ROM-SIG NEWS A Special Interest Group Journal for

f ROMANIAN JEWISH GENEALOGY

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Back to Bukovina - a Trip to my Roots in Radauti and Sadagura .......................................... 3 An E-Mail from Ziv ........ .................................................................................... .... ........ .......... 10 In The Killing Fields of Moldova and Transnistria .............................................................. .. 12 From our Readers ............................................................................................................ ........ 13 The Archives of Sub carpathian Ruthenia .... ....... ..... ... ............................................................ 16

'-The Romanian Jewish Yearbook (1937) ................................................................................. 17 Records from 1877-1878: Jewish Graduates from Romanian Universities,

Jewish Professsionals who Graduated from Foreign Universities, Noted Businessmen, Jewish Army Officers and Combatants, Noted Authors, Jewish Army deaths in the 1870s, Enlisted Jews who were "reformed" .................... 28

I Volume 7, Number 1 Fall 1998

2 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7 , No. 1, Fall 1998

Adm in istration

Coordinator .. Rick Bercuvitz Secretary ....... Don Solomon Treasurer. ...... Peter Genter Trustees ...... .Joyce Field

Ruth Gav is Bruno Segal

Membership ... Rae Barent Newsletter. ...... lrving Oppman

Rom-SIG, Inc. 293 Brook line SI.

Cambridge, MA 02 139

A message from the Rom-SIG coordinator:

Dear members:

Adv isorv Board Nat Abramow itz Rae Barent Joyce Field Ruth Gavis Peter Genter Irene Saunders Goldstein Mark Heckman Joe ll ves

Irwin Kaufman Rosanne Leeson Gary Palgon Paul Pascal Bruno Segal Don Solomon Gene Starn Carl Ulrich Marlene Zakai

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Gene Stam for stepping in fo llowing Sam Elpern 's sudden death . Gene efficiently organized the large volume of materials that Sam had left behind and lined up volunteers to help keep Rom-SIG running. Our new administration is now in place and functioning. Rom-SIG has fi nally incorporated and has applied to the IRS for 501 (c)(3) status. Trustees of the new corporation are Joyce Field, Ruth Gavis, Bruno Segal, Rick Bercuvitz (President), Don Solomon (Secretary) and Peter Genter (Treasurer). There is one vacant trustee spot. There is also an advisory council which serves as a de facto board. The advisory council di scusses, via a closed e-mail list, organizational business. I fyou are interested in participating in the advisory council or in becoming the seventh trustee, please contact me.

Our family finder continues to grow. It now contains over 3800 names submitted by over 920 researchers, covering 430 towns. If you know someone who is listed as a fan1i ly finder researcher but is not a Rom-SIG member, please encourage them to consider membership in Rom-SIG.

Several new projects are presently underway or being considered. First among these is a Romanian Jewish genealogy email listserv, which will be moderated by Bess Selevan and Cyril Gryfe. We need another couple of volunteer moderators for the listserv. Please contact me if you are interested in helping out. Instructions for joining the listserv will be posted on the Rom-SIG website. Another new initiative is the MoldovaiBessarabia working group, which will be coordinated by Carol Shkolnik Carols8600@ao l.com. A third new and exciting project will involve transcription of Romanian censuses and creation of a searchable database of names from the censuses. We are presently working with Prof Gyemant in planning this multi-year project and will report on tlli s in the next issue of the newsletter. Another project will involve creating a master database of cemeteries and burial infol111ation.

We will be printing a Rom-sig CD-ROM with complete back issues ofthe newsletter. We are also planning on creating a master database with searchable index of names and towns, based upon materials that have previ­ously been published in Rom-SIG news. We need a volunteer to help coordinate this project. Those of you who regularl y visit the Rom-SIG website will notice that last year's newsletters were not posted on the site . Instead, we will from now on be posting only one or two human interest pieces on the public Jewishgen site and posting the full text of the newsletter on another website known onl y to Rom-sig members. The site address is: http:// www.ine.om/romsigJrshome.html .

From now on, we will be offering the newsletter in electronic fo m1at, in addition to paper (hard copy). The newsletter will automatically be sent to your email address as a winzip file in the fOl111at of your choice, including Adobe Acrobat, Word97, Access97, or other custom fo rmats by request. Thank you to the 55 members who have already volunteered to receive the newsletter electronically. We invite you to share your reactions with our other readers. Your decision to forego the printed newsletter will save Rom-SIG about $15 of dues each,

<

,

-.

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 3

making these funds available to finance the census research project and other Rom-SIG initiatives. If you have not already volunteered to receive the newsletter electronically, please consider doing so. To subscribe to the electronic newsletter , send a message to romsig@ibll1.net .

In creating a more efficient family finder and membership data­base system, we accidentally lost a small number of family fmder records. A few of you will notice that your family finder data has mysteriously disappeared from the latest family finder. If this is the case, and if you have not otherwise already done so, please send us your family finder infonnation.

While visiting Romania last year, I was struck by the plight of the last remnants of Romanian Jewry, numbering some 18,000-20,000 people. Many of these people are living on as little as $20 per month. It seemed unfortunate to me that apparently aid from the organized world Jewish community was not reaching these people. During the five weeks that I spent in Romania, I met a Rabbi running a nonprofit organization whose mission is to alleviate the plight of these Jews. The organization, Kirov Levavos, purchases, transports, and delivers medicine and food

A Special Interest Group Journal of Romanian Area Jewish Genealogy

ROM-SIG NEWS

Rom-SIG News is published quarterly by Rom-SI G Inc., the special interest group for Romanian Jewish genealogy. Rom-SIG is a membership-based organization run entirely by volunteers. Our purpose is to aid individu­als researching their Romanian Jewish roots by providing them with information, analysis and documents relating to Romanian Jewish genealogy and Romanian Jewish history.

Annual dues are $25.00 for U.S., $28.00 all others, payable in U.S. funds. Back issues covering 1992-1998 are available on CD­ROM for $15. All communication regarding membership enrollment, including dues payments, should be sent to:

Rom-SIG Inc. to Romanian Jews, and is working to establish a clinic, soup . . kitchen, and Jewish educational center to serve the Jewish c/o Rae ~arent, MembershIp CoordInator community in lasi. If you would like more infonnation about the 4~57 SalIne St. organization and its activities, or if you would like to contribute to PI~b~gh, P A 15217 support its work, please write to Kiruv Levavos, 144041 st St., sagittaria@aol.com Brooklyn, NY 11218 or call 718 436 0814.

Articles and infonnation for Rom-sig News

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful should be submitted on an IBM PC-compat-volunteers: Peter Genter for helping to get our accounting ible disk. Please do not send original photo-organized; Don Solomon for painstakingly doing and re-doing graphs or documents; send the bylaws and incorporation documents; Rae Barent for her copies. Any material submitted will be hard work as our membership coordinator and family finder data returned upon request. All editorial material person; Irv Oppman for editing this newsletter; Gay Lynne should be submitted to: Kegan for doing all of the newsletter layout work; Ann Oppman Rom-SIG News for supervising the Jewishgen monitors; and Gene Starn for c/o Irv Oppman gra~io~ly taking on the ~k of supervising printing and mailing 5431 Paisley Lane, while SImultaneously runrung another SIG! If you would like to Houston, TX 77096-4025 pitch in and contribute your time to our all-volunteer effort, lease irop@hal-pc.org contact me. We especially need help gathering materials for future issues of this newsletter. All other inquiries and correspondence

should be sent to: Rick Bercuvitz

Cover: Jewish cemetery, Radauti, Romania with many stones in good condition and only about 10% toppled. Photo by Bruce Reisch

Rom-SIG Inc., c/o Rick Bercuvitz, Coordinator 293 Brookline Street Cambridge, MA 02139 romsig@ibm.net

4 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Back to Bukovina - a Trip to my Roots in Radauti and Sadagura Bruce I. Reisch, Copyright © 1998 b.reisch@corncll.edu

Bukovina beckoned as plans for a business trip to Budapest developed. TIus was close enough, I felt, to plan a 10 day side trip into Bukovina. TIus region had been an integral part of Moldavia (1490-1775) and Ulen, Bum 1775 lUlti11918, became the eastemmost outpost of the Austro­Hungarian Empire. Between the two World Wars, Bukovina was govemed by Romania, and following World War II it \-vas divided between Romania and Ule Ukraine. Bukovina was the birtllplace of my patemal grandparents. Though iliey met in New York City, Rose Schachter and Morris Reisch were bom 30 miles apart, in the 1890s. Today's Sada"oura, birtllplaceofGrandfather Monis, isnow a suburb ofule Bukovina capital ofCzemowitz(Chemivtsi in Ukrainian, see article in ROM-SIG Spring '98 issue, Volume 6, No. 3 by RUUl Gavis), in Ule Ukraine. Radauti (Radautz, Radowitz), home of my Grand­mother Rose, is a small town in present day Ro­mallla

I started planning my trip to Romania and the Ukraine by seeking ad­vice 6"Om the JewishGen discussion group, soc.genealogy.jewish. Invariably, I was told to go with a tour group, and not to by to brave th is trip alone. So, of course, I decided to go alone. .. but wiUllots of careful planning. I hoped my knowledge of French and a sprinkling ofGerrnan would help me out, and it sure did. My JewishGen and ROM-SIG mends led me to Dr. Gabriel Rinzler, a native ofCzemowitz, who had recently visited his hometown. Dr. Rinzler advised me on travel routes to Ule Ukraine and provided me an excellent contact in UleJe\\~sh Community. He wrote to Mrs. Evgenia Finkel, Secretaryofule Chenuvtsi Society of Yiddish Cul­ture "E. Shtainbarg" (named afterUle famous Yiddish writer ofCzemowi tz by that name), and asked her to help me if she could. The travel advice in the article by Ruth Gavis was also invaluable to my planning - and as luck would

havc it, RUUl and her husband Jeny were at the same hotel in Czemo\\~tz this SWllIller for the same exact four nights that I stayed Ulere. TIlere was nothing like having a pair of seasoned Jewish genealogists as on-site resources and friends' With their help, I was better ab le to navigate the bureaucracy ofthe Ukrainian archive system.

TIle Ukraine portion of my fiip began auspiciously \viUl Ule company of a delightful and attractive English-speaking 25 year-old Ukrainian woman who shared my sleeping com­paltment on the train trom Budapest to Temopil, followed by a guided tourofthe Jewish sites ofSadagura with Pro­fessorGligori Chervenyuk ofChemivtsi State University, a native ofSadagura.

In Ule monUlS before departure, I planned with intensity the

\ , , -'l'

details of my travel ; ; arrangements and

• goals uponanival. I had been told by re­liable sources that there were few if any vital records re­ma inin g from Sadagura. So I set my sights low and planned only to see the s ights of Sadagura, such as Ule great synagogue, and the cemetely. I

knew these still ex isted, since I had seen recent photos from fellow traveler Irene Silfin, whose husband was related to the Rinzlers of Sadagura. A photo orthe great Temple in better times can be seen in Ule section on Sadagma in Encyclopedia Judaica. I really jllst wanted to walk the streets of a town I had heard ofby nanle but knew little else about.

On my arrival in Czemowitz (where the Cheremosh hotel for tourists is located), I phoned the Yiddish writer, Mr. Joseph Burg, from my hotel room. Mr. Burg was recom­mended as a contact in the article by Ruth Gavis, and I knew Umt he spoke a little English. He immediately invited me to his apartment for a visit, where, by chance, another

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 5

Jewish man helped me to find the right apartment as I wan­dered about the desolate street. Mr. Burg was wonderfully hospitable, and phoned Mrs. Finkel right away forme. Mrs. Finkel had been expecting me since receiving the letter from Dr. Rinzler. Though I knew she had agreed to help me, I didn't know what sort of assistance she would be able to provide. She spoke no English, so we had language barri­ers to overcome. On my arrival, I found that she had already arranged for a translator, the very friendly Inna Zeltser, a Jewish woman who teaches English at a local college. Inna never asked for any type of compensation (though I left her with a generous gift), and she stayed by my side for three days straight, 8 hours per day, in lUlpleas­ant heat and humidity. After several hours of discussion and planning, Inna, Evgenia, Alex Traci (a local friend of Dr. Rinzler' s) and I headed by taxi to Sadagura.

In the years prior to World War I, Sadagura was a market town with population under 12,000, 80% Jewish, about 3 miles from the centerofCzemowitz. It was the home of the SadaguraRebbe, Rabbi Israel Friedmann ofRuzhin, who settled in Sadagura in the mid 19th century and established a Hassidic dynasty which is still active to this day. Not all residents ofSadagura were followers of the Hassidic Rebbe. My great-grandfather Hersh Reisch emigrated from Sadagura to the United States about 1914, and though he was orthodox, he was not Hassidic to my knowledge.

On our arrival in Sadagura, we stopped at the house of Mayer Yosefovich Kaushansky, one of the five remaining Jews still living in Sadagura. Mayer is a retired doctor and a very cheerful spirit with a warm smile. He hopped in the now very crowded taxi and showed us the way to the cem­etery. My entourage and I ambled through a field full of broken tombstones to see the grave of the Sadagura Hassidic Rebbe. The gates surrounding the Hassidic dynasty's burial plot had been recently vandalized and lay on the ground. It hadn't been like this the last time Mayer had been here. The group was ready to leave when I ne­gotiated a few extra minutes (perhaps 30?) to walk through the areas with intact stones. I couldn't come all this way, and not look for a few Reisch stones, could I? While the group sat in the shade, 1 took my camera in hand and walked through areas adjacent to a school yard and a military in­stallation looking for readable names. Of all the stones with Hebrew letters, perhaps 10% also had writing in German. Of those in German I found two by the name RINZLER-

a nice reward of information and photos for Dr. Rinzler. A few moments later, 1 struck gold with a REISCH stone, followed q.uickly by two more.

I returned alone to the cemetery the next morning. I now knew the way, and negotiated my own taxi ride, despite the language difficulties. We found the cemetery, and 1 had the taxi wait 2 hours while 1 walked systematically among the stones. This wasn't easy as the weather was warm and humid, the grass wet, and the plant life around the stones terribly over-grown. Each step taken might go down into a hole, or land on a hidden stone. On this visit, on a warm and humid morning, I found additional REISCH monu­ments, and others with the names KERNER and BENDIT, other family names from this area. Though 1 haven't as yet connected any of these Reisches with my own family, 1 at least learned that the family REISCH must have been very large to have so many stones (a total of 10 found!) still standing with the name REISCH.

Later that afternoon, I returned to Sadagura with Professor Chervenyuk ofChernivtsi State University and a native of Sadagura, and with Inna and Alex. He is the process of writing ahistoty of the ethnic groups ofhis home village and was glad to meet with me when Mrs. Finkel phoned him from her office. The Professor showed me the remaining Jewish homes and Jewish sites. The great Temple stands in ruins,just an intact shell which is now abandoned but had been a machine shop under the Soviet era. The Rebbe' s house next door, which had been a municipal office until at least 1995, now stands abandoned as well, and is deterio­rating from accelerating water damage. A sign on the rear door says "Synagogue Sadagora Center ofChernovtsy, Str. Marissa Theresa 192" in English, Russian, and He­brew. But this office is obviously not in use. These and other sights of the small shteH houses, and the active bazaar type market in the town center, shed some light on how things used to be in the difficult times at the turn of the century. Life even now is very difficult in the Ukraine - I saw abundant signs of poverty and heard stories of unemployment and unpaid back wages every­where.

