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Belitsa, Belarus - Two Articles in the Hartford Courant #belarus

David M. Fox <fox@...>
 

There was a two part article that appeared in the Sept. 19 and 20, 1999
issues of the Hartford (Connecticut) Courant. The article titled "Mitzvah
To Bury The Dead" is a moving story about Rabbi Philip Lazowski, who was
born in Belitsa and escaped >from a ghetto in Zetl and joined the
partisans. The article mentions there are at least a dozen survivors
from Belitsa.
Surnames Mentioned in the Article:
LAZOWSKI
YOSELEWITZ
SHIMANOVICH
LESSER
BORODACH
FEIN
RABINOWITZ
LANGERMAN
GOLDSTEIN

Belarus Locations Mentioned in the Article:
Belitsa
Zetl (now called Dzyatlava)
Dvorets

Part of the account in the article was drawn >from Philip Lasowski's 1975
memoir, "Faith and Destiny".

The two part article has a few photos and maps, but only the text was
found on the "Hartford Courant" website: <http://www.courant.com/>. Hit
search and type in Belitsa. The first part of the article (Sept. 19) is
on the web. The second part should show up in a few days. By the way, if
anyone has family connections in the Hartford, Connecticut area, do a
search on your surnames. You might get a pleasant surprise. The also
have obits in their archives online.


David M. Fox
Reply to: <fox@erols.com>
Arnold, MD USA
Belarus SIG Co-Coordinator


Researching: Minsk: TSIVIN (SIVIN), RABINOWITZ, GUREVITCH, FEIN
Mogilev & NYC: SCHENDEROFF (OV), TSIVIN, SHER, FEITELSON
Rogachev(BYL) & NYC: FYTELSON (FEITELSON), TELSON, COHEN
Popielniki, Dzurow, Banila (UKR): FUCHS, HUDES, MECHLAWICZ, TISCHLER,
LOBEL, LABALVITCH
Belarus SIG #Belarus Belitsa, Belarus - Two Articles in the Hartford Courant #belarus

David M. Fox <fox@...>
 

There was a two part article that appeared in the Sept. 19 and 20, 1999
issues of the Hartford (Connecticut) Courant. The article titled "Mitzvah
To Bury The Dead" is a moving story about Rabbi Philip Lazowski, who was
born in Belitsa and escaped >from a ghetto in Zetl and joined the
partisans. The article mentions there are at least a dozen survivors
from Belitsa.
Surnames Mentioned in the Article:
LAZOWSKI
YOSELEWITZ
SHIMANOVICH
LESSER
BORODACH
FEIN
RABINOWITZ
LANGERMAN
GOLDSTEIN

Belarus Locations Mentioned in the Article:
Belitsa
Zetl (now called Dzyatlava)
Dvorets

Part of the account in the article was drawn >from Philip Lasowski's 1975
memoir, "Faith and Destiny".

The two part article has a few photos and maps, but only the text was
found on the "Hartford Courant" website: <http://www.courant.com/>. Hit
search and type in Belitsa. The first part of the article (Sept. 19) is
on the web. The second part should show up in a few days. By the way, if
anyone has family connections in the Hartford, Connecticut area, do a
search on your surnames. You might get a pleasant surprise. The also
have obits in their archives online.


David M. Fox
Reply to: <fox@erols.com>
Arnold, MD USA
Belarus SIG Co-Coordinator


Researching: Minsk: TSIVIN (SIVIN), RABINOWITZ, GUREVITCH, FEIN
Mogilev & NYC: SCHENDEROFF (OV), TSIVIN, SHER, FEITELSON
Rogachev(BYL) & NYC: FYTELSON (FEITELSON), TELSON, COHEN
Popielniki, Dzurow, Banila (UKR): FUCHS, HUDES, MECHLAWICZ, TISCHLER,
LOBEL, LABALVITCH
Re: Contacting strangers #general

Ernest Fine <efine@...>
 

Yikes, I can't imagine showing up on the doorstep of a stranger!! Hope they
don't have large dogs...!!

I've made a number of phone calls to total strangers, and only once (out of
maybe 20? calls) have I been made to feel unwelcome. In a few cases, I
stayed in the phone conversation a lot longer than necessary, after I
established that the person at the other end was NOT a cousin, because they
were interested in what I was doing with the genealogical search. In one
case, the woman I was talking to indicated that she was going to get one of
her children involved in starting research on her own family.

