l

THE SER-CHARLAP FAMILY NEWSLETTER

Volume 3, Number 4 December 1992; Kislev 5753 REUNION IN TEL AVIV

Ed. Note: From November 22nd through December 6th, I had to be in for business reasons. The fact that daughter Deborah (71, Pl. Jc) is living in A.rad also prompted the trip. Deborah told a few family members that we were coming and they immediately arranged a major family reunion. We especially thank Harry Mankuta (1832,Pl.17b) and Aharon Manor (6298,Pl.19d) for their dedicated work in assuring the success of this meeting.

On the evening of November 25, 1992 the Ser-Charlap Family Association had its first large meeting in Israel. Approximately one hundred members of ·our mishpocha converged on the ZOA House on Shlomo Ibn Gabirol Street in Tel Aviv. Representatives from most branches of the family were present. For the first hour, there was informal conversation and investigation and the din was deafening. Everyone wanted to know how they fit into the family. At nine o'clock Harry Mankuta {1832,Pl.17b) called the meeting to order and introduced Arthur Menton {58,Pl.3c), who was visiting from the United States. Arthur proceeded to tell the assemblage of his research into the family. He spoke in English and Harry translated to Hebrew. The thrust of the message follows: I have taken on the massive task of being the family historian. My mother's father was Isaac {Max) Sahr (Ser) (7,Pl.3) who came to the United States from Ciechanowiec, Poland in 1891. He died in 1949 when I was 17. We were very close, but I realized that aside from the families of his six daughters, I knew nothing of his history. I knew he had an older brother up in Schenectady, New York so I investigated and found many close relatives there. I learned that my grandfather was one of ten children of Sender (1,Pl.1) and Chaya Podkowa (2) Ser of Nur (Danir). Four came to America and unfortunately the others stayed in Poland. I was shocked to learn that my mother's uncles, aunts, and cousins perished in the Holocaust without us ever knowing of their existence. I decided to memorialize them. That is the driving passion behind this work. I soon found many interrelated families. Transportation and communication were poor in northeastern Poland and people married those close to them. Within a few generations everyone in these shtetls were related. I have traced many of these families and have learned just how close they are. Ser means cheese in Polish. The name was adopted when Napoleon forced everyone to assume surnames. That was in the early 1800s. There are also Kiejsmachers (cheesemakers) in the family. Other families closely related are: Kur, Kuropatwa, Lew (Lewin, Levine), Danowitz, Smolarczyk, Tama, Pasternak, Kopyto, Mankuta, Parczewski, Pakzciar, Lapin, and Charlap. Associated families that are probably related, but whose exact connection has not (continued on page 5) 2

EZRA.TH NASHIM-HERZCJG other daughters, Bernice Schlecker (1709) IK>SPITAL of Miami Beach, Florida and Estelle Krumholz (1716) of Florham Park, New Jeanette Sir Krauss (1708,Pl.8e) has Jersey. All three daughters have been appointed Executive Director of the participated in Ser-Charlap family events. American Friends of Ezrath Nashim-Herzog Jeanette has two children. Michael (1719) Hospital. Jeanette has exceptional is a noted actor who was featured in the credentials, having worked with many Jewish acclaimed film Avalon. Elizabeth (1720) is and Israeli organizations. She will involved with education. Jeanette is also coordinate all U.S. fundraising activities proud of her grandson, Sam Krauss (7554), on behalf of the hospital. whom she describes as "a young man of Ezrath-Nashim Herzog Hospital, outstanding qualities: intelligence, located in Jerusalem, contributes to beauty, and linguistic abilities." Sam was Israeli society in three ways: 1) Patient born Sept. 21, 1990. Best wishes for care is foremost, 2) Training the next success to Jeanette in her new and generation of health professionals, and important position. 3) Research. The research done at Herzog in ****************************************** both its geriatric and psychiatric A WARSAW BOARDING HOUSE departments has implications for the medical profession far beyond Israel's Discovery of new family members of ten borders. Findings are promptly published in comes about in strange ways. Recently, we international journals and grants have been were going through some old Polish awarded by private and public sources telephone directories. At the top of page around the world. 