Professor Chervenyuk showed me a large old house which he remembered had been a Reisch family house years ago. Chaskell Reisch the shoemaker had lived here, practicing the same profession as that of my great grandfather. Though 1 can't be sure, this was a likely

6 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

ancestral home for my family, and I took lots of photos. Mayer Kaushansky gave me the names and addresses of a Reisch family which had emigrated from Sadagura to Israel about 8 years ago. I've written to them and perhaps they will know more about my family.

At the urging of fellow travelers and genealogists, the Gavises, I also decided to try a visit to the Z.A.G.S. Archives for the City ofChernivtsi. Though I had been lead to believe there would be nothing there for Sadagura, I was handsomely rewarded for my efforts with the fmd­ing of the exact 1885 wedding date for the marriage of great grandfather Hersh Reisch and Sussel Feuerstein. There was nothing more in this register than the names and date, but it gave me a warm feeling to see this > 100 year-old record with my own eyes. If you go to the archives to research records for Sadagura and surround­ing communities (Rohozna, Neu-Zuckza, etc.) the fol­lowing two ledgers of records are available: Marriages in the SadaguraIRohozna region for 1877-1890, and death records for 1885-1904. I was told they did not have a ledger for births in this period. There may also be additional records available for the post 1900 pe­riod. Officially, the policy is to charge 20 griven (about $10) for each record, and they may not be photocop­ied. Only a Ukrainian transcript of the record may be provided. Before I left, though, they had softened their policy and the polite young woman in the office showed me 50 Reisch birth records, of which I bought 3 which were transcribed from German into very good English forme.

With all the detailed planning for my trip to Sadagura, I had done relatively little planning for my trip to Radauti. In the years prior to WWl, Radauti was about 35% Jewish, and the town had large numbers of Germans and Romanians as well. However, my 88 year old cousin who grew up in Radauti, Mendel Halpern (see http:// wwwjewishgen.orglYizkor/transnistra.hlm£), gave me the name of a friend of his whom he hoped might still be alive. From other JewishGenners, I had the address and phone number of the Jewish Community Office in Radauti, and the addresses for three synagogues, in­cluding the Great Temple ofRadauti, a gift of the Kaiser to the Jewish residents of this town, built in the 1880s.

The morning before my departure from Czernowitz, I spoke by phone with Prof. Tania Grinberg of the Jewish

Community Office ofRadauti. She directed me to Ho­tel Azur (a new hotel on the main road to Radauti from Czernowitz via Dornesti). Once I settled into this hotel ($17/night for a pleasant room with some shortcoming like an exposed electrical outlet, and a missing toilet seat), I found my way with the help of a local policeman, to her office. She welcomed me very warmly, and was a constant source for information throughout my visit. My knowledge of French and German was very useful in Radauti.

Prof. Grinberg offered to open the doors of the Great Temple for me - a stunning sight in the center of the village. The building was in surprising good condition with gold ornamentation highlighting its architectural fea­tures. I later learned that it had been renovated about 17 years ago. The interior was stunning as well, and I photographed it extensively. My cousin Mendel helped to re-build the Bima and benches after WW2, so I pho­tographed these areas in particular. This was a moving experience to be in the Great Temple, which I kne\vto be just down the street from a family home. Today, it is the only remaining Temple in Radauti, serving a commu­nity of just 94 people, mostly elderly. I went to Shabbat services on Saturday morning, held in a prayer room just inside the main doors. I was one of only five men in attendance. They were quite friendly and curious about me. I took photographs of Mr. Benyamin, Mr. David and his son, and Mr. Koffler and sent them copies for the New Year.

I mentioned to Prof. Grinberg the name of my cousin Mendel's friend, Shike Stenzler. She recognized his name immediately. It was a real thrill to find a living connection to my family. Though now 90 years-old and blind, Shike could remember my great-grandmother Hinde Brucker Schachter, and others in the family of my Radauti great-grandfather Leiser Schachter. I now have Israeli addresses for these families (given to me later in the trip by Prof. Grinberg), from whom I am certain to leammore.

Shike's son Daniel spoke English quite well and agreed to interpret for me the following day. In Radauti, I planned to visit the archives and cemetery, and to try to find an­cestral homes. With Daniel's help on day 2 in Radauti, my visit was successful in all these objectives. Since the archives were busy on a Friday morning, they advised

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 7

US to return in the aftemoon. Daniel then took me to find the cemetery caretaker. He took us into the apparently unlocked cemetery on the eastern edge of town. The cemetery was in fa irly good condition, not ruinous like the one in Sadagura. Tania checks on the cemetery each month and tell s the caretaker what needs doingl With the help of photos of my great grandparents' graves, given to me by a relative about 3 weeks before I left, the caretaker found these two graves ites within about 30 minutes. They were both in amazingly good condition. My camera was clicking away, as I photographed these stones and many others with the names SC H ACHTER, BRUCKER, a nd KASTNER (for a dear cous in). Even Daniel found his grandparents' monuments as we wan­de red abo ut. The domed Temple at the entrance to the cemetelY is now a storage area for odds and ends li ke old iron fences and bales of hay. The monWllent to the victims ofthe T ransnistrian holocaust is found to the right as you enter the cemetery. It is a striking and beautiful structure.

My visit to the archi ves later that day was unexpectedly successful. [n January 1998, I hired a professional ge­nealogist, Prof. L. Gyemant <gyemant@zortec.ro>ofCluj Napoca University in Transylvania, to research the pre-1890 records housed in the regional archives ofSuceava, near Radauti. Prof. Gyemant provided me with a report in early June, 1998, prior to my departure. Since the post 1890 records are found only in the archives in Radauti, I planned to research these records on my own. Foreach record, I requested, the look-up process was somewhat tedious, and it was apparent that the Radauti city hall archive was not accustomed to receiving visitors interested in their (;1Jnily histOlY. It was clear, though, that they had many of the pre-and post-I 890 records of the Jewish community in this archive. I fOWld birth records for my grandmother and most of her siblings but I failed to find two of the mar­riage records I sought. I also found the death records for my great grandparents, but failed to find any death records

for their parents. Perhaps they died at another location dw·ing WWI? Most ofUle records found were in Gemlan, and the post WW I records were in Romanian. I was not permitted to photocopy the records; instead, I hand cop­ied Ule Gennan records, and Daniel copied the Romanian records. There was no charge for any of this work and I Ulanked them wannly.

On my last day in Radauti, I braved another visit to the archives \\~thout a translator for one more record. Usinga

bit ofGel1llan to communicatewiUl the archiv ist, I fou nd a dea th record which led me to the exact street address of a family home. I had suspected which home it was earlier in the trip, but the archi va l record confirmed this for

me. I went back to the location, and asked in Gel1llan fo r access to the courtyard. -nle woman in tile storefront remembered that it had been a bakery many years ago, and this was the profession of Mendel's father - this was surely the house where Mendel and some of my other family members grew up. Despite the presence of two very concerned dogs, I persisted in entering the cOlutyard. After a few photographs, I turned around and left with great sati sfaction at having fOWld the house which I had heard so much about. Another fanlily house around the corner had been demolished long ago, however. A neighbor could describe it, but aliI could see was a vacant lot. llle homes on the street were likely simi­lar to this family home, so I took pictures of those as well.

llle Bukovinascenery was enchanting: Beautifi.~ rolling hill­sides, horse drawn carts, cows grazing on the roadside, and sometimes in tile middle of the road, and then tilestlUl­ning beech and spruce fi lled mountains to the west. llle architecture was also very pleasant, and the water wells of Bukovina were the ornate types offairy tales. My great Almt once told me storiesofGwlI Hwnorului, a town SOUUl ofRadauti but on Uleothersideofa range of the Carpatilian mountains. Suspecting that it might be the home of my

8 ROM·SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Schachter great-grandfather, I paid a visit. I was lucky enough to meet two of the remaining seven Jews of this town, Mr. Hescovici and Mr. hUll, the Community Presi­dent. Mr. Hescovici showed me the cemetery which was in relatively good condition, in a stunning setting above the river on a gorgeous pasture and forest-filled hillside. Most of the stones have numbers stenciled on the sides, indicat­ing that someone has been here surveying or indexing the site. Here too, I found and photographed many Schachter monuments. I cannot yet find a link with my family and any of these burials, but this side trip to one of the very stun­ningly beautiful villages ofBukovina, and my chance meet­ing with two elderly Jewish residents, was well worth the visit Should I ever have the chance to once again visit the Bukovina region, I'll still have lots to do. I am sure that the archives and cemeteries of the region still harbor much more infonnation about my family history. But this one visit, even if it turns out to be my only opportunity, will forever be etched in my mind. IF YOU GO TO BUKOVINA: Bring lots of cash as credit cards are very rarely used, A TMs are non existent, and traveler's checks are hard to cash. I recommend that cash be carried in a secwity pouch. HOW TO GET YOUR VISA: Visas are required for U.S. citizens entering the Ukraine. Romania only requires a passport for entry. For your visa application, you will need an invitation orconfinnation of a hotel reservation which the Cheremosh can fax to you. Contact the Consulate of the Ukraine well in advance for information on Visas. Costs and requirements vary from year to year. Consulate General of Ukraine in New York 240 East 49 Street New York, NY 10017 Tel: 212-371-5690 Fax: 212-371-5547 or Ukrainian Embassy 3350 M. Street, NW Washington, CD 20007 phone 202-333-7507 (08, 09) Fax: 2023337510 LODGING NEAR SADAGURA: Hotel Cheremosh KomarovaBlv.13-a

274017 Chemivtsi Ukraine Tel Country code 380 city code 37224-75-18 or 4-75-39 Fax: 38037224-13-14 Ask for an English speaking guide if calling by phone. The Cheremosh only started to use credit cards (Visa) in July 98, so check before you go. The Tourist Bureau in the Cheremosh can help with plane and train tickets. They will also arrange for drivers and interpreters (Approx. $71hr. for a driver with car within the city or $81hr. outside city limits, $61hr for an interpreter/guide). I fOW1d it much less expensive to take a cab and I managed to communicate somehow with the drivers. A map of the city and the region (in Russian) is available for purchase at the front desk.

NOTES FOR VISITORS TO SADAGURA: For interaction with the Jewish Community: Mr. Joseph Burg Sheptyzki S11'. 13/9 274000 Chernivtsi Tel and Fax: 38037222-06-01 It is best to write in Russian or Gennan. He will reply if you send two international reply coupons. Mr. Burg is an active Yiddish writer and a gem of a person. Another important contact: Mrs. EvgeniaFinkel, Secretary (Mr. Burg is President) Chemivtsi Society of Jewish Culture "E. Shtainbarg" TeatralnaiaPI. 5 Room 30 Chernivtsi 274000 phone 380 3722 24170 or home 21258 Mrs. Finkel was expecting me and did so much for me it was unbelievable. She even lined up a young Jewish women who teaches English to translate for me. For research on Jewish vital records in Sadagura and sur­l'OlU1ding communities, go to: Z.A.O.S. Archives Kobilyanska S11'. 31 274000 Chemivtsi Ukraine Tel.: 38037222-52-25 Enter the building courtyard, and climb the stairs in the wing to your left to reach the Archives office. If you go to Sadagura, you must see the Great Temple and castle of the Sadagura Rebbe at Str. Marissa Theresa 192 Look for it behind the trees and shrub along the street. The cemetery is near a school on Nalepky Str. For infor­mation on the history ofSad~ contact:

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 9

Professor Grigori Ivanovich ChelVenyuk Chemivtsi State University (address available from author, in Cyrillic) Prof. Chetvenyuk is writing a history of the ethnic groups ofSadagura. He will appreciate your photos and infor­mation on your ancestors.

Vital records for the Jewish community are kept in the City Hall archives division:

Primaria Municipiului Radauti Str. Piata Unirii nr. 2 Jud. Suceava cod. 5875 Romania

ON THE WEB: Facing the main entrance, the archives are on the first floor, For infornlation on Sadagura, visit http:// make a left tum and it is the last door on the left. Theycan wwwjewishgen. org/ShtetLinks/sadgura/sadgura.html "translate" old street names and numbers into their current

LODGING IN RADAUTI: In Radauti, I stayed at -HotelAzur Str. Cemauti, Nr. 29 Radauti, 5875 Romania Tel.lFax: country code 40 city code 30 464718 Reasonable rooms forunder$20 night, with TV, bathroom down hall.

In Suceava, there is an English speaking tourist agency which can reselVe Suceava hotels, book train tickets, etc.: Ask for Christien Janos or "Teddy" at BukovinaEstur Strada Stefan cel Mare 24 Suceava Tel 40 302 223259 Fax 40 302 520223 It is possible to stay in Suceava (where, for about the same price, Hotel Alice has much nicer accommodations than Hotel Azur in Radauti). It is only a 45 minute drive to Radauti from Suceava; train and bus service are available as well.

NOTES FOR VISITORS TO RADAUTI: To contact the Jewish community in Radauti: Prof. Tania Grinberg (speaks some French and Gennan) Comunitatea Evreilor(Jewish Community Office) Aleea Primaverii 11 Block 14, Apt. 1 Radauti 5875 office 40 30461333 home 40 30462713

Great Synagogue ofRadauti: Str. Uno Mai 2 (must not be missed!)

street addresses.

Tribute to Sam Elpern:

Sam Elpem was my good friend. I met him twice when he lived in Connecticut. We had lunch together in Hamden and then in my house, we talked about our families, about Romania, Bucecea, his family's place of origin, about Dorohoi, my place, no more than 15 Km apart. I had relatives in Bucecea, when his family came over to the U.S.A. and I am sure, they knew each other. We talked about our similar diseases, and suddenly we became very good friends, sharing our thoughts, our difficulties in life, our achievements and our plans for the future. I remember telling him, that at his age, with his cardiac condition, he doesn't have to jog, to walk is enough, but he didn't pay too much attention. Maybe this advice will help others, who will read these lines. We called each other maybe 50 times, (I don't have e-mail), in matters related with Rom-Sig.

If we are born we have to die. Any flower, any flame, anything on our planet, has the same fate. But Sam died too early. He left unfinished business as a restless activist for pushing forward the Rom-Sig activity, always with new ideas and new realization in the field of genealogy, concerning the Romanian Jews. But his big quality was his human nature, trying to help his pals and to hear others' opinions. I am very sorry losing a very good friend and a superior human being. My deep sympathy for the family.

Marcel Bratu MD 707 Mix Ave. #35 Hamden, Ct.06514

10 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

An E-Mail from Ziv by Polly Craighill

One Sunday afternoon in December of 1997, I was at the Isaac Franck Jewish Public Library in Rockville. A friend, knowing of my special interest in Romania, asked if I had checked the indexes to the Dorohoi Yizkor Books. She took me to a file cabinet in the back of the Library and pulled out 2 old issues ofROM-SI G NEWS. The 2 issues contained an English index to Volume II of the Yizkor books published by the Jews From the Dorohoi District, a group of Romanian Jews living in Israel.

I began to look through the indexes and 10 and behold there were my 2 family names: "Maimon" and Dines" and page references to articles where those names ap­peared. I had been searching every data base I could think of for months - and couldn't fmd any mention of either "Dines" or "Maimon".

