerusalem following the

Maccabean victory (165 B.C.E.). The eight-day holiday, which begins every year on the same date on

the Jewish (lunar) calendar, falls on a different date on the secular calendar each year, either in late

November, or December

Chapter 9

40 Yiddish: Prayer shawl

Chapter 10

41 Aka Prince Oyama Iwao, Field Marshall and one of the founders of the Imperial Japanese Army

42 A demonstration by laborers on January 22, 1905 that was initially peaceful but turned violent when

the unarmed workers were fired upon by troops, triggering the Revolution of 1905

43 Hebrew: Psalms from The Book of Psalms

44 For his role in negotiating The Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War,

President ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1906)

45 Pertaining to the Hasidic dynasty originating in Góra Kalwaria, Poland; Ger comes from the Yiddish

name for Góra Kalwaria

46 When used generically, “the Talmud” refers to the Babylonian Talmud, which was compiled in

Babylon in the 5th century. The study of Talmud, great rabbis’ commentaries on the Torah, reflects a reverence for logic in which questions pertaining Jewish law are rigorously debated and analyzed from

all angles with the goal of arriving at a final answer .

47 Hebrew: Prayer said by relatives of the deceased so that the deceased benefits from the merit earned

by its recitation

Chapter 11

48 Polish: Often known as “Angel Wings,” these are ribbon-shaped pastries that are fried and then coated

with confectioners sugar

Chapter 13

49 Hebrew: Inclination to sin

Chapter 14

50 The heroine of the Purim story

51 Yiddish: In Jewish folklore, a malicious spirit of a deceased person that attaches itself to a living one

52 Yiddish: Nickname for Jacob, or Yakov

53 Spelled, in Moldova (located between Romania and Ukraine): Chişinău

Chapter 16

54 According to the Talmud, forty days before birth Heaven calls out the name of a child’s soul-mate.

It is another way of saying, “A match made in heaven.”

Chapter 17

55 Spelled, in Poland, Szczerców

56 Russian: The Russian secret police

57 Russian: An open carriage

58 Originally built as a fortress, The Citadel later became an infamous prison

59 The “Tenth Pavilion” was where political prisoners and revolutionaries were held prior to

Execution

Chapter 21

60 Russian: Carriage or sled drawn by three horses

61 According to the
gemara
(rabbinical commentaries on the Talmud), in every generation there

are 36 individuals who greet the Divine’s presence daily. Later literature suggests that they sustain

the world.

62 I have come across two possible Pototzkys (also spelled Pototsky, Potocki) to whom this might refer: Count Valentin Potocki, an 18th century Polish nobleman, renounced Catholicism and converted to Judaism. For this heresy, he was burned at the stake in 1749, though it is unclear whether this story is factual or legend. Alternatively, this may be a reference to Count Felix Pototsky, who was one of the richest men of the 18th century. He is remembered for having built Sofiyivka
Park
in Uman, Ukraine, in honor of his wife, Sofia of Greece. (It is unclear whether Valentin and Felix were related). Although my

grandfather might have been aware of both of these individuals’ by reputation, the context of the

comment above suggests that he was referring to Felix Pototsky

63 Pertaining to the Hasidic dynasty originating in Mszczonów, Poland; Amshinover takes its name from

the Yiddish name for the town of Mszczonów

Chapter 22

64 Reference sources give various explanations for why Lot’s wife might have turned back to see the

destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but all generally agree that her sin was disobeying God’s

admonition not to do so. Her punishment was to be turned into a pillar of salt because, during her

lifetime, she had “sinned through salt,” that is, she was stingy toward the needy by being reluctant to

share that precious commodity.

Chapter 24

65 Pertaining to someone from Warsaw

66 Under the laws of Orthodox Judaism, a man and a woman are not permitted to be in the same room,

behind closed doors, unless they are married.

Chapter 25

67 Hebrew: The Jewish New Year (literally the “head” of the year)

Chapter 26

68 “Secret Jews” who had been forced to convert to Christianity but still practiced Judaism privately

69 Hebrew: Additional prayer said on Sabbath and holidays

Chapter 28

70 Russian: Taxi driver

71 Yiddish: Synagogue

Chapter 29

72 Yiddish: Tavern, or bar

73 Yiddish: Beggar (implies ‘professional’ beggar)

Chapter 30

74 Yiddish and German: A person of influence; a big shot

75 The Günzburgs were Russian-Jewish philanthropists

76 A traditional Jewish New Year’s blessing