Joshua (Yehoshua) Urbas
Joshua Urbas was born in Ostrowiec on May 6, 1919 in Ostrowiec to Daniel and Pella (née Goldman).
His siblings were:
Jacob Shimon (b. 1905) -married Mina and later moved to Bendzin where he was murdered.
Mordechai (b. 1907) -murdered in Holocaust
Raizel/Rose (b. 1915) murdered in Majdanek
Jochebed (b. 1919) murdered in Majdanek
Jerachmiel (b. 1921) murdered in Majdanek
Chaim Jonatan (b. 1923) murdered in Majdanek
His brother Aron survived.
His parents were killed in the Holocaust -his mother mentioned by him as being killed in Majdanek in 1942 along with several siblings.
During the Holocaust, he escaped to the Soviet Union, resided briefly in Kyrgyzstan and served in the Red Army. In 1946 he was reunited with his brother in France, then they both went to Israel where he was active in the Ostrowiec descandants committee of Israel . Around 1952, he settled in Canada .
He was the author of “Der Onhoib” (The Beginning), a collection of short stories published in 1970. (photo and introduction seen here on this page)
He met and married his wife, Jeanette and lived in Toronto and worked as a tailor. " In addition to Der Onheib, Joshua contributed to the newspaper A Home in Ulm, Germany.
He was also one of the few foreign authors to be published in Sovetish Heimland, the Soviet Yiddish literary monthly publication.
Joshua and Aron's poems/articles were published in Ostrowiec Yizkor Book 1971. One of Joshua's poems can be seen below .
Joshua passed away on Jan 29 1981 in Toronto.
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Notice of his passing: :https://www.jta.org/archive/joshua-urbas-dead-at-61
Passing of his wife Jeanette: https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/jeannette-urbas-obituary?id=43385970
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Source:
-Ontario Jewish Archives (1) -Ontario Jewish Archives (2)
-his testimonies at Yad Vashem Victims database
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Yehoshua Urbas (from Ostrowiec Yizkor Book, 1971)
Mother, I Can Never Forget You
Translated by: Ted Steinberg
I cannot forget you, Mother, no!
My heart longs woefully for you. I remember
I prepared a bundle to go on the road
--You came forth with a cry, Mother, with a cry…
You wanted at least to have another look at your son
You called out that I should remain
Your hand trembled. You could not say goodbye
Your heart was moved—but your mouth was locked…
Only your eyes spoke, Mama, for a son can understand
Your tears sparkled like pearls and asked to where?
--Be well, Mama. Surely the road will take me
Don’t wait for me, for the days will drag out…
I wander with my bundle alone in foreign places.
By day it is a sack and by night a pillow
A bit of my shirt remains as a reminder
To dry up my bitter tears…
I remember with longing how gentle was your hand
Your heart filled with pain—I feel, Mama, your tears
Your son among strangers in another country
He should not be lost, a star should not be extinguished…
Mother's tears are pleading, mother's tears
May there be peace, peace, may there be peace…
More of Joshua's articles written in Ostrowiec Yizkor Book
Click here.
