The Zionist Dream
T he cornerstone of Ludvipol’s Tarbut School (Hebrew for cul- ture) was laid in 1930 with an impressive ceremony in the newer part of town. Everyone volunteered time or money, and the school quickly became the jewel of Ludvipol, even though it had seemed like an impossible dream at first. Some people had opposed the school because it would weaken the influence of religious ed - ucation, but my father, a vice president of the school and a major contributor, was excited about it. He was a strong supporter of ed- ucation and saw the school as a jumping board to the fulfillment of the Zionist dream in Israel. Chava, Esther, and I attended the Tarbut School, which was located just on the other side of the home of our neighbors, the Kleinmans. Living so close to school was very convenient. We would get up in the morning, have breakfast, and then rush to school. TWo of my cousins, Boris and Riva, stayed with a family in Ludvipol so that they, too, could attend the school. Tarbut was a Jewish school, and therefore received no financial support from the Polish government. All costs were borne by the community. Tuition was set according to a sliding scale based on family income. A small percentage of Ludvipol’s Jewish children still attend- ed the government-supported school in Selishtch, about two miles away. They underwent ordeals that we at Tarbut did not have to face, sometimes coming home with tom, dirty clothes and broken bones. Students at the Tarbut School perceived those kids as tough. Maybe they had to be tough! torn, Two
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