My elation, quickly turned to defeat when I remembered that Volumes I and II of the Dorohoi memorial books were out of print.

After several false starts, I fmally got copies of the pages mentioning the "Dines" and "Maimons". It then took several months to get a translation, and then it wasn't really a translation, but a broad brush summary of the articles.

One article had references to school classes. It men­tioned a "Eugenui Dines" in "ClasaA XI-aB" in 1953. It was my first concrete proof that any Dines survived the Holocaust and was living in the Dorohoi District after the War. I was told that "Clasa XI" would make "Eugenui" about 17 years old in 1953.

I was familiar with the Organization of the Jews From the Dorohoi District. In fact I had tried to reach them about 10 months earlier, after I found their website. Then one Friday afternoon in September of 1997, the phone rang in my office with a call from Israel. It was Steli Loznen, the Secretary of the Organization. He was call­ing to apologize for the Organization not answering me sooner. He explained that I had been writing to some­one who didn't speak English and it just took time to get a response. I told Steli that I was trying to put together

a family history and would send it to him. It had been my hope that someone in their Organization might know something about my family. Steli gave me an E-mail ad­dress which I filed away.

I had given myself an arbitrary deadline of December to get my family history together. I had no more informa­tion than I had had 10 months earlier. But now in De­cember I did know the Eugenui Dines existed in the Dorohoi District in 1953. He had to be related.

I sent Steli the little information I had. My mother's father (my grandfather), Froim, had 2 brothers, Itzak and Laib-we thought their names were. My great grandfather died of appendicitis while my great grand­mother was pregnant with my grandfather. So, my grand­father had been named Froim after his father. My great grandmother's name was Dina. The 3 boys, Froim, Itzak, and Laib became known in the little village of Romania (Saveni, we thought) as "Dina's Boys". Hence the name "Dines".

I sent this sparse information back to Steli-hoping that the e-mail address I had written down several months earlier was correct. Did anyone in the Dorohoi Group know of the "Dines Family"? And, by the way, there was a "Eugenui Dines" mentioned in one of their Yizkor books. Surely, someone knew him if they wrote about him.

Steli wrote back saying my information was too late for Volume IV of the Yizkor books, but maybe it would get into Volume V. He then told me how I could get Vol­umes III and IV. That e-mail sat on top of my desk for 6 weeks. I tried to fi&ure out how I could communicate to the Jews of the Dorohoi District how important it was to me for them to contact everyone in their Organiza­tion. Someone must know the Dines family. Ijust didn't know how to get that point across.

On Monday, April 20, 1998, I turned on my computer and saw I had an e-mail message from "sdines"

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 11

in Israel. I sat and looked at the screen for several min- write more details about my family and I wish you to utes-not believing my eyes. I opened the message. It write me details about your family as you know it wasane-mailfromZiv. (some of their addresses .. .) so we couldfind each

Having chased every lead on "Dines" or "Dynes", every phone book in every city, every Dines mentioned by a friend, anyone saying that they knew someone named "Dines"-there it was in front of me. The tears rolled down my cheeks as I read the e-mail from Ziv Dines:

"Dear Mrs. Polly Craighill,

"I got your letter from the Dorohoi Organization. Finding our family history was very important for me too, and as you will see I have almost found the whole family history - but only some children of Itzhak, your grandfathers' brother.

"My name is Dines Ziv, I'm 13.5 years old, and I live in Haifa, Israel. I have one brother, Dines Shlomo, he is 25 years old, and he is a student in the Technion, Haifa, and he is married to Monica.

liMy father is Dines Itzhak, and my mother is Dines Sarina. My father Itzhak is Dines Solomon's son (my grandfather). My grandfather (Solomon) had 3 chil­dren: Jeniu, Fredi, and Itzhak. Solomon (my grand-father) is Itzhak's son (my great grandfather). My great grandfather is Itzhak, your Grandfather's brother. Itzhak married Frida, and had 9 children that survived the second Ww, and they are:

"Sheindlafrom Dorohoi, Froimfrom Botoshani, Sura from Hertza, Anna from Viznitz, Ethel from Darabani, Zalmanfrom Iasi, Solomon (my grandfa­ther) from Dorohoi, Mothel from Dorohoi, and an­other son I don't know his name.

"She india had 4 children (Liza, Leizer" Solomon, Haim), Froim had 2 children (Itzhak, Malani), Sura or Saly had 2 children (Coca and Henrieta), Anna had 3 children (Itzhak, Yosel, Fritz), Ethel had 2 chil­dren (Bubi and Dina), Zalman had one son (Itzhak), Solomon had 3 children (Itzhak-my father, Fredi, Jeniu), Mothel had one son (Hermanica).

"Coca is now in Romania, Henrieta is in-Brazil, Dina and the Rappaport family (I don't know ex­actly how but they are with our family too) are in Canada. "Some of these I can tell their address if you want. "If you want further information, I can

other and be in touch. "

What followed was a barrage of photographs ofZiv, Shlomi, and Monica-my gorgeous family-smiling at me from my computer screen.

Several days later, I received a letter from another cousin, Silviu, Eugeniu' s son. Silviu told me that his grandfather, Solomon, and Solomon's wife, Sendla, and their son, Eugeniu, were deported to Lagar Concentra­tion Camp in the Ukraine in 1941-1943. Eugeniu was 7 or 8 years old at the time. Only Eugeniu and his father returned to Dorohoi. They had emigrated to Israel in 1975 and Eugeniu had died at age 63 in November of 1997--one month before I found him in the index to the Yizkor books. Silviu went on to say: "I regret my father is not alive to read your letter since he was always very proud of the Dines family name." And, I thought how much I regret my mother is not alive to know that I will soon be reunited with the children and grandchildren of the cousins she knew and loved in Romania

On April 22, 1998, the evening before the Day ofRe­membrance, (Yom Hashoah), I said a prayer for my fam­ily that perished in the Holocaust and for my family that suffered through and after the Holocaust. Then I wrote the names and addresses of my living family in my ad­dress book and said a prayer of thanks for bringing us back together again.

A special thanks to the Organization of Jews Born in the Dorohoi District. Their website is: ''http:// www.accordnet.comljewish-dorohoi ". The President is Shlomo David His address is: P. O. Box 134, Kiryat Bialik 27101, Israel. The 2 indexes for Volume II of the Yizkor Books appear in Vol. 4, No. f, Summer 1996 and Vol. 5, No.2, Winter 1996-1997 of the ROM­SIG NEWS. Monica Talmor (God bless her) com­piled the English index of names from the 640 page memory book, second in a series, published in Israel in 1993 by survivors of the Dorohoi region. The names extracted from Volume I by Elaine Starn ap­pear in the Autumn 1993 issue of the ROM-SIG NEWS. Also a special thanks to Marlene Zakai.

12 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

(The following article was sent to us by Baruch Cohen from the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research)

In The Killing Fields of Moldova and Transitria

During a brief visit to Moldova in August-September 1998 on the invitation ofULIM, a very dynamic, relatively new private university inKishinev, the capital ofMoldova, I hadachanceto take a brief glimpse into the Jewish present and relics of the past in the area.

My guide to the diminishing Jewish world was Prof. Belous Josef, who teaches economy, and serves as Vice President to the~onofJews-fonnerPllionersofGhettoandCampi,

a small group of dedicated people who are detennined, with verymeagerresomcesto keep alive the memory of the camps in Transnistriaandrevive Jewish sites wherever possible.

The highlight of the visit was inDupasari, Transnistria, where some 18,000 Jews were killed by Antonescu's troops in Sep­tember 1941. I missed by several days a very emotional cer­emonywhenrecentlyfotmd, tmidentifiedskeletonson the 00nks of the Dniester (Nistru) were to be reburied in September at the memorial site in Dupasari. The city ofDupasari today is locatedinthe breakaway self-decIared republic ofTransdniester, a small area-but one of the most tragic ones in modem Jewish histOlY. The area's RussiantruYority brokeawayviolently from the Republic ofMoldova, and today a peace keeping force is guarding the relative quiet, in an economically devastated area, which theworldcommtmity does not recognize as a political entity. ThefewthousandJews in Transnistria(as Transdniester is called in Romanian) suffer from the same economic disloca­tions as the whole area. I met there several members of the community, some of the post-war generation who took me and a colleague, with Prof. Belous, to the memorial site. It was evident that the site, clean but in clear process of slow decay, is in urgent need of caretaking, such as a fence, and general upkeeping of the area. My impression was of a small commu­nity desperately struggling with the present daily problems, but detennined to keepthe memory of the Holocaust alive, among the local inhabitants, Russians and Moldovans who, it seems, have only a very vague idea of the events of the Holocaust. The 18,000 Jews who were buried there, many of them iden­tifiedbyname,arejustasma1l portion of the largekilling fields of T ransnistria Dupasari is symbolic for all the other memorial sites, which I was told are also in need of repair and preserva­tion I was greatly impressed by the almost fanatic devotion of those good Jews, who are eager to present the ways in which

they preserve the memory offransnistria, in an area which is very rarely visited by outsiders. My hosts were very excited when I told them about the Trnnsnistriamemorial group so ac­tive in Montreal, Toronto and other places. They were sur­prised and almost did not believe that yearly commemorations take place in Montreal,.and that anyone, besides them is en­gaged in keeping the memory of the past. In a sense, my hosts felt that they are the last guardian angels of the mass graves, which in a sense they really are.

Transnistria, has an almost exotic presence, a no-man ' s land, which no one recognizes, and as you cross the Dniester, as dozens of thousands of Jews have done, and you cross amid roadblocks manned by Russian, Ukminian, Moldovan soldiers, and you seethe camouflaged annored carriers near the recent battlefront, you have a strange eerie feeling that the past is still here.

Back in Kishinev, the capital of the 4,4 million Republic of Moldova, which declared independence from the collapsing "Soviet Union in 1991, Jewish life is very evident among the dwindling, and aging community. TheyolUlgergenerationis represented at the Jewish school, a state institution, where Is­raeli teachers, and support from various Jewish organizations cater to the yOlUlg children. The opening of the school year, with Hebrew songs was a marked contrast to the mass graves ofDupasari visited a day before. AJewishlibrmy, part of the city librruy netwotk, is staffed by energetic people, who collect everything linked to the past of the rich Jewish life in Kishinev. And also the other, Kishinev, which will always berememrered forthepogromofl903, the site of the most infamous pogroms oITsaristRussia The synagogue -which also has a site on the Internet -with the otheractivitiesofthe community, isa beautiful, yet sad one. Services are held on Fridays and Holidays, and the few Jewish tourists are always welcomed wannly.

The commWlity ischangingrapidiy, thousands have left for Is­rael and it seems that in Moldova there are today some 20-, 25,000 Jews, more than half of them living in Kishinev, in a COtn11Iy in which according to the govemmentsome 80010 of the people live belowpoverty line, and the average mon1hly income is some 60 to 90 US $! Yet, the people were very friendly, eager to describe their problems in the present, and among the YOlUlger generation ofMoldovan students I felt a hope for a

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 13

democmtic civil society.

Perhaps as a link between the present and the past, I was taken to visit the fonner Jewish Hospital, opened in 1828 (1), which functions today as a hospital, but the Association of Jews -fonner Prisoners of Ghettos and Camps received back the site as the Association's property as ofMarch 1998. The Associa­tion, as I was told by my Prof. Belous, and Mr. Sabs Abram Roifthe President of the Association have plans to transfonn the decaying present site into a "real social-medical center for needy Jews". In a circular letter given to me, and which I shall forward to Montreal, the group's leaders wrote that "therecon­structed Jewish Hospital will become the monwnentforthe 450,000 Jews who were killed by fascists during World War IT in Moldovaand Ukraine."

While Moldova is not on the usual tourist map ofEurope, the govemmentisdoingmuchtoencouragevisito~andlfeltcom­

pletely at ease inKishinev, with severn! high-rise Sovieteraho­tels, a busy main street, wherethefirstMcDonaIdsandBenetton boutique have made their appearance. There are good con­necting flights to Central Europe and Western Europe.

Those wishing to contactthe Association of the Jews -Prison­ers of Ghetto and Camps can do so by writing to:

Prof. I. Belous Academy Str 8/1 fl.25 Kishinev, Moldova Tel-3732736351 e-mail: dan@Belous.Moldline.net

Dr. Raphael Vago The Cummings Center for Russian and East European Studies Tel-Aviv Universiy

Brief Articles by Gary Fitleberg

MS. MIRACLE

Miracles ..... Miracles ..... Miracles ..... ! !! Genealogy has made me a true believer in Miracles. With respect to my maternal KASlNER family ofRadauti, Bukovina, Romania, I have been blessed, Baruch HaShem, with many many miracles.

My latest KASlNER mishpocha miracle came as a re­sult of the Internet, JEWISHGEN and the JGFF (Jew­ish Genealogical Family Finder).

Marina Miclea found me while "surfing the net" for long lost KASlNER relatives from Radauti. "Ms. Miracle" as I affectionately address her was born in Bucharest, Romania She now lives in Saarbrucken, Germany where she is a medical student.

Most of her branch of our mutual KASTNER family tragically perished in Transnistria; the Romanian Auschwitz. We never knew that there were any survi­vors from this branch of the family. We also never knew that any of these individuals returned to their native Ro­mania We surely never would have searched for family members in either Bucharest or Saarbrucken.

Ms. Miracle's great-great grandfather, Jacob Joseph, was the brother of my very own great-great grandfather Meyer Moishe KASTNER. Thus far we know of two other siblings; Aaron and Dora There were many more siblings who we don't presently know anything about. Miracles ..... Miracles ..... Miracles. We hope to find all KASTNER siblings (and their descendants); children of our great-great-great grandparents David and Esther; our patriarch and matriarch respectively.

I also learned that Marina's father A vraham Wolf still lives in Bucharest. He is a retired construction engineer. I am looking forward to having a direct source ofinfor­mation in Romania who will be willing to help with the KASTNER family history/genealogy project. Ifhe agrees he'll even receive an official title "Bucharest KASlNER Foreign Correspondent."

14 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Moral of the story: Take advantage of the technology of the Internet, JEWISHGEN, and the JGFF. Don' t procrastinate! I I Enter all of your fa mily surnames so your long lost relatives can find yo u. It 's the cheapest, fastest, most effective research tool available to you. Best of all maybe a "Ms. Miracle" will discover you toOl! !

RO~TOMBSTONESPHOTOGRAPHED

Lajos Erdelyi, a Hungarian Jewish press photographer now living in Budapest, has spent a lifetime recording the beauty of intricately carved Jewish tombstones in many remote regions ofBukovina, Translyvania, and other parts of Romania.

In 1994, some of his photographs were displayed in an exhibit at the Library of Congress. I-lis book, "AzElok Haza" (The House of the Living) displays photographs from the Jewish cemeteries in Bartfa, Bozodujfalu, Bucharest, Cimpulung Moldovenesc, Dezs, Falticeni, Gura Nagymuzsaly, Nagyszolos, Naznanfalva, Oltheviz, Piatra Neamt, Radauti , Siret, Siret-Regitemeto, Siret­Ujemeto, Suceava, Szalplonca, Szatmar, Termesvar Szafard Temeto, Tirgu-Neamt, Tovis and Ungvar.

