Smuggled in Potato Sacks: Fifty Stories of the Hidden Children of the Kaunas Ghetto edited by Solomon Abramovich and Yakov Zilberg 2011

"Each story is told by the survivor and feels as if you are listening to him/her recount this part of his/her life." from a review by Yael Weinstock Mashbaum in The International School for Holocaust Studies, Yad Vashem
 
This anthology of moving personal narratives, edited by Solomon Abramovich and Yakov Zilberg, is comprised of fifty entries. Most entries were written by one survivor. A few were written by married couples, siblings, and close friends. They are of varying lengths, from about two to twenty  pages. Many include family photos and photos of interesting documents. A number of photos include unidentified ghetto neighbors and some are of Lithuanian rescuers.

Although not written by experienced writers, the stories have an immediacy that is captivating in their horror. Each story is grounded in the specificity of an individual’s unique set of circumstances, but as a group it’s easy to generalize about their collective trauma: The writers, children born in the 1930’s and 40’s, were smuggled out of the ghetto and went to live with Lithuanians their families knew or others contacted on their behalf. All children had to take on new identities. Their caretakers had to recite fictitious stories about who the parents of these children were to neighbors and inquiring officials. Those children who spoke Yiddish  had to be trained not to,  and they also had to be taught to be wary of prying neighbors and men in uniform. Many were moved from one home to another when their caretakers became concerned that they had been or might be identified as Jewish.

Jewish children who were blonde and blue-eyed, and boys who were not circumcised were easier to place. Siblings were often split up. Parents or other close relatives often made dangerous, tearful, clandestine visits. At the end of the war, sometimes a few years afterwards, when parents were released from concentration camps and hospitals, a parent or another relative returning to retrieve a hidden child was sometimes met with stonewalling by the caretaker or by the thoroughly confused child.  Many waited for parents who never returned and were brought up in orphanages, or if they were lucky, were adopted by relatives. Some of the children were hard to trace because they had false identities and they didn’t know what their real names were. Some were re-connected to relatives when they were adults.

A number of the writers discuss how they felt when asked to write a piece for this anthology. Some had repressed their memories and thought they remembered little or nothing. Others had very vivid, terrifying memories but had never talked about them. Because of a concerted effort not to look backward but to look forward, there was a tendency to bury the painful past, and some of the survivors did not even know that some of their friends and professional colleagues had also been hidden children in the Kaunas ghetto. 

It seems that each writer was given guidelines because most entries cover many of the same topics. They each give a brief family history including the countries and towns where their families were from, they detail what they know about how their family members and friends were killed, they give credit to those relatives and friends who helped them survive in the ghetto and to those who helped them escape. Some mention that they were sorry that they hadn’t asked more questions of relatives now deceased. Toward the end of the entries they summarize their post-Holocaust life: where they settled, and what they did professionally and personally. They also write about their rescuers and whether or not they kept in touch with them.  They cite which ones were honored by Yad VaShem or the Lithuanian government for putting their own lives at risk to hide Jewish children.  Most of the writers in this volume eventually immigrated to Israel.

This anthology includes a short forward that explains how this collection came to be. It also includes a very readable, informative thirty-six page history called “Origins of Jewish Lithuania” written by the two editors that has photographs  and maps and end notes citing sources. At the end of the volume there is a Bibliography and an Index.

Below is a listing of the names that appear in the fifty entries as well as the places that are mentioned that are where family lived outside of Lithuania before, after and during the war. Some names appear in more than one entry. For example, the writer of one entry might mention a friend or a relative who also has written an entry. Most Jews in the Kovna ghetto had lived in the suburb of Slobodka (Vilijampole). According to the book's forward only 250 to 300 children of the Kovna Ghetto survived out of approximately 5000. In general, the women who survived were deported to Stutthof, the men to Dachau. Towns in Lithuania as well as the concentration camps are not listed in each separate entry.

People
1. Ariela Abramovich Sef

Family
Shlomo-Icik Abramovich – married to Sira
    Yakov Abramovich – son of Shlomo-Icik and Sira; married to Bronia (Bracha) Maizel
        Ariela Abramovich – daughter of Yakov and Bronia; married Roman Sef (2nd husband); (author)
        Solomon Abramovich – son of Yakov and Bronia
    Beno Abramovich – son of Shlomo-Icik and Sira
    Ruvim Abramovich – son of Shlomo-Icik and Sira; married to Basia
        Borya and Myriam Abramovich – children of Ruvim and Basia
    Max Abramovich – son of Schlomo-Icik and Sira
        Rivotchka and Boris Abramovich – children of Max
    Rebeca Abramovich Griliches – daughter of Shlomo-Icik and Sira
    Nyonya Abramovich – son of Shlomo-Icik and Sira; married Lily
        Anya Abramovich – daughter of Nyonya and Lily

