Heder was (and still is, in some places) the first school the Jewish boy
went to, and the program of study was the sidur (prayerbook) and the Humash
(the Five Books of Moses = the Torah). Literally Heder means "room".
In Eastern Europe, as modernization began to set in (at the end of th 19th
and the beginning of the 20th centuries), the Jewish communities
"modernized" the Hadarim (pl. of Heder) by expanding the scope of study and
introduced such subjects as arithmetic, reading and writing the common
language, sometimes even a foreign language, for example German.
This Heder was called Heder Metukan, meaning An Improved Heder. The ultra
orthodox did not accept this change at the time, obviously.

Note: Heder Metukan does mean, literally, a fixed (in the sense of
"repaired") room, as Judy was told. But the historical context cannot be
neglected if we aim to understand and reconstruct the life of our ancestors.

Best wishes, Yocheved

Yocheved Klausner, Editor
Sharsheret Hadorot
yklaus@netvision.net.il

Join the Israel Genealogical Society (IGS) and receive Sharsheret Hadorot,
our bilingual (Hebrew & English) quarterly journal.
Society branches are in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Negev (Beer Sheva),
Netanya
Visit the IGS Website: www.isragen.org.il

Heder was (and still is, in some places) the first school the Jewish boy
went to, and the program of study was the sidur (prayerbook) and the Humash
(the Five Books of Moses = the Torah). Literally Heder means "room".
In Eastern Europe, as modernization began to set in (at the end of th 19th
and the beginning of the 20th centuries), the Jewish communities
"modernized" the Hadarim (pl. of Heder) by expanding the scope of study and
introduced such subjects as arithmetic, reading and writing the common
language, sometimes even a foreign language, for example German.
This Heder was called Heder Metukan, meaning An Improved Heder. The ultra
orthodox did not accept this change at the time, obviously.

Note: Heder Metukan does mean, literally, a fixed (in the sense of
"repaired") room, as Judy was told. But the historical context cannot be
neglected if we aim to understand and reconstruct the life of our ancestors.

Best wishes, Yocheved

Yocheved Klausner, Editor
Sharsheret Hadorot
yklaus@netvision.net.il

Join the Israel Genealogical Society (IGS) and receive Sharsheret Hadorot,
our bilingual (Hebrew & English) quarterly journal.
Society branches are in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Negev (Beer Sheva),
Netanya
Visit the IGS Website: www.isragen.org.il

The best translation would be "Modern Hebrew Schools."
Ida

Dr. Joseph M. Schwarcz
Dr. Ida Selavan Schwarcz

The best translation would be "Modern Hebrew Schools."
Ida

Dr. Joseph M. Schwarcz
Dr. Ida Selavan Schwarcz

And Stephen Birmingham used it as a source for "Our Crowd."
Ida

Dr. Joseph M. Schwarcz
Dr. Ida Selavan Schwarcz

And Stephen Birmingham used it as a source for "Our Crowd."
Ida

Dr. Joseph M. Schwarcz
Dr. Ida Selavan Schwarcz

"IsraelP" wrote

We are trying to identify a family member who served in the Polish Diet
between
the world wars. His name was WAJNRYB, but we don't have a given name.

Is such information available someplace? (What happened to him is extra
credit.)

Israel Pickholtz

Hi, Israel,

Mordechai Wajnryb was known Zionist leader in Zaglebie (Zaglembie) region
just before the outrbreak of WWI but I cannot confirn that he was elected to
Polish Sejm (Parlament) during the interwar period.

Alexander Sharon
Calgary, Ab

"IsraelP" wrote

We are trying to identify a family member who served in the Polish Diet
between
the world wars. His name was WAJNRYB, but we don't have a given name.

Is such information available someplace? (What happened to him is extra
credit.)

Israel Pickholtz

Hi, Israel,

Mordechai Wajnryb was known Zionist leader in Zaglebie (Zaglembie) region
just before the outrbreak of WWI but I cannot confirn that he was elected to
Polish Sejm (Parlament) during the interwar period.