Erdelyi can arrange for searches of specific tombstones in these cemeteries and others ofthe region. To inquire about fees , write detail s to ; Erdelyi in care of Lajos Hamos, 79 County Road, Demarest, New Jersey 07627 or directly to Erdelyi at Hegyalja ut. 170. 111 2 Budapest, Hlmgary. His telephone number is (36-1 ) 185-9446.

SIGHET SOURCES

Sighet was a shtetl which was fOlmerly in the Hlmgarian county of Marmoros. It is now located in Romania. The following are three excellent genealogical sources for Sighet.

Israel has two excellent sources. The first is the Sighet Mamarosh Landsmanshaftn. Contact: Baryehuda Moledlavni, 45 Moshe Sharett Street, Tel Aviv, Israe l. The second is a Sighet Yizkor Book located at Yad Vashem. The call number T742.

Last but not least, a source right here in the United States. "Oyfgang" a Yiddish periodical once published in Sighet is now available on microfiche for the period 1933-1 936 at the New York Public Library Jewish Division. The

call number is *ZAN-*P72I . The unique NYPL cata­log system predates the widespread use of the Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress systems. The aster­isks in the call number are velY significant in the system.

ORODEA AND PLOESTI

The .Jewish community in Ploesti has asked authorities to investigate the site of a suspected mass grave neal' the city railway station thought to be tile blU'ial place of tile 40 .Jews who died in 1941 while be ing deported to concentration camps 5'om Romania. Dlu'ing World War IJ, tens ofthou­sands of Jews in Romania were deported; only 14,000 mostly elderly Jews Li ve tilere today.

Thieves have plundered a synagogue in Orodea, in Northwestern Romania, smashing benches and window panes and stealing 14 candelabra of great sentimental value to the small Jewish commwuty. There are 29 syna­gogues in Orodea; only two of which are currently in use in what was once a thriving community before the Holocaust.

Rom-sig news, Vol 6 No.5, Fall 1998

MOURNING LETTERS FOR SAM ELPERN

People are writing to us about Sam Elpern and we should let everyone know how they feel. We recently received this letter from .Judith Joseph ofInternational.Jewish Genealogical Resources (UK):

Rom-Sig News SunUller 1998 mTived today and with it the shock ofleanung of Sam Elpern's untimely death.

We had spoken several times on the telephone and written occasionally,loo. Always tile exchange was pleasant and wann, helpful and supportive, sometimes amusing -as when I seemed to haveatlObsession Witil paying fees for more yeru"S tilatl tile jownal had beelmumingatlCl didn't know it wOl~d be numing ...

Those whose steps were directed by me to Samfor enlight­enment orfor a possible inclusion in the Newslelfer 's mem­bershiporjusl into the pages C!/ihe Newslelfer, were never disappointed We have all bene fi led.

The sentiments come therefore not just/i'om me as an individual researcher, bllt alsoli-om the research! resource office we run. Gllr sincerest condolences to Joy and Elizabeth and thelamily and may they have only good Inemories of how it all IVas.

l

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 15

Kind regards/or Rosh HaShonah and 5759, may it ShtetLinksofinteresttomembersofROMSIGthathavebeen be a healthy and happy year. setup are:

Judith Joseph, 25 Westboume Road Edgbaston Binning- In Romania: ham B153TX England Fax: 0121-4549758

for From Our Readers column)

New Shtetl Links Site

A group ofROMSIG members who have ancestors from Sadgura have just developed a Sadgura Site on the Shtetl Links web page. The address is:

http://wwwJewishgen.orglshtetlinkslsadgurahtml

It was developed by Bruce Reisch (birl@ nysaes.comell.edu) with some help from Nick Martin and Carl Ulrich. The three of us have been working for about a year now on Sadgura research and have been joined by four others. Bruce has included some links to ROMSIG there. You might find some items there for future Newsletters.

* * * Carl Ulrich - Peers, Alberta <culrich@yeUowhead.com>

Kishinev, Ploesti, and one is under construction for Radauti.

And in the Ukraine:

Czernowitz, Kalush, Sadgura, Stanislau, Sniatyn, Ivano­Frankivsk, Odessa, and Zabolotov.

To access any of these go to http://www.jewishgen.org/ ShtetLinksI.

If the village for your ancestors is not included in the list above, check with the JewishGen Family Finder at http:/ /www.jewishgen.orgljgff7 or the ROMSIG Family Finder at http://www.jewishgen.org/romsig/fi7 and fmdothers who are researching the village of your ancestors.

This can be an excellent way of finding relevant re­sources and contacts for your ancestral town. The way this developed was that a group of three individuals, each with an interest in Sadgura, connected from posts that we saw on the JewishGen discussion group. We decided to begin sharing e-mails with cc' s to each other. We have now grown to seven people. One from our group, Bruce Reisch, has pooled some of the resources of the group to develop the Sadgura website. Carl says that an excellent way to find leads in one's genea­

logical research is to connect up with others with ancestors from the same village or city that you are researching. With the power of the internet, it is possible for a small

group from around the world to pool their knowledge ShtetLinksonJewishGen is one place to check to see if others and resources for their own benefit as well as the benefit areworkingona Shtetl of interest to you To date, of the wider Jewish Genealogical Community.

* * * There is no commercial angle to this venture. I will not be able to proceed without sufficient consent from all concerned. STRUMA PROJECT 2001

Greg Buxton (Project leader - Struma 2001) Flat 6, 52 Russell Road Moseley, Binningham B 13 8RF England Home: +44 (0) 121 4495371 Work: +44 (0) 121 5554518 Fax: +44 (0) 121 555466

I am currently researching the Struma tragedy [1942][ ar­ticle in ROM-SIG NEWS Volume 5, Number 3, Spring 1997] in which my grandparents died. The objectives are:

a) To obtain pennission from families and relevant au­thorities in order to locate, dive and video the wreck in the Black Sea.

b) To provide a book and film detailing the politics and people that were involved before, during and after the

16 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

events surrounding this disaster.

I am hoping to be ready for the diving research project in the summer of200 1. Most of the victims were either Romanian or Turkish.

Are there any members or friends ofROMSIG who could suggest a method for contacting anyone with con­nections to the Ship or its victims.

The Archives of Sub carpathian Ruthenia

Tllis area is at d,e peripllery of ROM-SIG's "Domain" hut-at its widest dejinition-includes some towns tllat are or were in Romania. For tllat reason, we offer IIere some comments recendy posted to tile Hungarian SIG onlhle forum.

As forthe research in the Ukraine generally, I have to tell you that this region is one of the worst parts of the fonner Austro­Hungarianmonmchy intenns of research; most of the time we can only guess what remained. The majority of the records are collectedinthe_ovoarchives, where one can get in only with a special pennit Obtaining this pennit seems impossible for foreigners and even for locals. Consequently, we cannot do any research in the registers.

What we can, and usually do, is search the cemeteries for family tombstones and photograph them. They can pro­vide us with the required infonnation on the given family member. We can conduct local history research along with photographs of the village. This is all we can do under the above mentioned conditions. Our fees for this cemetery and local history research in the area are $400 U.S., in­cluding all expenses: travel costs, accommodation, photo­graphs, library and archives fees, photocopies, p. and p. [packing and postage].

Anita Monori, Account Director F AMIL Y TREE Ltd. Genealogical Research Bureau <familyt@hungary.net>

. Anyone who tells you that they can get you records from the archives ofSubcarpathian Ruthenia will be leading you on. I was there recently and tried to negotiate with both the head of the Berehova archives as well as his boss, the chief archivist for Subcarpatbian Ruthenia. All to no avail. I did speak to someone recently who had hired Miriam Weiner

to do research for her in that region several years ago. She usually charges a minimum of$l ,000 per day and one rea­son for that is she uses that money to buy fax machines, photocopiers and other "gifts" for the archivists in order to gain entry. She was able to retrieve some records using those methods, but she told her client afterwards that she will never travel to that region bearing gifts and gelt. Your best bet for getting infonnation from that region is to con­tact the Ukrairtian Embassy in Washington, D. C. and ask for their fonn( s) for birth, marriage and death certificates. If you know someone on the Appropriations Committee in Congress, perhaps they might convince the powers-that­be over there to comply with what I believe is international law or at least international civility. Any further infonnation about obtaining metrical records from that region would be appreciated. There are hundreds of us waiting to fmd the access key to unlock the records there. In the meantime, we will have to wait and share infonnation as it becomes available.

Louis Schonfeld<Imagyar@en.com>

I visited that area of the Ukraine this summer and I'd have to agree with Family Tree's conclusion. Hopefully, one day metrical records for the towns in Subcarpathian Ruthenia will be found.

Roberta Solit<rsolit@erols.co>

I}

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 17

Part 20/2

The Romanian Jewish Yearbook (1937) translated and summarized by Dr. Marcel Bratu

This very special article, which has appeared in two parts in ROM-SJG NEWS, is ours solely by chance: member Sandi Goldsmith came upon Annurul Evreilor Dinjlomania 1937 (5698), in a bookstore in Bucharest. Recognizing its potential interest, she mentioned it in our Winter 1996-97 issue; Dr. Bratu noticed her suggestion that this "/ittle book" (actually 192 pages) might interest our readers and he prepared a summary for us. Part 1 appeared in our Fall 1997 issue.

I will continue with the chapter containing Jewish institu­tions, boards of directors, committees or other leading organizations, mentioned in the Anuar (1937). To save time and paper, I will use abbreviations such as: presi­dent - pres., vice-president - v.p., secretary - seer., gen­eral secretary - gen. secr., auditors - aud., cashier - cash. Doctor - dr., engineer - ing., lawyer - avo (for avocat); pharmacist - pharm. If the professional abbrevation appears after a lady's first name, her husband has that profession. Only ifit appears before the first name (no matter the gender), the person has that profession. In general, the doctors are physicians, rabbis, or lawyers, with a doctorate degree. Other personal comments will appear in the description, for the readers interested not only in names but in social structures as well.

The Jewish Community from Bucuresti President: Sigm M. Birman, Fr. Michelsohn Vice pres.: Lazar Eckstein, Dr. Birman Bera Chief Rabbi: Dr. I. Niemirower Treasurer: lancu Grumberg Gen. secr.: Horia Carp Members: A. Axenfeld, Dr. M. Leon, Micu Spiner, Oscar Alpern, M. Sarateanu, Jaques Cohen, Michel Leiba, Leon Blanarlu, Hami Schwartz, Enrico Erlich, Pascu Braunstein, losef Abramovici, Alfred Wissner, M. Melickson, Leo Mihail, H. Rottenberg

Samuely, Sofie S. Birman, Berta Michelson and Rose dr. Leon (members of the hospitals Committee), Hermine Eisenhandler (pres., the Social Assistance Committee), Betty ing. Gross (pres., the Schools ' Camps), Charlotte M. Efraim (pres., the Mitigation section), Paulina Pop­per (pres., "Elisabethen," the convalescent home for the elderly), Aurica Rothenberg (pres., the Schools' caf­eterias) and Charlotte Rosen, member in various com­mittees.

Ladies' Committee for the Schools' Camps: Pres. Mrs. Betty ing. Gross; v.p.: Mrs Beline Braunstein, Aurica Rothenberg, Jenly Schonfeld, Rosa dr. Leon and C. Rosen; secr, Mrs. Clairette Axenfeld; treas.,Mrs. Ghesela dr. Marcus and Niny Popper; members: Mrs. Engler, Lampl, Kaffeman, Grunberg, Henriette dr. Stein, Erna ing. Weinfeld, Florica Adelstein, Gherda Solavici, Didina Refael and Silvia Wolff.

Committee for the Comfort and Assistance of the Patients with Tuberculosis. Pres., Mrs. Charlotte M. Efraim; v.p., Mrs. Pauline Popper, Hermine Eisenhandler, Wanda Billig and Ernestine Salamovitz; treas. Mrs. Char­lotte Rosen and Amelie Walzman, assisted by another ladies' committee.

Committee of the "Malca & Ghidale Brayer" School Cafeteria

The Board of Trustees: Sigmund Birman, pres.; Fr. Pres., Mrs. Aurica Rothenberg; members, Mrs. Rebecas }- Michelson, Lazar Birman and Dr. Birman Bera, v.p.; Haimovici, Helene Grunberg, Stella Lampl, Kaffeman,

Iancu Gruenberg, treas. Goldenberg and Miss. Tischler and Iosupp.

Board of Trustees of Ladies' Social Affairs of the Committee for "Elisabetheu," convalescent home Community: for the elderly Mrs. Pauline Zentler (pres. of the Ladies' Committee Pres., Mrs. Pauline Popper; v.p., Mrs. E. Salamovici, of the Bucharestlewish Community's Hospitals), Valery members, Valeanu lavitz, Mina Tailler, M. Catulescu,

18 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Charlotte Rosen, Aurica Rothenberg, Charlotte M. Efraim, Marie Lazarovici, Mr. I. L. Steinbach, dr. G. Zahareanu, av. I. Catulescu, Ad. Lobel, dr. Leon S. Poplien and P. Braunstein

"Caritas and the New Maternity" Hospital. The hospital was set up in 1847 and the new maternity in 1932, both located at 28 Traian Street, with the follow­ing seIVices: Surgery: director Prof. dr. Hortolomei; senior attend­ing physician (S. A.), drs. A. Toff and F. Gotlieb Urology: S. A. dr. I. Mihalovici Internal Medicine: S. A. drs. I. Grossman and Z. Iagnov Obstetrics and Gynecology: S. A. drs. S. Cohl, O. Alfandary and I. Perietianu Laryngologly: S. A. docent (University lecturer) dr. BirmanBera Dermatology: S. A. dr. F. Blumenthal Chest diseases: S. A. dr. M. Popper, Associate Professor. Neurology: Docent, dr. M. Goldstein Pediatrics: . A. dr. B. Mendelsohn Outpatient services only: Laryngology (dr. L. Mayersohn); Nutrition disorders (dr. Daniel); Clinical Laboratory (dr. Adelsberg); Pharmacy (ChiefPharm.1. Davidescu) The Hospital's Nursing School. Director: dr. S. Cohl; Professors: drs. Adelsberg (Bacteriology), Cohl (Gy­necology and Obstr.), F. Gotlieb (Surgical diseases and Orthopedics), J. Grossman (Therapeutics [treatments] and Dietetics), Z. Iagnov (Medical Pathology), Menkes (Anatomy and Physiology), A. Toff(Small Surgery).

Children's Hospital "Sofie Solomon" Foundation. Built in 1915 on 51 Pine Street (Strada bradului). Pediatricians: S. A.: Cajal, O. Milialn and H. Elias; dr. Issersohn, pediatric radiologist

"Princess Elisabeta" Eye Hospital. Same location. ChiefOpthalmologist: dr. A. Lobel.

"Elisabetbeu"-Convalescent Home for the Elderly Founded in 1875 and shelters permanently 130 old people.

The Sanatorium in Tekirghiel Built in 1919, annually hospitalizes 400 poor school

children from all the schools of the country's Jewish

Commtmities.

