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THE SER-CHARLAP FAMILY NEWSLETTER

Vol. 5, No. 2 Tammuz 5754; June 1994 THE CLARION CALL by Ben Kristol

Ben Kristol and his wife Ruth live in St. Augustine, Florida. Ben is one of the vast Kristol clan that originated in Zareby Koscielnie (Zaromb, Zaremba) and spread to other shtetlach in northeastern Poland. Kristols intermarried with many branches of the Ser-Char lap family, including Mankuta, Ser, Tama, and Kur. They are also intertwined with the Glovnia, Grappa, and Migdal families, all of whom may someday be included on our tree. This article was edited from several pieces provided by Ben and was augmented in a meeting held just prior to Pesach 5754.

With their eyes set on the stars and their hearts full of hope, Jewish pioneers went west in 1911 to establish the Clarion Jewish Colony in the Gunnison Valley of Utah, about 100 miles south of Salt Lake City. In May of 1913 my father Samuel, of blessed memory, joined the colony. I was born early that summer and in July my dear mother with her three week old first-born son joined her husband. They were among the farmers, workers, shopkeepers, craftsmen, and people of culture who dreamed of building a model community and turning this rugged piece of wilderness into a land of milk and honey. They cleared rocks, irrigated the soil, cared for the animals, sowed and reaped, raised families and pursued their dream, one that has inspired mankind through the ages. The land was semi-desert with good soil on only some of the plots. And the environment could prove daunting. Winter storms were severe with massive snowfalls; in summer the temperature could soar well above 100 degrees. The water supply was undependcrble. It fluctuated between droughts and floods. Every obstacle that could befall man was visited on this courageous group of pioneers. Hardships took their toll but the challenges were met head-on and enlightened, toughened, and, yes, even delighted the hardy pioneers. The gnarled trees, the mountain peaks soaring up to more than 11,000 feet, the craggy rock formations, the vast panoramas of sandstone eroded by eons of wind and water into strange twisted shapes of magical color, all became part of them and they were bonded to the land. The pioneers were taught and inspired by the wonderful Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf of Congregation in Philadelphia, who had founded the National Farm School. The purpose of this school was to train young people in the science of farming and to form a nucleus for a "Back To the Land" movement. In that way Jewish immigrants who had fled the pogroms and indignities of eastern Europe could be given hope for a better way of life. The National Farm School was of inestimable help to the Clarion pioneers. In the 1930s it was the training ground for many others including the writers Pearl S. Buck and James Michener. Michener later paid tribute to Rabbi Krauskopf. "My debt to him is infinite for he opened a door for me. He did the same for thousands of boys who attended his school. Many of his young Jewish farm pioneers went on to help others." So these young Jews went out west and invested whatever savings they had and all their energies into the land. The Utah Land Management and Development Company sold the colonists 6,000 acres of land with the promise that (continued on page 2) 2