Alexander Sharon
Calgary, Ab

Dear Fellow Genners:

Would anyone know if their ancestors ever lived or learned to read and write
English at this place between 1912-1913? I'm trying to figure out something
regarding my maternal grandparents who may have been there in those years
mentioned above.

Thank you,
Katie Sobol
researcher #9386
katie2727@comcast.net

MODERATOR NOTE: "This place" is Jane Addams Hull House in Chicago.

Dear Fellow Genners:

Would anyone know if their ancestors ever lived or learned to read and write
English at this place between 1912-1913? I'm trying to figure out something
regarding my maternal grandparents who may have been there in those years
mentioned above.

Thank you,
Katie Sobol
researcher #9386
katie2727@comcast.net

MODERATOR NOTE: "This place" is Jane Addams Hull House in Chicago.

Dear LitvakSig readers,

The town of Sirvintos has vital records just waiting for us to translate --
but we need more donations!

Sirvintos is extremely fortunate to have birth, death and marriage records

from 1854-1914. The records include approximately 1000 births, 700 deaths,

500 marriages and a few divorces.

Please support this vital records translation effort. Donations can be made
going to http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/donor.htm. Write SIRVINTOS under
Vital Records Indexing Project and the amount of your donation. A $100
contribution entitles you to receive the
translations as soon as they become available.

Also, we have started an informal email list of people interested in
Sirvintos. So, please e-mail me if you want to be included.

Tova Jaffe
Washington DC

Dear LitvakSig readers,

The town of Sirvintos has vital records just waiting for us to translate --
but we need more donations!

Sirvintos is extremely fortunate to have birth, death and marriage records

from 1854-1914. The records include approximately 1000 births, 700 deaths,

500 marriages and a few divorces.

Please support this vital records translation effort. Donations can be made
going to http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/donor.htm. Write SIRVINTOS under
Vital Records Indexing Project and the amount of your donation. A $100
contribution entitles you to receive the
translations as soon as they become available.

Also, we have started an informal email list of people interested in
Sirvintos. So, please e-mail me if you want to be included.

Tova Jaffe
Washington DC

Barney Evans born in Lithuania. Possibly >from Anykst or Kovnov. Son of
Yossel Evans. Brother of : Leah, Maisie and Nathan. He was 15 years older
than the next sibling all the others were born in SA. He married Shelia
and they had 2 sons Michael and Lesley

Leah Evans m Harry Alge in Jhb. Sister to Barney, Maisie and Nathan.
Daughter of Yossel Evans.

Maisie m ? Kibble. Sister to: Barney, Leah and Nathan. Daughter of
Yossel Evans. Mother to Russel and Sylvia

Nathan Evans Brother to : Barney, Leah, & Maisie. Son of Yossel Evans

Heschel or Joseph Evans married Sarah. Brother to Samuel Evens, Yokkel
Evans and Yossel Evans. Came to SA at turn of 20th century possibly via
England. Had 9 children: Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben,
Jacob, Jack and another sister. Father's Hebrew name possibly Nissan

Ray Evans: Brother to Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Heschel/Joseph Evans

Reenie Evans. Related to Ray, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Fatehr was Heschel/Joseph Evans

Laxie Evans. Brother to Ray, Reenie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Heschel or Joseph Evans. Possilby married
Lillliian

Evelyn Evans Sister to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob, Jack
and another sister. Daughter of Heschel or Joseph Evans. Possilby married
Chavie

Abie Evans: Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans

Frank Evans Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans

Ben Evans Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans. Possibly had
a daughter named Cheryl.

Jacob Evans Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans. Possilby
married Barbara

Jack Evans. Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben,
Jacob, and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans

Michelle Essers

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately.

Barney Evans born in Lithuania. Possibly >from Anykst or Kovnov. Son of
Yossel Evans. Brother of : Leah, Maisie and Nathan. He was 15 years older
than the next sibling all the others were born in SA. He married Shelia
and they had 2 sons Michael and Lesley

Leah Evans m Harry Alge in Jhb. Sister to Barney, Maisie and Nathan.
Daughter of Yossel Evans.