853 of the 1936 Warsaw volume the name Jeanette, who lives in , Charlap leaped out. No first name was is the daughter of Abraham (1412) and Anna given. However, after the name are the Friedman (1414) Sir. Abraham was born in words pensjona t Radjum. The listing is for Zareby Koscielnie (Zaromb), Poland in 1908. the small town of Druskieniki outside His father, Harry (1405), born circa 1875, Warsaw. Apparently, this Charlap person emigrated to America around the time of operated the Radjum Boarding House in World War I. He ran a fruit store on the Druskieniki in the year 1936. We know Lower East Side and also a shoe store at 92 nothing else about him or what his fate was Rivington Street. After he had saved enough in the turbulent years that followed. Does money, he sent for his family. His wife anyone have additional information about Goldie Ziegelbaum Sir (1408) arrived with this mysterious Charlap? children Abraham and Sarah (1358) on May ****************************************** 31, 1920 aboard the S.S. Santarem. Goldie NEWSCASTER BOB KUR had ten dollars in her possession. Harry took them home to 209 Forsythe Street, not Several family members have asked if far from his shop. Abe also went into the Bob Kur, the NBC news reporter, is related shoe business operating a store on the to us. Bob descends from a Jewish family corner of Rivington and Ludlow Streets. In that emigrated to the USA from Latvia. His addition to Jeanette, Abe and Anna had two grandfather Harry Kur ran_ an auto repair ***************************************** shop in Bayonne, New Jersey and is buried THE SER-CHARLAP FAMILY NEWSLETTER is in the United Hebrew Cemetery on Staten published quarterly. We encourage submittal Island. This Kur name derives from Kurland, of news items, essays, poems, and a region of Latvia. It is doubtful that historical articles. Correspondence should this family is directly related to us. Our be directed to: Kur branch originates in the shtetls of Arthur F. Menton, Editor northeast Poland and the name is associated P.O. Box 108 with Kuropatwa, which means partridge in Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 11724 Polish. Kur, itself, means miller's thumb, Tel: (516) 754-1742 bullhead, or partridge cock. Bob is welcome Copyright ~ 1992 to contact us for more details about his All rights reserved family's origins. J

THE ELDRIDGE STREET SYNAGCX;tJE .AND OUR FAMILY

The first great house of worship built by East European Jewish immigrants on New York's Lower East Side was the Eldridge Street Synagogue. A group of Polish had tormed the Congregation Khal Adas Jeshurun in 1856. The congregation grew rapidly and in 1887 erected the largest synagogue on the Lower East Side, a distinction it retains till this day. The structure was designed in an eclectic manner by Herter brothers, a well-known architectural firm. Moorish, Gothic, and Romanesque elements are combined in a tasteful architectural blending. The main sanctuary is paneled in rich walnut with beautiful, but fading, trompe l'oeil paintings on plaster adorning the side walls. Immense brass chandeliers with Victorian glass shades hang from the seventy foot ceiling. This magnificent building has been declared a New York City landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Despite its beauty and historic importance, the synagogue had fallen into a sad state of repair due to a dwindling congregation of poor elderly Jews, vandalism, and general neglect. After years of decay there is now hope. The not-for-profit Eldridge Street Project has been formed to preserve the synagogue and to renew its purpose with public cultural and educational activities for a diverse audience. Tours are offered each Sunday between 12 and 4 p.m. or by special arrangement. A more detailed description of the synagogue with several excellent photographs can be seen in Jo Renee Fine and Gerard R. Wolfe, The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side (New York: Washington Mews Books, 1978), pp. 42-50. On page 50 of this reference is a photograph of a hand written note in Hebrew and English that was hanging in the building. Above the note hangs a sign which lists the name of Gaby Hanorable [sic] Hyman Sear. We now had a task to find out who this Hyman Sear was. The irreplaceable Tillie Sier (475,Pl.2a) proved to be a big help. Tillie was brought up on the Lower East Side and still lives on Grand Street and the FDR Drive. She visited the synagogue to speak with the rabbi and other congregants. This jogged her memory and she remembered her father visiting relatives who belonged to the Eldridge Street Synagogue. She recalled that this Sear family had two sons and a daughter. One of the sons had Down's Syndrome. From the 1920 census we discovered a Max Sear who lived at 121 Henry Street. He was 55 years old, married to Ann, age 48. They were both born in Russia/Poland as was their first son, Hyman. They had another son Abe, age 9, and a daughter Sylvia, age 4-5. From the Passenger Arrival Lists of the Port of New York, we found a Mordecai Sear who arrived on February l, 1904 aboard the S.S. St. Louis of the American Lines. He was 32 years old and and was coming to live with his brother Max, who at the time was living at 60 Hester Street. Other evidence was examined. In Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, New York there are several areas reserved for landsmenshatten. One