Dear Genners,

I've received a bunch of birth, marriage and death records of my Kolomea
family (thanks to the JRI-PL team). Deciphering the documents is not easy,
as they are written in Polish and German, the registrars' cursive
handwriting sometimes is almost illegible and some of the copies are of poor
quality. The records date >from the 1880's and 1890's.

I'd appreciate getting some help on the following questions:

1.) Marriage records:
a. Rabbi Jacob Thumim, who performed the marriages (column 5 in the
records), was referred to as "rabin szkolnik". What does "szkolnik" mean? A
"melamed" (teacher)?
b. In the marriage records of my g.g.g.parents, Meir LEDERFEIND
(1825-1898) and Feige BRENNER (1834-1899), I found the home town of Feige's
family: (Upper) Majdana or Majdnie. Does anyone know this town?

2.) Birth records:
a. In the last column of the record ("Comments") is a statement that
could mean something like: "I, father's name, declare this child to be
mine." Is it right?

3.) Addresses:
a. In the records no street names are mentioned. Kolomea was a
fairly large town. Could it be that towards the end of the 19th century
there were no street names?
b. Instead of street names there were house numbers, e.g., 364 1/4.
I figure out that 1/4 means 1st flat of 4 flats in that house. Is it so?

4.) EIFERMAN >from Jerusalem, Palestine:
a. In the birth record of my g.mother, Taube PALKER (born 1881) is
written, that her mother's parents are Chaim and Rifka EIFERMAN >from
Jerusalem. Other records mention they were >from Palestine. Does this make
sense? How do you explain this?

Thank you for your help and your patience,

Elisha Amidan
Yokneam Village, Israel

Dear Genners,

I've received a bunch of birth, marriage and death records of my Kolomea
family (thanks to the JRI-PL team). Deciphering the documents is not easy,
as they are written in Polish and German, the registrars' cursive
handwriting sometimes is almost illegible and some of the copies are of poor
quality. The records date >from the 1880's and 1890's.

I'd appreciate getting some help on the following questions:

1.) Marriage records:
a. Rabbi Jacob Thumim, who performed the marriages (column 5 in the
records), was referred to as "rabin szkolnik". What does "szkolnik" mean? A
"melamed" (teacher)?
b. In the marriage records of my g.g.g.parents, Meir LEDERFEIND
(1825-1898) and Feige BRENNER (1834-1899), I found the home town of Feige's
family: (Upper) Majdana or Majdnie. Does anyone know this town?

2.) Birth records:
a. In the last column of the record ("Comments") is a statement that
could mean something like: "I, father's name, declare this child to be
mine." Is it right?

3.) Addresses:
a. In the records no street names are mentioned. Kolomea was a
fairly large town. Could it be that towards the end of the 19th century
there were no street names?
b. Instead of street names there were house numbers, e.g., 364 1/4.
I figure out that 1/4 means 1st flat of 4 flats in that house. Is it so?

4.) EIFERMAN >from Jerusalem, Palestine:
a. In the birth record of my g.mother, Taube PALKER (born 1881) is
written, that her mother's parents are Chaim and Rifka EIFERMAN >from
Jerusalem. Other records mention they were >from Palestine. Does this make
sense? How do you explain this?

Thank you for your help and your patience,

Elisha Amidan
Yokneam Village, Israel

Dear Lviv Area Researchers:

Zniesienie is a name not easily pronounced. However, the records
registered in this town during the period when our ancestors lived there
could be a treasure trove of information for any researcher doing work
in the Lviv area of the Ukraine. Zniesienie is located 2.5 miles
Northeast of Lviv. The proximity to the city of Lviv can be seen on the
1938 street map, "Lviv Streets" (10 "B") on the Lviv website
(http://www.shtetlinks.Jewishgen.org/lviv/lviv.html).

What makes this town's records so important and exciting is that the
Zniesienie records encompass many of the smaller shtetls around Lviv.

Many researchers had been under the impression that all of the records
for the residents of the city of Lviv are in the Lviv city vital records
collection. Errol Schneegurt has since found out, through his personal
research, that the Lviv records do not always have the records for all
the residents of the city. A case in point - Errol found a reference to
a civil record of the marriage of his great grandparents that took place
some 16 years after the religious marriage took place. The bride and
groom both lived in Lviv. However, the marriage was recorded in the
marriage registers of Zniesienie.