CLARION CALL (cont.) back east to fertile Bucks County, Pennsylvania and for water would be available to support 150 families. Each the next 28 years ran a prosperous farm. of the families drew lots for their choice of 40 acre In 1991 Ruth and I returned to Utah. We drove parcels. My family was fortunate in that our selection south towards Clarion with great expectations and my had better soil than most. But for the first two years the heart was filled with nostalgia. We arrived in Gunnison. promise of water was illusory. There was too little to Here I was, back in this place my family had left over meet the needs of the families and farm animals and also 70 years ago. Deep emotions surged up within me. I was to cultivate the crops. Somehow we all survived through hard pressed to contain myself. Vivid memories of the those first hard seasons. Then the third year was a experiences and places of my childhood bubbled to the joyous success. The novice farmers had learned from surface and with the recollections of my beloved family experience and were about to reap a bountiful harvest. their movement in and out of my consciousness formed Then one night a fierce storm swept through the valley. a ballet in heart and mind. We moved on to the Clarion Never had they experienced such rain and wind. The Colony itself and sought out our old Kristol homestead. frightened farmers huddled in their cabins with their To my dismay it was all leveled. Gone were the families. At daybreak they looked out and saw their farmhouse, all the sheds, the corral - even the pond was pockmarked farms. The bountiful harvest was gone; all filled in. Yet, the farm was verdant with an abundant growth was leveled. The farms had been overwhelmed alfalfa crop. The present owners showed us the by wind, water, rocks and landslides. Debris covered foundations of the old buildings and, once again, I was everything. The storm quashed the greater hopes of the overcome with emotion. Our spillway and canal system Clarion Jewish community. Many of the pioneers had was still in use and the modern farmers testified to their used up all their resources and were forced to leave. My importance. Then we visited the nearby cemetery. I saw father, along with six others, purchased the land and set the tombstones of baby Lieberman and pioneer Binder. about to reestablish the farms. World War I had broken He was killed in an avalanche as he returned from an out and there was a shortage of sugar. The main cash expedition into the mountains. He was crushed under crop became sugar beets and it was successful. falling horses, wagons, and timber. Now he rests quietly Throughout the war we raised tons and tons of beets, in this still beautiful spot. loaded them on wagons, and hauled them to the mill. There is a view that the Clarion Jewish Colony We had learned successful irrigation techniques and had was a failure because it did not continue. However, it built a canal system with spillways and pond feeders. We forged a tough breed of American Jew who went on to had our house, several sheds, and a corral. And I went contribute both to the ancient tradition and the new home to a one room schoolhouse with all the other children. In of America. The beautiful experiences of my childhood this distant place we celebrated Shabbat and the men will remain with me always. would join to form a minion. The modest farmhouse we ********************************************* lived in replaced the tents which were our first homes MORE ON MORRIS SMITH upon our arrival at Clarion. Then, the pioneers had hoisted flags next to the makeshift homes and toasted the Rabbi Bertram Leff (584,Pl.4ba) called to comment on land and the clear blue skies. Their singing was echoed an article by David Rosen that appeared in the Feb. 1994 by the howls of the coyotes - a symphonic tribute to the Newsletter. Entitled "On Jewish Investment", it freedom of the natural life and their dreams of the discussed Morris Smith who left a lucrative career as future. That future ended in 1920. After nine years, the manager of the Fidelity Magellan mutual fund to make Clarion Jewish Colony disbanded. My father sold his . Bert mentioned "My wife Gloria (578) has a first Utah acreage but he didn't give up farming. We moved cousin Melvin Brill (573,Pl.4bb) who is married to ********************************************* Sylvia Solomon (740). The Brill's son, Uri (771) was THE SER-CHARLAP FAMILY NEWSLETTER is Bar Mitzvah in February. Gloria and I met Sylvia's published quarterly. We encourage submittal of news sister whose daughter is married to Morris Smith. It was items, essays, poems, and historical articles. coincidental that an article about him appeared that same Correspondence should be directed to: month in our family newsletter." Bert holds an important Arthur F. Menton, Editor position with the Orthodox Union and Gloria is Assistant P.O. Box 108 Principal of the Sephardic High School in Brooklyn. Mel Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y. 11724 is the son of Rose (550) and the late Louis (551) Brill. Tel. and Fax.: (516)754-1742 Rose's mother and Gloria's grandmother was Chaya Copyright G) 1994 Faiga (546,Pl.4), daughter of Baruch Pasternak (504) All rights reserved and Kayla Kur (503). 3 MARCH OF THE LIVING

A growing number ofAmerican Jewi.sh teenagers are panicipating in the March ofthe Living program. 1he young people gather for a pilgrimage to eastern Europe death camps and from there go on to Israel where they see the rebinh of a proud, independent Jewish nation. We are happy to repon that we have had our share offamily members who have panicipated in this program. Jason Ser (1663,Pl.12), son of Howard (1610) and Michele (1618) Ser, was the first panicipant brought to our attention. He was followed by another Jason (1952,Pl.lBc), son of Kenneth (1940) and Carol (1929) Packer. Now we have received word from Larry Levy (1339,Pl. Bb) that his grandson Aaron Levy (1350) has returned from a similar journey. Larry asked that the family be apprised of this imponant program. He enclosed the following which seems to be an excerpt from a newspaper anicle:

Although he is only 17 years of age, a recent trip to some of the most infamous places in history - places in which millions of Jews and Gypsies were slaughtered during the Holocaust - has changed young Aaron Levy's life and thrust him into a maturity beyond his years. Aaron participated in "Eastern European/Israel Pilgrimage," sponsored by the United Synagogue Youth (USY) organization. This trip took its 33 young adults and four leaders across many cities and countries including Warsaw, Cracow, Lodz and Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland; Prague in the Czech Republic; Budapest in Hungary; Kiev in the Ukraine; and Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia. Upon his return, Aaron gave a talk before a Hadassah meeting in Westchester County, New York. "Visiting concentration camps was the hardest thing I have ever had to do," Aaron said. "First I was filled with anger and the lust for revenge, then great sadness, but finally I was filled with great hope for the future. You realize it's over - and you are hopeful because you can do something to prevent it from happening again." The journey is one, not only of education, but of enlightenment. It is meant to inform today's Jewish youth and it is hoped these young people will celebrate the survival and strength of the Jewish people in Israel. Even though the bodies of so many Jews were destroyed, the Holocaust did not destroy what their souls stood for. "Holocaust education must be revolutionized," Aaron said. "The way to prevent a future Holocaust is by remembering the past. We must stand firmly against all bigotry and hatred." Aaron showed the Hadassah meeting slides taken of the trip. Some of the scenes and Aaron's comments were so moving that many in the audience were brought to tears. Other slides needed no explanation at all and Aaron's silence elicited very poignant moments and emotions from the gathering. The horrifying pictures of Auschwitz, its electric fences and crematoria; the too few memorials which Aaron described as half-hearted attempts by governments to take responsibility for their actions; the overgrown cemeteries where gravestones were riddled with bullet holes - where Aaron said "the dead protected the living"; even the beauty of a pleasant meadow in a place where, at one time, the brutal murder of thousands of Jewish men, women, and children had taken place; all of these needed little commentary. They were testimony by themselves. "Relating to the Jews in eastern Europe, meeting them in their own land, cannot be accomplished in a museum," Aaron said. "There is nothing more influential and effective than traveling to eastern Europe." He intends to encourage other young people to participate in this type of trip so they will become insulated to intolerance and hatred. A high school junior, Aaron lives with his parents Abe (1343) and Pat (1346) in Pound Ridge, New York. His older sister Deborah (1349), currently attending the University of Pennsylvania, started the tradition of Levy involvement with the USY, and looking back, Aaron is happy to be keeping the tradition alive. He hopes to spend his freshman year in college at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Aaron's grandparents Larry and Toby (1342) Levy live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Aaron had written an essay about Larry that we published back in 1992 ("My Grandfather - Double Agent," Ser-Charlap Family Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 1). Larry's parents were Chaim Lesniewer (1297) and Chaya Malka Sir (1293). Chaya Malka's grandparents were Zebulon Ser (1285,Pl.1) and Chaya Kopyto (1286,Pl.J-l). Zebulon was named for his grandfather Zebulon (2155,Pl.A) who was the son of Abraham Charlap (2153). The fact that so many families are inter-related on our tree is a further lesson to us that all those who perished in the death camps are our brothers and sisters, as are all Israelis. The fate of a Jew, wherever he is, is our fate as well. ************************************************************************************************* Without a mystical connection to a history thousands of years old, Jews lose out, both as members of a great liberal diaspora and as founders of a country that, after all, has been in existence for only 45 years. Without a deep connection to our past and a belief in the special mission of the Jewish people how can we survive at all? - Natan Sharansky Jerusalem Repon, Feb. 10, 1994 4 NEW ADDITIONS descended from Morris (Moshe) Ser (1292) who left Nur, Poland and settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Megan Lynn (Rachel) Blaier (8848,Pl .23b) was born ********************************************* on April 22, 1994 on Staten Island, New York. Megan MARRIAGES is the fourth child of Alan (5755) and Michele (5764) Blaier. Her grandparents are Robert (5749) and Rosa Kenneth Berkowitz (223,Pl.3f) was married to Betty (5746) Blaier. Rosa, who was born in Havana, Cuba, is Ann Lee (8735) on March 19, 1994 at the Park Avenue the daughter of Chaya Lew Bekier (4651). This branch Synagogue in New York City. Ken is a consultant in of the Lew family is descended from the Lewin and Lew medical administration and Betty Ann, a graduate of families of Lomza Guberniya and is closely allied with Columbia University School of Law, is an attorney. Ken the Smolarczyk, Kuropatwa, and Sukiennik families. is the son of Beth Berkowitz (211) and the grandson of Sid (198) and Mimi (204) Family of Schenectady. Sid's Lindsay Ruth Charlop (8855,Pl.A-8) was born on Long parents were Shepsel Family (195) and Etka Ser (190). Island, New York on April 3, 1994. She is the second The newlyweds are setting up home on West End daughter of Gordon (4351) and Ellen (5361) Charlop and Avenue in Manhattan. the eighth grandchild of Bernard (4343) and Simone (4346) Charlop. Gordon is a trader on the floor of the Michael Estrin (8843,Pl.26d) was wed to Hannah New York Stock Exchange and Ellen is trained as a Ramer (8846) on December 2, 1993 in La Jolla, dietician. Bernard is the son of Abraham (3794) son of California. We are told that Michael traveled to Israel to Harris (3789) son of Dov (6436) Charlap. propose to Hannah. He is the son of Edwin Zalman (8670) and Linda Saenz (8842) Estrin. His great­ Bat-El Zipporah Cohen (8654,Pl.20f) was born in grandmother was Dora Lewin Cohen (Lukitz) (5010), Israel on Shabbat morning, Sept. 11, 1993, the first who was born and married in Ciechanowiec and child of Warren (4674) and Sally (7751) Cohen. Bat-El, emigrated to Kansas City in 1903. Michael is a computer born on the same Hebrew date as her mother (30 years engineer. The couple will make their home in southern earlier), is also the first grandchild for David (4673) and California. Beryl (4672) Cohen. Her great-grandmother is Leah Olsberg (4220), daughter of Velvel Greenfield (4218). David Gershik (8820,Pl.27ba) and Linda (Leah) Greenfield was an assumed name; Velvel's father was Mitchell (8823) were wed on April 30, 1994. David's Pesach Smolarczyk (2724 ), a tailor and baker who was parents are Martin (8815) and Marlene (8585) Gershik. born in Ciechanowiec in 1860. Marlene is the granddaughter of Louis (Moshe Leib) Kopyto (5587). Born in 1890 in Czyzewo, Moshe Leib Aryeh Shmuel Goldman (8655,Pl.8e) was born on worked as a tailor before coming to America in 1912. Sept. 4, 1993. We received the following note: "Debbie (Schlecker) (1712) and Stuart (1713) Goldman, in MAZEL TOV TO AIL ON TIIEIR SIMCHAS gratitude to HaShem, announce the birth of Aryeh ********************************************* Shmuel Goldman on the 28th of Elul 5753. Bris was OF SPECIAL NOTE performed by Stuart, who began practicing as a mohel several months earlier. They also have a daughter Tillie Sier (475,Pl.2a) has been honored for her lifelong Nehama Batya (7555) and live in the Orlando, Florida involvement with Israel Bonds. She was given the Israel area." Bernice (1709), Debbie's mother, is the daughter Award of Honor in a ceremony at Bnai Zion (39th of Anna (1414) and the late Abraham Sir (1412). Street, New York City) for her "outstanding Abraham emigrated to the USA from Zareby Koscielnie participation in strengthening the economy of Israel, the (Zaromb). future foundation for progress and peace."

Jacob Harris Nemeroff (8656,Pl.8a) was born Dec. 1, Morey Sahr (21,Pl.3a), an honored Certified Financial 1993, the first child of Robyn Joy (1527) and Joseph Planner, was a recent guest on the nationwide television Harry (6930) Nemeroff. Jacob is also the first grandchild program Moneywatch, broadcast on PBS. for Robyn's parents, Gerald (1332) and Sheila (1513) Sear. He is the great-grandson of Ray Myers (1318) and Herbert Sier, M.D. (521,Pl.2a) has been promoted to the late Harry (1309) Sear and the great-great grandson Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Chicago of Solomon (1299) and Chana Esther Mishna (1303) Sir. Medical School. He is Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Jacob is the newest member of the large family Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago. 5 REFLECTIONS ON A MAGICAL TIME by Deborah E. Menton (71,PI.3c)

In the winter of 1991-1992 a series of events culminated in my first trip to Israel. Because of increased participation with young Zionist groups, the fallout of the Gulf War, and my father's less than ecstatic attitude about my social encounters in the non-Jewish world, I decided to discover what Israel was really like. In the Spring of 1992 I arranged a trip with Israel Encounter, a tour for young Jewish professionals. I had never been away from home for an extended trip, much less thrown into a group of forty strangers, and to say the least, I was very nervous. As soon as I saw those tall, handsome Israeli security guards at the El Al terminal, my fears were allayed and as I said goodbye to my parents, I knew I was to have a good time. After an eleven hour flight, our first stop was the Kotel, the Western Wall. Exhausted from the long flight, I was a little disappointed and thought,· "It's not as imposing as in the photographs I've seen." We then checked into our hotel, rested, and then had Shabbat dinner. A few of us decided to return to the Kotel. Refreshed, we set out for the Old City, saw the Citadel brightly lit in the dark night, walked through the narrow winding streets and down the slippery cobblestone steps of the Jewish quarter, listening to the haunting prayers lilting through the soft Jerusalem night. Shabbat candles, gleaming through the windows, welcomed us and we proceeded towards the Kotel. Soldiers checked our belongings as we watched a group of eight religious women chant a beautiful song and then retreat without turning their backs on this holy site. I remember my altered reaction, "So THIS is the Wall." From that point, everything in Yerushalayim was fascinating, magical, and educational. This feeling carried over wherever we went in Israel. I became enthralled with the land, its people - my people - and vowed to return soon. Back in the USA, the next two months were dedicated to investigating programs that would enable me to get back to Israel. After reviewing a great deal of literature and going on many interviews, I decided that the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS Institute) in Arad would best suit my needs. Saying goodbye to family and friends was hard, but I left a month before the program began so as to meet up with new Israeli friends, newly discovered family, and to spend the High Holidays in Eretz Yisrael. In those thirty days I traveled the country - alone and with my new friends and cousins. My love affair with Israel grew deeper, especially after Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur in Yerushalayim. Then, across the desert, passing Bedouin, camels and goats until I saw Arad rising out of the sandy mountains. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I was approaching my "Emerald City." WUJS was to be my home for the next five months, during which time I'd be tested physically, emotionally, educationally, and spiritually. I took challenging trips into the deserts, camped out in the wilderness, climbed rocky escarpments, hiked the Galilee and the Golan Heights, spent two weeks training with the army, became more proficient in Hebrew, and took courses and seminars in Judaism, History of Zionism, Israeli politics, military history, Israeli music, and the like. I had always been Zionistic, but now I have the knowledge to sustain my emotional attachment to Israel. I have a much deeper understanding of who I am, and what the Jewish people and Israel mean to me. There is so much that makes the WUJS experience special: Shabbat dinners with joyous singing, talent shows, thought-provoking seminars, Havdallah, the overnight hikes and extended camping trips, the tnadrichim who are your comrades as well as guides, the clear moonlit walks to the "Point" overlooking the mountainous desert, friends, friends, and more friends, and a rabbi who likes the Blues Brothers! With all of this, there were some hard times. Living in close quarters produces some friction and being away from your dearest loved ones definitely takes some inner strength. Then there was that moment when I telephoned my grandmother in Florida. The voice didn't sound familiar and I learned that she was ill, dying of cancer. I was devastated. She was my last remaining grandparent and we've always shared an especially close bond. I felt powerless being so far away. Our WUJS rabbi and his wife were absolutely wonderful and supportive. With their guidance I came through this difficult period. After taking more courses such as "Episodes and Turning Points in Jewish History" and studying Tanach (Bible), I became even more committed and understood even more deeply that we are a complex people who cannot separate ourselves from our land, our religion, and our history. To do so is to deny our inheritance. As part of my WUJS commitment, I was required to work in Israel for at least seven months after graduation. When the Arad courses were completed I sat back and contemplated about my experience. I had met wonderful people, had seen much of Israel, and had gone through an intensive, concentrated graduate course in Jewish studies. I believed that the next seven months would prove to be an even greater education. At that point, I was undecided on aliyah but I knew that WUJS had changed me forever. I knew that the Jewish family I hoped to raise one day would benefit from my new revelations and would grow up feeling strong and confident about who they are and where they come from. (cont. next page) 6

REFLECTIONS ON A MAGICAL TIME (cont.)

It's amazing how one trip can change a pe:son's life. The next phase in Israel was encountering life the way the average citizen lives. The first month was perhaps the most trying. WUJS let those of us who were unemployed stay in the dorms until after Pesach, but we were reluctant to ask for extensions beyond that. I had met a wonderful young engineer from Arad and was getting quite serious with him. He had found a good position in and his family generously offered his old room to me until I landed a job. The Peretz family took me in and treated me as one of their own, even when Eyal, my boyfriend, wasn't there. His brother helped me in the move from WUJS and kept me amused with marathon shesh-besh (backgammon) tournaments. His father allowed me to use the family address for mail and always informed me with a smile when a letter arrived for me. I can't say enough about Eyal's mom. Rachel is the sweetest person one could ever be privileged to know. She gives so much of herself and is a wonderful mother. So even though I was unemployed and troubled by doubts about the future, I was rich with a second family. I had been steadily looking for work since before Pesach and luckily I obtained a temporary position as a madricha (guide) for Israel Encounter, the same group I had come with on that first magical introduction to Eretz Yisrae/. It was a great job. I got to travel the country again, staying in five-star hotels and meeting wonderful people my own age. I'm still in contact with many of them. I was given the opportunity to work alongside Kobi Arava, probably one of the best tour guides in Israel. However, the best part of the job was that it highlighted my growth in the past year. I started the job exactly one year after I had first stepped foot in Israel. That I was able to impart my passion about the country to others was especially meaningful. I was guiding these young people whose knowledge was about where mine was just one year earlier. I knew that I still had much to learn but it felt good to see my progress through this new prism. Some of the participants were so enthusiastic after my lectures that they are contemplating returning to Israel for a more extended program! It was exciting to see the wonder in their eyes and their rising Jewish consciousness. It was akin to the fascination I felt on my first visit. Upon the conclusion of the tour"! found an apartment in Givataim, a suburb of Tel Aviv. I use the word suburb lightly. The atmosphere is more like New York in the midst of a five-alarm fire. The apartment was dirty and the roar of traffic imposing, but the rooms were large and the neighborhood excellent. So I moved in and began to get things in order. I hadn't realized how filthy the place was. And nobody in Israel had prepared me for thejuki.m (giant insects) that are raised like miniature soldiers to fight until the end. After two bottles of ammonia, three cans of bug spray, and a lot of elbow grease, I settled in. It turned out to be very pleasant and I was close to Eyal. Meanwhile he had received miluim (army reserve duty) notice. He would be gone for a month, most likely in terrorist-infested Gaza where he had served for three years. However, his assignment was switched to Dimona. Much relieved, I was ready to take on the next tour group. Those plans changed when offers for two other jobs developed. One was at Tel Aviv University and the other was with Operation Independence. I chose the latter. It was an exciting opportunity with an organization that fosters trade between the U.S. and Israel. My boss was General Amira Dotan, a wonderful person, who had been the highest ranking woman in the history of the . At that time I wrote my impressions about living and working in Tel Aviv: I don't get into a nice, air-conditioned car these days when I go to work; I take two overcrowded buses to work. To clean the floors, I no longer turn on a switch to a vacuum cleaner; rather, I take a mop and water mixed with ammonia, swab the floors and push the dirty water down a drain in the bathroom. I don't rise at 7 A.M. and take a hot shower by simply turning on the tap; I get up one­ half hour earlier to tllrn on the boiler, jump into bed for a few more minutes, then get up to take my shower, remembering afterwards to turn off the heater. I no longer assume that the stove will go on by turning a switch; I keep a healthy supply of matches on hand to light the gas. I no longer use a washer and dryer to clean my clothes; I wash them by hand and all of Tel Aviv gets a wonderful view of my skivvies as they dry on the clothes line. Living in the real Israel is indeed an experience for someone who took all these luxuries for granted. It was all worth it. Eyal returned from milium and before long we were engaged. We will be married this coming October. I came to Israel, discovered myself, learned how wonderful it is to belong to a rich heritage, and discovered my future husband! I'm still ambivalent about our ultimate plans - living in America or making aliyah. I used to consider being Jewish in the United States a burden. After all, while everyone else was getting chocolate Easter bunnies, I was chomping on matzoh - the bread of affliction. It always seemed that "their" holidays were filled with fun while ours dealt with endless synagogue ceremonies and fasting. The American media certainly pushed that message home. Coming to Israel, I realized that this was a misconception resulting from diaspora living. In Israel, Purim is a most jovial holiday, (continued on page 8) 7 OBITUARIES Hebrew Union College in 1950. Before and after his retirement, he served as spiritual leader of Temple David Glatt (2010,Pl.19a) died on Dec. 31, 1993. He Aaron in Trinidad, Colorado. Sylvan's wife, Sylvia was the husband of Freida Mankuta (2006), daughter of (827), said, "We chose Albuquerque as our retirement Velvel Mankuta (1977) and Brucba Monkarz (1981). home in 1980 because of the climate here and the Besides bis wife, David leaves his married daughter people. Sylvan loved to play golf and bridge and was an Rona Zoberman (2018), and two married sons, Ellis avid reader. He loved to be near people. We traveled (2019) and Leslie (2020). Two grandchildren also extensively to Europe, Israel, and Canada. We had survive him. planned another trip to Israel in October but he became ill." Sylvia and Sylvan were married in 1940. Her father Edith Pakchar Gordon (2764,Pl.32afa) died in 1993. was Joseph Cohen (674), the son of Mattis Leml Kur She was married to Manual Gordon (8688) and was the (672) and Shayna Parczewski (671). In addition to Sylvia daughter of William (8377) and Rachel Leah (8372) and Joel, Sylvan leaves his daughter Judith Palay (833) Pakchar. Her parents were cousins, both descending of Green Bay, Wisconsin, five grandchildren and one from the Pakciarz family. Rachel Leah's father was great-grandchild. Shimon Velvel Pakciarz (8365). We believe William, ********************************************* whose Hebrew name was also Shimon Ze'ev (Velvel) A GREAT MOTHER OF ISRAEL was the son of Yaacov Pakciarz (8270,Pl.32ad) and the grandson of Reuven Shimon (2289). Reuven Shimon was May 14, 1994 marked the 150th yahnzeit of Sarah bat a brother of Rachel Leah's grandfather (8426). Edith Yehuda Charlap (3172,Pl.A-2). Sarah was the second leaves a daughter Bonnie (8695), a son Robert (8696), wife of the esteemed rabbi, Ephraim Eliezer Zvi Hersh and three grandchildren. Charlap (3169), and mother of four sons and three daughters. We have detailed information on only two of Sylvan David Schwartzman (830,Pl.7b) died on Jan. 1, her sons, Yitzhak Y ehezkiel (3217) and Yosef Shlomo 1994 at the age of eighty. Sylvan was a distinguished (3218). Yitzhak Yehezkiel had three sons of his own. rabbi, author, and educator for more than fifty years and First was William· (Ze'ev) Charlop (3226,Pl.A-2ab), was secretary and chairman of various committees of the born in 1844. He lived in Warsaw before emigrating to Central Conference of American Rabbis. He was America. His descendants include active family members recently honored by that group for his half-century of Wink (4193), Herb (4194), and Vivian (4202) Charlop. devoted service. For .the past few years he chaired their Ze'ev's brother Yehoshua (5215,Pl.A-6) married Beyla Mitzvah Fund. He was also a past-president of the Burshteyn (5216) and had at least two children. His son National Association of Retired Reform Rabbis. A Charles (5217,Pl.A-6b) is the father of Sidney Charlap former student of Sylvan's, Rabbi Paul Citrin conducted (5221) and Evelyn Miller (5223) and grandfather of memorial services at Congregation Albert in Sharon Rauch (5239), all members of our family Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sylvan's son, Joel (834), a association. Charles was one of about seven children but U.S. Air Force chaplain participated in the services. we have information on only one of his brothers. Beryl Sylvan was professor of religious education for thirty (5218), a rabbi and linguist, was born circa 1880. He years at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He was moved to Russia where he assumed the name author or co-author of more than twenty books on Chodorowski. Later he emigrated to the U.S. but religious education and finance. His books concentrated returned to Russia where he died circa 1920. Some of on Reform Judaism, customs and ceremonies, and his children were Holocaust victims but his son comparative religion. For the past eleven years he had Menachem (5224) made aliyah and became an important been an adjunct professor of finance at the University of figure in Israel's development. As Menachem Savidor he New Mexico and taught at Kirtland Air Force Base. rose to become speaker of the Knesset. Menachem' s two Sylvan was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. In children, Dov Savidor (5232) and Anath Goldenzweig 1936 