Berta Maizel
    Bronia (Bracha Maizel) – married to Yakov Abramovich (see above)

Josef – cousin of Ariela Abramovich Sef (exact relationship not clear)

Friends and Acquaintances
Jacob Rabinovich
Beba and Veva Mintz – brothers
Shimon Ratner
B. Zacherin
A. Zilberg
Elena Hackelis


Places
Canada
Israel
England

2. Ilana Kamber-Ash

People Family
Marcus Kamber – married Judith Moses
    Ilana Kamber – daughter of Marcus and Judith; married Pavel Ash; (author)
        Aaron (Arik) and Judish (Dita) Ash – children of Ilana and Pavel

Eliezer Moses – brother of Judith  (see above)

Friends and Acquaintances
Maxim and Erica Levin
Elkhanan Elkes
    Yoel and Sara Elkes


Places
Israel
London, England
Moscow, Russia

3. Rona Rozental-Zinger
People
Family
    Schmuel Rozental – married Rone Schmuilove
        Leo Rozental – son of Schmuel and Rone
        Rona Rozental Zinger – daughter of Rone and Schmuel; (author)

Oscher Schmuilov – married Gitel
        Eli Schmuilov – son of Oscher and Gitel; married Chaja Glushakaite
            Lusi Schmuilov – daughter of Eli and Chaja
        Rone Schmuilove – daughter of Oscher and Gitel; married Schmuel Rozental (see above)

Friends and Acquaintances
Pese Karnauskaite Musel

Places
Melbourne, Australia
Israel

4. Yakov Zoreff (Goldshmidt)
People
Family
Haim-Shimon Goldschmidt – married Sara Poger
    Hirsh  Goldshmidt – son of Haim-Shimon and Sara   
    Malka Goldshmidt – daughter of Haim-Shimon and Sara; married to Berl Zinger
        Cilia Zinger- daughter of Malka and Berl
    Icale  Goldschmidt – daughter (?) of Haim-Shimon and Sara
    Bella Goldschmidt – daughter of Haim-Simon and Sara
    Gita Goldschmidt – daughter of Haim-Simon and Sara
    Meir-Lev (Leib) Goldschmidt – son of Haim-Shimon and Sara; married Sonia Burko; second wife was Yocheved Burko
        Yakov Zoreff (Goldschmidt) – son of Meir-Lev and Sonia (author)
    Asia (Osnat) Goldschmidt – son of Haim-Shimon and Sara
    Abraam Goldschmidt – son of Haim-Simon and Sara

Gershon Burko – married Roza
    Sonia Burko – daughter of Gershon and Roza; married Meir-Lev Goldschmidt (see above)
    Yulia (Judith) Burko – daughter of Gershon and Roza
    Yocheved Burko – daughter of Gershon and Roza (see above)   

Friends and Acquaintances
Juda (Judke) Zupovich
Izia Rabinowich
Schmuel and Rone Rosental
Sarale Katz
Alia Ranzuk

Places
Holon Bat Yam, Israel

5. Yakov Zilberg
People
Family
Abram (Abrasha) Zilberg – married Sonia Elitzur
    Mina Zilberg – daughter of Abram and Sonia
    Yakov Zilberg – son of Abram and Sonia (author)
        Dalia and Yael Zilberg – daughters of Yakov

Solomon Elitzur
    Sonia Elitzur – daughter of Solomon; wife of Abram Zilberg (see above); common-law relationship with Naom Shafransky
    Anuita Elitzur  – daughter of Solomon
        Mirale – daughter of Anuita

    Naom Shafransky – married to Genia; second common law marriage to Sonia Zilberg (see above)
        Rouven (Ruvik) Shafransky – son of Naom and Genia
        Salomea (Saly) Shaftransky – daughter of Naom and Sonia

Friends and Acquaintances
S. Zaidelson
B. Preis
Yulia Yoffe
    Lyda Yoffe – daughter of Yulia

Places
Kibbutz Sde Nachum
Kfar Sava
Israel

6. Benya Chaitas
People
Family
Leibe Chaitas – married Genia Saitovich
    Benya Chaitas – son of Leibe and Genia; married Sara Zaczepinski; author
Zalman Chaitis – brother of Leibe; married to Sara

Sarah Saitovich – sister of Genia; married to Gershon Oshri
Berl Shpak – married to Sara (cousin of Genia Saitovich (relationship not clear)
    Boris Shpak – son of Berl and Sara

Friends and Acquaintances
Shmuel Peipert

Places
Bat Yam, Israel
Haifa, Israel

7. Irena Aronovsky-Voschina-Savir
People
Family
Leon (Liola)  Aronovsky – married Gabriella (Ela) Sabovska
    Irena Arnovsky-Voschina-Savir – daughter of Leon and Gabriella (author)
Abrasha Aronovsky – brother of Leon