The cost to have all of the records indexed and added to in the
JR-Poland online database is about $3,000. This is a small price to pay
to reap the rewards that this project may hold. It would be far better
to spend your research funds building this database than to search for
records, on a hit and miss basis, in archives where you think the data
is housed.

Some of the shtetls included in the Zniesienie records collection are:

Bilohorszcze, Brzuchowice, Domaszer, Dublany, Grzeda, Grzybowice,
Hamulec, Holosko Male, Holosko Wielkie, Kaltwasser, Kamienopol,
Kleparow, Kosciejow, Kozice, Krzywczyce, Kulparkow, Laszki Murowane,
Malechow, Persenkowka, Prusy, Rudno, Rzesna Polska, Rzesna Ruska,
Sichow, Signiowka, Sroki Lwowskie, Wulka, Zamarstynow, Zarudec, Zaszkow,
Zawadow, Zboiska, Zielow, Zimna Woda, Zimno Wodka, Zniesienie, Zornska,
Zydatycze

The Zniesienie records available at the AGAD Archive are as follows,

Births: 1871 - 1903 approx. 10,000 records
Deaths: 1877 - 1903 approx. 4,500
Marriages: 1872, 1877-78, 1882-84, 1886-1904 approx. 1,200 records

It would be great if we could fund this project before the year is out
so another light can be lit in memory of those that passed before us. Do
it as a Chanukah gift to our families.

Contributions to this and other JRI-Poland projects are tax deductible
in the US and Canada. Please consider a contribution to the
AGAD-Zniesienie project. Information on contributing can be found at
http://www.jri-poland.org/visa.htm. Please make sure to identify your
contribution for AGAD-Zniesienie.

A donation of $75 or more will qualify you to receive the original Excel
file of the indices. The Excel file provides access to the indices
before they are placed online and allows you to sort and analyze the
data in ways that cannot be done online.

The indexing will not begin until 75% of the funds (about $2,300) needed
to complete the project are contributed.

The AGAD record indices contained in the JRI-Poland database would not
be accessible to researchers without our host, JewishGen. JewishGen and
JRI-Poland are separate, independent organizations worthy of your
support. In addition to your contribution to the AGAD Zniesienie Project
that supports indexing of the records, please give to the JewishGen
General Fund to help defray the cost of maintaining these records on the
Internet. An easily accessible contribution form is available at
http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen-erosity/v_projectslist.asp?project_cat=7

Errol Schneegurt, Zniesienie Town Leader lvivburial@aol.com
Mark Halpern, AGAD Archive Coordinator mark@halpern.com

Dear Lviv Area Researchers:

Zniesienie is a name not easily pronounced. However, the records
registered in this town during the period when our ancestors lived there
could be a treasure trove of information for any researcher doing work
in the Lviv area of the Ukraine. Zniesienie is located 2.5 miles
Northeast of Lviv. The proximity to the city of Lviv can be seen on the
1938 street map, "Lviv Streets" (10 "B") on the Lviv website
(http://www.shtetlinks.Jewishgen.org/lviv/lviv.html).

What makes this town's records so important and exciting is that the
Zniesienie records encompass many of the smaller shtetls around Lviv.

Many researchers had been under the impression that all of the records
for the residents of the city of Lviv are in the Lviv city vital records
collection. Errol Schneegurt has since found out, through his personal
research, that the Lviv records do not always have the records for all
the residents of the city. A case in point - Errol found a reference to
a civil record of the marriage of his great grandparents that took place
some 16 years after the religious marriage took place. The bride and
groom both lived in Lviv. However, the marriage was recorded in the
marriage registers of Zniesienie.

The cost to have all of the records indexed and added to in the
JR-Poland online database is about $3,000. This is a small price to pay
to reap the rewards that this project may hold. It would be far better
to spend your research funds building this database than to search for
records, on a hit and miss basis, in archives where you think the data
is housed.

Some of the shtetls included in the Zniesienie records collection are:

Bilohorszcze, Brzuchowice, Domaszer, Dublany, Grzeda, Grzybowice,
Hamulec, Holosko Male, Holosko Wielkie, Kaltwasser, Kamienopol,
Kleparow, Kosciejow, Kozice, Krzywczyce, Kulparkow, Laszki Murowane,
Malechow, Persenkowka, Prusy, Rudno, Rzesna Polska, Rzesna Ruska,
Sichow, Signiowka, Sroki Lwowskie, Wulka, Zamarstynow, Zarudec, Zaszkow,
Zawadow, Zboiska, Zielow, Zimna Woda, Zimno Wodka, Zniesienie, Zornska,
Zydatycze

The Zniesienie records available at the AGAD Archive are as follows,

Births: 1871 - 1903 approx. 10,000 records
Deaths: 1877 - 1903 approx. 4,500
Marriages: 1872, 1877-78, 1882-84, 1886-1904 approx. 1,200 records

It would be great if we could fund this project before the year is out
so another light can be lit in memory of those that passed before us. Do
it as a Chanukah gift to our families.