of these is for the Nur Society. Nur is, of course, one of our ancestral homes. In this plot are buried Hyman (Elchanon Chaim Moshe ben Mordecai) Sear (1898-0ct. 19, 1979), his wife Bertha (Breine bat David) (1901-Sept. 3, 1939) and their son Saul (1924-May 11, 1987). Hyman is listed as beloved father, grandfather, and great­ grandf ather. Now we had two Hyman Sears, each of which could have been the one referred to in the Eldridge Street Synagogue. But certainly they were both of the Ser family from Nur and Ciechanowiec. The exact connection was still in question The Hebrew names enabled us to make that connection. We had investigated the still existing records of the Polish Jewish communities. These had been microfilmed by the Mormon church and are available for inspection. From these records we learned of early relatives in Poland. The immediate family of one of these, Jankiel (Yaacov) Ser, is shown on Plate A-la of our family tree. Jankiel was the son of Zebulon (2155,Pl.A-1), originator of the Ser name. Zebulon was, as we all know by now, the son of Abraham Char lap (2153). So Jankiel, born circa 1780, was a grandson of Abraham Charlap. He was an innkeeper and schochet in Nur, where he died on March 27, 1851. Jankiel had at least six children, one of whom was Mordko, or Mordecai (2923). Mordecai was born circa 1816 and was married twice. He sired six children by his first wife and four more by his second. His fifth child, born in Nur on May 5, 1845 was Chaim Moshe Ser. Now we had all the pieces to put together. All of these Sers (Sears) originated in Nur. The dates were consistent and so were the Hebrew names. We concluded that Abraham Charlap begat Zebulon (continued next page) ELDRIIX;:E STREET (cont.) child tor parents Itzhak ( 312.) and Ana t (5101). She is the fourth grandchild for Ser begat Jankiel begat Mordecai begat Yohanon (310) and Dvora (309) Levit. Dvora Chaim Moshe begat Mordecai begat Chaim is the granddaughter of Moshe Sil verburg Moshe - that is, Hyman Sear. Now the task (29) and Dvora Globnia (272) and the great becomes one of finding the grandchildren granddaughter of Shlomo Silverburg (6,Pl.3) and great-grandchildren of Hyman Sear. They and Sarah Ser (5). New evidence indicates should be afforded the opportunity of that the Globnia's may be related to us. We learning about our heritage and forming are investigating the possibility. Mei tar warm associations with the family. With lives in the settlement town of Tsomit, Tillie Sier's great help we are fast on the Samaria with her parents. track and will keep you apprised of developments. A new Pando daughter (7750, Pl. Jecd) was ****************************************** born in Zurich, Switzerland to Ron (184) NEW ADDITIOl\fS and Bridgette (5801). Ron's mother was Colonit Scher (Ser) (151) who was born in Shira Char lap (7805, Pl. A-4c) was born in Argentina, made aliyah, and married Hector Bnai Brak, Israel on March 11th. Shira is Pinedo (158), a Portuguese Jew, in Israel. the second child of Yaacov Moshe (4146) and Ron is a security agent for El Al Airlines. Karen (4148). Grandparents are Naphtali Zvi His grandfather, Yehoshua Ser (Jose Scher) Yehuda (3872) and Chana (3873) Charlap. The (128,Pl.Je), left Ciechanowiec for new baby comes from a long line of rabbis Argentina early in this century. and scholars. Naphtali's father was Yosef ****************************************** David Charlap (3737), Rosh Yeshiva in MARRIAGES Jerusalem. Yosef's father was the renowned sage Yaacov Moshe Charlap (3730,Pl.A-4). Joanne (Yael) Cohen (4676,Pl.200 was The present Yaacov Moshe and his growing married to Uri Zonnenshain (7832) on Sept. family live in Petah Tikvah. 7th in Bnai Brak, Israel. Joanne's brother was also married this autumn. Warren Tal Yochevet Charlap (7806,Pl.A-4c) was (Ze'ev) Cohen (4674) was wed to Sally born in the month of Sivan, this past year. Berenblut (7751) on November 10th. After Tal 's parents are Yair (4147) and Billa mincha, the chuppa was set up in Wembly, (4149), who now have two children. Yair is Middlesex, England. Warren's and Joanne's the brother of Yaacov Moshe (4146), so parents are David (4673) and Beryl (4672) Tal's genealogy follows that of cousin Cohen of Netanya, Israel. Beryl is the Shira, born just a couple of months daughter of Isidore (4667) and Leah (4220) earlier. The new baby was born in Olsberg. Warren's and Joanne's great­ Jerusalem, where Abba Yair is following the grandfather was Velvel Greenfield (4218), family tradition of religious scholarship. the son of Pesach Smolarczyk (2724) of Ciechanowiec. Warren is in the medical Chana Goldman (7555,Pl.8e) made her debut supply business. His father is in computer earlier this year. She is the first child management. This branch of the family is for Stuart (1713) and Deborah (1712) Israeli and also has connections to Goldman of Maitland, Florida. Chana is the Manchester, England. first grandchild for Bernice Schlecker (1711), but is the fourth great-grandchild Amir Shacor (2909,Pl.20fa) was married to of Anna Sir (1414) and the late Abraham Sir Dana Fisher (7759) on September 17th. Amir (1412). The new baby is descended from was raised on Erez near Ashkelon. Zebulon Ser (1285,Pl.8), born May 23, 1841 His father, Yehuda (2906) is a beekeeper in Nur, and Chaya Kopyto (1286), born in and produces the finest honey we've ever Andrzejewo. tasted. His mother Rachel (2905) is the daughter of Gedaliah Smolarczyk (2728) and Meitar Levit (7808,Pl.Jba) was born in Zahava Cohen (2735). Gedaliah's father was Ramat Gan, Israel on July 23rd. Meitar, Pesach Smolarczyk (2724). which means Spring in English, is the first HAZEL TOV TO ALL ON THEIR SIHCHAS 5