The biggest problem in calling strangers is that they assume you are a
telemarketeer, usually selling long-distance service!! So you have to
establish your credibility as a genealogical researcher very quickly. And
never call at dinnertime - that's when we receive many of our telemarketing
calls.

Note that many people have caller-ID, and may not answer the phone if they
don't recognize the phone number (again, mostly due to the nuisance
telemarketing calls). For that reason, it's important that you do NOT block
sending your phone number.

Ernie Fine
Vienna, VA, USA

At 02:28 PM 9/22/99 GMT, Kenneth Lang wrote:
Hello -

I've been doing searches on the Web for various surnames in my tree and
have found several matches with email addresses. I have no problem
emailing total strangers for help, but I have reservations about sending
letters.
[snip]
Also, showing up on her doorstep is definitely out of
the question as is making a phone call. Has anyone else faced this
dilemma ? Are my fears unfounded ?
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Contacting strangers #general

Ernest Fine <efine@...>
 

Yikes, I can't imagine showing up on the doorstep of a stranger!! Hope they
don't have large dogs...!!

I've made a number of phone calls to total strangers, and only once (out of
maybe 20? calls) have I been made to feel unwelcome. In a few cases, I
stayed in the phone conversation a lot longer than necessary, after I
established that the person at the other end was NOT a cousin, because they
were interested in what I was doing with the genealogical search. In one
case, the woman I was talking to indicated that she was going to get one of
her children involved in starting research on her own family.

The biggest problem in calling strangers is that they assume you are a
telemarketeer, usually selling long-distance service!! So you have to
establish your credibility as a genealogical researcher very quickly. And
never call at dinnertime - that's when we receive many of our telemarketing
calls.

Note that many people have caller-ID, and may not answer the phone if they
don't recognize the phone number (again, mostly due to the nuisance
telemarketing calls). For that reason, it's important that you do NOT block
sending your phone number.

Ernie Fine
Vienna, VA, USA

At 02:28 PM 9/22/99 GMT, Kenneth Lang wrote:
Hello -

I've been doing searches on the Web for various surnames in my tree and
have found several matches with email addresses. I have no problem
emailing total strangers for help, but I have reservations about sending
letters.
[snip]
Also, showing up on her doorstep is definitely out of
the question as is making a phone call. Has anyone else faced this
dilemma ? Are my fears unfounded ?
Re: Resource Center: Phoenix #general

Mervyn Lakin MD <mervl@...>
 

Temple Beth Israel library now has the ability to serve as a resource
center for Genealogy for the Metropolitan Phoenix area. My wife and I
added many books to their already existing library, after consulting with
Gary Mokotoff, so that Jewish genealogists would have a decent reference
library for their family research projects. In addition there is a copy of
Encyclopedia Judaica available on CD-ROM for researchers. I would like to
suggest that others take this opportunity to develop such resource centers
in their own communities.

Mervyn Lakin MD
mervl@home.com
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re:Resource Center: Phoenix #general

Mervyn Lakin MD <mervl@...>
 

Temple Beth Israel library now has the ability to serve as a resource
center for Genealogy for the Metropolitan Phoenix area. My wife and I
added many books to their already existing library, after consulting with
Gary Mokotoff, so that Jewish genealogists would have a decent reference
library for their family research projects. In addition there is a copy of
Encyclopedia Judaica available on CD-ROM for researchers. I would like to
suggest that others take this opportunity to develop such resource centers
in their own communities.

Mervyn Lakin MD
mervl@home.com
Re: Passenger Lists for New York City #general

Adelle Gloger
 

Dan Kazez writes:

I am confused. At libraries, I find that the New York
passenger list index (soundex) is available for:

1902-1943

But via the National Archives (their paper forms to request
lookups) I find that the dates are:

1897-1948

Are both of these years correct?
When in NYC in August for the conference I went to the National Archives
and looked at the index for passenger arrivals in New York for my
grandfather, Morris STRAKOFFSKY (or any other spelling) who arrived in
1900. After scanning the index until I thought I would go blind, I
remarked that the index appeared to be alphabetized and not soundex. I
was informed at that point that the index for 1897 to 1902 was *not*
soundexed but alphabetized.