Contributions to this and other JRI-Poland projects are tax deductible
in the US and Canada. Please consider a contribution to the
AGAD-Zniesienie project. Information on contributing can be found at
http://www.jri-poland.org/visa.htm. Please make sure to identify your
contribution for AGAD-Zniesienie.

A donation of $75 or more will qualify you to receive the original Excel
file of the indices. The Excel file provides access to the indices
before they are placed online and allows you to sort and analyze the
data in ways that cannot be done online.

The indexing will not begin until 75% of the funds (about $2,300) needed
to complete the project are contributed.

The AGAD record indices contained in the JRI-Poland database would not
be accessible to researchers without our host, JewishGen. JewishGen and
JRI-Poland are separate, independent organizations worthy of your
support. In addition to your contribution to the AGAD Zniesienie Project
that supports indexing of the records, please give to the JewishGen
General Fund to help defray the cost of maintaining these records on the
Internet. An easily accessible contribution form is available at
http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen-erosity/v_projectslist.asp?project_cat=7

Errol Schneegurt, Zniesienie Town Leader lvivburial@aol.com
Mark Halpern, AGAD Archive Coordinator mark@halpern.com

About 15 years years ago when I was in law
school in New Orleans one of my classmates was a
Jewish man >from South Africa whose surname was
ROMANOFF. It sounds like your Theodore ROMANOFF
and Raessa (Raisa or Rose) LEVINA (or was it
LEVINOVA? Either way it is a feminization of LEVIN)

Levinova cannot be the RUSSIAN feminization of Levin, only Levina.

As far as I know there are no "Popes" in the
Russian Orthodox church, only Priests, Monks, Metropolitans and maybe Bishops.

Alexandra Alznauer
San Francisco, CA

The Russian word for the Orthodox priest is POP. Hence the error.
Jules Levin

About 15 years years ago when I was in law
school in New Orleans one of my classmates was a
Jewish man >from South Africa whose surname was
ROMANOFF. It sounds like your Theodore ROMANOFF
and Raessa (Raisa or Rose) LEVINA (or was it
LEVINOVA? Either way it is a feminization of LEVIN)

Levinova cannot be the RUSSIAN feminization of Levin, only Levina.

As far as I know there are no "Popes" in the
Russian Orthodox church, only Priests, Monks, Metropolitans and maybe Bishops.

Alexandra Alznauer
San Francisco, CA

The Russian word for the Orthodox priest is POP. Hence the error.
Jules Levin

Doug Mason asked "Was a passport required when an English person travelled

from England to Canada (or >from Canada to Australia) in the period 1920 to 1926?"

Modern United Kingdom passports were first issued in 1915 when the British
Nationality and Status Aliens Act 1914 came into force. It was a one-page
document and contained the personal (sometimes very personal!) description
of the holder, giving the person's shape of face, their features (nose:
large, forehead: broad, eyes: small) as well as their complexion. Valid for
two years and could be renewed for a further four two-year periods. The
passport also contained their photo and signature.

For a full history of UK passports go to http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/history.asp

David Kravitz
Netanya, Israel

Doug Mason asked "Was a passport required when an English person travelled

from England to Canada (or >from Canada to Australia) in the period 1920 to 1926?"

Modern United Kingdom passports were first issued in 1915 when the British
Nationality and Status Aliens Act 1914 came into force. It was a one-page
document and contained the personal (sometimes very personal!) description
of the holder, giving the person's shape of face, their features (nose:
large, forehead: broad, eyes: small) as well as their complexion. Valid for
two years and could be renewed for a further four two-year periods. The
passport also contained their photo and signature.

For a full history of UK passports go to http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/history.asp

David Kravitz
Netanya, Israel

Dear Fellow Jewishgenners,

One thing I did note during many of my trips to Cypress Hills Cemetery, many
of the names are of German-Jewish New Yorkers. Germany is *not* limited to
only Germany. Included is Bohemia and other German speaking countries.