Baruch (Boria) Voschin – married Gabriella Sabovska (her 2nd marriage; see above)

Friends and Acquaintances
Natan Nabrisky

Places
London, England
Rehovot, Israel

8. Sara Gillman-Plamm
People
Family
Berl and Nessia Gillman
    Moshe Gillman – son of Berl and Nessie; married Sheina Codikovaite
        Sara Gillman Plamm – daughter of Moshe and Sheina; author
            Naomi and Lev Plamm children of Sara and ?
        Liuba Gillman – daughter of Moshe and Sheina
        David Gillman – son of Moshe and Sheina
    Lebale Gillman – son of Berl and Nessie

Friends and Acquaintances
Frida Glazman
Yulia Meltz
Shalom Eilati

Places
Israel
Toronto, Canada

9. Michael (Misha) Langevich
People
Family
Misha Langevich – married Haviva (Hinda) Korabelnik; author
    Michael (Misha) Langevich – son of Misha and Haviva; married Polina
        Arnon Langevich – son of Michael and Polina
Shijus Langevich – brother of Misha; married Sarra
Juda Langevich – brother of Misha and Shijus

Fivel Korabelnik – father of Hinda (see above)
   
Friends and Acquaintances
Shmuel and Hava Shilkiner
Keila Kudrika

Places
Kiriat Ono, Israel

10.Yulia Meltz-Beilinson
People
Family
Meir Meltz – married Henya Krubelnik
    Yulia Meltz – daughter of Meir and Henya; author

Friends and Acquaintances
Tanchum Arnstam
Orchik Keltz
Sara Libmanaite
Aaron Barak (Brik)
Yankel Lipavski


Places
Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel

11. Aviva Tkatsch (Thatch)-Sandler
People
Family
Leib and Rhoda Tkatsch
    Isaac Tkatsch – son of Leib and Rhoda
    Moshe Tkatsch – son of Leib and Rhoda
        Peshele (Polina) Tkatsch-Davidson – daughter of Moshe
    Sara Tkatsch – daughter of Leib and Rhoda
    Benesh Tkatsch – son of Leib and Rhoda; married Riva Makielevich
        Aviva Tkatsch –daughter of Benesh and Riva; married Robert Sandler (author)
        Rhoda Tkatsch – daughter of Benesh and Riva
        Leonard (Leib) Tkatsch – son of Benesh and Riva
    Pesach Tkatsch – son of Leib and Rhoda

Isaac Makielevich – married Emma Efron
    Riva Makielevich – daughter of Isaac and Emma; married Benesh Tkatsch (see above)
    Shmuel Makielevich – son of Isaac and Emma

Places
Mexico
Munich, Germany
Detroit, Michigan

12. Ruth Bass-Glikman
People
Family
Chaim Bass
    Leiba Bass – son of Chaim; married Tirca Galperin
        Eliezer Bass – son of Leiba and Tirca
        Ruth Bass – daughter of Leiba and Tirca; married Leon Glikman; author
    Judith Bass – daughter of Chaim
    Sonia Bass – daughter of Chaim

Miriam Borovsky  Galperin
    Tirca Galperin (see above)

David and Chaya Markovsky (Markauskiene) – adoptive parents of Ruth Bass
    Rosa and Dalia Markovsky – daughters of David and Chaya

Friends and Acquaintances
Natan Nabrisky
Grisha Mendelbraut
Eta and Mitia Ginkas

Places
Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel

13. Sara Levin-Burmenko
People
Family
Shmuel Kriger – married Sarah
    Sonia Kriger – daughter of Shmuel and Sarah; married Leibl Levin; 2nd husband Saul Burstein
        Sara Levin – daughter of Sonia and Leibl; married Mark Burmenko; author
        Moshe – son of Sonia and Saul
    Lena Kriger – daughter of Shmuel and Sarah; married Kolya Stonys
        Ruta, Saulius, and Meta Stonys – children of Lena and Kolya

Isaac Levin – married Fruma
    Leibl Levin – son of Isaac and Fruma (see above)
       
Places
Odessa, Russian Empire
Kiev, Russian Empire
Israel
New York

14. Rieta Volpert-Lesokhin
People
Family
David Volpert – married Ida Gurvich
    Rieta Volpert – daughter of David and Ida; married Yuri Lesokhin; author
Misha Volpert – brother of David; married Mira
    Lionia and Zhenia – twin children of Misha and Mira

Izya Rosenblum – uncle of author (exact relationship not clear)
    Liolik – son of Izya
Sasha and Vera Rosenblum – relatives of author (exact relationship not clear)
    Ela – daughter of Sasha and Vera
Aleksander (Vava) Rosenblum – cousin of author (exact relationship not clear)
Anna (Niuta) Beilinson – aunt of author (exact relationship not clear)
    Yakov and Pavel Beilinson – sons of Niuta

Friends and Acquaintances
Misha Kopelman
Alik Pertzikovitz
Masha Gocaite
Alik Peretz (possibly the same as Alik Pertzikovitz?)

