with a unit of Austrian hussars, and today his grave has become a popular tourist attraction. Legacy The historical Polish proverb "Perish like Berek at Kock" ("Zginął jak Berek pod Kockiem.") describes someone disappearing without a trace. Another historical folk song describes Berek: "This was Berek, famous Jew, Man of duty, righteous Pole. Not with wine, not with swindle but with blood he paid for glory!" Original text: "Był to Berek, sławny Żyd, Człek sumienny – Polak prawy. Nie kwaterką – ni szacherką, Lecz się krwią dorobił sławy!". He was honored by a postage stamp as "A Jewish Fighter for Polish Freedom", issued jointly by Polish and Israeli postal services. According to Derek Penslar, Berek was not a Polish patriot but rather "an adventurer and activist"."Berek was not so much a Polish patriot as an adventurer and activist who sought to enhance his own personal honor as well as that of the Jews under his command. Although Berek is most famous for his service for Poland, in 1796 he proposed to the Habsburg emperor the raising of a corps of six thousand to eight thousand Jews who would be divided into cavalry and infantry units to fight against the French.” Awards He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Virtuti Militari medal and the Legion of Honour with a Golden Cross for his merits. Family Berek's son, Józef Berkowicz (1789–1846), also fought in the Battle of Kock, and later served as a squadron chief during the November Uprising of 1830, during which he also attempted to convince Jewish soldiers to desert the Russian army and join the Poles. Berkowicz later moved to England and wrote a novel. Berek's widow and son received a pension until 1831. See also Jewish City Guard References External links Diapositive: Traces of the Past Jewish Encyclopedia: Berek Joselewicz Jewish Encyclopedia: Josef Berkowicz This Month in Jewish History: September, from the World Zionist Organization 1764 births 1809 deaths People from Kretinga 18th-century Lithuanian Jews Jewish military history Jewish military personnel Kościuszko insurgents Recipients of the Legion of Honour Polish commanders of the Napoleonic Wars Polish Army officers Knights of the Virtuti Militari 18th-century Polish–Lithuanian businesspeople 19th-century Polish businesspeople Military personnel killed in the Napoleonic Wars