Given name: Izrael Family name: Kanał (6)

(1)

Was a member of a Zionist youth organization Akiba. Took part in the first fights in the Warsaw Ghetto in January 1943. During the Uprising was the commander of the central ghetto. Died in Auschwitz.

(2)

member of the Jewish Fighting Organisation (ZOB), according to Edelman he went to the Hotel Polski because he returned from the woods and had nowhere to go; the Jewish Fighting Organisation warned him that the Polski Hotel affair was unsafe, joined the Jewish Police on a Zionist organisation recommendation.

(3)

Before the war he was a member of the youth organisation Akiba; deported from Bydgoszcz. Came to Warsaw with his family at the beginning of 1941. After a short stay in the ghetto his parents died - Izrael and his younger brother became orphans. 16-year-old Salo found a job as a helper in a department while Izrael joined the Jewish Police. They found out about Hachszara' existence at Nalewki Street No. 10 and requested to be admitted. Izrael immediately wanted to get rid of the policeman's uniform, but the organisation ordered him to stay in the police and provide help for others. At the beginning of the deportation action he tried to rescue young people. Was in constant contact with other youth orgnisations. On 20 August 1942 on the Jewish Fighting Organization's (ZOB) recommendation attempted to kill Jozef Szerynski - the chief of the Jewish Order Service (O. D. - Ordnungsdienst). The man was shot with a revolver and Izrael managed to escape. After the attmept he did not shave for a while and wore glasses and never put on the policeman's uniform again. Trained young people to use guns. During such training he was accidentally shot. Took active part in the first uprising in the ghetto on 18 January and 19 January [1943] as a commander of the central ghetto. In the ruins of the shelter at Mila Street No. 18 met a few survivors. They went to the shelter at Francszkanska Street No. 22. Left the ghetto through sewers on 10 May 1943 with a group of 30 fighters. The escape was organised by 'Kazik' (Szymcha Ratajzen). Got involved in the Hotel Polski affair, got to Bergen-Belsen, where he was one of the leaders of the 'Chaluc' group. Died in the extermination camp Birkenau.

(4)

Brought up in a religious, well-off family of Zionist traditions. Graduated from a junior high school. An active member of Akiba. At the beginning of the war his family moved to Warsaw. The parents died in the ghetto. Izrael and his brother Salo lived in an Akiba kibbutz at Nalewki Street No. 10. By order of the underground Izrael worked in the Jewish Police until the First Action. On 21 August 1942 he tried to assassinate the head of the Jewish Police J. Szerynski in his flat at Nowolipki Street No. 10 (Szerynski was wounded). It was the first assassination attempt in the ghetto. Before the Uprising he taught ZOB (Jewish Fighting Organization) member how to use guns. The commander of a Haszomer Hacair group during the January Action in 1943. During the Uprising he was the commander of the central ghetto. Crossed to the 'Aryan side' through the sewers. Took part in guerrilla warfare in forests near Wyszkow. In August 1943 sent with a group of Jews who had foreign passports to Bergen Belsen and then to Bergau near Dresden. Probably killed in Auschwitz.

(5)

Srulik, rabbi Kanal's grandson, Noemi's neighbour from Sapiezynsa Street - shot Szerynski.

(6)

A member of underground Akiba, became famous before the Uprisng when he tried to assasinate Szerynski - the chief of the Jewish Police. After the Uprising was hiding in a forest near Wyszkow. Hoping for an opportunity to emigrate he got involved in the Polski Hotal affair with Elizer Geller.

(2)

Edelman, Marek; testimony 301-5002

(3)

Rufeisen-Schuepper, Helena Pozegnanie Milej 18. Wspomnienia laczniczki Zydowskiej Organizacji Bojowej (A Farewell in Mila Street No. 18. Memoirs of a Messenger of the Jewish Fighting Organisation)

(5)

Judkowski, Noemi

(1) 216,295, (3) 33-34; 92; 117; 125;130-132, (4) s. 276- 280, (5) ,58, (6) 224