Pogrom activities, love for an immigrant Jewish girl, remorse and tragic death in an immigrant camp was the life story of Raphael Renner, a Russian soldier, ex-officer who served in the Jew-baiting army of General Denikin.
Renner, who was 23 years old, a refugee himself, made the acquaintance of an immigrant Jewish girl, Sima Silberbord, one of the many Jewish girls on their way to America, stranded in the Eastleigh immigrant camp at Southhampton. His ardent courtship and expressions of love were accepted by Sima only on condition that he embrace Judaism. Three weeks ago he entered the Jewish faith and was married to her.
Since his marriage, Renner was very depressed and expressed regret for having abandoned his faith.
Yesterday morning the camp was aroused by Sima after she found her husband hanging on the tree which had been their trysting place. “Love is greater than everything”, read the note which Rener left.
Sima planned to go to America to join her sister.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