Places
USA
Siberia
Haifa, Israel
Soviet Union

15. Rivka Feller-Milner
People
Family
Leib Feller – married Sara
    Aaron Feller – married Berta Neiman
        Rivka Feller – daughter of Aaron and Berta; author
        Aviva Feller – daughter of Aaron and Berta
    Dvora Feller – married Yehuda Kaufman
        Altala Kaufman – daughter of Dvora and Yehuda   

Noah Neiman – brother of Berta (see above)

Friends and Acquaintances
Henale Kuchinka 
Mirka Kuchinka – sister of Henale
Fira Gurfinkel   


Places
Netanya, Israel

16. Polina Tkatsch-Davidson
People
Family
Moshe Tkatsch – married Dora Levinsky
    Polina Tkatsch – daughter of Moshe and Dora; author
Pesach Tkatsch – brother of Moshe
Benesh Tkatsch – brother of Moshe
    Aviva Tkatsch – daughter of Benesh


Places
Palestine
Netanya, Israel

17. Rachel (Lialia) Blumenthal
People
Family
Theodor (Teddy) Blumenthal married Ester (Esia) Sandler
    Rachel (Liala) Blumenthal – daughter of Theodor and Ester; author
Adolph Blumenthal – brother of Theodor
    Kolya – son of Adolph
Boris Blumenthal – brother of Theodor

Rafoel Sandler – married Cerne-Beile Sandler
    Ester (Esia) Sandler – married Theodor Blumenthal (see above)
        Rachel (Liala) Blumenthal – daughter of Ester and Theodor (author)
    Gita Sandler – daughter of Rafoel and Cerne-Beile; married Grisha Karnovsky
        Mika (Mitchka) Karnovsky – daughter of Gita and Grisha
    Lyka (Lea) Sandler – daughter of Rafoel and Cerne-Beile

Samuel Kapit – author’s uncle (exact relationship unclear)

Friends and Acquaintances
Carmela Heibron and her sister Renata
Liola Aronovsky
Judith (Judica) Kamber
Marcus (Mendke) Kamber

Places
Israel
Switzerland

18. Bluma Alkanovich (Tolochkiene), Alik Abramovich, and Frida Glazman Abramovich
People
Family
Mendel Alkanovich – married Risa Melamed
    Bluma Alkanovich – daughter of Mendel and Risa (author)
    Frida Alkanovich – daughter of Mendel and Risa

Mina Melamed – sister of Risa (see above); married Cvaina Beider
    Chaim Olef (Alek) and David Melamed – sons of Mina and Cvaina

Shlomo Abramovich – married Feige Kulbak
    Alik Abramovich – son of Shlomo and Feige (see above); married Frida Glazman (author)
        Shlomo (Solomon) Abramovich – son of Alik and Frida
Feige Abramovich – 2nd marriage (common law?)  to Naum Meriesh (see above; cousin of Mendel Alkanovich exact relationship not clear)       

Shlomo Glazman – married Katia (Kuna) Kranik
    Frida Glazman – daughter of Shlomo and Katia; married Alik Abramovich (see above)

Friends and Acquaintances
Yakov, Matias and Riva Taft (siblings)
Chaim Elin
Yankale Levy
Ilana Kamber
Mike Karnovsky
Sara Levin
Lyusya Borstaite
Aaron Frank

Places
Ramat Gan, Israel

19. Pesah (Petya) Joselevich
People
Family
Shimon Joselevich – married Lea Shames
    Chana Joselevish – daughter of Shimon and Lea
    Pesah Joselevich – son of Shimon and Lea; married Via Israelyte; author
David Joselevich – brother of Shimon
Masha Joselevich – sister of Shimon; married Bentsel Garunas
    Hirsch Garunas – son of Masha and Bentsel; married to Lyuba
        Masha Garunas Brener – daughter of Hirsch and Lyuba
    Meir (Meika) Joselevich – son of Masha and Bentsel
Moshe Joselevich – brother of Shimon

Yehuda Edelman – distant relative of Lea Shames; nephew of Rabbi Soleveichik in US

Friends and Acquaintances
Faige and Pranas Vocelka


Places
Israel
Kiryat Sefer, Israel
Hulon, Israel

20. Yaakov Taft
People

Family
Leib and Hanna Taft
    Yaakov Taft – son of Leib and Hanna; married Shulamith; author

    Matetiahu (Matias) and Riva Taft – children of Leib’s brother and Hanna’s sister

Friends and Acquaintances
Moshe Parasonis – married to Rina Joels
Gidon Sheftel

Places
Canada
Israel
Jerusalem, Israel

21. Rosian Bagriansky-Zerner
People
Family
 Solomon and Amalia Bagriansky
    Paul Bagriansky – son of Solomon and Amalia; married Gerta Chason
        Rosian Bagriansky Zerner – daughter of Paul and Gerta; author

Julius (Judel) and Anna Chason
    Bella Chason – daughter of Julius and Anna
    Henia Chason – daughter of Julius and Anna
    Fredy Chason – son of Julius and Anna
    Gerta Chason – daughter of Julius and Anna (see above)

Friends and Acquaintances
Rivka Shmukler Oshorovich
Jacob Gens

Places
Latvia
Konigsberg, Germany
Palestine
Milan, Italy
Newton, Massachusetts, USA 

22. Liuba (Lyusya) Borstaite
People
Family
Friedrich Borst – married Lea Nemanuncaite
    Ida Borst – daughter of Friedrich and Lea; married Benya Zhemaitis
    Leon (Arie) Borst – son of Friedrich and Lea
    Frida Borst – daughter of Friedrich and Lea
    Lyusya Borst (Borstaite) – daughter of Friedrich and Lea; author

Chaya Rachoviciene – aunt of author (exact relationship unclear)
    Rachel and Riva Rachoviciene – daughters of Chaya

Places
Israel

23. Estera Elinaite
People
Family
Leiseris Elinas
    Mejeris Elinas – son of Leiseris; married Busia Kormanaite
        Estera Elinaite (Esther Yellin); author
            Ilana Yellin – daughter of Estera; married Valery Panov
                Tslil Meir Panov – son of Ilana and Valery
    Chaim Elinas (Yellin) – son of Leiseris

Benjaminas Kormanas
    Busia Kormanaite – daughter of Benjaminas

Places
Moscow
Israel

24. Hasia Aronaite-Gitlin and Volodia Katz
People

Family
Chaim Aronas – married to Michle Katz; 2nd wife Malka
    Hasia Aronaite – daughter of Chaim and Michle; married Jakov Gitlin; author
    Motele Aronas – son of Chaim and Michle
Moshe Aronas – brother of Chaim

Yosef Katz – brother of Michle (see above); married to Hanah
    Cilia Katz – daughter of Michle and Hanah
    Volodia Katz – son of Michle and Hanah

Sonia and Riva – aunts of author (exact relationship not clear)

Ida Shapiriene – aunt of Volodia Katz (see above)
    Folia Shapiris – son of Ida

Places
Israel
Ashdod, Israel

25. Ilya Levy and Tamara Ratneryte-Kadishaite-Levy
People
Family
Shmuel-Yaakov (Yankele) Levy – married to Sheina Baron
    Ilya Levy – son of Shmuel-Yaakov and Sheina; married to Tamara Ratneryte-Kadishaite (authors)
        Rafael and Asia – children of Ilya and Tamara

Yakov Bloch – 2nd husband of Sheina Baron
    Masha – daughter of Yakov and Sheina; half-sister to Ilya Levy
   
Shimon Ratner – married Judesa Zeigarnik
    Rut Ratner – daughter of Shimon and Judesa
    Tamara Ratneryte – daughter of Shimon and Judesa; married Ilya Levy (see above)

Dov Alroy (Zeigarnik) – maternal cousin of author; exact relationship unclear

Friends and Acquaintances
Israella Blat
Liba – sister of Israella
Ida Shatereine
Ruth Ben David
Malka Pogotsky
Dora and Abraham Kadishas – adopted Tamara Ratneryte (author)
Liolia Aizinbud
Shlomo Abramovich


Places
Palestine
Kibbutz Masarik
Kfar Sava, Israel

26. Ada Feldstein-Levner
People
Family
 Tzemach Feldstein
    Lev Feldstein – son of Tzemach; married Sara Aronovsky
        Ada Feldstein – daughter of Lev; married Hertz (Edik) Levner; author
            Lev(Ari) and Daniel Levner – sons of Ada and Hertz

Esther Aronovsky
    Liolia Aronvsky – son of Esther
    Sara Aronovsky – daughter of Esther (see above)

Meir Levner – married Frida Melnikaite
    Hertz Levner – son of Meir and Frida (see above)

Places
Netanya, Israel
Toronto, Canada

27. Ahuva (Liuva) Peres-Gold and Shalom Peres
People
Family
Eliezer (Lazer) Peres – married Shulia Budnik
    Shalom Peres – son of Eliezer and Shulia; married Alexandra; author
        Amos and Belinda Peres – children of Shalom and Alexandra
    Ahuva Peres – daughter of Eliezer and Shulia; married Shmuel Gold; author
        Ziv Gold – son of Ahuva and Shmuel