A TRIBUTE TO DAVID SER northeast Poland and adjacent regions of Russia and Lithuania. The major cities The untimely passing of David Ser surrounding this area were Warsaw, (1604,Pl.12) was reported in the last issue Bialystock, Kowno, and Wilna. Within the of the newsletter. Due to an inadvertent region we lived in Suwalk, Lomza, error, his grandson's first name was Ciechanowiec, Czyzewo, Zaromb, Nur, Ostrow omitted. The correct name is Elliot Jason Mazowieckie, Wysokie Mazowieckie, Brok, (4322). Tykocin, Brainsk, Shterdyn, Semiaticzi, We believe that David's Nowograd, Mariampole, Krasnopole, Kossow, accomplishments were not fully covered in Kalwaria, and others. last issue's brief notice and we wish to The first Ser was Zebulon correct that. David Ser was a track star in (2155,Pl.A), son of Abraham Charlap (2153), high school and college. He graduated from who was born circa 1740. At the time, Brooklyn College in 1940 and worked briefly Charlap was not a surname but an honorary as a physical educ a ti on teacher. Shortly title, a Hebrew acronym that stood for thereafter, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, "Chief Sage of the Exile in Poland." The which recognizing his talents, charged him Charlaps are a very distinguished rabbinic with the task of developing a medical dynasty whose yichus is well established. rehabilitation program for all handicapped They stem from the Ibn Yacbya rabbis of soldiers. His career of dedicated service Spain and Portugal and before that go back to the handicapped began with the Army and to the Exilarchs in Babylonia and Persia. continued for the next 48 years. On the Their claim of descent from King David has way, he earned an M.A. from NYU. David was been supported by many scholars. So you a colleague of the noted Dr. Howard Rusk see, we are of royal blood ! and was known as a prime mover of This research has led to a family rehabilitative therapy in this country. He tree of some 8, 000 names dating back to implemented a major program in the Abraham Charlap. I am also writing a book Veterans' Administration and trained about the history of the family and how it countless numbers of students in the field reflects the major events in the life of at several institutions, including NYU and the Jewish people. We are also translating Adelphi University. These students' several Yizkor Books from our towns into accomplishments are testimony to the superb English. If this research bas taught me training received from David. At his anything, it is that the Jewish people are retirement, David was Chief of one large mishpocha. Kinesi therapy at the Veterans' Aharon Manor (6298,Pl.19d) agrees. He Administration in New York City. He has also done some intensive research into received countless awards and plaques for the connections between the Mankuta, Ser, his advancement of the field. David never Globnia, Grappa, and Migdal families. He worked in physical therapy he was mounted some large charts on the wall and Physical Therapy in this country. We in the also spoke from the podium. Ser-Char lap family are proud of David's Moti Giladi (4955,Pl.20c) also spoke achievements and pleased to be counted as warmly of the family and about how much his relatives of this accomplished and creative newly found relatives mean to him. Moti, man. who is one of the great entertainment stars ****************************************** of Israel, is in the Smolarczyk branch of We should all rejoice when, seeing that a the family. man of saintly virtue has completed his Videos of the reunion were taken by journey, he is about to depart this world Aharon Manor and Julio Migdal (1426,Pl.8c); with the imperishable crown of a good name. photographs by Udi Mankuta (2391, Pl.17b) A Talmudic Proverb and Nancy Menton (189,Pl.3c). It was a gala ****************************************** event, marked by conviviality, warmth, and (continued from page 1) love. Note: An attempt was made to reach as been determined are Blattman, Sukkienik, many relatives as possible. However, the Yarmos, Kafka, Burzshteyn, Bochko, and telephone callers couldn't reach everyone. others. The family came from an area of We apologize to those not notified. b ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG IN THE GALILEE