he received his bachelor's degree at the University (5233) attended our 1992 family reunion in Tel Aviv. of Cincinnati, which was followed in 1941 by his Menachem's brother Jack Chodoroff (5225) lives in rabbinic degree from Hebrew Union College. He then Toronto. Yitzhak Yehezkiel's third son was Moshe, or earned an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and Morris (3774). His grandsons were "Moose" Charlap a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. He also received a (3780,Pl.A-6a), the renowned Broadway composer and Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College. E.Paul Charlap (3781), founder of Savin Coprporation Sylvan served congregations in Augusta, Georgia and (business machines) and also active in the pharmaceutical Nashville, Tennessee before joining the faculty at (cont. on page 8) 8 world. Paul's children are artist and professor education and gaining valuable experience. It is uncertain Peter(4326) and Susan Levitt (4327). Susan has been at this point where we will ultimately live. We do want active in support of our research. Moose's children are our children to experience the positive values of being Anne Cohen (3784), Tommy (3785) and Bill (3787). Jewish in their own country and we want them to be Tom and Bill continue their father's musical heritage. conversant in Hebrew and in their rich religious Both are excellent jazz artists, Tom on bass fiddle and heritage. For me, one thing is sure; the connection I've Bill on piano. discovered between Israel, the Jewish people, and myself Sarah bat Yehuda's son Yosef Shlomo, born will continue to grow and develop through my entire circa 1830, was father to six children. His son Ephraim lifetime. Zvi (3228), like his namesake grandfather, became a famous rabbi in Israel. With his wife Ester Kruschen Deborah Menton is now Director of Nonh American (3234), he had two daughters, Mindel Zussman Operations for WUJS Institute. She will be happy to (3250,Pl.A-2aaa) and Shifra (3249). Inasmuch discuss opponunities for study and work in Israel with as we don't have Shifra's married name, we have not all members of our family and their friends. She can be been able to trace her descendants. However, Mindel's reached at (212)339-6051. husband was from Sydney, Australia and they apparently ********************************************* settled "Down Under." Mind el bore eight children and there is a vast family in Australia, largely concentrated in Perth. We have the names of many of them but have A FAMILY SIMCHA not been in contact. We could certainly use some help in this effort. Ephraim's other marriage to Yehudit Shomner (3235) resulted in eleven Israeli-born children. Here again, we need help as we know little about the THE MENTON FAMILY lives of these family members. IS HAPPY TO INVITE THE ENTIRE MISHPOCHA So we honor Sarah bat Y ehuda, wife of Ephraim TO AN OPEN HOUSE PARTY IN HONOR OF THE Eliezer Zvi Hersh Charlap, on the 150th anniversary of ENGAGEMENT OF THEIR DAUGHTER, her death. She was a woman of valor whose descendants DEBORAH, TO EY AL PERETZ. have achieved prominence in a variety of fields and have JULY 3, 1994, 12:00 NOON done honor to the Charlap name and the Jewish people. AT OUR HOME ********************************************* 14 WEST SPRING HOLLOW ROAD A MAGICAL TIME (cont.) CENTERPORT, NEW YORK 11721 especially for children, and Simchat Torah, with its dancing and singing is more joyous than any gentile RSVP by June 20, (516) 754-1742 holiday. Negative feelings about being Jewish are alien to children growing up in Israel. They know from birth their place in the world and never feel ashamed of their birthright. Rather, they are proud of who they are and what their country has accomplished since its rebirth. ********************************************* They never regret burdensome religious ceremonies or experience the uncomfortable predicaments of American DOWN WITH THE TSAR! Jewish youth. Whenever I felt depressed or lonely in Israel, whenever I missed home and wondered why I A Jew was drowning in the Dneiper River. He cried for came to that difficult country, I'd hop on a bus for help. Two Russian policemen ran up. When they saw it Jerusalem and walk through the Old City. I always felt was a Jew, they said, "Let the Jew drown." When the better for having done so. Jerusalem becomes more man saw his strength was ebbing he shouted with all his magical for me each time I go there. I can understand might, "Down with the Tsar!" Hearing such seditious how it has been central in our people's hearts and minds words, the policemen plunged in, pulled him out and through the millennia. arrested him. Now I am back in the States preparing for my marriage to Eyal. I am working in the New York office - As told by Nathan Ausubel in of WUJS encouraging other young Jewish Americans to A Treasury of Jewish Folklore experience Israel. Eyal is advancing his engineering 9 THE KIEJSMACHER (KASEMACHER) FAMILY (PLATE B-1)