Nesia (Nehmod) Peres – sister of Shulia

Places
Poland
Montreal, Canada
Haifa, Israel

28. Rivka Shlapobersky-Strichman
People
Family
Eliyahu Meir Feivelson
    Feige Feivelson – daughter of Eliyahu; married Eliyahu Shlapobersky
        Rivka Shlapobersky – daughter of Feige and Eliyahu; marriedYakov Strichman; author
            Liora and Eliran Strichman – children of Rivka and Yakov

    Eliyahu Shlapobersky – married Feige Feivelson (see above)
    Harry Shlapobersky – brother of Eliyahu
    Rachel Shlapobersky Levin – sister of Eliyahu; married Jermiyahu Ratner

Friends and Acquiantances
Shmuel Peipert
Sara Weis
Yehuda and Chaim Ronder - brothers


Places
Poland
South Africa
Haifa, Israel

29. Dan Vaintraub
People

Family
Haim Vaintraub – married Helena Girshovich
    Dan Vaintraub – son of Haim and Helena; author
            Idan and Karin – grandchildren of Dan   
    Itimar and Abigail – cousins of Dan Vaintraub (exact relationship unclear); adopted by Haim and Helena


Places
Tel Aviv, Israel

30. Maya Shochataite-Davidow
People

Family
Moshe and Golda Shohat
    Yitzhak Shohat – son of Moshe and Golda
    Nachum (Naum) Shohat – son of Moshe and Golda; married Masha Balin
        Maya Shochataite – daughter of Nachum and Masha; married Kalman Davidov; author

Eliahu Balin
    Masha Balin – daughter of Eliahu (see above)
    Faivele Balin – son of Eliahu
    Rachel Balin – daughter of Eliahu; married David Rubenstein

Places
New York, New York
Tel Aviv, Israel
Haifa, Israel
Israel

31, Mina Stein-Wulf
People

Family
Hirsch Stein
    Raya Stein –daughter of Hirsch; married Max Stein
        Izana Stein Levit – daughter of Raya and Max
        Mina (Manuela) Stein Wulf – daughter to Ray and Max; author
                Noa – granddaughter of Mina
    Adela Stein – daughter of Hirsh
    Leolia Stein – son of Hirsch; married to Bunya
        Mina Stein – daughter of Leolia; married Filip Kotkes
    Max Stein – son of Hirsch; married Lea
        Arie (Arik) Stein – son of Max and Lea
    David Stein – son of Hirsch

    Vera Stein - married Vulia (Wolf) Peper; aunt of author (exact relationship unclear)
    Anya Langleben Koc – aunt of author (exact relationship unclear)

Rebecca Stein – sister of Max Stein (author’s father)

Friends and Acquaintances
Anya Levinson
Tanchum Arnstam
Nosen and Musya Levit


Places
Moscow, Soviet Union
Raanana, Israel
Israel   

32. Lilit (Lyda) Yoffe-Davidson
People

Family
Leiser Yoffe – married Yulia Segal
    Lyda (Lilit) Yoffe Davidson – daughter of Leiser and Yulia; author


Place
Palestine
Jerusalem, Israel
Poland

33. Boris Dvogovsky
People

Family
Baruch and Chaya Kweskin
    Riva Kweskin – daughter of Baruch and Chaya; married Moshe Dvogovsky
        Boris Dvogovsky – son of Riva and Moshe; author
        Fruma Dvogovsky – daughter of Riva and Moshe
    Benishke Kweskin – son of Baruch and Chaya

Places
Bat Yam, Israel
Israel

35. Julius Neumark
People

Family
Leon (Leib) Neumark – married Pauline (Pesa) Grossman (2nd wife)
    Philipp (Shraga) Neumark – son of Leib and Pesa; married Gisela (Gittel) Neumann
        Julius Neumark – son of Shraga and Gittel; author

Places
Vienna, Austria

35. Moisejus (Mika) Rosenblum
People

Family
Moisei Rosenblum – married Raya Kenigsberg
    Anatolij Rosenblum – son of Moisei and Raya
        Moisejus (Mika) Rosenblum – son of Anatolij; author

Friends and Acquaintances
Avraham Tory
Mikhail Kopelman – married Evgeniya Gidoni


Places
Ashdod, Israel

36. Mika (Michka) Karnovsky-Ash
People
Family
Anna Osipovna Karnovsky
    Grigorij Karnovsky – son of Anna; married Gita Sandler
        Mika (Michka) Karnovsky – daughter of Grigorij and Gita; married Josef Ash; author
            Viki, Bela, Uri, and Giora Ash – children of Mika and Josef
    Nina Karnovsky – daughter of Anna; married to Yakov (Kuba) Gudinsky
        Rina Gudinsky – daughter of Nina and Yakov
    Otto Karnovsky – adopted son of Anna