Sheila Charlip (7627,Pl.A-14a) is a teacher at the Hillel Day School in the Detroit region of Michigan. Sheila is also the wife of Elliot Charlip ('/615) and mother ot ti ve children. Her husband and children encouraged Sheila to take advantage ot an unusual opportunity. Together with Rochelle Iczkovitz, her Principal at Hillel, she spent two weeks in Israel as a volunteer on an archaeological dig at , the present day Tzipori, known as "the ornament of the Galilee." A passage from the Talmud explains the city's name: "And why is it called Tzipori? Because it is perched on the top ot a mountain like a bird." Sepphoris is a place which echoes thousands ot years ot Jewish history. It was once a citadel which straddled the trade route between Egypt and Eretz Yisroael. Located half-way between Haita and Tiberias, from its heights one can gaze out over a magnificent panorama. Once barren hills have been brought back to verdancy through the dreams and hard work of Zionists. The surrounding landscape is dotted by kibbutzim with their neatly planted fields. Orchards of pomegranates, figs, and olives hug the hillsides and valleys, and many ot the remaining slopes have been reforested by the JNF. From this commanding fortress, the ancient inhabitants of Sepphoris could dominate the surrounding countryside. Sheila and Rochelle stayed at Kibbutz Hanaton, a twenty minute bus ride from the site of the dig. They were part of a team of fifty volunteers, two professors and several graduate students of Hebrew University. Their day began at 4:30 a.m. and continued to 1 p.m. with a short break for lunch at 10 a.m. Sheila was assigned to work with a graduate student who instructed her in archaeological techniques. She was taught how to shovel at the site and to carefully clean each object that was uncovered. These included items from home life and animal teeth. The objects would then be passed along to the professors for inspection. Aside from innumerable small objects, Sheila helped unearth Sepphoris' network of streets, homes, and marketplaces. Among the architectural discoveries were columns from the main street of Sepphoris. A paved limestone road was uncovered that was rutted with wagon-wheel tracks. Sepphoris was a large city during the first few centuries of the common era. The Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial authority, had been located here. It was the home of Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi, the most erudite teacher of the time. He was head of the Bet Din and came from a scholarly family. According to Abram Sachar [Abram's grandmother was a Charlapj in his monumental A History of the Jews, R' Judah was a friend of Marcus Aurelius and "was ideally fitted for his historic task." That task, which took fifty years, was the compilation of the Mishna and "it marked a turning point in Jewish history." The Mishna became the authoritative legal code and future generations regulated their lives by it. The presence of Judah ha-Nasi attracted many other talmudic scholars and there were close to twenty synagogues and many houses of study in Sepphoris. The dig at Sepphoris was begun in 1985 and had already revealed several important mosaics which are on display at Hebrew University. These consist of fifteen panels dedicated to Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. The most striking panel portrays an enigmatic beauty, whose faint smile and haunting eyes are so reminiscent ot the tamed Leonardo subject that it has been dubbed "the Mona Lisa of the Galilee." Her identity remains a mystery. Three distinct layers of Sepphoris have been identified: Jewish, Roman, and Byzantine. It is believed that the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 363 CE. Ruins of synagogues, Greek temples, aqueduct and reservoirs, a Roman theatre, a Byzantine church, catacombs, Crusader forts, and stone alleyways remained under the rubble, waiting to be discovered. This past summer, the dig went six feet deeper than previous excavations. Sheila helped uncover the private kitchens and mikvot of this once wealthy city. She observed that "Standing in what was once a kitchen, you begin feeling like 'this is my house.' But then you also wonder if you are not just some invader of these treasures." Sheila returned to Michigan with some shards ot pottery and pieces ot broken glass. To her they are treasured memories ot an exciting summer adventure and remnants from a decisive era of Jewish history. Genealogical Note: Elliot Charlip is the grandson ot Eliyahu ben Sholom Charlap ('/567), a religious scholar and Hasid. The family is said to have lived in Lechovitz. '/

THE ELSON BOYS: WAR HEROES

