1 THE SER~CHARLAP FAMILY NEWSLETTER Vol.2,No.2 Av 5751, Summer 1991 GULF WAR AFFECTS OUR FAMILY For a brief time during the Gulf War, Israel was the recipient of a great deal of justified praise from the Bush administration. The President and, for a change, the media expressed admiration and appreciation for Prime Minister Shamir's restraint in not retaliating against Saddam Hussein. The West, for a brief pause, seemed to remember what we all know; that Israel is surrounded by implacable enemies who will use any kind of force or subterfuge to undermine the well-being of the Jewish nation. Many American members of our family kept the transoceanic telephone lines busy by calling the mishpocha in Israel. We received much correspondence from those living under the Iraqi threat. These letters provided a profound understanding of the danger faced by our family, by Israel, and the Jewish people. The following was received from Malka Stalkowski(306,Pl.3ba) in early April: Dear Family, ****************************************** Thank you very much for the also heartbroken. He was a wonderful man. newsletters you have been sending us. In [ed:see obituaries] these unsettling times they give us a We are looking forward to the family connection to our large family and make us reunion and hope to meet many new feel part of a greater whole. About two relatives. Our new address is: months ago, on February 7th, Itzhak's (305) 19 Balfour Street father Moshe Stalkowski (280) passed away. Petach Tikvah 49350 Israel It was very sudden and occurred during the Shalom and our best wishes to all, Scud attacks on Israel. We had just moved Malka (306), Itzhak (305), to a new apartment and he had come to live Itay (307), & Moriah (308) with us. He was happy to be with his ------------- family, the first real pleasure he has had Other Israeli relatives from whom since his beloved Toba (277) had died two we've heard are: Harry Mankuta (1832, years earlier. The children were delighted Pl.17b), Sarah Brown (807,Pl.4d), Sonia to have their grandfather around to play Kiejsmacher (646, Pl. 5aa) , Michael (252) and with and listen to his stories. But then Leah (249, Pl. 3eb) Weiner, and Rachel Shacor the v1c1ous missile attacks came. The (2905,Pl.20fa). They have all come through terrible noise in the middle of the night, the attacks without ill effects. the rush to put on gas masks, running to American family members have also the shelter or the "safe" room, the been affected by the Gulf War. The Fort crashing sound of explosions over our heads McClellan Army newspaper (Feb. 15,1991) - all these took their toll and Moshe's featured an article under large headlines, heart gave out. And we and the children are (continued next page) 2 ••0ptc:xnetrist Ccxnes out of IN APPRECIATION OF Retir~nt Du.ring Crisis." MARTIN GLEMBOURTT The optometrist in question is none other than our ow~ Harry Atlas (2252,Pl.17ccb). A few years ago, Sid Family (198, In March of 1950 Harry received his Pl.3f), while in shul, happened upon Doctor's degree from the Southern College Lillian Cohen, one of our landsleit. She of Optometry. He entered the Army during mentioned a cousin living in Fresh Meadows, the Korean War and spent the next two years New York who was investigating the at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Harry avers that genealogy of families from Lornza Gebernya, he loved Army life and would have remained Poland. At Sid's suggestion, we called on active duty but Barbara Meer (2380), his Martin Glembourtt. This has led to a warm wife to be, gave him an ultimatum, "It's friendship and cooperation in our common either the Army or me." They've been research. Knowledge of our family's roots married for 39 years. Harry did remain in has been immeasurably enhanced through the reserves and served at the 3345th U.S. Martin's many suggestions and his Army Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He generosity in providing archival material. retired with the rank of Colonel in 1985. Martin's family name was originally While in the reserves, his unit was put on Golombowicz, which means "son of the dove". alert three times - for the Berlin airlift Amongst ancient records, we have discovered crisis in 1961, the Cuban missile crisis in that Golombs married into several of the 1962, and for the Vietnam War. At age 65, branches of our family. It is likely that Harry felt the old tug when his unit was Martin is somehow distantly related again called up at the start of the Gulf although we have not as yet made the exact War. He tried on his old uniform, which he connection. No matter, he is one of us and is pleased to report, still fit him, and we are thankful