Rafoel Sandler – married to Cerna-Beile
    Ester Sandler – married to and divorced from Teddy Blumenthal
        Rachel Blumenthal Josef – daughter of Ester and Teddy
    Gita Sandler – married Grigorij Karnovsky (see above)

    Lea and Yehuda – maternal aunt and uncle of author (exact relationships unclear)
   
Friends and Acquaintance
Muki Rabinovich
Mendel Kamber
    Ilana Kamber – Mendel’s daughter

Places
Siberia
Riga, Latvia
Australia
Kiron, Israel

37. Josef and Aviva Gilis
People

Family
Pesiah Gilis
    Girsh Gilis – son of Pesiah;  married Chana Levner
        Pesia Gilis – son of Girsh and Chana
        Izya Gilis – son of Girsh and Chana
        Josef Gilis – son of Girsh and Chana; married Aviva Feller; authors
            Simona Gilis – daughter of Josef and Aviva

Moshe Levner – married to Simha
    Chana Levner – daughter of Moshe and Simha (see above)
    Meir Levner – son of Moshe and Simha
        Edik Levner – son of Meir
    Henekh Levner – son of Moshe and Simha
    Riva Levner – married to Zalman Baikovich
        Shulamith Baikovich – daughter of Riva and Zalman
    Haim Levner – son of Moshe and Simha

Places
Netanya, Israel

38. Rina Joels Parason
People

Family
Shlomo Joels
    Malka Joels – daughter of Shlomo
Shmuel Joels – brother of Shlomo; married Hanah
    Riva Joels Knobel
Benjamin Joels – brother of Shlomo: married Malka Kaplan
    Bella Joels Tal – daughter of Benjamin and Malka
    Rina Joels – daughter of Benjamin and Malka; married Moshe Parason; author

Reuven and Berta Kaplan – siblings (?) of Malka Kaplan (unclear if they are siblings or a couple; (see above)

Friends and Acquaintances
Shlomo Yarmovski
George (Hirsh) Kadushin


Places
Zurich, Switerland
Soviet Union
Israel
Haifa, Israel

39. Maxim Broyeris, Alik (Peretz) Dvoretz, Genia Kaltinovsky-Zalishansky, and Masha Muller-Hathskelson
People

Family
Leiser and Beila Ring
    Reizel Ring – daughter of Leiser and Beila; married Sleime Broyeris
        Ilya Broyeris – son of Reizel and Sleime
        Maxim Broyeris – son of Reizel and Sleime; married Salia Bychovsky; author

Yosef Dvoretz
    Shimon Dvoretz – son of Yosef; married Chaya Pen
        Peretz (Alik) Dvoretz – son of Shimon and Chaya; married Guta Vinnickaya; author

Michael Kaltinovsky – married Feiga Yoffe
    Genia Kaltinovsky – daughter of Michael and Feige; married Josef Zalishansky; author
        David and Daniel Zalishansky – sons of Genia and Josef
Rachael Kaltinovsky – sister of Michael

Lea Yoffe – sister of Feiga (see above)

Aaron Muller – married Hannah Fisher
    Masha Muller – daughter of Aaron and Hannah; married Lev Hathskelzon; author

Friends and Acquaintances
Moshe Dvogovsky
    Boris Dvogovsky – son of Moshe
Reiza Galah-Zisman
   
Places
Or Yehuda, Israel
Nes Ziona, Israel
Beer Sheva, Israel
Israel
Denmark
Russia

40. Dalia Hofmekler-Ginsburg
People

Family
Motl (Mordekhai) Hofmekler – married Berta Blinder Stupel
    Michail Hofmekler – son of Motl and Berta; married Perele Radjunski
        Dalia Hofmekler – daughter of Michail and Perele; married Dova Ginzburg; author
            Einat Ginzburg – daughter of Dalia and Dova
    Ruven Hofmekler – son of Motl and Berta

Leib (Arie) Radjunski – married Zelda Arulianski
    Perele Radjunski – married Michail Hofmekler (see above)

Katia Segalson – cousin of author; exact relationship unclear
Sima and Lyuba Verzhbovsky – cousins of author’s mother (exact relationship unclear)

Friends and Family
Chana Brava
Shalom Kaplan (Eilati) - see separate entry for Shalom Eilati memoir

Places
Germany
The United States
Ashdod, Israel

41. Kata Segalson-Rosen
People

Family
Leib Segalson – married Chaya Svojatitzki
    Moses (Misha) Segalson – son of Leib and Chaya; married Chaya (Raya) Arulianski; 2nd marriage to Jenia Ginsberg Segal
        Liusik Sagalson – son of Misha and Chaya
        Katia (Kelly, Carmela) Segalson – daughter of Misha and Chaya; married Dan Rosen; author
            Osnat and Raya Rosen – daughters of Katia and Dan
                   