The Calvin and Stanley Elson Post of the American Legion was organizea in March 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. The Post was named in honor of two brothers who had made the supreme sacrifice while fighting with American forces during World War II. Calvin (5732,Pl.23d) and Stanley (!'>724) Elson were born in Bialystock shortly atter World War I. They were the sons ot Mordecai Yuzitsky (5729) and Esther Lew (4957). Their grandparents were Israel (4639,Pl.23) and Rachel (4640) Lew. There were two other brothers, Joseph (5733) and Bernard (5734) and a sister Sonia (6441). Esther tragically died in a fall from a window. Mordecai also died in Bialystock after which the youngsters were raised by an uncle and aunt. Somehow they made it to the New World, however immigration was very restricted tor Jews tram eastern Europe. The family entered Canada, assumed the anglicized name of Elson, and entered the United States through Windsor, Ontario in 1938 or 1939. Sonia had taken ill and died at age seventeen in 1938. She never made it to the United States. Joseph, Calvin, and Stanley (we're not sure about Bernard} all served with U.S. Armed Forces. Joe fought in the South Pacific. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Stanley was transporting automatic weapons to the front when his vehicle overturned and exploded. He and several other American soldiers were killed. On Jan. 6, 1945, just a few months before the end of the war, Calvin died in action. A niece of Esther Lew Yuzitsky, Chaya ****************************************** Lew (4646,Pl.23), had meanwhile emigrated name. She is now the wife of Dr. Leonard to Cuba. There she met Mordecai Bekier Aronovitch and mother of two children. This (4651), formerly of Warsaw, and married. information set the telephone wires afire The results of this union were a son Israel and before long Rosa was talking with her (5747,Pl.23b) and twin daughters, Henia beloved cousin Joe, who now lives in San (5745) and Rosa (5746). Henia eventually Diego. married Eli Sukkienik (5748), [we are The progenitors of this branch of the trying to determine if the Sukkienik family family are the aforementioned Israel and belongs on our tree] and Rosa was wed to Rachel Lew. One of their daughters Chava Robert Blaier (5749), who has connections ( 5 722, Pl. 23} married a cousin Leibel to the Mankuta branch of our family. The Kuropatwa (5723). Their son Sidney Kahn Bekiers were finding difficulty in entering (1883) also married a cousin, Netta Simon the United States, but the Elson boys found (1881,Pl.18c). Netta's mother was Sarah a way to sponsor them and brought them to Mankuta (1864), whose mother was Maite Tama Detroit. By that time the Elsons had built (18!'>4,Pl.18). Maite's father was Yisroael a thriving bakery business. (1849) and her grandfather was Leml Tama Years passed and the family became (2092). Leml is also an ancestor of many dispersed and lost contact. For a long Sers and Pakciars. So here we see the time, Rosa Blaier had been trying to find complex interconnections within the family. her Elson cousins, who had been her In addition to these branches, Israel and benefactors years earlier. Along comes the Rachel Lew had two grandchildren who Ser-Charlap Family Association! This past married Smolarczyk cousins. Furthermore, summer, Barbara Charlip (7623,Pl.A-14a) of one of their grandsons, Isaac (4648) went Southfield, Michigan attended our family eastward to Russia. His daughter Roza convention in the Catskills. Upon her (5776) married Yosef Levinsonas (5780) [a return home, she did some excellent possible Lew] and had two children. Dr. detective work which ultimately reunited Alexander Levinsonas (6448) is an Rosa Blaier with Joe Elson. Barbara accomplished economist and management remembers that a school chum of hers had scientist living in Vilna, Lithuania. His some connection to the Elson family. sister Natalie Magen (6447), an M.D. Eleanor Gerbs (6439,Pl.23d) was in fact an specializing in neuropathology, made aliyah Elson. Her father was Stanley, whom she had with her husband Ron (6451) and live in never known. After his death in Italy, the Hadera, Israel. They attended the reunion young widow Frances Elson (57271 married a discussed on page l of this issue. Mr. Gerbs. Eleanor was raised with that *********************************** PROVERBS Hanoch (1021) and Shmuel (90~), and a daughter, Miriam Markowitch (906), Four Hear ye children, the instructions ot a grandchildren also survive. father: The way of a fool is straight in his own Edith Diamant Sterling (4064,Pl.A-3a) died eyes; on November 23rd. She was the wife of Sy But he who is wise hearkeneth unto counsel. Sterling (4053), mother of sons Simon III Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and Bruce and grandmother of two. Her And the man who obtaineth understanding. husband's grandparents were Jacob Sapinsky For the merchandise of it is better than (4023) and Minnie (Dinah) Charlap (4019). the merchandise of silver, Minnie was the daughter of Yosef Ze'ev And the gain thereof than fine gold. Charlap (31~9,Pl.A-~ who was born in 1818. She is more precious than rubies; Yosef Ze' ev was the son of Yehuda Leib And all the things thou canst desire are Char lap (3148, Pl. A). His