Sixth Generation

180. Ari Leib SOLSKI⁶⁹ resided in Kasli, Chelyabinsk, Russia before 1938.^{69 68} Years that I Will Never Forget from the Yizkor Book for Jonava
by Aryeh Solsky

Our family lived in Jonava for several generations.
We moved to Russia at the beginning of the First World War. We returned to the town in 1920 without Father, who had died of a heart attack due to the threats of the N.K.V.D.
I was then eight years old. My mother was the sole breadwinner. It was very difficult. I began to study in the Tarbut School.
The town was then in a period of flourishing, full of life. Every Jew felt as if it was his private home. Sabbaths are particularly etched in my mind. The youth would then go out to the fields or the villages and enjoy themselves in tranquility.
The majority of the youths dreamed of making aliya to the Land of Israel some day. There were often debates with those youths who were sympathizers of the Soviet Union. Indeed, a significant portion of the youth succeeded in making aliya to the Land prior to the Nazi invasion.
My grandfather Reb Yehuda Movshowitz served as vice mayor for several years. His mastery of the Lithuanian language put him in good stead. He participated in delegations to Kovno and in deliberations with government representatives. My sister Malka and my brother –in-law were active in Tzeirei Tzion and sang in the choir. I did not remain in the town for a long time. I came home for every festival in order to enjoy the atmosphere of the Jewish holiday.
The last time I saw Jonava was during the time of the Nazi occupation. I visited for a few hours. I was able to see the atrocities and terror of the occupation. I begged my sister Malka and her husband Tzvi Opanitzki to move to the Kovno Ghetto, but she preferred to remain where she was. After some time, she was murdered in a forest along with the members of her family.
Our family included three brothers and a sister. My younger brother Yitzchak made aliya in 1934, and died of an illness in 1965. My brother Moshe was a teacher by profession, and moved with his family to Kelme. They were murdered there by the Nazis. My mother and I moved to Kovno. Mother died in the Stutthof Concentarion Camp.
One of the experiences which is especially etched in my mind was the laying of the cornerstone of the university in Jerusalem. This was a festive day for the Zionist youth. We went out on a parade in the streets of the town with waving flags, and we sang the songs of Zion. A small group of Bundist youth gathered in the Yiddish school, stood against the walls and sang: (Dance, enjoy, evil spirits. Today is your time). The cruel fate later afflicted all of them: Zionists along with non-Zionists.
I was liberated from the Nazi yoke by the American army. My brother Yitzchak of blessed memory assisted me in coming to the Land. At first, my absorption was difficult. I finally became acclimatized, established a family, and today I am happy.
I will never forget the years that I spent in Jonava. He died. Ari Leib survived the Holocaust and submitted Pages of Testimony to Yad Vashem for the rest of his family.

Ari Leib SOLSKI and Rivka GRABSKI were married. Rivka GRABSKI⁶⁹ was born in 1916 in Marijampole, Lithuania. She died about 1941 at the age of 25.

Ari Leib SOLSKI and Shoshana were married. Shoshana¹⁵⁶ was born (date unknown).

Ari Leib SOLSKI and Shoshana had the following children: