KEIDAN E-LIST ARCHIVES, 1997 - Vol. 6
(November-December)
From: aviva m neeman
11/1/97 10:23
Subject:Introducing myself
Hello all Keidaners,
I just joined into the group and am researching the ZILBERMAN family. My
g-grandparents Hirsch Leib and Channa Fruma ZILBERMAN arrived from CEKISKE,
Lithuania to Jerusalem in the 1860's. Preceded them, in 1855, Hirsch Leib's
father MORDECHAI son of Abraham who came from CEKISKE, as well.
At the same time with Mordechai arrived in Jerusalem from Keidan,
Benjamin-Shlomo (Zalman Wolf) WOLFENSON son of Mordechai. Hirsch Leib's
daughter married Benjamin-Shlomo's son, and it was a marriage between first
cousins, so I assume that Hirsch Leib and Benjamin-Shlomo were brothers,
both sons of Mordechai.
Another family I am researching is the family of a woman named Channah who
was married in Janoveh to Feivel GUTTMAN. She wanted to come to Jerusalem
with her family and her husband refused, so she was granted a divorce and,
leaving her baby son Abraham in Janoveh, came to Jerusalem and married
Benjamin-Shlomo (Zalman Wolf) WOLFENSON. I assume that she was a part of the
family too, as marriages were made inside the family, usually. Her son
Abraham immigrated to New York, changing his name to GOODMAN. Abraham son,
HArry claimed that the ZILBERMAN, GOODMAN and a KEIDAN family from Detroit
(in the 1920'-1930's were connected. I know there was a subsequent marriage
between GOODMAN and ZILBERMAN. While all these were my mother's family,
here's something else:
Also, Abraham GUTTMAN (GOODMAN) son of Feivel Guttman and Channah, married,
probably in Lithuania, Henneh daughter of 'Chil-Mich'l and Golda. These were
my g-g-grandparents, on my father's side. As far as I know 'Chil-Mich'l and
Golda GOBOR were from Veksneh, and came to Jerusalem. On their son, Abraham
GIBOR's headstone, on Mount Olives,it stands that he came from SHAD
(SHIN-ALEPH-DALET). Gibor's former name was BRAUDE.
I am looking for more information on ZILBERMAN, WOLFENSON, GIBOR, GOODMAN
and KEIDAN families and the connections between them all. Any help will be
appreciated,
Aviva M. Neeman
P.O. Box 48010
Tel-Aviv 61480
Israel
Tel. +972-3-699 2813
Fax. +972-3-699 3852
E-mail AMNEEMA@IBM.NET
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From:Ada Greenblatt 11/2/97 21:50
Subject: South African landsmannschaft records
I am plan on doing genealogical research in Johannesburg during the week of
Jan. 8-15, 1998 pertaining to my Lithuanian shtetls of SHATT (Seta) and KROK
(Krakes). Can someone in Jo'burg please contact the South African Jewish
Board of Deputies for me to find out whether they will be open that
particular week and what its days and hours of operation will be? In
addition, I am most interested in finding out if they have landsmannschaft
records for the Shater & District Benevolent Society as well as for a
similar society for Krok. I don't know what the name of the Kroker
landsmannschaft would be, but it would probably be something similar to the
now defunct Kroker Benevolent Association in New York.
While we're at it, can someone also recommend a good and reasonably priced
hotel or bed and breakfast in the Jo'burg suburb of Rosemont that is within
proximity to the Jewish Board of Deputies?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Ada Greenblatt
New York, NY
ada.Greenblatt@worldnet.att.net
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Date: Fri, 07 Nov 1997 21:30:16 -0500
From: "A.W.Cassel"
Subject: More Keidan history
Here are another couple of articles taken from the Keidaner Association
of New York, which I have just recently translated from the Yiddish.
They were first published in February and April 1940, during the period
when Poland had already been invaded by the Nazis and Soviets. Lithuania
remained nominally independent at this point, but was under the
"protection" of the Soviets, who annexed it shortly afterward. At that
point, communication between the New York Keidaners and their old home
town ceased.
---------------------------
from "The Keidaner", No. 60, Feb. 1, 1940
Keidan - A Home for Yeshivas
by B. Cassel
In a letter, which Chaim Yedidiah Blumberg writes from Keidan to his
daughter in New York, he shares this with her: "Among the many refugees
from the horrible misfortune that has befallen the Jews in Poland, there
have come to Keidan all the students -- about two hundred -- from the
Mirer Yeshiva together with the yeshiva's headmaster, several rabbis and
teachers."
In a report in the "Morgen Zhurnal" we read further that: " The famous
Lublin Chochmei Yeshiva which because of the Nazi atrocities was forced
to relocate to Lithuania, has now permanently settled in Keidan, under
the direction of the Gaon Reb Hirsh Eisenstadt of Krakow."
>From both news accounts it is not clear whether there may be an error in
the names of the yeshivas: Whether it is the Mirer or the Lubliner
yeshiva which has set up in Keidan, or rather if both displaced
institutions have jointly resettled there.
That the Mirer yeshiva should come to Keidan is logical due to the fact
that the Rabbi in Mir, who also has responsibility for the yeshiva, was
Reb Abraham Zvi Kamai. In his younger years he was the first in Keidan
to open a pharmacy business. Later Kamai became Rabbi in Keidan, from
whence he then went to Mir.
In any event, the news will gladden the hearts of all Jews who
appreciate the importance of this information.
Throughout the Jewish Diaspora, our people have held out thanks largely
to the strength of the yeshivas. From Yavneh to Volozhin, from Nardai to
Safed, through Cairo, Kairvan, Cordoba, Marseille, Altona-Hamburg,
Frankfurt, Mainz, Pavia, Lublin, Vilna, Lida, Slobodka and hundreds of
others. For more than 2,000 years our yeshivas have formed a golden
chain, and thousands of students have collected treasures of Jewish
learning. Riches which individual Jews have acquired been destroyed, but
the treasures that the yeshivas have created have lasted, the property
of the Jewish people. Even though yeshivas have at various times been
destroyed with horrible cruelty, their students burned at the stake with
their books, still their treasures have lasted; because all the while,
whenever a yeshiva was disbanded in one place, another was opened
somewhere else, which continued the holy work of forging the golden
chain of Israel's treasure.
Keidan always was a place of Torah. Already in the beginning of the 17th
century there were yeshivas in Keidan, which were famous throughout
Lithuania. But in the 18th and 19th centuries Keidan assumed a
distinguished place as a center of Torah. The Vilner Gaon studied in
Keidan in his young years (beginning of the 18th century) and later
married into a local Keidan family.
Founded 100 years ago, the Mirer Yeshiva was, along with the Volozhiner
and Lulbliner, among the most significant producers of famous rabbis.
The Mirer yeshiva had among its students also children from England and
America.
And our Keidan, the old home of Torah, has again become the place of
shelter for wandering scholars and the location from which Jewish
learning will flow out, as in the olden times.
We therefore greet with joy the news of the yeshivas' resettlment in
Keidan. We hope their students and teachers will find a good home there,
and that the treasure of Israel will continue to be developed for the
benefit of the Jewish people.
------------
>From "The Keidaner" April 1, 1940:
The Yeshiva in Keidan
Because it was unclear to us whether both the Mirer and Lubliner
yeshivas had relocated in Keidan, we asked our friend, Chaim Yedidiah
Blumberg, who is the second gabbai of the Keidan synagogue, and we
received the following information.
The Lubliner Yeshiva is for the time being remaining in Vilna, but the
Mirer Yeshiva has arrived and is making its home in Keidan. As we had
supposed, (Bulletin No. 60) the Mirer Yeshiva indeed came to Keidan due
to the fact that the head of the yeshiva is the learned Reb. Eliezar
Yehuda Finkel, a son of of the "Elder" of Slobodka, and a brother-in-law
of the learned Reb Avraham Tzvi Kamai, the former Rabbi of Keidan.
Interesting that when the yeshiva had to flee from Mir, Rabbi Kamai
expressed his wish that the yeshiva should move to Keidan, however he
himself would not leave behind his community and remained in Mir. With
him also remained his youngest daughter, Miriam, and his son-in-law,
Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak Kaplan, who was the assistant to the head of the
Mirer Yeshiva.
When the students - around 300 - together with the teachers and rabbis
arrived in Keidan, they were quartered in rooms which had been rented
for them in various houses. They rented out the second floor in
Feingold's building, where Frumkin's apothecary once was, and there set
up a community kitchen, where the students take their meals.
Relocating the location of weekday prayers to the women's study house,
where the people pray three times a day, the town gave over the entire
study house to the yeshiva. To the old reading stands they have added
more than 200 new ones, and the old study house with its rich history
has been revived. The old melodies are being sung by young voices, as
the students of the yeshiva make the old building and the whole
synagogue yard ring once again.
Previously, the Vilna Yeshiva Committee supported them; now they receive
aid from the Joint Distribution Committee and supporters in America.
Naturally, Keidan's citizens also help as best they can.
The students, among whom are children from several countries, even from
America, Argentina and Africa, are very happy with the treatment they
are receiving in their new home. Keidaners are also very happy to have
this new treasure of youth and Jewishness, which has wholly revived the
old city of Keidan.
"Netsakh yisroel lo yeshaker" [The glory of Israel will not fail]. And
the old home of Torah - Keidan - again is made to flourish, and will
again take its respected place in the never-ending history of Judaism.
---------------------------------
Best to all,
Andy
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From: dorrie@icanect.net (Dorie Lurie) 11/9/97 9:23
Subject: Rabbi Abraham ben Chaim LISKER-Ruzinai,Latvia,Rasik,and Keidan.
To introduce myself,I am a 65 year old retired electronic engineer
searching for my connection to the above mentioned Rabbi LISKER. As a child
growing up in Providence,RI,I learned of a famous Rabbi in the family that
was reportedly from Lithuania and it wasn't until recently that I learned
of his residence in various communities within Lithuania during the 1600
era.
My most recent residence was in Utica,NY 1967-1994. Since meeting the love
of my life I moved to Surfside,Fl and am enjoying the fruits of my labor
and having fun piecing together my family puzzle. The name LISKER is sort
of rare as far as Jewish names go, and although I started my quest looking
for just the immediate first cousins,I now send monthly newsletters to more
than 200 mishpoche in the U.S.,Mexico,Denmark,Sweeden and Germany.
Jewishgen has been a great tool for me and the responses to some of my "off
the wall questions" have been answered with professionalwit and courtousy
that have allowed me to move from one plateau to another,even though I do
not posses the ability to read or write Hebrew.
My first question to the group is , Do any of you know of a reason why a
Rabbi would travel from place to place when each of the communities had
their own rabbis.
According to the Jewish encyclopedia,Rabbi LISKER was the author of Beer
Avraham-the Well of Abraham,Mei-Beer-Waters of the well.
I would appreciate any and all information you might come across with
regard to Rabbi LISKER in Keidan.
Thanks in advance
Harvey A. Lisker
Surfside,Florida
dorrie@icanect.net
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Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 21:33:18 -0500
From: "A.W.Cassel"
Subject: More Cemetery Data
Friends,
We've just expanded the Keidaner Cemetery Database by a substantial
amount. Thanks to the untiring efforts of researcher Ada Greenblatt, we
have recorded the inscriptions of more than 2,000 tombstones in
Keidan-related cemetery plots -- in New York City, in Chicago and of
course, in Keidan itself. This is an amazing resource for anyone
searching for family members, and you are all welcome to use it. Details
are available on the Keidan website, at this address:
http://www.philly.infi.net/~awcassel/Keidan/tombstones/cemeteries.html
On a completely different note, I have had some very exciting
correspondence recently with the director of the Kedainiai Regional
Museum, Mr. Rimantas Zirgulis. As I wrote earlier, Mr. Zirgulis is very
interested in learning about Keidan's Jewish history, a desire I have
tried to accomodate by sending him copies of some of my material. I have
also invited him to become a member of this email group. (He works with
an English-speaking colleague, Robertas Paulikas, who has email access.
Mr. Zirgulis has told me he would like to see the old "shulhoyf" complex
of synagogues and community buildings at the center of Keidan's old
Jewish section repaired and turned into a working museum reflecting the
town's Jewish heritage. As those of you who have been to Keidan in the
last few years know, there are a great number of formerly Jewish
buildings still standing there (not to mention the large intact section
of the old Jewish cemetery). But the old synagogues are either abandoned
and in serious disrepair or being used in less-than-gratifying ways
(i.e., as a used-clothing warehouse).
Although I can't imagine that the process would be easy or cheap, I
personally find the notion - of repairing these structures and using
them to teach current Lithuanians and visitors about Keidan's Jewish
past - to be more than a little intriguing.
I would love to get some discussion going here about it; what do you
think of the idea? What problems and concerns do you think should be
raised? What kind of participation, if any, should Jewish Keidaners and
their descendents have? Can anyone suggest agencies, or individuals, who
might have an interest in supporting such a project?
I welcome all your comments.
Regards,
Andy Cassel
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 21:38:29 -0500
From: "A.W.Cassel"
Subject: The Coachman -- more Keidan memoirs
The colder weather has given me the chance to finish some translation
projects I'd left half-done for awhile. Here's one I like, not just
because it evokes something of Keidan a century ago, but because it's a
not-unfamiliar story of how people deal with economic and technological
change ...
---------------------------------------------
>From "The Keidaner" bulletin, Mar. 1, 1941
"The Coachman" (original: "Keidan fun Fartsaytn")
By B. Cassel
Feive Shmiser was the well-established wagon-driver and a person of
influence among the coachmen in Keidan. He had a pair of coaches with
several horses, and used to take passengers from Keidan to the
surrounding towns.
That was all before they built the railroad. When they began building
the rail, he didn't think anything would come of it, assuming that
without a wagon driver people wouldn't be able to find their way to a
strange town.
The railroad was built, and Feive continued to behave arrogantly towards
his passengers.
Finally the railroad was ready: Feive's passengers became fewer and
fewer. He had to sell one coach and a couple of horses, and kept only
one horse and wagon. Making a living became a struggle, and he was
forced to resort to the same trade as the other coachmen, who weren't as
stubborn as Feive; namely, driving passengers to the train station.
One morning Feive Shmiser started out with a wagonload of passengers to
catch the morning train, which left from the Keidan station for Kovno at
7 a.m.
>From his years as a big-shot coachman he was still quite imperious, and
used to scold any passenger impudent enough to suggest to him that it
might be time to get going already. Accordingly, he never figured that
the "choo-choo" was anything he had to worry about; it would never leave
before he delivered his passengers to the station.
But he had driven as far as the crossing where the road to the station
met the railroad tracks, and had just lowered the crossing gate from
under his horse's nose, when the train flew by on its way to Kovno,
rumbling loudly and tooting its whistle as if to sneer at the
dumbfounded Feive and his passengers.
At first Feive and the passengers, as well as the horse, were all
startled by the rude train whistle. As he restrained his nervous horse,
and calmed himself down as well, he remarked philosophically: "Blow,
blow; we'll see how long you blow. In my life I've seen bigger coachmen
than you blowing whistles, and in the end they all died in the
poorhouse!"
And, spitting in the direction of the departing train, he turned the
horse back toward the town.
The passengers exhausted themselves calling down curses on Feive's head;
but Feive, deep in thought, just pulled his had down lower on his brow
and didn't answer a single word.
--------------------------------------------------------
Regards,
Andrew
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Harveylk@aol.com 11/22/97 15:21
Subject: Re: keidan Digest - V01 #58
Hello Andy and fellow Keidaners!
Further to my recent thoughts on why there seem to be no relatives of mine
on the cemetery lists etc, I wonder if anyone has found information from
Keidan on the revision lists, or any census data? Any business/city
directories? (I'm looking for other avenues).
Best wishes
Harvey Kaplan, Glasgow, Scotland
From: Ada Greenblatt 11/22/97 15:54
Subject: The Coachman -- more Keidan memoirs
Loved the story Andy Cassel translated appearing in this newsgroup on
11/17/97 about Feive Shmiser the Coachman from "The Keidaner" bulletin, Mar.
1, 1941, of which I requote in part:
> From his years as a big-shot coachman he was still quite imperious, and
> used to scold any passenger impudent enough to suggest to him that it
> might be time to get going already. Accordingly, he never figured that
> the "choo-choo" was anything he had to worry about; it would never leave
> before he delivered his passengers to the station.
In nearby Shatt they had Hirschke der Hastiker (Hirsch the Fast One). And
how did he get the name? He too owned a horse and carriage and he earned a
living transporting Shatter to the railway station at Zeimiai. Whenever
they had to catch a train to the big city (Kovno), very very often he missed
the train, so he was given the sarcastic nickname of "Hirschke der Hastiker".
Speaking of the railroad to Kovno, does anyone on here know when it was
built and first put into use? Please answer publicly to the list because
such knowledge might help in determining migration patterns. In an 1852
list for Vandziogala at the Kaunas archives, my Greenblatt gggf was listed
as living in Zeimiai; in 1855, 1858 and 1874 lists he was a resident of
Vandziogala; and in the mid-1870's the Greenblatt family moved to Shatt
where my gf was born in 1876.
Ada Greenblatt
New York, NY
ada.Greenblatt@worldnet.att.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 14:14:24 -0500 (EST)
From: RWeissJGS@aol.com
Subject: Re:Kedain Information
Harvey:
Although not Kedain, I do have information from Kelme, a neighboring
shtetl. Families moved around an amazing amount within the area and you would
do well to keep your eyes open to data from other towns. What family names
are you researching?
Bob Weiss in Palo Alto
RWeissJGS@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 15:22:40 -0500 (EST)
From: Ulenspigel@aol.com
Subject: Re: Re:Kedain Information
Dear Bob;
Could you please look for the name "Becker" in Kelme? Would appreciate any
leads.
Thank you,
Bob Wilson
Rochester, NY
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Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 11:07:32 -0500 (EST)
From: BetteJoy@aol.com
Subject: Re: keidan Digest - V01 #60
Dear Bob Weiss,
Just received 24 vital records from Vilnius archives about Keidan families.
For Kelme which you said is nearby, did you discover any JOFEE, GOLDSTEIN or
FEINGOLD records?
Many thanks and best wishes.
Betty
Betty Provizer Starkman, Michigan
BetteJoy@aol.com
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From: "A.W.Cassel" 11/25/97 20:23
Subject: Kaplan connections
Harvey Kaplan: Regarding your search for Kaplan references, I have been
working on translating the essay on Keidan which appears in Berl Kagan's
"Jewish Cities, Towns and Villages in Lithuania". It's a lengthy article
with lots of short sketches of notable Keidaners. I'll put the whole
thing up when I've finished, but I thought you might be interested in a
passage which I came across the other day:
----------------------
"Reb Avraham-Eliahu b'r Avraham Eliahu Kaplan, born here [in Keidan]
1890, shortly after the death of his father, for whom he was named. He
was not a rabbi nor a judge, but his spiritual influence on
Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania and Germany was great. He helped
to establish the Orthodox educational system in Lithuania. He
was also the author of "LaDor", hymn of the "Young Israel"
movement, and was the movement's spiritual leader.
In 1919 he was invited to teach Talmud in Dr. Hildesheimer's rabbinical
academy in Berlin. Reb Avraham-Eliahu posessed sage-like qualifications,
he even carried around with him a bold, magnificent plan for a new
explanation of the Babylonian Talmud. Once when he was asked: What about
Rashi's [explanation]? He answered: Rashi's explanation also requires a
new explanation. The sage Reb Isar-Zalmen Meltzer calls him "the
young giant." Both he and the sage Reb Yehezkel Sarna emphasize
the "holy impudence" of a plan designed to be a new explanation
of the Talmud. The Chofetz-Chaim saw in Reb Avraham-Eliahu the
leader "destined to return the crown to the old [faith?]". His
"Introduction" to his planned commentary in the Berliner
"Jeshurun" is a deep, broad-reaching inquiry all by itself."
-------------------------
Regards,
Andy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: RWeissJGS@aol.com 11/26/97 3:22
Subject: Re: Re: keidan Digest - V01 #60
Only JOFA, no FEINGOLD OR GOLDSTEIN. I am continually adding records and will
keep looking.
Jofa Cyvka Zelman 1816 Census, Family #24
Jofa Etka 1816 Census, Family #24
Jofa Leiba Gecel 1816 Census, Family #9
Jofa Movsha Meier Leib 1816 Census, Family #9
Jofa Shloma Gecel Mark 1816 Census, Family #34
Jofa Zelman Leiba 1816 Census, Family #24
Jofa Zelman Leib 1816 Census, Family #24
Sounds like you have jewelers in your family. My FEINGOLDs are reputed to
have been jewelers to the Czar, and were therefore able to take that name.
Believe they were from Berdichev. Any connection?
Bob Weiss in Palo Alto
RWeissJGS@aol.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ESalen294@aol.com 11/30/97 9:48
Subject: Re: Kedainiai District Archives
Hello Ada. I saw your recent posting to the Keidan group. I am planning a
trip to Lithuania to take place some time in the next year. I haven't done
any research about my family in the materials available in the Lithuanian
Archives. Do you suggest contacting the archives before my trip or should I
wait until I get there and go in person?
By the way, I'm a fairly new member of the JGS-NY and met you briefly at the
conference in Jan. 1995. You showed me how to use the hard copy version of
the JGFF. Glad to see you on this list.
Regards,
Liz Salen
ESalen294@aol.com
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From: Ada Greenblatt 12/1/97 10:55
Subject: Lithuanian research Part I
Recently Harvey Kaplan wrote:
>Hello Andy and fellow Keidaners!
>
>Further to my recent thoughts on why there seem to be no relatives of mine
>on the cemetery lists etc, I wonder if anyone has found information from
>Keidan on the revision lists, or any census data? Any business/city
>directories? (I'm looking for other avenues).
Harvey, have you as of yet written to the Kaunas archives (Kauno Apygardos
Archyvas, Maironio 28A, 3000 Kaunas, Lithuania)? They have such records as
revision and family lists and various other taxpayer's lists, such as Jewish
candle and box taxes. I don't know what they specifically have for
Kedainiai or for what years, but according to the book, "Jewish Vital
Records, Revision Lists and Other Jewish Holdings in the Lithuanian
Archives" by Harold Rhode and SallyAnn Sack, they have the following for
Kedainiai:
an 1868, 1871 and 1872 draftee list
an 1870-74 and 1874-78 kupah tax list
an 1874 family list plus a family list of unknown date
an 1887 homeowner's list
It is very likely that additional Kedainiai lists have been discovered at
the Kaunas Archives since the publication of the Rhode/Sack book in 1996.
Indeed, the Kaunas archives has lists for my shtetls of Seta, Krakes and
Vandziogala that are not listed in the Sack/Rhode book, as some of them were
only discovered on or after July 1996 (including two for Seta that were just
discovered this year).
For further information about the Kaunas Archives, please read the article
on the subject by Howard Margol and Harold Rhode in the current issue of
Avotaynu (Fall 1997).
According to the Sack/Rhode book, the Lithuanian State Historic Archives
(Lietuvos Valstybinis Istorijos Archyvas, Gerosios Vilties 10, Vilnius 2015
Lithuania) contains an 1816 and 1834 reviskie skazki (revision list) for
Kedainiai. And of course this archives contains birth and or marriage
records for Kedainiai for 1822, 1838, 1848, 1849, 1852 as well as birth,
marriage, death and divorce records from 1854-1914 (although they might not
have each type of record for each year).
One caveat though is that even with all these Kedainiai documents, you might
STILL not be able to find your family, based on my own experience. All
American documentation on my great aunt's Levinson family, including
passenger ship records, naturalization records and death records, indicates
that my Levinson's were born in Keidan and that their last place of
residence was Keidan. However, while the above two archives have plenty of
records on Levinson's for Keidan, none of them were mine. Instead, in the
1874 tax list and 1887 family list for Krakes, Lith. at the Kaunas archives
I saw something that looks like it could be my Levinsons based on their
first names (although the ages are slightly off and the three youngest
children, who were born after 1874 but before 1887, are missing from the
1887 list). Yet they are neither in the Krakes nor the Kedainiai vital
records at the Lithuanian State Historic Archives in Vilnius.
Regarding Russian business directories, for Lithuania there is *Vsia
Rossiia* (meaning "All Russia") which is a business directory covering the
entire Russian Empire. I am sure that there are some at the British Library
in London that you might want to investigate, although I have not been there
and wouldn't know exactly what they have. The U.S. Library of Congress, the
New York Public Library and several other libraries have microfilm editions
of the 1895, 1899, 1903, 1911-12 and 1923 editions. I looked at a couple of
them last summer and personally I found them difficult to use. Not only
were they entirely in Cyrillic, but some of them were arranged by
occupation. I won't touch them with a 10 foot pole ever again. But if you
are interested in pursuing it, please check out the articles, "Russian
Business Directories as Aids in Genealogical Research Genealogical Research"
in the Summer 1988 issue of Avotaynu and "Russian Business Directories" in
the Winter 1990 issue of Avotaynu. In case you don't have access to those
back issues, Avotaynu is coming out with a CD ROM of all their back issues
that you can order directly from them. Also, Ted Gostin lectured about them
at last year's Boston Seminar and you can obtain the tape from Repeat
Performances, 2911 Crabapple Lane, Hobart, IN 46342).
Hope that this information is helpful to you. Good luck with your research!
Ada Greenblatt
ada.Greenblatt@worldnet.att.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ada Greenblatt 12/1/97 13:18
Subject: Lithuanian Research Part II
Dear Liz,
Thanks for your kind words about being glad to see me on the list. In turn,
welcome to the JGS-NY! We do not normally hold meetings in July, but we
have recently invited Vitalija Girchyte, chief archivist of the Kaunas
Archives, to speak in NY at a special July meeting of the JGS-NY following
her appearance at the JGS Summer Seminar in LA. While it is up to her
schedule as to whether she will actually accept or not, try to plan your
trip to Lithuania before mid-July (and don't plan it for August when the
Lithuanian archivists are likely to be on holiday).
You'll be pleased to know that your Salensky's buried in Brooklyn's
Washington Cem. are listed in the Keidaner Cemetery Database on the Keidan
website (I read all the archived messages from this SIG so that's how I knew
about them).
I am answering your research questions publicly because they will be of
interest to others on this list. By doing so I also hope that I can drum up
some discussion on this list, as it seems to have slackened off a bit in
recent months compared to the total number of archived messages which took
me two full hours to read.
>I am planning a trip to Lithuania to take place some time in the next year.
I >haven't done any research about my family in the materials available in
the >Lithuanian Archives.
Please see my prior message, Lithuanian Research Part I, for the type of
information that is available for Kedainiai and the appropriate archives in
Kaunas and Vilnius where it would be located.
>Do you suggest contacting the archives before my trip or should I wait
until I >get there and go in person?
By all means, do contact both archives before your trip. This is especially
true for the Kaunas Archives because Vitalija will actually be able to sit
with you and show you what she has on your family. If you can tell her in
advance when you are going to be there, she will have the appropriate books
ready for you with the pages tabbed that contain your particular names.
Then you can either transcribe the information yourself as she translates it
or you can have it photocopied for a fee. Make sure you give her ample
notice. The search fee for the Kaunas Archives is $70, which you must pay
in advance. You can pay by personal check in US dollars and make it out to
Kauno Apygardos Archyvas.
This procedure works out less well at the Lithuanian State Historic Archives
in Vilnius. Chief Archivist Galina Baranova is a fine and wonderful person,
but the amount of research requests that her archives receives will probably
not permit you to have as extensive a session with her as you could with
Vitalija. There is oftentimes at least a 4-6 month wait to receive records
from Galina's archives by mail and when I was there in late May 1997 she was
backlogged from Oct. 1996. So I think it would be better for you to handle
your records request strictly by mail so that she can send them to you at
her convenience, although of course you can stop in the archives and meet
her. Galina's archives contains vital records, so there will be many more
records books for her to search through than there are at the Kaunas
Archives (which contains NO vital records). In July 1996 I sat with Galina
in her office and asked her to please check the Vandziogala record books for
my two surnames of research for that shtetl. She started to look for them,
but it turns out that they were appearing 2 or 3 times on each page -- I
think they must have made up the whole town. It didn't take long before
Galina recommended that she send them to me by mail, to which I consented.
So in Dec. 1996 I received a listing of 80 of my ancestors whose birth,
marriage or death was registered in the Vandziogala records books (including
the death record of my great great grandfather) plus another 18 whose
parents were citizens of Vandziogala, but whose births were recorded in the
books of the Kovno Jewish community (Vandziogala is in the Kovno district,
not the Keidan district). This totals 98 records. Since then, Galina has
found another 174 records of people with my surnames of research from
Vandziogala, Seta (Shatt) and Krakes (Krok), whose birth, marriage or death
was recorded in the Kovno books, including miraculously the death record of
my Greenblatt great grandfather, a citizen of Seta. This is absolutely
amazing that my ggf just happened to pass away in Kovno because
unfortunately Galina's archives contains no vital records books for the Seta
Jewish community itself.
The search fee for the Lithuanian State Historic Archives is $70 per
surname. Make the check out to Lietuvos Valstybinis Istorijos Archyvas and
again you can pay by personal check. After the search is done, you will
receive a listing of the records that you can order for a fee. The cost of
a record is $18 for a photocopy of a record and full English translation,
$13 for just an English abstract of the record, or $5 for a photocopy of
just the record in its original Cyrillic and Hebrew (or Yiddish) script
without a translation. If you go the cheapest route, note that many of the
Hebrew/Yiddish written characters in the Lithuanian records are not what we
are used to and thus it might be difficult to decipher -- they had an
unusual way of making an aleph for example. Also note that some vital
records are only in Cyrillic, not in Hebrew/Yiddish at all. Of the 98
Vandziogala records that I ordered from the aforementioned Dec. 1996 listing
at the rate of $5 apiece, 24 of them turned out to be only in Cyrillic,
which I hadn't expected and which I couldn't read. I had tried to save
money and it backfired on me.
I recommend that you start with the Kedainiai books first, or those of one
of your other shtetls. A search of the Kaunas vital records books takes a
long time, can only be done in stages, and can only be done when Galina has
enough people who are interested in a Kaunas search that she can do them all
at once. There are just too many books and too many years for Kaunas for
her to make a search solely for one person.
In your research request, you need to be as specific as possible. Mention
surname and town, approximate year(s) and type of record that you are
interested in. However, do not give them a whole megilla about your family
history because it is irrelevant for their purposes, although enclosing a
simple family tree wouldn't hurt. Make sure that you mention the town under
its current Lithuanian spelling (i.e. Kedainiai instead of Keidan).
Although I've gotten away with Kovno for Kaunas, one cannot get away withy,
for example, Krok instead of Krakes because it can get confused with
Kruk/Kriukiai. Also, make sure that you mention that it's for the vital
records books of the town's Jewish community, as each religion kept its own
separate books.
Well, that's really all that I can think of for the moment, but perhaps this
information will inititate other questions and comments that can be posted
publicly to this list to generate a discussion amongst the members of this
SIG, especially from those of whom have first hand knowledge and experience
in dealing with the Lithuanian archives, either in person or by mail. Liz,
as I wished Harvey in Part I, good luck with your research! Hope to see you
at the next annual JGS-NY "Beyond the Basics" Seminar on Sunday, March 1, 1998.
Ada Greenblatt
ada.Greenblatt@worldnet.att.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: DJ Jaffe 12/4/97 12:27
Subject: I got a Kick out of Kaidani!
Mr. Cassel:
Wow!
Thank you for an incredible site on Kejdani. I am doing geneological
research and one branch is from Janowa (outside Kovno), and the other is
most likely from Keijdani. Your site taught me an awful lot.
Three quick Questions for you (or your mailing list) if you don't mind:
1. A distant relative remembers writing to a grandmother in "Lithuania"
(circa 1926) who lived in (phoenetically) "Seto Kaidani Opsk",
Lithuania. I assume that Kaidani is Keidan. Is Seto (Szeto?) a town
near Keidan? Does "Opsk" mean anything? I found a town named Szaty, near
Keidan, on an old (1870?) map, but don't know if this is right town. In
addition, would three words in a row (Seto Kaidani Opsk), be the way a
letter is addressed. Any help is appreciated.
2. The family name was Solsky, (according to Jewish Dictionary, a polish
word meaning from village of Sola (Mariampol District) or from the
townlet of Soly (Oshmainy District in Vilna Gubernia)). It is said
individuals w/this name can trace roots to Mirampol, BiIala, Radzyn, or
Warsaw. I have not been able to locate anyone anywhere with this name
(other than those in our branch of the family, some who changed the name
to Saule, others to Sauler). I have info on Solskys but am looking for
others. Do you know any Solskys?
3. Someone else says the real family name was not Solsky, it was
(phoenetically) ZAKCHARNIK. Is there a town ZAKCHAR near Keidan? In
Jewish Dictionary it says Zejgarnik means from Mariampol area. Does
anyone have any info on Zakchar, or people with the family name
Zakcharnik?
Thank you so much. And thanks again for a wonderful site. Even if my
folks turn out not to be from Kaidani,it was wonderful reading about it.
Please respond to djjaffe@aol.com. Thank you
DJ Jaffe
(Feel free to post this on Kaidani mailing list if it might help)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: GORENFELD@vrone.net (Louis Gorenfeld) 12/4/97 19:50
Subject: Hello.
It was with a pleasant start that I happened upon your little site. My
grandfather, Harry Stein, was born in Kovno. He had two brothers, Max and Leon, and
sisters Ruby, Helen and Emma. His mother's name was Edith and I am about
to learn his father's name. He came to America as a 13-year-old, by
himself.
I look forward to learning more.
Warm regards,
Suzanne Stein Gorenfeld, grand-daughter to Harry Stein.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "A.W.Cassel" 12/5/97 21:35
Subject: Keidan synagogue restoration
Fellow Keidaners:
I've previously mentioned my correspondence with the director of the
Kedainiai regional museum, and his interest in the old synagogue complex
there. Here's the letter I received discussing their plans. As I said
earlier, I recognize that this is a complex undertaking, and I welcome
anyone's thoughts.
Regards,
Andy
----------------------
From: Robertas Paulikas
11/11/97 11:41
Subject: Kedainiai
Dear Mr. Cassel,
thank You for Your letter.
I will wait very patiently for Your letters with the history of
Kedainiai Jewish Community. I think that this will be invaluable things
for the whole history and culture of Kedainiai. Of course for us the
most suitable is the English edition, which could be translated and
published to our people. But we are very interested in everything what
is related with the Jewish Community of Kedainiai - photos,
reminescences, documents, & etc. We have already mentioned in our
previous letter that we have only a few things and material about the
Jewish Community of Kedainiai.
It would be very interesting and useful for me to enter into Your
E-mail group, which has some interest in history of the Kedainiai Jewish
Community. This we can do only with the help of Mr. Robertas Paulikas. I
think this could help me to get more information and may be even some
support and help. Because we have already prepared the restoration
project of the two synagogues in the Old market and would like to use
them for our town's cultural purposes.
We think that it could be useful to make in the Biggest
(Western) 17th century synagogue a photo galery and concert hall with the memorial
exposition to the Jewish Community of Kedainiai. The other synagogue
could serve as the Art School for children, and in the rebuilt butcher's
house - the tourism center. But this is still not the final decission
for these buildings. May be it could be a café in the yard of the
butcher's house, which could attract people to this place and it could
have the Jewish kitchen. Or may be one of the synagogues could be used
as a hotel. We would like to hear Your and the E-mail group's ideas and
suggestions about this project.
One thing is for sure that we would like to use these buildings
only for cultural and tourism needs. We would like to make this place lively
and in this way to commemorate the Jewish Community of Kedainiai.
The restoration of the synagogues is a part of the old town's
regeneration project. The calculations for this project is already done
and if You are interested we can get the budget calculations and send it
to You. The main thing is that today our town has no money for this
project.
The value of the total project is a little bit more than 1
million USD. It is a very big sum of money even for our state. But we already have
some hope to get a part of it because the Ministry of Culture promised
to give some money for the project. May be we could get some help from
the former citizens of Kedainiai or from the people who are interested
or have their roots in Kedainiai. The help could be very different:
starting from the things, photos, books, documents, historical materials
and finishing with money. All this could make the background of the
memorial exposition of the Jewish Community of Kedainiai. May be there
are some kind of funds in the USA, Israel and other countries which
could be used to support this project.
In the nearest future, I will send You by mail a photo of the
project, and the other photos with the articles about the commemoration of the
Gaon Elijah of Vilnius 200th death anniversary in Kedainiai.
If You are interested I could send You the copies (to tell the
truth not very good) of the plans (1821 and 1869 and other) of Kedainiai town
where the Jews living places are indicated.
Please write us if You need some photo copies from the "Keidan
memorial book" and historical review about the Jewish Community of Kedainiai. All
this material could be sent a little bit later, because it is necessary
to translate into English.
I also hope to meet You in Kedainiai in future, may be near the
reconstructed synagogues, which will remind You having Your roots in
Kedainiai.
Sincerely,
R. Zirgulis
translator: R. Paulikas
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: aviva m neeman 12/6/97 6:15
Subject: Re: keidan Digest - V01 #67
Dear DJ Jaffe,
Your friends and relatives, the JAffe Family Association, would love to know
how your research is coming on, so please keep us posted.
Was your Zacharniks on your Jaffe side? How much can you tell us about your
JAffe family?
Jaffe FAmily Association
Aviva M. Neeman
P.O. Box 48010
Tel-Aviv 61480
Israel
Tel. +972-3-699 2813
Fax. +972-3-699 3852
E-mail AMNEEMA@IBM.NET
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "A.W.Cassel" 12/7/97 15:28
Subject: A Keidaner's life
Here's another account of a Keidaner who made good. It was sent me
recently by Bill Israel of St. Petersburg, Fla., who is the grandson of
Aaron Weinstein. Mr. Israel wonders if anyone can add to his knowledge
of his maternal family, whose name in Keidan, he thinks was not
Weinstein but Dizun or Dischon, or a variant. Ring any bells?
Regards,
Andy
-------------------------------------
From:
Bill Israel
11/30/97 23:26
.....
While I cannot tell you anything about Keidan you do not already know, I
can share with you the American success story of a Keidaner, my
grandfather, Aaron Weinstein. The following chapter is directly quoted
from a book on the history of Robeson County, North Carolina, published
in 1938. A large section of the book was about prominent citizens of
the county, and one chapter was about Aaron Weinsten of Keidan -- as
follows:
The following is a chapter from the book, Builders of Robeson History,
in the section titled Distinguished Robesonians, published in 1938.
"AARON WEINSTEIN
RUSSIA under the heel of the Czar. A corrupt court; a degenerate
nobility. Political control vested in the army, and in the secret
police whose agents spied upon the acts of all men. Men mistrusted even
their neighbors, for they might be in the service of the secret police.
Summary arrests, prison without trial, banishment to Siberia --- these
were every day occurrences. No Russian of the under classes had any
rights which the army or the police were bound to respect, least of all
a Hebrew or a member of another minority sect. For not only was there
an autocratic government, but there was an official and an autocratic
church, the high officials whereof exercised much power. Restriction
bore heavily against Jew and other minorities, and here and there were
sporadic outbursts of persecution.
At Kadan in what was then Russia, but which is now in the Republic of
Lithuania, lived a cattle dealer Maxim Weinstein and his wife, Bessie,
and to this couple in October 1872 was born a son AARON WEINSTEIN. The
father lived there until his death in 1901 at the age of 86, and there
he is buried. The son had his mother brought to America where he
tenderly cared for her until her death in 1926 at the advanced age of
ninety-eight.
Aaron Weinstein left Russia to escape the hardships of his people and
the persecution of this race. Coming to America when a youth of 17, he
was totally unacquainted with the ways of Americans, their manners or
customs; he spoke no English; he had no money. But he had an abiding
faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; he had courage; he had
ability of a high order; he was anxious to work. Landing at New York he
soon went to Baltimore and traveled Caton county, Maryland for several
months selling merchandise from house to house. Then he went to
Kentucky, traveling over several counties in that State; then he went to
Yazoo county in the Mississippi delta; then to Tennessee; then to West
Virginia; thence he came to North Carolina, which thenceforth became his
home. Here he first settled at Gibson, in Scotland county; then he
moved to Gastonia, but in 1897 he came to Lumberton where where he has
since lived. During these eight years Mr. Weinstein travelled on foot,
with a pack upon his back, a stranger in a strange land, going from
house to house, speaking a broken tongue, trying to sell his wares. And
he did.
In October 1898 Mr. Weinstein took the most important step in his
career. He then became an American citizen, and since then the flag
with the Stars and Stripes waves over and protects him even as it does
you and me. Here in Lumberton he early established a reputation for
industry, frugality, and high integrity. Moreover, he was a friendly
man; a good neighbor; and excellent citizen. Our people naturally took
to him, and he to them. It was not long before he was a popular man, and
the reward of his industry began to come to him in a growing business.
Almost from his arrival he was the leading figure among his own people;
soon he became a leading figure among all the people, gentiles as well
as Jews. He numbered his friends by his acquaintances and of these he
had thousands all over the county. Most people, especially forceful
characters such as Mr. Weinstein, have some few enemies, but I have yet
to hear any man speak ill of him.
Rewards of his industry now began to accumulate and he assumed a
position of leadership in the business life of our town, became an
officer or stockholder in the larger business enterprises, while his own
mercantile business was operated on a ever larger basis.
Nor was he selfish in his prosperity. Many people have been helped by
his kindly charity. Many times has this writer been to him for a
contribution for this charity or that, or for this person or that, nor
did he ever leave his store empty handed. Following the cataclysm of
the World War, then his relatives were engulfed in the maelstrom of the
old world, he spent literally thousands of dollars in bringing relatives
to America and to Lumberton, and establishing them in business here.
Among those so brought to Lumberton by him was his nephew, our fine
townsman M. Shaeman; and many other of his kindred are esteemed citizens
in our midst.
On July 27, 1896, Mr. Weinstein married Miss Rebecca Katzen at
Baltimore. She was a native of Riga in what was then Russia, but her
native city is now the capital of the small country of Latvia. To this
union was born six children: Mrs. Hilda Cohen, of Chicago; Mrs Miriam
Israel, wife of Oscar Israel, well known to Lumbertonians; Max Weinstein
and Israel Weinstein, Lumberton business men, Robert Weinstein,
promising Lumberton lawyer; and Mrs. Mildred Gold, of Rocky Mount. Mrs.
Weinstein died on June 22, 1922, secure in the esteem of all who knew
her. On July 19, 1925, Mr. Weinstein married Miss Dora Stein, of
Bessemer, Ala., who still blesses his home.
Now sixty-six years of age, blessed with a comfortable estate and a
prosperous business; leader of his own people in this entire section;
having the confidence and esteem of our entire citizenship, Mr.
Weinstein should look with satisfaction back upon a well spent life.
And the best years of his life should be those yet to come. I think I
voice the sentiments of all when I say we hope his coming years may be
many.
If the beast in control of the German people wishes to get rid of the
German Hebrews, if has has any on hand who are the sort of man as Aaron
Weinstein, let him send them over to us. Lumberton will be glad to get
them and will be proud to have them as American citizens."
I hope you enjoyed the story of Aaron Weinstein. I knew him well, and
to my personal knowledge, this story is accurate.
Thanks, and regards,
Bill Israel
--
William E. Israel
2015 Dolphin Blvd. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
Phone: 813-343-1652
Fax: 813-343-1652
E-Mail: mailto:billisrael@bigfoot.com
Web Page: http://www.netcom.com/~ukeguy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: hwkeidan@ix.netcom.com 12/8/97 1:08
Subject: Re: Keidan/Weinstein
Sjkeidan wrote:
>
> Hmmmm...
> My grandfather Joseph Keidan was married to Millie Weinstein. They lived in
> Detroit. Does this have any connection for you?
> Sara Keidan
From:
"bert oppenheim" 12/8/97 12:41
Subject: Re: Keidan/Weinstein
I have a Weinstein family from Detroit in my family. Does any of the
following fit?
Descendants of Weinstein
1 Weinstein
... 2 Dora Weinstein d: 1885 in Detroit, Michigan b: 1831
... 2 Isaac W. Weinstein b: 1851
....... +Fanny d: in Detroit, Michigam b: 1853 in Poland /Russia
... 2 Sarah Nederlander Weinstein d: 1887 in Detroit, Michigam b: 1858 in
Poland /Russia
....... +Weinstein
... 2 Max Weinstein d: in Detroit, Michigam b: 1855 in Poland /Russia
....... +Rachel Eppstein d: in Detroit, Michigam b: 1860 in Poland /Russia
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 21:21:29 EST
From: Sjkeidan
Subject: Weinstein
OK Bert,
You can't ask me about people born in 1831 and died in 1885 and expect any
information. My resources are slim and I have no written material. As for
your Weinsteins please give me more information on Isaac W. Weinstein. ie.
what was Fanny's maiden name. Do you have a list of his children? I might
have a match-up for you here in Detroit but will not know without this
information. Again, my resources are slim but I will enjoy the challenge and
have the time to pursue it.
Sara Keidan
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997 23:58:37 -0500
From: eliallon2@juno.com (Eliyahu Allon)
Subject: Re: keidan Digest - V01 #67
"1. A distant relative remembers writing to a grandmother in "Lithuania"
(circa 1926) who lived in (phoenetically) "Seto Kaidani Opsk",
Lithuania. I assume that Kaidani is Keidan. Is Seto (Szeto?) a town
near Keidan? Does "Opsk" mean anything? I found a town named Szaty, near
Keidan, on an old (1870?) map, but don't know if this is right town. In
addition, would three words in a row (Seto Kaidani Opsk), be the way a
letter is addressed. Any help is appreciated."
Seto might be Seta, or Shat, a small shetl close to Keidan. I have no
idea what "Opsk" means.
Eliyahu Allon
eliallon2@juno.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 17:26:26 -0800
From: "bert oppenheim"
Subject: Re: Weinstein
Sarah, the following is all I have, but if you think there is a fit I can
get you more.No Other name for Fanny.
Descendants of Isaac W. Weinstein
1 Isaac W. Weinstein b: 1851
. +Fanny d: in Detroit, Michigam b: 1853 in Poland /Russia
... 2 Anna Weinstein b: 1873 in Detroit, Michigan
... 2 Louis Weinstein b: 1874 in Detroit, Michigan
... 2 Hattie Weinstein b: 1875 in Detroit, Michigan
... 2 Nathan Weinstein b: 1876 in Detroit, Michigan
... 2 Freddie Weinstein b: 1878 in Detroit, Michigan
... 2 Esther Weinstein b: 1879 in Detroit, Michigan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 12:10:55 EST
From: DNH Iowa
Subject: Seeking NAGER (or variants)
I am posting the following query for a friend who is not on the internet.
<>
If anyone has information, please respond to me privately at
Thanks in advance.
Davida Noyek Handler
Co-coordinator, LitvakSIG
Seeking: NAIK/NOICK/NOIECK/NOIK/NOIKAS/NOJIKAS/NOY/NOYEK/NOYK
From: BAZILIONAI, KELME, KRAZIAI, KREKENAVA, LUKNIK, RIETIVAS, SHAVEL,
TELSIAI, TRESIK, UZVENTIS, and VARNIAI
------------------------------
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