So, to Dan and others looking at this particular index keep in mind that
it is not soundexed.

Adelle Weintraub Gloger
Shaker Hts., Ohio
agloger@aol.com
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Passenger Lists for New York City #general

Adelle Gloger
 

Dan Kazez writes:

I am confused. At libraries, I find that the New York
passenger list index (soundex) is available for:

1902-1943

But via the National Archives (their paper forms to request
lookups) I find that the dates are:

1897-1948

Are both of these years correct?
When in NYC in August for the conference I went to the National Archives
and looked at the index for passenger arrivals in New York for my
grandfather, Morris STRAKOFFSKY (or any other spelling) who arrived in
1900. After scanning the index until I thought I would go blind, I
remarked that the index appeared to be alphabetized and not soundex. I
was informed at that point that the index for 1897 to 1902 was *not*
soundexed but alphabetized.

So, to Dan and others looking at this particular index keep in mind that
it is not soundexed.

Adelle Weintraub Gloger
Shaker Hts., Ohio
agloger@aol.com
Re: Redomishel, Galityz #general

Alexander Sharon <sharon@...>
 

Sue Kahana <sue@md2.huji.ac.il> wrote in message

I looked at this map, and found, within the borders of Galicia, 2
towns, not very far >from each other, both called Radomysl, one near
Zawichost and one near Dumbrowna. This still leaves the question that my
husband posted open.

How in the world do we decide which Radomysl in Galicia is the one that
his
folk lived in?

Thank you for your help, but I, at least, am still stumped.

G'mar Chatima Tova.

Sue
p.s. Najman is Spanish spelling for what English spelling would be
Nachman...or nun chet mem nun, to be totally exact.

Sue Kahana
Ein Kerem
I answered this question to Sue privately, but since this question appeared
in the group, I felt to share my observations.
Radomysl near Zawichost, and near old Ruusian border is actualy called
Radomysl nad Sanem (on the River San). this is tiny village, located on the
East side of the river, far away >from all other shtetls, there is nothing
behind the shtetl, but swamps.

The other Radomysl is actually called Radomysl Wielki (the Great Radomysl),
surrounded by other shtetls, known >from it's market place.

Where do you think Jews prefered to reside. In kleinike shtetlach over the
river in marhes or in the Great One?
If you still in doubt, there is another solution. Small Radomysl is located
in Tarnobrzeg province, and the Great One is in Tarnow Province. By writing
to provincial archives of those provinces, one can receive (or not to
receive) birth certificate and the correct answer.

But why is this really so important, in which Radomysl in Galicia person
was born? They are just few miles apart anyway.

Alexander Sharon
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Redomishel, Galityz #general

Alexander Sharon <sharon@...>
 

Sue Kahana <sue@md2.huji.ac.il> wrote in message

I looked at this map, and found, within the borders of Galicia, 2
towns, not very far >from each other, both called Radomysl, one near
Zawichost and one near Dumbrowna. This still leaves the question that my
husband posted open.

How in the world do we decide which Radomysl in Galicia is the one that
his
folk lived in?

Thank you for your help, but I, at least, am still stumped.

G'mar Chatima Tova.

Sue
p.s. Najman is Spanish spelling for what English spelling would be
Nachman...or nun chet mem nun, to be totally exact.

Sue Kahana
Ein Kerem
I answered this question to Sue privately, but since this question appeared
in the group, I felt to share my observations.
Radomysl near Zawichost, and near old Ruusian border is actualy called
Radomysl nad Sanem (on the River San). this is tiny village, located on the
East side of the river, far away >from all other shtetls, there is nothing
behind the shtetl, but swamps.

The other Radomysl is actually called Radomysl Wielki (the Great Radomysl),
surrounded by other shtetls, known >from it's market place.

Where do you think Jews prefered to reside. In kleinike shtetlach over the
river in marhes or in the Great One?
If you still in doubt, there is another solution. Small Radomysl is located
in Tarnobrzeg province, and the Great One is in Tarnow Province. By writing
to provincial archives of those provinces, one can receive (or not to
receive) birth certificate and the correct answer.

But why is this really so important, in which Radomysl in Galicia person
was born? They are just few miles apart anyway.