mother was the not to be compared unto her. daughter of the renowned Shershaver Rabbi. Length of days is in her right hand; Yehuda Leib served as Rabbi of Mariampole, In her left hand are riches and honor. Lithuania from 1820. He was the son of our Her ways are ways of pleasantness, tree's founder, Abraham Charlap (2153). And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold May the survivors find comfort in the warm upon her, memories and good deeds of the deceased, And happy is everyone that holdeth her and may the souls of the departed be bound fast. with the immortal souls of our Patriarchs He that tilleth his ground shall have and matriarchs and all the righteous of our plenty of bread; family who have preceded them. But he that followeth after vain things is ****************************************** void of understanding. I AM A HEBREW He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; I wi 11 continue to hold my banner And the foolish shall be servant to the aloft. I find myself born-ay, born-into a wise of heart. people and a religion. The preservation of The crown of the wise is their riches; my people must be for a purpose, for G_d But the folly of fools remaineth folly. does nothing without a purpose. His reasons Keep sound wisdom and discretion; are unfathomable to me, but on my own Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, reason I place little dependence; test it And thou shalt not dash thy foot. where I will it fails me. The simple, the When thou liest down, thou shalt not be ultimate in every direction is sealed to afraid; me. It is as difficult to understand matter Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep as mind. The courses ot the planets are no shall be sweet. harder to explain than the growth of a ****************************************** blade of grass. Therefore am I willing to OBITUARIES remain a link in the great chain . What has been preserved for four thousand years was Yechiel Blattman (803,Pl.4d) died in August not saved that I should overthrow it. My of this year and was buried in Holan people have survived the prehistoric Cemetery, Israel. Yechiel was the husband paganism, the Babylonian polytheism, the of Hannah (799), the daughter of Hanoch aesthetic Hellenism, the sagacious (556) and Yehudit (561) Pasternak. Hannah's Romanism, at once the blandishments and grandparents were Baruch Pasternak persecutions of the Church; and it will (504,Pl.4) and Kayla Kur (503). Yechiel was survive the modern dilettantism and the a carpenter. He is one of many Bla t tmans current materialism, holding aloft the who married into our family. Blattmans are traditional Jewish ideals inflexibly until found in the Lewin and Danowicz branches, the world shall become capable of as well as Kur and Pasternak. In addition recognizing their worth. to his wife, Yechiel leaves his two sons, - Cyrus Adler, 1894. SEPHARDIC RELATIVES IN TURKEY

The earliest confirmed record of our family in Poland was the entrance ot Rabbi Eliezer Ibn Yahya about the year 1600 CE. This is the Eliezer who assumed the honorary title Charlap (Chief Sage of the Exile in Poland). Eliezer was the son of David Ibn Yahya. David's grandfather was Gedaliah, the noted talmudist and historian, who lived in Egypt and Turkey from 1515-1587. Two hundred years earlier, Shlomo ha-Soken was a philosopher and the king's highest military advisor. His father was Yosef, who built the magnificent Lisbon Synagogue, circa 1260. The family pedigree can be traced back to the famed Chiya al-Oaudi, psalmist, scholar, and royal advisor, who lived from 1080-1154. The latter was also known as Charlap (Chiya, First Among the Exile in Portugal). The Ibn Yahya era in Spain and Portugal was marked by great achievements and many of our ancestors are cited in encyclopedias and other reference works. It all came to a tragic end with the expulsion from Spain in 1492 and from Portugal five years later. The Ibn Yahyas were dispersed throughout the Mediterranean region and some found refuge in the Ottoman Empire, which included modern day Turkey. For 500 years, the Jews of Turkey have lived in relative peace in a land which is 99% Moslem, creating a unique intermingling of tradition and heritage. Nevertheless, it had become traditional wisdom among Turkey's Jews that their status as a small minority dictated circumspection and a low profile. Despite this penchant to be unobtrusive, Turkey's Jews have made some notable contributions to Jewish life. The art of printing was brought from Spain to the Ottoman Empire in 1493 when David and Shmuel Ibn-Nahmias established the first Hebrew printing press. Shlomo ha-Levi composed the hymn Lekhah Dodi, which welcomes the Sabbath according to both Sephardic and Ashkenazi ritual, and Jacob Culi wrote the famous He-am Lo'ez, the foundation of Ladino culture. It is music and literature which has continued to keep Ladino alive as an expression of the Turkish-Jewish soul. In Turkey, Jews