Translator's note: Tekirghiol is a spa in Dobrodgea with a lake containing a mud with radioactive substances and minerals, used for the treatment of arthritic illnesses and bone tuberculosis in children and adults. The pa­tients are smeared with this mud for a few hours and exposed to the sun. Then, they are bathed in the lake's water. Around this lake are many sanatoriums and a whole medical industry known in Europe, like Abano in Italy. The place is very close to the Black Sea (a few hundred feet), combining this therapy with seawater and sun baths. Also very specialised physiotherapy services are offered. Is it helpful? As a pediatrician in Constanta, perhaps 10 miles north from this place, I saw patients transported on a stretcher into this place and, after a few months of treatment, running to the train station. Certainly there are cases in which this treatment does not help.

"Malca and Ghedale Brayer" school cafeteria. Founded in 1890, distributes daily lunch to 400-500 Jewish Community school children. (Six other cafete­rias for school children, located in schools, are men­tioned).

Elementary schools "etatizate" (after graduation, the students could go to state high schools).

Translator's note: The mandatory teaching in Roma­nia in 1937 started with Scoala Primara (the elemen­tary school), which had the first four grades, for the chil­dren 7-11 years old. Next, was the high school with 8 grades, which was not mandatory; therefore, admission was granted by passing an examination, and paying a minimal tax. Graduates of the "etatizate" (elementary Jewish schools) were granted the same rights as those from the state elementary school, to go further to state schools, and had the same curriculum as the stae el­ementary schools. In addition to high school, there were also "gymnaziu, " with only four high school grades. Some of them specialised in certain fields, such as com­merce, a special industry, etc., enough to obtain ajob. Also, there were vocational schools. The difficulty for the Jews in gaining admission to these schools, and fur­ther, is described by I. Ludo, in an article summarized on page 29 of ROM-SIG NEWS, Fall, 1997. After

"~I

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 19

graduation from high school (8 years), based on a very difficult examination, the bacalaureat, with a lot of bias toward the Jewish students, you were able to enter a "University," also based on an examination (very diffi­cult for Jews), and located in a big city of the country: in 1937, only in lasi, Bucuresti, Cemauti, Timisoara and Cluj.

A university had a medical school, law school, school of liberal Arts, School of Pharmacy ,etc. The school for engineers was separate, known as the Institutul Politehnic. Every Superior school required a different number of years of studies in order to graduate. There­fore in Romania, as in the other European countries (ex­cept the British Isles) there were no middle schools or colleges. For a physician, the studies required 4 years in elementary school, 8 in high school and 6 in medical school, a total of 18 years (before specialization).

The curriculum for the primary and secondary school was the same allover the country. If a high school stu­dent in lasi, in the second year learned American geog­raphy, the second-year high school children in Bucuresti, Dorohoi or Cluj studied the same material. Certainly, however, there were Jewish schools that were not "etatizate": those with religious curriculums or those speaking only Yiddish.

Name

Elementary Boys' School

President Prinicipal

Dr.A.Beck Leopold Nedler Samuel Koritzer Leon Gross Em. Beldner H.Tudic M.Pisam

lacob & Carolina Loebel Moria - A. Gaster T. T. Malbim The United Schools Max Azie-Cultura Ronetti Roman Mixta Vointa (mixed boys and girls Willpower)

Elementary Girls' Schools Fraternity-Zion Goldfarb Progress of the Culture Samuel Eckstein

Kindergartens (not mandatory)

M. Schonberg AI. Solomon Max Bercovici Leon Wolf Ing. A. Rozenzweig M.Gluckman Leon Gheldman

Mrs. dr. Luwish Sigm. Goldfarb Leon Wittner Lazar Eckstein

Goldfarb The same as the Girls' school Ialdei Iesurun 10sefSutrin Samuel Eckstein Lazar Eckstein Dudesti Mrs. Marianne Schapira Aparatorii Patriei (defenders of the homeland)

B. Herscovici A, C. F. E. - B Mrs. Marianne Schapira

Mrs. Charlotte Weintraub Miss Mina Cuzin Mrs. Anna Bacovescu Mrs. Victoria de Hahn

Miss Roza Gross Mrs. Victoria de Hahn Mrs. Cecilia Ciuraru

Mrs. Julietta Schwartzen Miss Sabina Kerpel

20 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Institutions and Clubs (literary, political, medi­cal, etc.) "Liberty," pres., dr. W. Filderman The Medical Club," pres., dr. Gotfried; v.p., drs. Nissim, Lazarovici; director, dr. Bomchis; secr., dr. Gotlieb. The Students' Zionist Club - Hashmonca" "The Lobelians - dr. M. Beck," pres., Moritz Schonberg

Libraries "The historical archives and library of the central synogogue (Templu Coral)": Pres., Micu S. Zender; chief librarian, dr. M. A. Halevy. "Dr. Isidor Bauberger": pres., Milu H. Alter; gen. secr. Emil Bernstein; librarian, Miss Nutzy Leibovici. "Dr. Mauriciu Singer"

Sports clubs "Macabi": pres., avo Robert Weinberg-Verea "Aurora": pres., I. Mihail

Political Parties "The Jewish Romanian Party (J .R.P. )"Central Com­mittee: pres., dr. Theodor Fisher; v.p., avo Misu Weissman; gen. secr., avo Misu Benvenisti; members, dr. S. Singer, avo Leon Mizrachi, Philippe Rosenstein, av. Mayer Segall and Wilhelm Fisher. "The Youth of the IR.P.": pres., avo Misu Benvenisti; v.p., ing. S. Iakerkaner; gen.secr., Milu H. Alter. Capital's organization J.R.P.: pres., Philippe Rosenstein; v.p., Mayer Segall and ing. M. Mayersohn.

Other Institutions and Societies "The Society for Jewish Studies": pres., Chief Rabbi dr. I. Niemirower. "Help" (philantropic): pres., Marcel Iacobsohn. "Cantors' Association": pres., cantor Rafael Ruwinsky (very famous) "The Sacred Society for Charity and Funerals": pres., I. L. Sternbach; v .. p., Micu S. Zentler and pharm. AI. Solomon. It maintains the cemeteries: Sevastopol, Col. M. Ghica and Giurgiului. "Zion B 'nei Brith ": Grand pres., Dr. I. Niemirower. "The New Fraternity" (B'nai Brith): pres., avo Aureliu

Weiss. "The Union of the Romanian Jews (U.RJ.)": pres., Dr. W. Filderman; v.p., Horia Carp, Dr. L. Mayersohn, Kiva Ornstein, Dr. S. Kassner (for Cernauti), I. Popper (for Iasi), and Dr. Iacobi (for Cluj); gen. secr., M. Zeltner-Sarateanu. (translater's note: What a team!) "The Youth of the U.R.J.": pres., avo J. Bacalu "The Zionist Organization": pres., Ph. Rosenstein "The Jewish National Fund": pres., Dr. S. Singer "Keren Hayesod": pres., Adolf Bernhardt "Palestinian Office": pres., ing. I. Siegler "Asociatia Culturala a Femei/or Evree (A.C.F.E.) from Romania, has the mission to spread and develop the Jewish culture and to contribute to the reconstruc­tion of Palestine. Thely publish their own periodical, "The Jewish Woman.": pres., Mrs. Selma Marguerritte Margulies; v.p., Mrs. Marianne Schapira and Ella Balan. "Credinta (Faithfulness)": pres., Leon Wechsler; v.p., Eliade Iliescu and Elias Feuerstein. This association has the mission to take care of a very religious syna­gogue and its convalescent home for the elderly. "The Home of the Children, Lobel and Sarah Berkowitz Foundation. ": An orphanage. pres., Adolf Bercowitz, ephors dr. I. Niemirower, L. Sternberg, dr. J. Bercowitz, Mrs. Charlotte M. Ephraim and Hermine dr. Iaslowitz. "The orphanage of the Jewish women's union": founded in 1904, by the efforts of the late Stephanie Istecescu and the Jewish Women's Union. Pres., Mrs. Estelle Stern. "Crinul" (Lily): philanthropic society. They pro­vide clothing for 700-800 students (yearly) of the Jewish Community. Pres., Mrs. Silvia Feder. "Society for protection of adolescent girls and young women" pres., Mrs. Pauline Popper. The society has a shelter for the girls without familial protection, and shops where these girls work and earn a living. "Asociatia Generala a Studenti/or Evrei din Bucuresti" (no translation necessary). A.G.S.E. The association offers to the students: a big library, lec­ture rooms, cafeteria and shelter, medical offices, barber shop, tailor, shoemakers, sport facilities, 30 bedrooms for 220 students and many other facilities. Its name is "Caminul (home, house) of the Jewish Stu-

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 21 dents, Mina and Aron Schuler Foundation."

Translator's note: It is difficult for me to explain the role of the Caminul Shuler during the pre-war anri­semitic period, when the state slogan was "Numerus Nul/us" (Le., "no Jews allowed"). Later, during the war, its limited activitly helped the poor to learn in Jewish superior schools. After the war, the Caminul Schuler encountered the hate and the fights with Ro­manian students, who didn't want the Kikes to reinfect the halls of the University in Bucuresti (as they had first infected them before the war). I was one of those kikes, suffering the verbal and physical insults form the leaders of their "immaculate" citadel, Caminul Societatii Studentilor in Medicina, a model of ex­treme chauvinistic-racial attitude, inspired by their second bible, Mein Kampf. Caminul Shuler helped the Jewish students to succeed in this period. "Talmud Tora": a philanthropic society, to take care of the kindergarten with the same name, for poor chil­dren. Pres., H. Jacobsohn; v.p., H. Korner and I. Becker; treas., S. Jacobsohn; gen. secr. ing. A. Segall. "The House for Girl Students-A.G.S.E.-(Asociatia Generala a Studentelor Evreice)": 1 0 dormitories for 80 students, lecture rooms and baths. "The House for Zionist Students": dormitories for 30 students. "Ghemiluth Chasidim": a society lending money without interest to poor people. Pres., pharm. AI. Solomon. "Sp italullubirea de Oameni" (Hospital "love for people"): Director dr. L. Ghelerter. Dr. Ghelerter, known first in Iasi for his activity for the Jewish people, was the founder of the Jewish Childrens' Hospital in IasL He was also the leader in founding the banks known as "Creditul Marunt, " spread in all town and cities with a large Jewish population, in need for small credit, short period and low interest rate (helped by the American Joint Distribution Committee). He then moved to B ucuresti where he founded a second hos­pital, a non-profit organization like the first one in Iasi. He was another important Jewish personality in Ro­mania in the 20th century.

In this hospital,I had most of my medical education as an extern and intern, between 1943 and 1949. My memories of this place are very dear and, with great

humility and love, I want to mention in Memoriam some of my teachers from this great hospital: the chief of the Hospital and of Internal Medicine, Dr. Julius (Nae) Ghelerter, chief of Surgery; Dr. Rantzer, chief ofPediatrics;Dr. A Fruchter, chief ofUrologly, Dr. M. Streja and other doctors and collegues, many of them still alive: Drs. Sulem (Sulica) Segal, Mihai Pascu, Simon (Zica) Rosentzweig, George Fruhling, Dan Foglu, Dan Mayersohn, Jean Guttman, Harry Grunberg, IosifZilberman and so many more.

"Dr. Iuliu Barasch Polyclinic" "Chevra Somrei Habrith Society": to help post­partum poor women and to facilitate the Brith Mila for the boys. Pres., Adolf Braunstein. "ORT Society": under the leadership of Dr. W. Filderman and avo Aureliu Weiss, with the purpose of setting the Jewish popUlation toward manual work in industry and agronomy. "The Central Committee to help the Jewish refugees" "H.I.A.S.": a society to help Jews in need of emigra­tion (an American association). "U .E.R. (Uniunea Evreilor Romani) Institute," with the purpose of professional qualification andjob find­ing for the young women. Leader, Mrs. ing. Carnio!.

Temples and Synagogues

I will mention only the names, and perhaps some rab­bis.

A. B. Zissu synagogue; Abduth Kodes temple, known as Mamulari: rabbi Dr. M. Halevy; Asreil Gastersyna­gogue; Baron de Hirsch synagogue; Beth EI synagogue; Beth Hamidras synagogue: rabbi H. Guttman; Beth HamidrasZichronJacob synagogue; Chesed sel Emes syna­gogue; Chevra lbiulimsynagogue; Craiower Rufsynagogue; Cultural Poradim synagogue; Eisig Hie synagogue; Elizabetheu synagogue; Faith synagogue; Fratema Union synagogue; Fraternity and Peace synagogue; Goldfarb Instructiunea School synagogue; Holy Sefer synagogue; Mazmiah Esua synagogue; Mogosoaia temple (name of the quarter); Moria School synagogue; OrChudosh temple; Poalei Zedek synagogue; Rabbi Malbim synagogue; Resith Daat synagogue; Shoemakers' synagogue; T. Malbim School synagogue; Temple Coral (central temple): rabbi Dr. I. Niemirower; Thalmud Thorasynagoglue; The United

22 ROM·SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No. I, Fall 1998

School synagogue; Tinkers synagogue; Vointa(willpower) At the end of 1936, the leading supervisory committee synagogue. had the following members: Micu Spiner, Moritz Reiter,

A total of32 orthodox temples and synagogues are men­tioned. In Romania, there are no reform or conservative temples. If a reader is interested in the address of the syna­gogues, the rabbis or the committees of these holy places (as of 1937), I can provide the information.

The Spanish (Sephardic) Jewish Community

This community organization was fOWlded in 1730, with its quarters in Negru Voda Street. Its president is 10sefCohen and the grand rabbi, Sabetay Djaen. The COWlcil of Rep­resentatives: Honorary Pres. Halfon S. Raphael; Pres. losif S. Cohen; Honorary Members: Halfon S. Manole, Pincas M. 10sif,ArieB. Napoleon; V.P., Calef A., Corneal. losif, Alfandari Ovidiu, Almuly Jaques, Bally Benjamin; Mem­bers: Mazliah Gabriel, MWlteanu Elias, Presente Marco.

The institutions of this Community are: the Big Temple, the Small Temple, the convalescent home for the elderly, a kin­dergarten, an elementaIy school for boys and one for girls, a school camp in Tekirghiol, a Policlinic, a school cafeteria, a cemetery (known as the Spanish cemetery), the Jewish Spanish Womens' Union, "Hesed V'emetArmony,"the Progress, Gan Eden, Esra Bezaroth, etc.

The Union of the Spanish Jewish Communities includes aU the Spanish Communities in the whole COWl1Iy. The presi­dent of the Union is Moritz S. Atias. Almost aU the Spanish institutions are located in Negru Voda Street (though not the cemetery nor the sanatorium). It was a very Jewish quarter.

Secondary schools ("etatizate")

Commercial school and Cultura Gimnazium: pres. Mrs. dr. Grossman, principal F. Faion.

Girls' Gymnasium and Vocational school "Filip and Rashela Focseneanu": pres. M. Zentler, principal Mrs. Elena Kanner Commercial School and Vocational School "Instructiunea Goldfarb ": pres. Sigm. Goldfarb, prin­cipal Miss Mina Cuziner Industrial Gymnasium "Ciocanul (the hammeI)": pres. ing. Fildennan.

Societies of mutual help

The federation of these societies was founded in 1923.

Lazar Solomon, M. Blum and Iacob Leibovici.

