Israel – President Shimon Peres received a special gift from Belarus’ Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, who arrived in Israel on a private visit: A list of Jews executed by the Nazis in his childhood town of Valozhyn.
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The list includes 22 of the president’s paternal and maternal relatives, from the Persky and Meltzer families.
“It’s amazing and emotionally moving at the same time,” Peres said while reviewing the list. He immediately recognized the names, some of whom were his classmates.
The document describes how hundreds of Jews were assembled in huge pits they were forced to dig on their own – and were shot. The injured were buried alive.
In a separate incident, a synagogue was set on fire with 400 Jews inside, including the community rabbi, Zvi Meltzer, Peres’ maternal grandfather.
Peres was a talmid of his grandfather, and he was descended from Rav Chaim Volozhin himself. His parents were not frum, but he was when he was younger and even smashed his father’s radio when he saw it was used on Shabbos.
He like me is a ben acher ben of R’ chaim Voloshin.
These are my cousins too. Hashem yinkom es damam. May they be maleitzei yosher for us all………..
Is there anyone else who wishes to claim a ‘yichus’ with Shimon Peres? Is Lauren Bacall in the house?
I have Yichus with David Ben Gurian. My grandmother and he were 1st cousins. They lived in the same Shtetel in Pollard. Does anyone remember what was the name of that Shetetel? Thanks.