Alexander Sharon
Pazelva residents list #lithuania

steven weiss <szome@...>
 

A 1941 residents list of the Jews of Pazelva is now online on the Yizkor
Book Project web site. Pazelva was in Vilkomir District, 13 miles East of
Vilkomir/Ukmerge. The list can be seen at:

http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/zelva/zelva.html

Steven Weiss
Chicago
VOLK >from Vilkomir District
Lithuania SIG #Lithuania Pazelva residents list #lithuania

steven weiss <szome@...>
 

A 1941 residents list of the Jews of Pazelva is now online on the Yizkor
Book Project web site. Pazelva was in Vilkomir District, 13 miles East of
Vilkomir/Ukmerge. The list can be seen at:

http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/zelva/zelva.html

Steven Weiss
Chicago
VOLK >from Vilkomir District
Hrapun/ Gorfine/Blumenthal #lithuania

,
 

For many years I have known that my father's last name (Blumenthal) was one
that was arbitrarily chosen in the mid to late 1800s. I have reason to
believe that the name his family was known by in Vilkomir, Lithuania was
Hrapun. Using a soundex search for the last name Hrapun I've been matched
with Gorfine (and the many spelling variations thereof). I'm hoping with the following information someone will recognize some of the names >from a Gorfine tree and help complete my family.

My grandfather was named Herschel. He married Chaya Geffen. They had 7
children. Herschel died in the 1920s. Chaya, her daughters Henka, Peska her son Shlomo and her grandson were part of the 1941 massacre. Her children Jessie, Layka, Kalman and Sidney (Shicky-my father) all left Lithuania before the Second World War. Herschel had a brother named Abraham. He was married in Lithuania to a woman named Pessie. She died and he was then married to a woman named Dora. Their children had almost the same names as my father and his siblings. This branch of the family emigrated to Brooklyn prior to World
War I. Any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

Carol Blumenthal
Lithuania SIG #Lithuania Fwd: Hrapun/ Gorfine/Blumenthal #lithuania

,
 

For many years I have known that my father's last name (Blumenthal) was one
that was arbitrarily chosen in the mid to late 1800s. I have reason to
believe that the name his family was known by in Vilkomir, Lithuania was
Hrapun. Using a soundex search for the last name Hrapun I've been matched
with Gorfine (and the many spelling variations thereof). I'm hoping with the following information someone will recognize some of the names >from a Gorfine tree and help complete my family.

My grandfather was named Herschel. He married Chaya Geffen. They had 7
children. Herschel died in the 1920s. Chaya, her daughters Henka, Peska her son Shlomo and her grandson were part of the 1941 massacre. Her children Jessie, Layka, Kalman and Sidney (Shicky-my father) all left Lithuania before the Second World War. Herschel had a brother named Abraham. He was married in Lithuania to a woman named Pessie. She died and he was then married to a woman named Dora. Their children had almost the same names as my father and his siblings. This branch of the family emigrated to Brooklyn prior to World
War I. Any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

Carol Blumenthal
Glogau burial records #general

Russell Johnson <russell.johnson1@...>
 

Hello,
Some time ago my friend, Jane Lachs, posted for me asking about where Gt.
Glegow, Germany on the 1881 UK census might be. At that time someone asked
what name I was researching as he has partial burial records for one of the
Glagaus (sic). Unfortunately both Jane and I seem to have lost his mail. If
he is out there, could he please mail me as I now know the name I am seeking
(I only had the married name until now).
Many thanks and hopefully,
Best Wishes,
Sherry Landa (in Chorleywood, Herts)
russell.johnson1@virgin.net
APPLEBAUM, GORDON, PULVER London and Anywhere 1900-1950
BAIM, BERNSTEIN, GOLDBERG Leeds 1850-to present
KRAEWSKI Kimberley c1910
LANDA Anywhere, anytime
NEWRICK Liverpool 1850-1900
Re: Hebrew translation #galicia

leibner <leibner @...>
 

Hanna K. Grossman wrote:

After following a lot of different suggestions as to how to receive an
Israeli death certificate I received a fax in Hebrew in which the only
English says "general chevra kadisha-jerusalem"

It is one short page, with most writing in several columns. If someone
would be willing to try to translate-please respond directly to me and I
will snail mail you a xerox copy thereof.