MENDEL

.______2969 _, 2970

DAVID RYFKA LEYZOR ESTERAELKA KIEJSMACHER MOSKOWNA PODKOWA - LEWIN 2967 2968 2964 2965 ~-.....-----' I I I I CHASKIEL FEYGA LEIA KIEJSMAN LEYZOROWNA

~---.-"29~71,_, 2972

3967 3968 3969 SEE PLATES 1 & 5 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PODKOWA FAMILY SEE PLATE C-1

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LEWIN FAMILY SEE PLATE H-1

Kiejsmacher means cheesemaker; Ser means cheese. The family lived in Lomza Guberniya. They were the same family, descendants of Abraham Charlap (2153,Pl.A). Mendel, the earliest Kiejsmacher we know of, was born circa 1760, about the same time as Zebulon Ser ben Abraham Charlap (2155). We believe that Mendel and Zebulon were first cousins. Mendel's son David (2967) was born circa 1790. His cousin, Leyzor Podkowa (2964), was born two years later. Leyzor became a schochet in the village of Nur and married still another cousin, Esther (Estera Elka) Lewin (2965). Their daughter, 19 year-old Faiga Leah (2972) married David Kiejsmacher's son Haskel (2971) in Nur on April 29, 1834. Haskel was a 22 year-old clothmaker who was known as Kiejsman. Haskel and Faiga Leah had at least six children. Chaim Leib (3966) died as an infant. Of the other children, we have information only on Mendel (611). He was born June 13, 1840 in Nur where he became a shoemaker. His marriage to cousin Chana Rivka Ser (609) took place on Nov. 3, 1857. She was two years older than the 17 year-old groom. They had six children including Pinya Kiejsmacher (613,Pl.5) who married his cousin Shayna Sir (618) and ltche (270) who married cousin Faiga Leah Ser (269). These unions of Kiejsmachers with Sers, Lewins, Podkowas, gave rise to a large family that spread from Nur to Ciechanowiec, Czyzewo, Zaromb, Bialystock, and other towns in the area. Unfortunately, they were victimized by terrible pogroms and many died in the Holocaust. However, many Kiejsmacher descendants have survived and spread to many lands. Among those who have kept their ties to the Ser-Charlap family are Yitzhak (648,Pl. Saa) Kizmaher and his sister Bella (649) oflsrael; Ann Dubrov (644,Pl.5ab) of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Sarah Kessler (Kiejsmacher) (625,Pl.5) of Brooklyn, New York. We have legions of descendants of Esther Lewin and the Sers who are associated with the Kiejsmacher family. Furthermore, there are marriages of descendants with cousins in other branches of our family, including: Kopyto, Kur, Srnolarczyk, Lew, Kuropatwa, and Pasternak. * Please note that the spellings of first names often vary. We sometimes interchange the usual transliteration of Yiddish names into English with the spelling found in old Polish documents. ************************************************************************************************* I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. - Psalms, 77.6 10 KISSIN' COUSINS FAMILY FINDER

Dick Hyman (3716,Pl.A-3) is once again leading a series We are seeking Mel Cohen or his descendants. Mel, of jazz concerts at the 92nd Street YM/YWHA in who at one time lived in Brooklyn, is the grandson of Manhattan. The six concerts run from July 19 to July Leml Smolarczyk (4615,Pl.20). Leml was one of at least 28. Dick is the artistic director of the series and will be six children. Among his brothers were Pesach Smolarcyk displaying his piano virtuosity on July 19, 20, 21, 26, (2724), Sol Goldstein (4614), and Itche Smolarczyk 27, and 28. The program for July 27th is of special (2614). Itche was the father of Zelda Kur (1546), David interest. It is called "All In the Family - Kiss in' (2616), Etka Capito {Kopyto) (2617), Simcha Nutta Cousins." As Dick points out, musical talent often runs (2618), Yenta Sukenik (2619), Golda Fefferkrantz in families. This is especially true of our Ser-Charlap (2620), and another son Shinendal (2878). Mel's father family. The program will feature several prominent had a niece named Zahava Cohen (2735,Pl.20fa) who musicians from our family. In addition to Dick, we will also married a Smolarczyk, Gedaliah Smoliar (2728), hear and see Sandy Stewart (3783,PI.A-6), vocals; Bill son of Pesach Smolarczyk. Other children of Pesach Charlap (3787), piano; Tom Charlap (3785), bass; and included Gershon (2726) who married his cousin Tzivia Judy Hyman (3720), violin. Lew (2733,Pl.23), Esther Spiewak (2731), and several sons who changed the name to Greenfield. Pesach and Additional information can be obtained from: his wife Golda Artshteyn (2725) were Holocaust victims, 92nd Street Y Box Office but in Israel, Gedaliah and Zahava raised two children. 1395 Lexington Avenue Zvi Smoliar (2825), a researcher at Weizmann Institute, New York, NY 10128 and his wife Amalia (2826) live in Nes Ziona. Zvi's (212) 996-1100 sister Rachel (2905) married Y ehuda Shacor (2906) and A FESTIVAL OF HOT JAZZ, RAGTIME, live in Kibbutz Erez near Gaza. They raise bees and OLDTIME, AND THE BLUES. produce outstanding honey. Rachel's life would be even sweeter if she could locate her cousin Mel Cohen.

"THE SPIRIT AND RAZZLE DAZZLE OF A ~~~------~~-~------~- FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION" There are two Joseph Pasternacks buried in the Nur - THE NEW YORK TIMES plot at Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, New York. One was the son of Shmuel Leib (4828,Pl.24) and the other "THE GLORY OF MAINSTREAM JAZZ, PAST AND the son of Chaim (4829). We believe they are first PRESENT" cousins, grandsons of a Joseph Pasternak (4007). We - JAZZ HOT HOUSE have the names of some of their descendants, but those we were able to contact had no additional information. "DICK HYMAN, A FAMILY TREASURE" We are seeking information about the older generation: -SER-CHARLAP FAMILY NEWSLETTER Shmuel Leib and Chaim. Did they come to America? Who were their siblings and parents? ********************************************* ********************************************* THE SER-CHARLAP FAMILY ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 108 Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724