"Johanan Tartakower was killed in action in the European Theater of Operations on September 29th, 1944. He was one of our best haverim."
He was my friend, too-that is why these words are meaningless to me. I cannot transform and reduce this intangible thing into pitifully inadequate sentences. I can only wonder at the empty space that is left in my life and try to fill it with memories of Johanan and of the days we spent at Kvutza, of the work we did when he was my rosh mahaneh, of the dreams we had together of Eretz Yisrael and "our" kibbutz.
And I can say with a determination which I have never felt before that we must not let the chain of halutzim be broken. We must fill the gap. We must believe in the things Johanan died for and fight for them. Freedom and peace are meaningless if we are not conscious of their worth and do not accept their responsibilities-and freedom and peace must prevail lest future Johanans shall die, lest the Jewish people never find their future.
I shall endeavor to do what my friend Johanan wanted to do-I will try to realize his dreams. That is the best tribute I can give him, and I call to all those others who believe as Johanan did to rouse themselves, to accept the task of the halutz, so that the vision of which Johanan was symbolic shall find new strength and fervor.
Harry Brumberger
Purrows, November, 1944