Dear Fellow Berdichev Researchers:
I have obtained a copy of a rare 1870 book in Yiddish about Berdichev: Die
Geheimnise von Berditschev, by Alexander Zederbaum (Warsaw, 1870). It is
about 90 pages. I do not read Yiddish nor Hebrew. I would be happy to
provide a copy to anyone who can (1) check for me whether my family names
ROYZENTUR and BABCHUK appear, especially in what appear to be the lists at
the end, and (2) advise me as to the nature of the other contents about the
shtetl.
--Steve Rosen, Bethesda, Maryland
email Rosen20817@aol.com

Researching ROYZENTUR and BABCHUK in Odessa and Berdichev,
ZYLBERSHTEYN (SILBERSTEIN) in Golovanevsk,
MACHLIN in Koidanov, Belarus, and
DINNERSTEIN and SHEPSENWOHL in Radoshkovich, Ilya, and Kurenets, Belarus

--- Rosen20817@aol.com wrote:

Dear Fellow Berdichev Researchers:
I have obtained a copy of a rare 1870 book in Yiddish about Berdichev:
Die Geheimnise von Berditschev, by Alexander Zederbaum (Warsaw,
1870). It is about 90 pages. I do not read Yiddish nor Hebrew. I
would be happy to provide a copy to anyone who can (1) check for me
whether my family names
ROYZENTUR and BABCHUK appear, especially in what appear to be the
lists at the end, and (2) advise me as to the nature of the other
contents about the shtetl.

At the risk of making a "me too" post, I was wondering if the information
could be shared with all of us -- maybe as a post to the group, or on a
website?

Thanks.

Claire Petersky (cpetersky@yahoo.com)

Dear Claire

I would be happy to do what you requested.

Rafael Guber

Hi, Steve ....

I received the manuscript and have made a couple of copies and turned them
out to first see if your names (and mine) are included. I've asked the
interpreters to make some notes as to what is mentioned about the names.
If worthwhile, I'll see how much they want to translate the entire
manuscript and I'll index it in case there are other Berdichevers who can
use it.

I'll keep you informed.

A long shot, but perchance do you happen to know Sid Davis? Sid was
once V.P. of NBC News, Washington, and then program director of the
Voice of America. He's now retired, but still lives in Bethesda. He and
I go back a few years, both having worked together in TV news.

The manuscript came in an AIPAC envelope, so I'm assuming you're
attached to that organization. They're doing great work because of the
criticism they receive >from the press.

Gene

From: "Jeffrey Knisbacher" <jknisbac@softhome.net>
I apologize for the long delay, but here, finally, are the translated
chapter headings >from the Yiddish book you sent me on Berdichev. Please feel
free to post them on the Ukraine SIG, as well.

The Secrets of Berdichev by A. Cedarbaum
Editor of Hamelitz [The Advocate-founded 1860]
Writer of Kol Hamevaser [Voice of Good News]
Warsaw, 1870, I. Goldman Typography
Passed by the censor, Warsaw, 16 December 1869

Chapter headings:

1. General overview, p. 1
2. The physical layout of Berdichev, p. 5
3. The history of Berdichev, p. 7 [1860, est. pop. 56,000 total, 50,000
Jews]
4. Business operations, p. 12
5. Prevailing spirit in the community, p. 15
6. Religious and charitable institutions, p. 20
7. The Kaher shul, p. 30
8. The Jewish hospital, p. 35
9. The Talmud Torah, p. 38
10. The widows and orphans society, p. 45
11. The hospitality society, p. 45
12. Other societies, p. 46
13. The burial society, p. 48
14. Educational institutions, p. 53
15. The Club, , p. 65 [where the men played cards, billiards, dominos and
chess and, when women were present, held dances, theatrical presentations,
concerts and readings]
16. The library, p. 69, [founded by Dr. Rotenberg, 1500 books, many of them
Russian classics-30 kop./month for one book, 40 kop./month for two, 3
rubles/year for one book, 4 rubles/year for two.]
17. The meat tax [not sure if the word 'facht' means 'tax], p. 69
18. Concluding remarks, p. 79
19. Statistical tables, p. 85 [of Jewish trades and crafts listed in the
Berdichev guilds-with a note following that some are not real trades]
20. List of synagogues, schools/study centers (Batei Midrashim/Kloyzen), p.