Bernard Locker a lelaUlor (old clothing merchants): pres, AdolfGoldenfeld; v.p. 10sifFinkelstein, Milo Sloimovici; gen. secr. Bucur Maltinescu, Filip Berman; aud. Aron Moscovici; treas. Sofie Locker; assist. 1reas. Herman Feller; advisors: Haim Goldirer, Simon Wachsman, Carol Frenkel, Natan Moscovici, Herman Seltzer, David Leibovici; sani­tary inspector, Bercu Weissman; master of Ceremony, Hie Wachsman; tlagbearer, avram Finkelstein, (?); trustee, Filip Schwartz; aud. Solomon Goldstein, Marcu Schweitzer, Rubin Wachsman, P. Dumitrescu and David Klein.

Can you imagine what happened when all these people participated in a meeting? An unusual "Pleiade" of 2nd hand or 3rd hand clothing merchants handled a budget of almost 50,000 lei, at that time representing a good annual salary of a high school principal, but a very mi­croscopic budget for a society with such a large num­ber of officers. It is true that in Bucuresti there were many such Jewish merchants going from house to house, bargaining incessantly with the housewives for a pair of used shoes or filthy stockings. It was a big Jewish in­dustry!

Name of other Societies Achdes Israel Aesculap Ajutorul (Help) Amicitia (Friendship) Benevolence Be2alel ToelesHamachow

(Healing of illnesses ) The Butchers Fraternity Caritatea (Charity) Doctor Hart Doctor IosefWeissberg Doctor Iuliu Barasch Doctor Rubin Stein Doctor W. Filderman EmileZola Fncouragementand GoodWill

Fraterna Fraternity Fraternity and Peace Fraternity Union The Future of the Tinkers Ghewurath Israel The Goodwill The Graphic Solidarity Health Holy Duties Hwnanity Hygeia Hygeia Reconstituted Independence The Israelite Union The Joiners Love your neighbor Marphe Lenefes The Mutual The New Fraternity The New Life The New Union The Progress Sacred Duties Saslvarea (the rescue) Salve (Latin for Hi!) The Tailors Fraternity Union and Progress The Universal Progress Zichron Jacob

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 23

President IosifIosif Wilhelm Kahane Manole Zandkern H. L.Korn AdolfMoscovici

Osias Singer Solomon Rosenberg I. Lauferman M. I. Blum M.Eigheles JaqueCohen Anton Schwartz I. Reinhom ? Herscovici

IosefBlum Elias Catulescu Lazar Margulies Bernard Herscovici AronMayer Florian Goldenberg G. Blumenfeld Lazar Eckstein (printers) Samuil Blimenfeld L. Goldstein Iancu Lempacher Tu1yRevici S. Klein Pascu Grunberg PincuSegal M. Reiter M.Melicksohn Heinrich Thau S. Gutnick V. G. Gorescu I. Albini dr. M. Neuschatz 1. Feyns S. Reischer Nicu Goldman MicuSpiner M. Pollak Lazar Solomon Iancu Landman Marcel Solomon

Jewish Communities in "provincie" (all of Romania but the capital)

Town (founded), President and comments

Adjud (1855) Daniel Weissman; v.p. Faibis Lazarovici; rabbi M. Landman. It maintains two schools, a convalescent home for the elderly (azil in Romanian, let's abbreviate abbreviate it as az.); a body-washing place, usually with a Turkish steam room, maybe a few bathtubs, and/or a pool (let's call this "w.p.").

Bacau A vram I. A vram; rabbis: dr. S. Safran and M. Blanck. 3 schools, 1 az. The former chief rabbi of Romania, during World War II, was from this town.

Babadag A vram Rund; a small town in Dobrodgea. in the north near the Danube's delta.

Barlad (1866) Henry Grunberg; rabbi, dr. M. Taubes; 3 schools, a hospital, an az. and a w. p.

Bacesti Hascal Haimovici; gen. secr. Lupu Herscovici, a school, a w.p.; 30 Ian southeast of Roman.

Braila Leopold Rosenberg; v.p. Leon Abramovici, Sol. Fradis, Samy Solomonidis, Iacob Witzling; secr. gen. Isidor Rosenberg and William Schreiber; cashier Mihail Brociner; aud. Emil Bercovici, Pincu Groswald; mem­bers, David Abramovici, Solomon Berger, Leon Buegeleisen, Teofil Bernstein, Max Kahane, Isac Cohen, ing. Hack Corbu, Iancu Cosma, pharm. A. Finck, dr. S. Gabe, ing. Is. Ghelber, Leon Gutman, dr. S. Israel, Filip Leibovici, ing. Ely Marcovici, IosefMargulies, Leopold Margulies, Mendel Oberman, Heinrich Pach, S. Scharaga, Z. Scheinberg, dr. S. Scoor, Rudolf Schreiber; avo Ferdinand Schwartz, Ionas Schwartz, arh. S. Simsinovici, Friederich Segall, Isac Smilovici, Isidor Solomonidis, Herman Weiss, dent. Jacques Zoxmer, chiefrabbi dr. M. Thenen. The Communty maintains: H. L. and Nelly Schaffer

24 ROM·SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Boys' Gymnasium, the Brothers Avram and David Schwartzman Elementary Boys' School, Zion Baron de Hirsch Girls' Elementary School and a Kindergarten (Gan leladim). Also: the "Ana and Nedelcu P. Chercea" medical dispensary for any sick patient, regardless of race or religion. The Community also maintains all the religious personell and the synagogues, the newly-con­structed w.p. with a ritual mikwah named "The Lazar Predinger Foundation." Also, the Community distrib­utes cash to the poor students, clothing and firewood for winter, free matzot for Pesah, monthly pensions to the poor, elderly and handicapped Jews. The budget of the Community is in 1937, 4,662,300 lei (abig sum for 1937).

Bivolari (1896)

Codaesti Avram Sacagiu. School and a w.p. Town is located 20 km east of Roman.

Campina Ing. O. Gross; secr. M. Herscovici.

Caracal S. Schwalb; secr. A. Saltzberger. The town is in Oltenia, southeast of Craiova.

Constanta Albert Theiler; cash. M. Diner, gen. secr.1. Serer; rabbi, Ch. Schechter.

Strul G. Hersdu; v.p. Moise Militeanu, a school and a Craiova w.p. Theshtetlisinlasicounty. H. Rollstein; cash., M. Staureanu, rabbis, L.

Botosani see detail at end of article

Buhusi (1860) Carol Haimsohn; v.p., avo F. Lupescu, rabbi B. Roller. 2 schools, a w.p. This town with a famous religious tradi­tion is halfway between Piatra Neamt and Bacau. The late chief rabbi of Romania, dr. Mozes Rosen is from this area.

Burdujeni H. Alpern; v.p., P. Rapaport and L. Segal; cash. E. Epure; secr.1. Rabinovici. Maintains a school. At the border with Bucovina, southwest of Botos ani.

Buzau Marcu Rosenstein; v.p. Marcu V. Schrayer and B. Silbennan; rabbi, S. Bercovici. 2 schools, w.p.

Bucecea Marcu Ghingold (also deputy mayor of the town). 5 synagogues, a Jewish school, a kindergarten and a cem­etery, 120 years old. There are 250 Jewish families. The town is 10 km west of Botos ani.

Morgenstern, M. Goldenberg; 2 schools.

Darabani A. Poplingher. A school, a w.p. and an az. The town is about 20 km north ofDorohoi.

Dorohoi Hoisie Moscovici; gen. secr. Mayer Herscovici; rabbi, D. Schechter. A hospital, 3 schools, a w.p. and an az. I have to mention that the hospital and the az. were founded before 1930 with the enthusiastic activity of my father, avo Solomon Zalman, pres. of the Community and vice mayor of the town. Also I have to mention that Dorohoi is my hometown.

Falticeni Dr. M. Weiselberg; v.p., I. Brecher, M. Segall; cash. H. Herscovici; secr. H. Leibovici;l rabbi Rosen. 3 schools and a hospital.

Focsani Dr. B. Flitmasn; v.p., J. Brecher and M. Segall; secr.,

Calarasi Lupu Schwartz; rabbi, M. Kofler. 3 schools and an az. Dr. Silviu Diner; v.p., H. Goldenberg; cash. R. Fainaru; secr. L. Goldstein. Town is situated in Wallachia, on the Frumusica Danube, southeast ofBucuresti. Dr. A. Grunberg; secr. Burah A. Leib. A school and an

orphanage (!). Shtetl near Botosani.

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 25

Gaesti Mihaileni (1897) M. Moscovici; secr. M. Leibovici; rabbi, O. Weistein. Moise Steiner; secr., Mrs. Herscovici. A school and a The town is northwest of Bucharest and is famous for a w.p. Situated 15 k, northwest ofIasi. terrible labor camp for Jews, during WW II.

Galati (1846) 1. Steuerman; v.p., dr. I. Bizamcer, gen. cash. AI. Bucholtz; gen. secr. avo S. Smilovici; members: losef Ornstein, Jack Braunstein, M. L. Klein; secr. Phoebus Lazar; rabbis, L. Margulies and Senck.1. Shapira. Nine schools, a hospital, a w.p. and an orphanage.

Giusrgiu

Moinesti (1885) Menase Haimsohn; v.p., A. M. Rothenberg; cash. I. Cozin; secr., B. Haimzohn. They maintain 2 schools. Located 20 km southwest ofBacau.

Negresti R. Sharf; v.p., M. Meerovitz. Situated 25 km south of lasi.

Leon Abramovici; v.p., Isac Carp; cash. Moritz Kreisel; Odobesti (1874) rabbi, Aron Brezus. This is a port on the Danube, south Natan Beck; rabbi, S. Sigler. They maintain 2 schools. ofBucuresti. Known viticultlure center, is situated 15 km northwest

Harlau (1751) Arthur Rosner; v.p., Is. Blumenfeld, IosefIngel; cash I. I. Halpern; rabbi, M. Rabinovici. 2 schools, an az. and a w.p. About 30 km northwest ofIasi.

Herta (now Gherta, in Ukraine) A. B. Rosin; rabbi, M. Lauter. 2 schools. 30 km north of Dorohoi.

Husi Dr. C. Singer; v.p., H. B. Herscovici and phar,. Brand; rabbi N. Schechteer. A w.p. and a school.

Iasi (1467) Hie A. Mendelsohn; v.p., Isac Popper and dr. B. Kelpner. Section presidents: S. Petsrusca, ing. G. Buchman and dr. D. Fruhling. Chiefrabbis, Ch. Rabinovici and M. Ianover; rabbis, O. Rabinovici, 1.1. Landman, G. M. Reines, and I. Askenazy. 9 schools, 1 hospital, 2 az. and an orphanage.

ofFocsani.

Panciu Haim Pascal; v.p., Moritz Brener and Jean Pascal; cash., M. Zissu; rabbi, M. Rivel. A school, an az. and a w.p. Located near Odobesti.

Pascani Herman Simon; rabbi, 1. Hager. A school and a w.p. The town is 30-40 km south ofSuccava.

Piatra Neamt (1766) Elias Herscovici; v.p., Iulius Gartenberg and Beris Haimovici; secr., Tuly Feinstein. 2 schools.

Ploiesti M. S. Cioara; members, dr. Kramer, M. Holman, D. Emanuel, S. Singer, M. Weissler, I. Wexler, P. Raxs, M. Sigler and N. Braun; secr., M. Eskenazy. They maintain 2 schools.

Ivesti (1844) Podu I10aei Aizig Avra,; v.p., CaIman Goldenberg; secr. I. Schor; v.p., M. Schor; cash. I. Dechtiar. A school. S.Colenberg; cash. Ed. Kahane. Maintains a bath. The Located near Iasi (northwest). shtetl is 10 km south ofTecuci.

Lespezi Sloim Solomon; v.p., B. Zissu; cash. CaIman Schwartz; seer. L. Rabinovici; maintains an az. and a w.p. The town is 20 km northwest oflasi.

Podu Turcului (1835) L. Rosenbaum; v.p., secr. and cash. I. Cohn. Located 20 km southwest of Bar I ad. This is the shtetl of origin of my father's family.

26 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Radauti A vram Lindenbaum; secr., S. Rabinovici. Small shtetl northwest ofDorohoi. Known as Radauti-Dorohoi, not to be mistaken with Radauti-Bucovina, a much larger town.

Raducaneni A. Ciuraru; v.p., Smil Moise; cash. M. Leibovici. They maintain a w.p. Located near the Pmt River, 25-30 km south oflasi.

Ramnicul Sarat (1870) dr. H. Ornstein; v.p., Is. Finkelstein; cash., Mandy Iacovici; seer. I. Klein. A school and a w.p. In Wallachia, not far from the border with Moldavia.

Ramnicul Valcea M. Lobel; v.p., L. Taubman; cash., I. Saraga; secr., I. Adler; rabbi, I. Rocah; member, S. Segall. Located near the Olt River, in northeast Oltenia.

Roman (1792) avo A. Cramer; v.p., I. Stein, S. Schuler, cash., I. Leibovici; gen. secr., M. Rinzler; rabbis, S. Isacsohn and M. Frankel. 3 schools, a hospital and an az.

Saveni H.I. Butnam; rabbi, A. Landau; maintains a w.p. Lo­cated about 25 kIn southeast ofDorohoi.

Slatina Leon Israelescu;p rabbi, S. Diamant. Located in Oltenia, about 40 kIn northeast ofCraiova.

Stefanesti Elias Schapira; v.p., I. Marcovici and L. Alterovici; cash. A. Grisaru; rabbi, I. Brayer. 2 schoolls and a w.p. Fa­mous for the Stefanester rebbes; located about 20 Ian east of Botos ani, near the Pmt River.

Sulina

Targul Sulita (the javelin) Herman Iticovici; v. p., Pincu Schwartz and Ioina Bacal; cash., User Goldman; secr., Nathan P. Schwartz; board of education, Adolf Akerman, M. Blumer, A. Calmanovici, M. A. Cohn, H. I. Schwartz, I. Cahane; board of religious affairs, M. Sapunar, H. Ciurar, I. Rotaru, I. Rotman and I. B. Nuta; auditors, Paul Meirovici, Smil Talick and M. Saiovici. This town is a small shtetl, located maybe 15 kIn south of Botos ani, having however, over 2,000 Jews in 1937.

After a year of in tense activity, the newly elected com­mittee succeeded in:

1. Liquidating the clergymen conflicts; 2. Paying ther salary of the clerk, fonnerly unpaid; 3. Increasing the area of the cemetery, by buying neigh­boring land; 4. Repairing the school; 5. Starting reconstruction of the bath (something was rotten in Tg. Sulita!).

Do not be confused by another shIell, Noua Sulita, lo­cated on the east bank of the Pmt River, in Bessarabia, now in Ukraine, very close to Dorohoi and Botosani. Certainly in 1937 it was in Romania, but not mentioned in this volume.

Targu Jiu (1860) dr. M. Balus; secr., AI. Farchy Flax; rabbi, M. Goldenberg. The town is in northern Oltenia, now re­membered for its concentration camp for Jews and Gyp­sies, one of the departure points for Trasnistrla.

Targul Ocna (1886) Marcu Davidovici; v.p., Haim Toivi; cash., Jean Comissioner; secr. Gen. lancu Jacobson; rabbi, Itic Suchar. A school and w.p. About 30 kIn southwest of Bacau.

S. Rivensohn; a school. At j unction of the Danube's Tecuci middle branch with the Black Sea in Dobrodgea.

Max V. Segall; cash., A vram Aronsohn; secr., Beno Targovistea H .. [ ?] S hId erSCOVlCl; no v.p... c 00, az. an w.p. I. Heiman; v.p., I Braunstein; cash., S. lacobsohn; secr., Tulcea 1. Friedman; rabbi N. Strulovici. A school. In Wallachia (the first of its capitals). Iacob Zeidler; secr., Th. Radovici; rabbi, Isac A. Isac.

School. Danubian port in north Dobrodgea.

TarguNeamt Turnul Magurele (1860) Bernard Froim; v.p., B. H. Beer; cash. M. Herscovici; M Z ·nfi Id D b· . Wall hi b km secr., N. Silbennan; rabbi, F. Frisch. 2 schools and a . el e . anu Ian port In ac a, a out 100

southwest ofBucuresti. w.p. Located about 20 kIn west ofIasi.

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 27

Turnul Severin Leopold Bach; v.p., Zissu Davidovici; secr., A. Lowenstein; cash., Solomo Davidovici.

Vaslui (1805) D. Zuckerman; v.p., S. Gotlieb and 10sifHaberman; cash., I. Fliss; secr. gen. S. Haberman; rabbi Efraim Landau. 2 schools, a hospital, an az. and a w.p.

The Rabbis' Union from the Old Kingdom(Moldavia and Wallachia) Pres., Chief rabbi dr. I. Niemirower, representative of the Mosaic Cult in the Senate; seer., rabbi Efraim Landau.

The list of Jewish Communities ends with a detailed de­scription of the Botosani Community, omitted in the al­phabeticallist and included in Part 1 of my translation, in the Fall 1997 issue ofROM-SIG NEWS. Here is the list of officials:

Botosani Doctor Emil Tauber; v.p., Carol Spodheim [my uncle]; gen. cash., Neuman Mises; gen. secr., Joseph Segall; board of education: pres., dr. S. Lusgarten; v.p., dr. Henry Salter; secr., Joseph Schwartz; members Joseph Segall, Nathan Leibovici, Isac Rosenwald, dr. Emil Tauber; admin. section: pres., AdolfMoscovici; v.p., Louis Adler; secr., Marcu Gropper; members, dr. I. Goldhamer, Carol Spodheim, Nathan losipovici, lancu Goldenberg; reli­gious section: chief rabbi of the community, Ber Berstein; pres., Inass Miller; v.p., David Huttman; secr., Osias Marcovici; members, Neuman Mises, Leon Silbennan, Leib Abramovici, Haim Goldschlegher; delegate of the synagogues, L. Santman; auditors committee of the com­munity: pres, dr. I. Colin; secr., Bernard Kaufinan; mem­bers, David Ilovici, Marcu Halmer; delegates of the sec­tors: Pavel Fruchter, Nathan Finkelstein, Solomon Rottenberg, H. Sternberg, S. Marcovici, S. Taubes, C. Blumenfeld, Isac Cohn.

Translator's Conclusion and Observations Thus at the end of this volume, we see the long list of some of the Jewish communities in Romania in 1937. But, where are those from Bessarabia, B ukovina and Transylvania? More than 300,000 Jews from these ar­eas are kept away from the big Romanian Jewish familly? After World War I, the Romanian dream of the "big

kingdom" was accomplished, but it is not reflected in this list. Even Jewish communities from the "old king­dom" are omitted: Pitesti, Corabia, Wallachian and Moldavian Campulung, Reni, etc. Dr. I. Niemerower's title was "chief of the Mosaic cult of Romania," not only of Walla chi a and Moldavia.

I wi II be very happy if at least a few readers find some help in the names of these multitudes of presidents, vice­presidents, etc. from 1937. I found a few from my own family. I tried to add some geographic information for small shtetlach, and I reviewed my childhood and ado­lescence in the names and places mentioned in this year­book. Sometimes, this was with terrible memories: pograms in Dorohoi, Bucuresti and lasi (where thou­sands were killed), Targu Frumos (where a train was opened and hundreds of asphyxiated Jewish corpses dropped lifeless in front of the railroad station), Tg. Jiu (the Romanian concentration camp), and others.

Without any doubt, Bucharest is described with all the Jewish details possible. We can read between the lines that in Bucharest the names of some ladies, and even men, lost their Judaic origin, for many reasons: to es­cape anti-Semitism, snobishness, the passion for French names, like Clairette, Pauline, Valerie, Charlotte, Rose, etc. However the last name remained Jewish or almost Jewish. These names appeared in the rich Jewish aris­tocracy and the committees needed these people for philanthropic reasons. The richness of the organizations, many with philanthropic characters and schools, proved that the Jews were not accepted in public schools and many of them were poor, in need of many kinds of help, especially in 1937. I was impressed by the existence in Bucharest of an office ofH.I.A.S. In the other towns, the description of the Jewish Communities are very short if we compare with the Capital. In any case, I Hope that the reading of this article, filled with names and insti­tutions, will give a homeopathic dose of pleasure, as it did forme.

28 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

The Tables that follow were received from Profossor Singer ofEditura Hasefor. It is not certain where this informa­tion appeared; some of the data is incomplete. Individuals in these lists either participated as soldiers in the Roma­nian War of Independence (Russo-Turldsh War) in 1877-1878 or enlisted in the Roman ian army or were eligible to receive Romanian citizenship because they were industrialisls or possessed higher degrees. Translated by Bruno Segal

TABLE 1: JEWS WHO OBTAINED DEGREES FROM ROMANIAN UNIVERSITIES

NAME ROMANIAN-BORN DISTRICf OIY COMMENTS lacob Rozenzveig Yes Bacau Bacau Baccalaureate from Iasi Herman Erlih Yes " "Finished studying at College in lasi Isac Biremberg Yes" With 7th Order from College Iasi Haim Jurist Yes " "Followed College Studies in Iasi Alter Lobel Yes " "Rabbi in Bacau Gottlieb Ghinter Yes Botosani Botosani Professor of Romanian in Jewish School Seil Moritz Yes Braila Braila Assistant in Pharmacy; took part in 1877 War Marcu Rosenfeld Yes" Romanian Professor in Jewish School in Braila Arnold Grun Yes Putna Focsani Doctor of Medicine Francisc Landau Yes " "same Sache Alterescu Yes Roman Roman Lawyer Svartemberg Osias Yes Romanati Caracal District Medic Moses Goldstern Yes Suceva Folticeni Pharmacist with Bac. Diploma from lasi Ignatz Ipcar Yes Prahova Polesci Professor of Romanian in Jewish School in Polesci I. Herdian Yes lasi lasi Licensed in Medicine in Bucharest Jacques Lebell Yes" Licensed in Medicine in Bucharest Carol Steizingher Yes " Licensed in Medicine in Bucharest Heinrich Hertimberg Yes " "Licensed in Medicine in Bucharest losef Brosner Yes" Baccalaureate from lasi Ozias Hute Yes " "same Leon Grasuvald Yes " "same Elias Fisler Yes" same Leon Hand Yes " "same Benedict Lippe Yes " "same Elias Rosenstreich Yes " "same Osias Tailer Yes" same lacob Blumenthal Yes" same Efriam Herdan Yes" same Samuel Tailer Yes" same Berman Zamft Yes " "same Isac Last Yes " "same lacob Grosman Yes " "same Welhelm Svartzfeld Yes " "same lacob Goldner Yes" same Aizic Margules Yes" same Simon Moritz Lempart Yes Dentist with diploma from Paris;certified medical Counselor from Bucharest David Lempart Yes Ilfov Bucharest Dentist with diploma from Paris Moritz Roth No "" Dr. of Medicine from Paris; did studies in therapeutics Sigismund Steiner Yes "" Dr. of Medicine from Vienna Moritz Rosenthal Yes " same Solomon Mendelzon Yes "" Dr. of Medicine from Berlin lacob Elias Yes " Baccalaureate student in faculty of Science in Bucharest Isac I. Uziel Yes same Dr. Alexandru Cocin 1 "" completed medical studies in Romania. Medical doctor in Paris; medic in ambulance corps in 1877 war; decorated with the Romanian Star.

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

TABLE 2: JEWS WHO OBTAINED DIPLOMAS FROM FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES AND WHO PRACTICED THEIR PROFESSION IN ROMANIA

NAME ROMANIAN-BORN DISTRICT CITY COMMENTS Dr. Turcianer No Bacau Bacau Dr in Bacau 20 yrs Ernest Mauriciu Yes " same Dr in Bacau Emil Orenstein Yes same Baccalaureate from Cernauti Iacob Ingher Yes " same MedDr IosefPaliser Yes Botosani BotosAni Medic in Civil Guard AdolfMondlih Yes same Dr in Botosoni Herman Iurim No same Doctor losefLudvig Catianu Yes Braila Braila Med Doctor Isidor Birchental No Covurului Galati Architect Zahri Levi No Doljiu Craiova Has diploma in Rabbinate

29

LudvigHart Yes Dorohoiu Mihaileni Surgeon and Obstetrician Moritz Gutman No same same Surgical supervisor at La Seveni

lsidor Altschul No Go~iu Tirgu-jin ChiefMed Dr in the district Isiel Cohn Yes Neamtul Neamtu Licensed in Pharmacy Moscovici Mauriciu Yes same same Med Dr received Romanian Star Gheler Volfu No Putna Focsani Medical Doctor Moritz Finchelstein No Suceava Falticeni Medical Doctor Meier Froiu No same same Surgeon Isidor Focsaneanu Yes same same Pharmacist with Dplma Munich Morta Marcstein No Tutova Barlad Medical Doctor Dr.Seizel Yes same same Doctor L. S. Steaua Muntena No Prahova Ploesci Medical Doctor Leon Feider Yes lasi lasi Aggregate Univ in Douai Vilhelm Finchelstein Yes same same City Doctor ofBscks for 30 yrs David Almagen No same same Med Doctor Leon Rosental Yes same same Med Doctor Samuel Goldental Yes same same Doctor in Law from Brussels AdolfStem Yes Ilfov Bucharest Doctor in Law Enric Iscovescu Yes same same Licensed in Medicine Heinrich Rosenbec Yes same same Math degree from Berlin Isac Davicion (I.D.Bally) Yes same same Math Professor M. Blath Yes same same Doctor in Galicia Steiner Pitar Yes same same Dr of Medicine from Vienna and Berlin A. Blumenfeld Yes same same Dr. of Medicine from Vienna Marcel Cohen Yes same same same Ignat Seligman Yes same same same Moritz Verteimer Yes same same same A.M. Baly Yes same same Med Dr from Paris; was a battalian Medic during war Sigismund Steiner Yes same same Obstetrician scovescu Mauriciu No same same Degree in Law from Paris Emanoil David Yes same same Dr. in Scientific Math from Paris Herman Lupus Yes same same Medical Doctor Leopold Stem Yes same same Medical Doctor Gabriel Focsener Yes same same Engineer lohan Aihinbaum - Yes same same Dr of Medicine from Vienna Sigismund Aihinbaum No same same finished Med studies Marcu Farchy Yes Doctor of Philosophy and licensed in law from Paris; was state official

30 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fa111998

TABLE 3: JEWS WHO WERE ESTABLISHED IN COMMERCE OR INDUSTRY Name Romanian-Born Leib H. Focsaneanu Yes Avram H. Focsaneanu Yes David Orenstein Yes Burah Carniol Yes Haim Hers Lack Yes Mendel EneEdelstein Yes David Grimberg Yes 10sefTheiler Yes Zisu luster Yes Adolf Maisels Yes Faives Clain No LupuAvram Yes Marcu Avram Yes Isidor Schenck No Leibis Goldenberg Yes Marcu Sim Yes Strul Herman Yes 8. Pomerant Yes Moise A. Mendel Yes Leopold Mendel Yes Ralian Samitca Yes Saul Samitca Yes Filip Lazar Yes Lupu Dusmarin Yes Lazar Fermu Yes Isac B. losef No Azer Eskinas Yes Gavriel Eskinas Yes Lazar Eskinas Yes Leon Melemet No Samuil Ionas Yes Marcu I. Orenstein Yes Berman Orenstein Yes I. M. Brenner Yes Solomon Sibalis Yes Frideric Sibalis Yes Albert Goldner Yes Zaba Moscoviel Yes Isdrul Naerman No Mendel Predingher Yes S. Isac Samuil Yes Isdrael Elias Yes Marcus Haim Yes Sentov Semo No Strul Haim Daniel Yes Leon Daniel Yes Aizic Daniel Yes David Vortman Yes Bernard Tfas No Herscu Goldner Yes Isidor Goldner Yes A Iter F ocar Yes IosefGoldental Yes Samuil Goldental Yes Herscu Buius Yes Smil Egher Yes OscarCarniol Yes Nasftulea Tucher Yes Berman Teiler Yes Lupu Axilrad Yes Moses Voserman

District City Bacau Bacau

Comments Established Banker-family in Romania for many generations

same same same Established Banker Tergu-Ocni Blacksmith; Ironmonger same All four in Moinesci had established the first factory for gas and oil same same in Moldovia; and also manufactured wax same same Bacau same

Buzen Buzen

Businessman; son lost in 1877 war. Son of Dr. Maisels; Banker Important merchant Owner of [velnite]prob callie/arm Owner of [ve In ite ] " same

Covurluiu Galati Printer " "

Roman Doljiu

" " "

same same Roman Craiova same same same

Commission Merchant Manufacture of Beer Establ a farm with a stable for good cows; donated 800 lei in wartime Had Mill run by steam; mfg bread Jeweler; had Mill with horses same Most important printer in Craiova

same same same Proprietor Print Shop same Owner Distillery and Raised best Cattle in Filias same Banker same Had Distillery and raised best cattle in Tatomiresci same Banker same Banker same Banker same In Wool business

Dorohoiu Dorohoiu Had M ill with steam Putna Focsani Had Velnita; raised healthy cows and made lamp oil

same same

" same same as above " same same as above

Suceva Falticeni Owns Print Shop " same Important Farmer

Dambovita Tirgoviste Manufactured gas with 3 Engines same Manufactured flax in Gaesci and Beverage Dealer

Prahova Ploesci Banker same Banker same Banker same Banker same Banker

Iasi Iasi Investor Family lived in Moldavia for many years " same Investor

same Banker same Pharmacist same Printer same Printer

" same Farmer and Cattle Raiser same Proprietor same Manufactured Matches same Farmer same Cheese Merchant same Commission Merchant same Tradesman same Tradesman same Tradesman Manufacturer same Banker

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Name Romanian-Born District City Comments Aron Goldental Yes- same Investor Aron S. Goldental Yes same Investor Haim Marcu Daniel Yes same Investor Israil Singher Yes same Investor David Swartz Yes same Investor Abr. Halfon No IIfov Bucharest Banker Sabbetay Abr. Halfon No same Investor Solomon losifHalfon Yes- same Banker Mose Nisim Halfon Yes- same Banker SolomonNisimHalfon Yes- same Banker Isidor 10sifHalton Yes- same Investor Adolf Weinberg Yes same Involved in building the railroad Jacques M. Elias Yes same Banker Solomon Aser Yes same Banker Eliezer Aser Yes same Banker David Abr. Bally Yes same Investor losefMayer Yes same Important Merchant Solomon Elias Cohen Yes- same Banker Jacques Cohen Yes same Banker Emanuel Farhy Yes " same Banker Israel Isac Manoach Yes- same Investor Elias 10sifCohen Yes same Banker Leon B. Alcalay Yes same Book Seller Cociu I. Cohen Yes same Merchant