for that. Martin's family reported for duty. His ego was given a was centered in Czyzewo, Zareby Koscielnie boost when the Army eagerly accepted his (Zaromb), Lomza, Sniadowo, and other offer. "I love this country. Whatever I can shtetls in the area. Other branches of his do to benefit it I will. It upsets me when family include Pearlberg, Mullarscewicz, I see people not supporting our effort. and Kanet. The latter were prominent However that's all part of what we're tzitzis makers in and around Czyzewo. His about, protecting free speech. We should interest in genealogy was stimulated by his remember that no one stopped Hitler early mother's stories of the old country. His on and look at the damage he did to our later service with the U.S. Army in Europe people and the world. If Saddam were not solidified this interest. These experiences stopped, he could do the same - or.worse." are recounted in his book, lleaory Sketches Harry hopes that Barbara and their sons Of An Mlerican G.I. Martin served in the Alvin (2357) and Joel (2358) will European Theatre of Operations as a member understand his decision to help the U.S. of a tank destroyer unit that fought from troops do their job and perhaps get them St. Lo across the Rhine into Germany. He home a little sooner. was involved in the famous battle of "The ****************************************** Bridge at Remagen". His unit was the first THE SER-CBARLAP FAMILY :NEWSLE'M'ER is to enter a concentration camp in Germany published quarterly. We encourage submittal (Ohrduf). Appalled at what he saw there and of news items, essays, poems, and articles at other locations, he received special of interest to the family. Correspondence permission to set up a Communication Center should be directed to: for Holocaust Survivors near Frankfurt. He Arthur F. Menton, Editor is officially recognized as a Holocaust P.O. Box 108 Liberator by the Holocaust Center in New Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 11724 York. Martin helped innumerable survivors Tel: (516)754-1742 locate relatives throughout the world. Copyright © 1991 Today, at more than eighty years of age, he Arthur F. Menton is still active on behalf of the Jewish All rights reserved (cont. page 4) 3 THE CHARLAPS OF MARIAMPOL Abraham Chaim Charlap (3712,Pl.A-3) was a noted writer in three languages: Yiddish, Hebrew, and English. He published under his given name as well as derivative pen names Abraham Chayyim, Abraham Hyman, and Hyman Charlap. Abraham Chaim Charlap was born in Mariampol, Lithuania in December 1859. His father was Yosef Ze'ev Charlap (3159,Pl.A) (1818- 1865) who in turn was the son of Yehuda Leib (3148). Yehuda Leib, born in 1782 was the second Rabbi of Mariampol, assuming the post in 1820 and holding it until his death in either 1840 or 1849. He was one of the seven known children of Abraham Charlap (2153) who stands at the head of our family tree. Yehuda Leib married the daughter of the revered Rabbi Chaim, known as the Shershaver Rebbe. We are fortunate to have a fragment of the History of Mariampol by A. Hyman Charlap. It contains some interesting information about these Mariampol Charlaps. Location: District of Suwalki; 19 viorsts from Kalvaria, 21 from Vilkovinski. Not very old. Formerly called Starifalia or Starfali. At first, the Jewish community was dependent in all religious matters, such as schochetim and judges, on Kalvaria. The first Rabbi was Reb Chaim who was later known as the Shershaver Rebbe. He was appointed in 1780 and served for forty years. The economic situation during that period was very poor and the community did not have the money to build their own synagogue. Rabbi Chaim was sent to other Jewish communities on a fund raising mission. He reached Wilna where he was deeply impressed by Rabbi Elijah, the famous Wilna Gaon. Anecdote: The author's father [that is, Yosef Ze'ev father of Abraham Chaim Charlap] told him that in 1812, Napoleon's armies were passing through Mariampol during the Russian Campaign. Jews hid from the invaders in cellars and barricaded rooms. Yehuda Leib, then a dependent son-in-law of Rabbi Chaim, hid in a wardrobe, but in his haste left his shoes outside. The French soldiers were searching every house seeking local guides and food. Upon arriving at this particular house they found no one at home. Searching carefully, they noticed the shoes and opened the wardrobe to discover the frightened and trembling Reb Yehuda Leib. They pulled him out, set him upon a horse, and ordered him to guide them to the nearby city of Fren. Meanwhile, the other Jews had come out of their hiding places and seeing the young Rabbi atop the horse realized his predicament.