Maisie m ? Kibble. Sister to: Barney, Leah and Nathan. Daughter of
Yossel Evans. Mother to Russel and Sylvia

Nathan Evans Brother to : Barney, Leah, & Maisie. Son of Yossel Evans

Heschel or Joseph Evans married Sarah. Brother to Samuel Evens, Yokkel
Evans and Yossel Evans. Came to SA at turn of 20th century possibly via
England. Had 9 children: Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben,
Jacob, Jack and another sister. Father's Hebrew name possibly Nissan

Ray Evans: Brother to Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Heschel/Joseph Evans

Reenie Evans. Related to Ray, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Fatehr was Heschel/Joseph Evans

Laxie Evans. Brother to Ray, Reenie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Heschel or Joseph Evans. Possilby married
Lillliian

Evelyn Evans Sister to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Abie, Frank, Ben, Jacob, Jack
and another sister. Daughter of Heschel or Joseph Evans. Possilby married
Chavie

Abie Evans: Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Frank, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans

Frank Evans Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Ben, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans

Ben Evans Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Jacob,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans. Possibly had
a daughter named Cheryl.

Jacob Evans Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben,
Jack and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans. Possilby
married Barbara

Jack Evans. Brother to Ray, Reenie, Laxie, Evelyn, Abie, Frank, Ben,
Jacob, and another sister. Son of Joseph or Heschel Evans

Michelle Essers

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately.

I am looking for relatives/decendents of PEARL KRAMER Peril bat Baruch
Leib Born 15/5/1894. Possibly came >from Anykst or Kovnov around 1901
or 1904 She had an older sister who possibly moved to Baltimore, USA by
name of Gulan (unsure if this is 1st or surname). Also brother Louis,
Solomon and Maurice Kramer who all came to SA. Possibly other siblings.
The names Barney, Sadie and Maurice are common in the family

1. MAURICE KRAMER possibly born in Anykst/ Kovona, Lithuania. Settled in
Cape Town. Possibly had property in JARMAN ESTATE IN RAGHLAN ROAD,
CLAREMONT, Cape Town in 1951


2. LOUIS KRAMER possibly born 1841 in Anykst/ Kovona, Lithuania. c. Came
to SA at the turn of the 20th century possibly via England. He is the
brother of Solly Kramer and Pearl Evens (nee Kramer) Father's Hebrew name
possibly Baruch Leib. Possilby had property on ALEXANDRA AVENUE,
ORANJEZICHT Cape Town in 1954

Michelle Essers

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately.

I am looking for relatives/decendents of PEARL KRAMER Peril bat Baruch
Leib Born 15/5/1894. Possibly came >from Anykst or Kovnov around 1901
or 1904 She had an older sister who possibly moved to Baltimore, USA by
name of Gulan (unsure if this is 1st or surname). Also brother Louis,
Solomon and Maurice Kramer who all came to SA. Possibly other siblings.
The names Barney, Sadie and Maurice are common in the family

1. MAURICE KRAMER possibly born in Anykst/ Kovona, Lithuania. Settled in
Cape Town. Possibly had property in JARMAN ESTATE IN RAGHLAN ROAD,
CLAREMONT, Cape Town in 1951


2. LOUIS KRAMER possibly born 1841 in Anykst/ Kovona, Lithuania. c. Came
to SA at the turn of the 20th century possibly via England. He is the
brother of Solly Kramer and Pearl Evens (nee Kramer) Father's Hebrew name
possibly Baruch Leib. Possilby had property on ALEXANDRA AVENUE,
ORANJEZICHT Cape Town in 1954

Michelle Essers

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately.