TABLE 4: JEWS WHO WROTE OR PRODUCED WORKS IN THE ROMANIAN LANGUAGE

Name LazarSein

Romanian-Born Yes

Bernard V. Vermont Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Ph. Muntureann I. Kohl Ronetti Roman Dr Moses Gaster

S. Feitelsohn Yes Ludovig Calmar Yes lacob Psantir Yes Elias Svartfeld Yes Ricard Torocianu Yes Ion Ianolescu Yes Herman Rainstein Yes

District City Comments Published Judiasm and Science in Evolution based on Schleiden Translated many foreign works into Romanian Architect who wrote on travel in Dobrogia

Born in lasi; translated the Countessa of Monte Cristo born in Botosani; published poetry

Bucharest Degree from Bucharest; wrote about Romanian literature; chair person Romanian Language Dpt

I1fov Published a novel and poetry "Dramele baraganuli" Vaslui Vaslui Published History and Geography on Travel Nemntu Publ Romanian History lasi lasi Pub an Annual andNovela Bacau Bacau Published Poetry Falciu Husi Pub a Novel and was an actor in theater in lasi Buzeu Buzeu Pub Poetry "Incercari" and was in the army

TABLE 5: JEWISH OFFICERS IN THE ROMANIAN ARMY WHO SERVED FROM 1864

NAME RANK UNIT DISTRICf CITY JOB NOTES

31

Nicolae Kerembach Meet. R. Cl. 2 resigned Tecuciu Tecuciu Red Cross Did not take part in war[I877-8] Natan Davidescu Med. BatCI. I Reg. 3 Art. Suceava Salticcni Took part in camprugn Pavel Kercmbach Med. Bat. Cl.2 Refonnat Rim-Sarat Focsani Did not take part in camprugn loan Herdan Surgeon lasi lasi Medic Took Part in camp. Lazar Fridman IIfov Bucharest Took Part MaxGrun Reg.3Unie Focsani Focsani Took Part Abraham Bally Serv. -Centro Ilfov Bucharest Medic Took Part Hecht Nruman Ad-torCI. I In intendent Ilfov Bucharest Auxiliary Took Part Natan Gavrilwscu Ad-torCI. 3 Reg.6Dor. Putna Focsani Auxiliary Took Part Mauricin Braciner SecondLt. Reserve Ilfov Bucharest Head of Platoon Took Part

32 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

TABLE 6: JEWISH SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN BATTLE FROM 1870 AND AFTER

Name Rank Unit District Place City Comments Moritz Vaintrop ValerLupu

Soldat Reg 5 line Dorohoiu Tergul Piatra Died in hosp contingent

Moritz Vaintrop Feinberg lancu -Moise Haim Strulovici Aron Moise Fabias losef Leibu Alter Avram Itic

Reg 5 line lassy Part IV lassy " " 5 44 Neamtu Tergului Neamtu " " 7 44 Tecuciu Tecuciu Tecuciu Died in Basttle 9/6/77 " 8" Roman Moldova Roman Died in hosp contingent

Reg 2 ros lassy Copou lassy Died 1873 " 6 dor IIfov Col Negru Bucrest same

" 7 44 Prahova Sfimparati Ploesci Died 6/8178 " 13 dor lassy Orasu lassy Died 8/27/?

Palet llie­Grunfeld Moise Bercu lancu

" 13 dor " Died 3/29/?

Itic Israel Finchelstein Moise Faibis Leiba luster Aron

Sgt

44 13 dor " 13 dor " 13 dor

" 13 dor

Died 8/26/?

" 14 dor Roman Roman Batran-esci Died 9/6/? " 8 cal Bacau Bis de sus Lucani Disappeared on the field " 8 cal " Bis de jos Paicesci Died in his house " 2 artilNeamtu Bis de sus Buhus Died 12/11/?

Fainaru Herscu Moise Stoler losefidier " 5 line Botosani Tergului Botosani Died in hosp contingent Opincaru Bewris Soldat " 71ine Neamtu " Piatra Died of Typhus

TABLE 7: JEWISH SOLDIERS WHO WERE REFORMED IN THE ARMY FROM 1870

[ed's note: we have no idea what "reformed" means. Your guess is as good as ours] Name Rank Unit District Place City Comments Golden Smil Soldier Reg 5 line Falciu Podoleni Raducani Contingent 1871 Goldenberg Bercu " Reg 8 line Botosani Tergul Botosani " 1877 Feldman Moscu Bat 1 yen Dolj Ocolu Crajova" 1875 Herscu Leiba Bat 3 yen Neamtu Piasa de sus Neamtu " 1874 Aizic Herscu Bat 3 yen Roman Bacesci Bacesci 44 1875 Leifer Avram Reg 1 ros Vasluiu " 1871 Naftule Pinhas " Reg 1 ros Botosani " 1872 Rufel Adam Reg 6 dor IIfov Col. Albas. Bucarest" 1874 Marcu Melter " Reg 13dor Dorohoiu Berho-male Milhaileni " 1876 Croiteru Moise" " 1876 Alter Noh "" "Berham " '4 1876 Freilat Nusam lasi Orasullasi " 1877 Usir sin Zalman Reg 14dor Roman MoldovaRoman " 1877 Mendel A vram" " Bacau Tasl. de sus Mainesci " 1872 Petraru Haim Leiba Reg 15dor Neamtu Piatra Piatra "1876 Celie Sunan Reg 6 cal Vasluiu Stemnic Berdesci" 1877 Blumen Talic "Dorohoiu Cosula dorohoiu " 1870 Cotingaru Moise" Reg 8 cal Suceava Samuzu Falticeni Reformat 12/10170 Lupu Marcu """ " 1871 Smil Idel" Comp2jan lasi Despar. IV lasi Reformat contigentl875 Rubinstein Herscu "Div p lasi Despar. III Reformat contigent 1878 Covrigaru Ilie Reg 2 line Bacau Bacau Bacau Contingent 1869 A vram losef Reg 4 line Neamtu PI. de susNeamtu" 1868 Leizer Avram " " Roman Sir de sus Roman " 1868 Haim Bercu Reg 7 cal Iasi Carligata T.-Frumos " 1866 Leiba Haim " """" 1867 Ilie Leizer" " 1868 Snul Aran """ •• 1868 Leiba A vram '4 " 1868

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 33

TABLE 7: JEWISH SOLDIERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT, 1877-1878

[note: this list should contain 202 names, but was sent to us with one page missing and only 150 names] District, Place and Town refer to the locality from which the individual was recruited. Name Rank Coml!!ny Abur Anton Soldier Reg.4 dor. M. Herdan Assist.Surgeon Spit.mCr. Mandelbaum Simon Corporal Reg.5linie Isac Marcus Sergeant Reg. 8 Iinie Moise Alter " lancu Samoel Soldier Reg.9dor. Tinghelstein losef " S. pem. Br. Simon Abram Corporal Reg. 8 dor. Hercovici Herman Soldier Benhea losef Reg.5linie Patrule David lIuna Moise Leibovici Abram Corporal Bercovici Froim Sergeant Reg. 8 linie Leibu Boiangiu Soldier Abranovici Haim Brigadier Reg. 2 roS. Marcu lancu Soldier Susel Hene Reg.14dor. A vram Smilovici Soldier Herscovici Leizer Sergeant Leiba Herscu Sergeant Herlih Alter Sergeant-Major Reg. 8 cal. Cerzacu Moise Sergeant " Herscu Zaharia Sergeant Avram lancu Soldier Reg. 2 artil. Arbinel Mendel Reg. 3 artit. Duma Antal Avram Moise Div. P.lasi Marcis Leiba Reg.5linie Lighider losef Veesler Avram Reg.8linie Sin A vram Haiam " Simon Marcovici Sin Aizic Marcu " Moretz Hefuer Brigadier Reg. 2 roS. Berman David Sergeant Reg.16dor. Strul Moise Soldier Smil Aizic Marcu Sc. fiil. mil. Moise Fruct Brigadier Esc. 2g. lasi Aron Strul Seargeant Reg. 4 artil. losef Moise Soldier Reg. 5 cal. Adolf Hefner Seargeant Reg.8linie Goldenberg Aizic Soldier Brociner Moritz " Naiman Itic

missing next 52 names (all oflasi and most of Bucuresti)

)sac Uzel Veimberg Adolf Erodrech Herman Vestfreid Filip Aptecher Levy Barach Mauriciu

Medic

"

Comp.Sanit.

District Place Town Arges Pitesci Pitesci Arges C.-de-Arg. Braila Tergului Braila Braila Balta Braila

Buzeu Buzeu

Bacau Bistrde Jos Clija Scorteni

Tergului Bacau Bistr de Sus Geosanii Tasl.deSus Mainesci Bacau Bacau

Bistr.deSus Bacau

Trotus. Tirgu Ocna Tasl. de sus Podurile

Bacau

Bist.deSus Hamesi Valea-Mare Bacau

Botosani Milletin Sulita Tergului Botosani

" " "

Botosani Botosani Tergului"

Siretu Bucega Botosani

Covurlui Horincea Beresci Siretu Balati

"

I1fov Bucuresti

TYUe of Service Combatant Combatant Auxilliary

Combatant Auxilliary

Combatant

Auxilliary Combatant Combatant "Musicant"

Combatant Auxilliary Combatant Combatant " "

Auxilliary Combatant Auxilliary Combatant

" "Musicant" Combatant "Tobosar" Combatant

Combatant

Auxilliary Combatant Auxilliary Combatant

34 ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998

Name Rank Coml!!n): District Place Town T):~e of Service Zarhi Leon Medic Comp.sanit. I1fov Bucuresti Hasan losef " " Goldenberg Mat " Fridman Isac " " Cismaru Nitu Sergeant Reg. I art. Mah.Dobr. Bucuresti Rosenzveig Hennan Soldier " " Col. Rosu Chan(?) Davila Sergeant Reg. 2 art. Dambovita Cismaru Nitu Sergeant " " Combatant Aron Moise " Reg. I cal. Mehedinti Ocolu Cemeti Combatant Istrael Adolf Soldier Corp. flotil. " " Severin lancu Leon "Tam-Major" Reg.5linie Nemtul Tergului Piatra Auxilliary Schvartz Itzig Soldier Muntele Buhus Combatant Capelovici Copel " De Sus Piatra HobmanHaim " Reg. 15 Iinie Piatra Piatra Itic Salaman Bistrita Buhus Moise Herscu " " Pincu Meer " Reg. Scal. BisdeSus Nemtu Auxilliary Garcineanu David " Bat. Geniu Piatra Girovu Combatant MaerLeibu Corporal Bat. 3 venat " De Sus Terg. Neamt "La infermer" Solaman Faibar Soldier Reg.2linie Putna Focsani Combatant Iuclea Maer Corporal Reg. 10. dor. Racaciuni Adjud " Cretu Meer Soldier " Biliesci Focsani " Mihail Midel " Reg. 6 cal. " Racaciuni Adjud Nou Moise losef Brigadier Reg. 3 art. " Focsani " Leiba Lupa Soldier " " Racaciuni Adjud Auxilliary Avram lancu Corporal Bat 3 ven " Focsani Combatant Marcu lancu Soldier " " Garlele " " Ghisberg Aron Sergeant " Prahova St. Imper Ploesci " IticSamoel " C.uvr.artil. " "ca lucrator" David lancu Reg. S.lin. R-Sarat Ram.deJos R-Sarat Auxilliary LazarAron Soldier Esc.detr. " " Solaman Papuc Sergeant Reg. 3 art. Ram-Sarat " Combatant LeibuRiven Corporal Bat. geniu " " Herscu Ilie Soldier Bat 3 ven " " LeibuHaim " " " " " " MarcuAvram " " " SimsaLeiba " RegS lin Roman Moldova Roman Zud Mihel " " " " Leiba Moise " " " " Bercu Lupu " " " Simanesci Auxilliary Bercu Herscu " RegS lin " Ser de Sus Gadinta Combatant Seinfeld David Sergeant Bat 1 ven Tergului Roman Anghel Gheorghe " Reg I_os " "Musicant" [note: the preceding is not a Jewish name--probably an error on the part ofthe original clerical official] A vramovici lancu Corporal Reg 14dor Moldova Roman "Int. Res. Spi." I1_scu Itig " " " Combatant Such Herscu Soldier " " " -Simon Haim " " Itic Aron Soldier Reg.14dor. Roman Moldova Roman Combatant Hoisic Vidgdier " " " " "

ROM-SIG NEWS, Vol. 7, No.1, Fall 1998 35 Name Rank Comm!n~ District Place Town T~ue of Service Leiba laneu Grunberg Moise " Strul Leiba Strul Ionia CarJigul losub Moise dor.ehem.2 Halaueesei Perit sin Smil Roman Mihel Mendel Moise Soldier Fundu Rusii "Ca sanitar" Tueherman Moise T. Baeesei Manaseu Stul Reg8dor. Siretu-d-J Aniseani Auxilliary Finehelstein Bereu Reg 8 cal. Moldova Roman Idem Leibu " Reg I art Combatant Ghimpovici laneu Sergeant Reg 3 art Caengiu Herseu Brigadier Herseu Leiba Soldier Reg 4 art. Fundul Basesci Copala Itie Corporal Bat 3 venat. Bratistea Flinter laneu Soldier Moldova Roman Auxilliary Peisie Leibu " " MoiseOzie " Bate 51inie Sueeva Tergului Foltieeni " losub laneu " " " Siretul Piseani Sulam Iosub " Boiangiu Izer Horoduieeanu Maftule Sergeant Bat. 15 dor. Somuza Faltieeni Safer Avram Soldier Reg. 15 dor Faltieeni Bereu Peisik Idisa Littman " " Crestinu Mareu Aizie Riven Reg. 8 cal. Siret Dolhasea Feredieru Faibis Faltieeni Leibu losef Corporal Reg. 2 lin. Tutova Berlad Combatant Grunberg Leizer Sergeant Reg. 2 ros. Berlad " "Musieant" Orenstein Ilie Corporal Reg 12dor. Combatant Salman Avraam Soldat SmilSendel Tutova Coradesci Leiboviei Moise Reg.6.eal Semila Bogdana Auxilliary Iteoviei Leibu " Reg. 3 art. Avramesci Combatant Avram Bereu Berheeiu Comi Auxilliary Ceaus Meer Bat 3 veu Zeletin Stanesei Combatant laeob Sender Sergeant Reg. 2 ros Vasluiu Raeova Pungesei Frenkel Smil Soldier Reg 13 dor Cra na Mun. de Sus Mareu David Stemnie Vasluiu Ceaus Itig Raeova Pungesei " Moise losub Brigadier Reg. 7 cal. Stemnie Bardesci Moseoviei Daniel Soldier Funduri Val.Statului " Veesler Herseu Brigadier Stemnie Vasluiu Auxilliary Caldararu David Corporal Com.u.art. Raeova Pungesei "Ca luerator" Ciobotaru Meer Soldier Reg. 2 art. Vasluiu Combatant Barach Moritz Medie(?) Serv. san it. Botosani Botosani Red Cross Sehvartenberg Osias Vasluiu Vasluiu GrunAmold Putna Foesani Sigmund Alexandru lasi Iasi