Sincerely,

David Priever
brooklyn1960@hotmail.

Dear Fellow Jewishgenners,

One thing I did note during many of my trips to Cypress Hills Cemetery, many
of the names are of German-Jewish New Yorkers. Germany is *not* limited to
only Germany. Included is Bohemia and other German speaking countries.

Sincerely,

David Priever
brooklyn1960@hotmail.

The two pieces of the birth record require translation NOT >from THE POLISH,
BUT >from Russian. My initial error. Sorry for the oversight.

Burt Hecht



Dear Genners,

I have posted to View Mate an image (in two segments attached for purposes
of transmission) of a birth record of Feige Sandowsky. It is in Polish
handwriting and I would appreciate a translation. The images are VM7118,
VM7119. Please reply privately to burt1933@comcast.net. Thanking you in
advance as well.

Burt Hecht

The two pieces of the birth record require translation NOT >from THE POLISH,
BUT >from Russian. My initial error. Sorry for the oversight.

Burt Hecht



Dear Genners,

I have posted to View Mate an image (in two segments attached for purposes
of transmission) of a birth record of Feige Sandowsky. It is in Polish
handwriting and I would appreciate a translation. The images are VM7118,
VM7119. Please reply privately to burt1933@comcast.net. Thanking you in
advance as well.

Burt Hecht

I am looking for any information about Morris KAIMOWITZ (Moshe
HAIMOWICZ) born in 1875 (?) in Lodz. Morris was married to Bella KAC
born in 1883 in Zdunska Wola. They
emigrated to South Africa in the 1920's. Any information would be very
much appreciated.

Corinne Keller
Switzerland

Looking for KAC/KATZ, Zdunska Wola; KAC/KATZ Tomaszow Mazowiecki;
KAIMOWITZ/HAIMOWICZ (Morris KAIMOWITZ/HAIMOWICZ, Lodz; LAJZEROWICZ/LESEROWITZ Piotrkow Trybulanski;
LITMANOWICZ/LITMANOWITZ Piotrkow Trybulanski

I am looking for any information about Morris KAIMOWITZ (Moshe
HAIMOWICZ) born in 1875 (?) in Lodz. Morris was married to Bella KAC
born in 1883 in Zdunska Wola. They
emigrated to South Africa in the 1920's. Any information would be very
much appreciated.

Corinne Keller
Switzerland

Looking for KAC/KATZ, Zdunska Wola; KAC/KATZ Tomaszow Mazowiecki;
KAIMOWITZ/HAIMOWICZ (Morris KAIMOWITZ/HAIMOWICZ, Lodz; LAJZEROWICZ/LESEROWITZ Piotrkow Trybulanski;
LITMANOWICZ/LITMANOWITZ Piotrkow Trybulanski

In regards to the information of Pesach Ajzenberg.He came >from a shtetl
about 25 kilometers southwest of Lublin.It's listed on a good map and
spelled Belzyce not Belszisze.

Abraham Ajsenberg

In regards to the information of Pesach Ajzenberg.He came >from a shtetl
about 25 kilometers southwest of Lublin.It's listed on a good map and
spelled Belzyce not Belszisze.

Abraham Ajsenberg

Dear Jewishgen,

I am researching the mosaics firm of Oppenheimer of Manchester, whose roots
appear to lie in 19th-century Germany, and would really appreciate some help

from your subscribers. Founded by Ludwig Oppenheimer in 1865, it went on to

decorate numerous buildings, in Ireland, England, France and at least one in
the U.S. They made a specialism of church and cathedral decoration.

Would any of your subscribers be able to help me with information on the
origins of this family ? Ludwig's U.K. census return of 1881 gives his
place of origin as Brunswick, Germany, but his grand-daughter's
autobiography states specifically that his family were bankers, in Hannover.
I would normally discount somewhat a later family document - because we all
know how family memories can be really wrong! - but the details are more
precise, including stating that the family were Orthodox Jews. I have seen
a brief reference to an Oppenheimer bank in Hannover, but not in a reliable
source however.

Oppenheimer family information has it that the founder, Ludwig O.
(1830-1900) came to Manchester to learn English, but fell in love with a
Scottish girl who insisted that he convert to the Presbyterian faith if he
wanted to marry her. He did convert and was apparently disowned by his
family, never seeing them again.

Any help that you can provide, in terms of identifying specific records,
sources or contacts will be very gratefully received, and all contacts will
be acknowledged.

Many thanks in advance,

Michael Holland.