Looking for relatives of Samuel Evens .Shmuel ben Nissan Born 15 Dec 1897
Original surname possibly Evian/Evan. Possibly came >from Anykst or Kovnov
around 1901 or 1904 Known: Brother to Joseph, Yossel, Yokkel, Heschel.
Who all came to South Africa around 1901/04, possibly via England Possibly
had a sister Gulan (unsure if 1st or surnmane) who settled in Baltimore
USA. There must have been other siblings as well


Heschel / Joseph Evans married Sarah. Had 9 children: Ray, Reenie, Laxie
(married Lillian), Evelyn (possibly married Chavie), Abie, Frank, Ben (may
have a daughter Cheryl), Jacob, Jack (possibly married Barbara) and another
sister. Father’s Hebrew name possibly Nissan


8. YOSSEL EVANS Brother to Samuel Evens, Joseph Evans and Yokkel Evans.
He had 4 children: Barney, Leah, Maisie and Nathan. Father's Hebrew name
was Nissan. He came to SA >from Lithuania at turn of 20th century. Possibly

from Anykst or Kovnov around 1901 or 1904

9. YOKKEL Evans/Evian/Evens. Original surname possibly Evian. Brother to
Samuel Evens, Joseph Evans and Yokkel/Herchel Evans. Father's Hebrew name
was Nissan. Came to SA >from Lithuania at turn of 20th century. Possibly

from Anykst or Kovnov around 1901 or 1904

Michelle Essers

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Michelle will probably want to look for Kovno (now
Kaunas) rather than Kovnov. If you have information for her, please
respond privately.

Looking for relatives of Samuel Evens .Shmuel ben Nissan Born 15 Dec 1897
Original surname possibly Evian/Evan. Possibly came >from Anykst or Kovnov
around 1901 or 1904 Known: Brother to Joseph, Yossel, Yokkel, Heschel.
Who all came to South Africa around 1901/04, possibly via England Possibly
had a sister Gulan (unsure if 1st or surnmane) who settled in Baltimore
USA. There must have been other siblings as well


Heschel / Joseph Evans married Sarah. Had 9 children: Ray, Reenie, Laxie
(married Lillian), Evelyn (possibly married Chavie), Abie, Frank, Ben (may
have a daughter Cheryl), Jacob, Jack (possibly married Barbara) and another
sister. Father’s Hebrew name possibly Nissan


8. YOSSEL EVANS Brother to Samuel Evens, Joseph Evans and Yokkel Evans.
He had 4 children: Barney, Leah, Maisie and Nathan. Father's Hebrew name
was Nissan. He came to SA >from Lithuania at turn of 20th century. Possibly

from Anykst or Kovnov around 1901 or 1904

9. YOKKEL Evans/Evian/Evens. Original surname possibly Evian. Brother to
Samuel Evens, Joseph Evans and Yokkel/Herchel Evans. Father's Hebrew name
was Nissan. Came to SA >from Lithuania at turn of 20th century. Possibly

from Anykst or Kovnov around 1901 or 1904

Michelle Essers

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Michelle will probably want to look for Kovno (now
Kaunas) rather than Kovnov. If you have information for her, please
respond privately.

I'd like to echo Alex Sharon's comments on the wonderful discovery of the
existence online 1912 Galicia Telephone Directory. It will certainly prove
to be a goldmine of information for Galician researchers. And I'd like to
thank him for providing the guide and index which will greatly simplify
searching through this resource:

As an example of what information can be gained >from this online gem....

Below is a translation of an entry for the town of Grzymalow (near Skalat,
in Ukraine today) relating to Count Leonard Pininski, who "owned" this
village. This will be of special interest to those of us researching
ancestors who might have worked and lived on the estates of the Polish
magnate landowners.

Re: Grzymalow's Pininski (page 199)

Below name Grzymalow there is listing of communication facilities in the
village:

a) HRM (His Royal Majesty) Phone office
b) HRM Post office and Telegraph
c) HRM public telephone facilities located in HRM Post Office

# 3 phone is listed under Pininski Leon and Stanislaw (brothers?).
Abbreviation "hr." is for "hrabia" (Count) This phone No. covered following
locations of Pininski properties:

a) Office of the steam operated flour mill
b) Palace's hall
c) Farm in Grzymalow
d) Warehouse of the steam operated flour mill
e) Mill manager, apartment

With a Polish-English dictionary (or a friend to help translate!) you'll
gain much information >from these directories...not just about your relatives
and the businesses they owned...but of connections to other types of records
that might eluded you up until now, including the names of the noble
families that owned the towns your ancestors lived in.