have also been very active in the fields of textile design and embroidery, carpet weaving, and precious metal crafts. In addition, most court physicians were Jews. To commemorate the acceptance by the Ottomans of the Jews fleeing the Iberian peninsula, the Turkish-Jewish community has established a Quincentennial Foundation, One of its prime movers is Nedim Yahya, a descendant of our ancestral Ibn-Yahya family. Nedim, a successful industrialist, has called attention to the distinction between Turkey and the Arab states. "Non-Arab Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Israel in 1948. The modern republic was founded by Kemal Ataturk in 1923. There has never been anti-Semitism in Turkey, but, as everywhere, there have been anti-Semites." One of the main activities of Nedim Yahya and the Quincentennial Foundation is the restoration of the 15th century Ahrida Synagogue in Istanbul. It predates the Ottoman capture of the city from the Byzantines in 1453. The oldest of Istanbul's sixteen synagogues, it has been in continuous use for more than 500 years. Its structure has been undergoing repair and the facade is being renewed. A remarkable feature of the Ahrida is its bima (pulpit), which is in the shape of Noah's Ark. The structure was severely damaged by fire in the late 17th century, but an imperial decree of 1694 called for its rebuilding. Baroque features of the "Tulip Style", which was then popular, were added. The secrets of the building's history have been uncovered during restoration work. As artisans chipped away at the facad_e, they revealed layer upon layer of various architectural styles. For example, pointed Gothic arches are juxtaposed on rounded arches. The Ahrida is opening its doors once again as a fully functioning synagogue and is expected to be a major tourist attraction. Yet, the future of the Jewish community is not totally secure. Since the beginning of this century, the Jewish population has fallen from around 120,000 and is continuing to decline. At the close of World War II, the number of Jews was 80,000. The birth of Israel has lured many to make aliyah. The story of the Ibn Yahyas of Turkey is another chapter in the history of our family. As we learn more we will report to you. For we must be interested in more than just family trees and how far back we can trace our ancestry. We must be concerned with where and how our ancestors lived and how their lives were entwined with the greater history of the Jewish people. We can then pass down a meaningful heritage from generation to generation. 10 FRCM THE MAILBOX Kwiateks are the early Lomza and Kossow records. Nov. 3, 1992 I also came across a Radacz family in I read the Ser-Charlap Family Ostrow Mazowieckie. Abram Jankiel, the son Newsletters with interest and want to thank of Chiel Radacz, was born there circa 1824. you for them. There are a few errors in a In 1844, he married Frejda Tuchmacher in recent "New Additions" column. Would you be Ciechanowiec. At that time, his parents good enough to correct them? were living in Andrzejewo. Jordana (Yael Shayna) Wietschner So I have found a Szmul (Shmuel) (7445,Pl.2a) was born July 2, 1992. She is Kwiatek and an Abram Radacz for you. the first child of Chaim (529) and Elisa Perhaps your more modern family are named (4798). for them. They all come from the right The correct spelling of the family general area. name is Wietschner, not Weitschner. I recently had some success which is Thank you for making these changes. indirectly attributable to you. Morris With every best wish to you and the family Spector, with whom you had put me in for a "Good Kvitel", I remain, contact, has been researching Russian Rabbi Irving Wietschner (477) records of certain towns. He came across New York, N.Y. the marriage of my great-great-grandparents in 1879. This record confirmed my Oct. 26, 1992 suspicions that many people I thought were I enjoyed the last issue of the Ser­ related to me were indeed family. There's a Charlap Family Newsletter and I certainly lot to be said for that. appreciate being on the mailing list. Michael Richman Perhaps I can contribute something to the Bethesda, Maryland "Kwiatek mystery." According to my notes, Ed. Note: Michael Richman has been of the name Kwiatek appears in the records of extraordinary help in discovering and the city of Lomza. Also in the Kossow interpreting early records from Poland, tor records of 1855, a certain Feyga, daughter which we are extremely grateful. We have of Szmul Kwiatek, was married to Dawid been attempting to link our families, but Burakies of Brok. Feyga was born about so tar we can't claim Michael as one of 1836. It seems the places to look for ours. The Radacz (Rudacz) name also appears (cont. next column) in Ser and Mankuta branches of our tree. *********************************** *********************************** THE SER.-cHARI..AP FAMILY ASSN. P.O. BOX 108 CX>LD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. 11724