Michael Holland, University Curator,
University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Dear Jewishgen,

I am researching the mosaics firm of Oppenheimer of Manchester, whose roots
appear to lie in 19th-century Germany, and would really appreciate some help

from your subscribers. Founded by Ludwig Oppenheimer in 1865, it went on to

decorate numerous buildings, in Ireland, England, France and at least one in
the U.S. They made a specialism of church and cathedral decoration.

Would any of your subscribers be able to help me with information on the
origins of this family ? Ludwig's U.K. census return of 1881 gives his
place of origin as Brunswick, Germany, but his grand-daughter's
autobiography states specifically that his family were bankers, in Hannover.
I would normally discount somewhat a later family document - because we all
know how family memories can be really wrong! - but the details are more
precise, including stating that the family were Orthodox Jews. I have seen
a brief reference to an Oppenheimer bank in Hannover, but not in a reliable
source however.

Oppenheimer family information has it that the founder, Ludwig O.
(1830-1900) came to Manchester to learn English, but fell in love with a
Scottish girl who insisted that he convert to the Presbyterian faith if he
wanted to marry her. He did convert and was apparently disowned by his
family, never seeing them again.

Any help that you can provide, in terms of identifying specific records,
sources or contacts will be very gratefully received, and all contacts will
be acknowledged.

Many thanks in advance,

Michael Holland.

Michael Holland, University Curator,
University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Dear Fellow Jewishgenners,

What follows is a list sent to me in 1997 by an adminstrator >from Cypress
Hills Cemetery. I was given the number as twelve (12) Jewish sections but
we will all count several more than that. Some obviously (by the name) do
not seem to be Jewish but this was the list as sent to me. In the list many
have known addresses, some do not. I left the addresses out for sake of
space. If you are interested in what else I have for the section, please
email me (brooklyn1960@hotmail.com).

1-Ahawath Chesed Congregation
2-Beth Joseph Society
3-Cremieux Society
4-Isacher Lodge #7 (Grand Lodge Free Son Israel)
5-Levy Lodge Sec. 1
6-Rehoboth Lodge #38
7-Sebulon Lodge
8-Allen Street Church Grounds
9-Cassia Lodge
10-Douglas Star Lodge
11-Jacob Sons #1
12-Noah Lodge Beno. Soc.
13-Reuben Lodge #3
14-Sons of Peace Lodge
15-Aryeh Widows and Orphans
16-Charter Oak Lodge (a/k/a) Herman Lodge #148
17-Ionic Lodge
18-Krakauer Society
19-Novai Zedek Soc.
20-Schaaare Rachmin Soc.

The administrator had asked me to try to ascertain current information on
these organizations in order for them "to develop a program of restoration
in these areas" but it was difficult for me to work on this "one person
show" at the time as it was before I moved back to New York >from Los
Angeles. I did search for possible certificates of incorporation. I found
some documents but never went any further in this.

Sincerely,

David Priever

Dear Fellow Jewishgenners,

What follows is a list sent to me in 1997 by an adminstrator >from Cypress
Hills Cemetery. I was given the number as twelve (12) Jewish sections but
we will all count several more than that. Some obviously (by the name) do
not seem to be Jewish but this was the list as sent to me. In the list many
have known addresses, some do not. I left the addresses out for sake of
space. If you are interested in what else I have for the section, please
email me (brooklyn1960@hotmail.com).

1-Ahawath Chesed Congregation
2-Beth Joseph Society
3-Cremieux Society
4-Isacher Lodge #7 (Grand Lodge Free Son Israel)
5-Levy Lodge Sec. 1
6-Rehoboth Lodge #38
7-Sebulon Lodge
8-Allen Street Church Grounds
9-Cassia Lodge
10-Douglas Star Lodge
11-Jacob Sons #1
12-Noah Lodge Beno. Soc.
13-Reuben Lodge #3
14-Sons of Peace Lodge
15-Aryeh Widows and Orphans
16-Charter Oak Lodge (a/k/a) Herman Lodge #148
17-Ionic Lodge
18-Krakauer Society
19-Novai Zedek Soc.
20-Schaaare Rachmin Soc.

The administrator had asked me to try to ascertain current information on
these organizations in order for them "to develop a program of restoration
in these areas" but it was difficult for me to work on this "one person
show" at the time as it was before I moved back to New York >from Los
Angeles. I did search for possible certificates of incorporation. I found
some documents but never went any further in this.

Sincerely,

David Priever