According to the Polish Geographical Dictionary's descriptions of many
Galician towns, there were often hundreds of Jews living and working on the
grounds of these estates in a variety of capacities..in the mills, the
taverns, taking care of the animals, etc. If you closely read the
"comments" sections of your Galician birth/marriage/death records--even
though these comments are often written in almost-indecipherable gothic
German script) you may find that members of your family were among those
living on the estates of these magnates.

Some entries >from this dictionary have been translated into English and are
listed as: "Slownik Geograficzny Index of Translated Entries" on the Polish
Roots website through this link:

http://www.polishroots.org/slownik/slownik_index.htm

Using all of these resources, in combination with JewishGen's "1891 Galician
Business Directory" at:

http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/galicia1891.htm

will give you a fuller picture of the lives your relatives once lead in
Galicia.

Another useful tip: although you must download the DJVU plug-in to view the
directory's pages, you can "save" the document to PDF format by pressing the
print button on your computer, and then clicking on "Save as PDF." In this
way you can send copies of these pages to others who may not have the
plug-in installed on their computer, but who DO have Adobe Reader. >from
Adobe you can also cut out smaller portions of the listings and manipulate
the document.

Pamela Weisberger
Research Coordinator, Gesher Galicia
Santa Monica, Ca
pweisberger@hotmail.com

I'd like to echo Alex Sharon's comments on the wonderful discovery of the
existence online 1912 Galicia Telephone Directory. It will certainly prove
to be a goldmine of information for Galician researchers. And I'd like to
thank him for providing the guide and index which will greatly simplify
searching through this resource:

As an example of what information can be gained >from this online gem....

Below is a translation of an entry for the town of Grzymalow (near Skalat,
in Ukraine today) relating to Count Leonard Pininski, who "owned" this
village. This will be of special interest to those of us researching
ancestors who might have worked and lived on the estates of the Polish
magnate landowners.

Re: Grzymalow's Pininski (page 199)

Below name Grzymalow there is listing of communication facilities in the
village:

a) HRM (His Royal Majesty) Phone office
b) HRM Post office and Telegraph
c) HRM public telephone facilities located in HRM Post Office

# 3 phone is listed under Pininski Leon and Stanislaw (brothers?).
Abbreviation "hr." is for "hrabia" (Count) This phone No. covered following
locations of Pininski properties:

a) Office of the steam operated flour mill
b) Palace's hall
c) Farm in Grzymalow
d) Warehouse of the steam operated flour mill
e) Mill manager, apartment

With a Polish-English dictionary (or a friend to help translate!) you'll
gain much information >from these directories...not just about your relatives
and the businesses they owned...but of connections to other types of records
that might eluded you up until now, including the names of the noble
families that owned the towns your ancestors lived in.

According to the Polish Geographical Dictionary's descriptions of many
Galician towns, there were often hundreds of Jews living and working on the
grounds of these estates in a variety of capacities..in the mills, the
taverns, taking care of the animals, etc. If you closely read the
"comments" sections of your Galician birth/marriage/death records--even
though these comments are often written in almost-indecipherable gothic
German script) you may find that members of your family were among those
living on the estates of these magnates.

Some entries >from this dictionary have been translated into English and are
listed as: "Slownik Geograficzny Index of Translated Entries" on the Polish
Roots website through this link:

http://www.polishroots.org/slownik/slownik_index.htm

Using all of these resources, in combination with JewishGen's "1891 Galician
Business Directory" at:

http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/galicia1891.htm

will give you a fuller picture of the lives your relatives once lead in
Galicia.

Another useful tip: although you must download the DJVU plug-in to view the
directory's pages, you can "save" the document to PDF format by pressing the
print button on your computer, and then clicking on "Save as PDF." In this
way you can send copies of these pages to others who may not have the
plug-in installed on their computer, but who DO have Adobe Reader. >from
Adobe you can also cut out smaller portions of the listings and manipulate
the document.

Pamela Weisberger
Research Coordinator, Gesher Galicia
Santa Monica, Ca
pweisberger@hotmail.com