Hanna K. Grossman, Cornwall , CT

mailto:hannakg@snet.net
---
Hello Hanna, please mail me the material and I will translate it for
you.Shana Tova. Shalom Bill Leibner >from Jerusalem
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Glogau burial records #general

Russell Johnson <russell.johnson1@...>
 

Hello,
Some time ago my friend, Jane Lachs, posted for me asking about where Gt.
Glegow, Germany on the 1881 UK census might be. At that time someone asked
what name I was researching as he has partial burial records for one of the
Glagaus (sic). Unfortunately both Jane and I seem to have lost his mail. If
he is out there, could he please mail me as I now know the name I am seeking
(I only had the married name until now).
Many thanks and hopefully,
Best Wishes,
Sherry Landa (in Chorleywood, Herts)
russell.johnson1@virgin.net
APPLEBAUM, GORDON, PULVER London and Anywhere 1900-1950
BAIM, BERNSTEIN, GOLDBERG Leeds 1850-to present
KRAEWSKI Kimberley c1910
LANDA Anywhere, anytime
NEWRICK Liverpool 1850-1900
JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Hebrew translation #general

leibner <leibner @...>
 

Hanna K. Grossman wrote:

After following a lot of different suggestions as to how to receive an
Israeli death certificate I received a fax in Hebrew in which the only
English says "general chevra kadisha-jerusalem"

It is one short page, with most writing in several columns. If someone
would be willing to try to translate-please respond directly to me and I
will snail mail you a xerox copy thereof.

Hanna K. Grossman, Cornwall , CT

mailto:hannakg@snet.net
---
Hello Hanna, please mail me the material and I will translate it for
you.Shana Tova. Shalom Bill Leibner >from Jerusalem
Oshmiany Museum #lithuania

sman@...
 

When I was in Oshmiany last month, I had a chance to meet with Anna Pigotzkaya, the director of the museum in Oshmiany. It is a small museum with exhibits on natural history, the war and resistance, daily life in former times, as well as the history of the town and its inhabitants.

One area she feels is missing is information on the Jewish community. I received the impression that she has a positive desire to include this people, who was an important part of their history. While there are a few Jews in Oshmiany today, they have moved in >from the outside. The community was destroyed during the war.

Today, there is nothing left but the synagogue. The synagogue is now used as a warehouse. Anna is trying to obtain permission to restore the synagogue and perhaps have an exhibit about the Jewish community that is part of the history of Oshmiany. She is having some trouble with this due to economic issues regarding the ownership of the synagogue.

Anna is very interested in gathering information about the Oshmiany Jewish families. For example, I told her the story of my great g-mother who was killed in the 1919 pogrom along with her oldest daughter. I will be sending her videotape of my great uncle telling the story as he remembers it. He was 7-8 at the time it happened. I will also be sending some family pictures for the exhibit.

If anyone has family >from Oshmiany and would like to submit information, pictures, etc. please contact me privately at sman@uscom.com. To me, this is a way of making sure the memory of the community is remembered and not wiped out by those who tried to do so.

Scott Noar
Lithuania SIG #Lithuania Oshmiany Museum #lithuania

sman@...
 

When I was in Oshmiany last month, I had a chance to meet with Anna Pigotzkaya, the director of the museum in Oshmiany. It is a small museum with exhibits on natural history, the war and resistance, daily life in former times, as well as the history of the town and its inhabitants.

One area she feels is missing is information on the Jewish community. I received the impression that she has a positive desire to include this people, who was an important part of their history. While there are a few Jews in Oshmiany today, they have moved in >from the outside. The community was destroyed during the war.

Today, there is nothing left but the synagogue. The synagogue is now used as a warehouse. Anna is trying to obtain permission to restore the synagogue and perhaps have an exhibit about the Jewish community that is part of the history of Oshmiany. She is having some trouble with this due to economic issues regarding the ownership of the synagogue.

Anna is very interested in gathering information about the Oshmiany Jewish families. For example, I told her the story of my great g-mother who was killed in the 1919 pogrom along with her oldest daughter. I will be sending her videotape of my great uncle telling the story as he remembers it. He was 7-8 at the time it happened. I will also be sending some family pictures for the exhibit.

If anyone has family >from Oshmiany and would like to submit information, pictures, etc. please contact me privately at sman@uscom.com. To me, this is a way of making sure the memory of the community is remembered and not wiped out by those who tried to do so.

Scott Noar
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