                Maya – granddaughter of author (exact relationship unclear)
    Jacob Segalson - son Leib and Chaya; married Liuba
        Liova, Genia, and Vova Segalson – children of Jacob and Liuba
    Samuel Sagelson – son of Misha and Chaya; married to Raya
    Altochke Segalson Maliacki – daughter of Leib and Chaya
        Lialia Maliacki – daughter of Altochke

        Liusik and Chone – nephews of Misha Segalson (exact relationship unclear)
    Iliusha Segalson – cousin of Misha Segalson (exact relationship unclear)

Ovadia Jochelson – cousin of Misha Sagelson (exact relationship not clear)

Kopel Arulianski – married Taibe Shachnovitz
    Chaya Arulianski – daughter of Kopel and Taibe; married Misha Segalson (see above)
    Frida Arulianski – daughter of Kopel and Taibe
    Luba Arulianski – daughter of Kopel and Taibe
    Dokik Arulianski – son of Kopel and Taibe; married Ira Gurwitz

    Misha and Perale Hofmekler - Perele was cousin of author’s mother ( exact relationship unclear)
        Dalia Hofmekler – daughter of Misha and Perale

Friends and Acquaintances
Aharon and Raya Pertzikovitz
    Alik Pertzikovitz (Peretz) – son of Aharon and Raya
Enta Berger – sister-in-law to Aharon and Ray Perzikovitz (exact relationship unclear)
    Davik and Zina Berger – children of Enta
Aya Sauberblat
    Miron – son of Aya
Anna Rosenbaum Millner
    Bubi and Lilly Rosenbaum – children of Anna
Fruma Vitkin Kuchinskiene
Chone and Katia Lipshitz   
Helene Holzman
Hanna Brava
Abraham Klausner


Places
South Africa
Helsinki, Finland
Lodz, Poland
Munich, Germany
USA
Soviet Union

42. Ariana and Rut Jed
People

Family
Aaron Jed
    Motl Jud – son of Aaron
    Meir Jud – son of Aaron; married Edna Fuks;  married Asya (2nd wife)
        Rut (Ruth) Jed – daughter of Meir and Edna; author
        Ariana Jed – daughter of Meir and Edna; author
    Ester Jud – daughter of Aaron

    Gerta Fuks – sister of Edna Fuks (see above)

Places
Germany
Israel
Petah-Tikvah, Israel

43. Gidon Sheftel
People

Family
Aharon Dambe – married Chaviva Libaite
    Gidon Dambe Sheftel – son of Aharon and Chaviva; married Shulamith Levin; author
        Arik, Alon, and Miri Sheftel – children of Gidon and Shalamith
Yakov Sheftel – married Chaviva Libaite (her 2nd marriage)
    Sarah Sheftel – daughter of Yakov and Chaviva


Friends and Acquaintances
Yakov Levin

Places
Russia
Kfar Sava, Israel
Israel

44. Aharon Avidonis
People

Family
Rouven and Malka Avidonis
    Aharon Avidonis – adopted son of Rouven and Malka; author

Places
Haifa, Israel

45. Rina Badesh
People
Family
Ishak Badesh – married Sonya Kalmansky
    Izya Badesh – son of Ishak and Sonya
    Rina Badesh – son of Ishak and Sonya; married Wolf (Zeev) Sharas; author
Hiena Badesh – sister of Ishak; married Simha Labensky

Yankele Kalmansky – brother of Sonya

Friends and Acquaintances
Dvorale Murin

Ema Shtok – aunt of author (exact relationship unclear)

Places
Germany
Kiryat Ono

46. Gita German-Gordon-Frances
People
Family
Yona German – married Fruma Lonshtein
    Gita German – daughter of Yona and Frum; author
Rivkah German – sister of Yona; married Pesach Gordon
    Sheinaleh Gordon – daughter of Rivkah and Pesach; married 2nd husband Judel Gerberajevsky
    Sarah Gerberajevsky – daughter of Rikvkah and Judel

Friends and Acquaintances
Chaim Yellen

Places
Poland
Ramat Gan, Israel

47. Rut Latzman-Peer
People

Family
Jehoshua Latzman – married Frida Peleryte (his 2nd wife); married Lina (his 3rd wife)
    Lili and Daniel  Latzman – children Jehoshua and his 1st wife (not named)
    Rut Latzman – daughter of Jehoshua and Frida; author
        Gil – son of Rut
    Lev (Leopold) Latzman – son of Jehoshua and Lina
Rochale Latzman – sister of Jehoshua
Henia Latzman – sister of Jehoshua
David Latzman – brother of Jehoshua

Friends and Acquaintances
Rocha Zacharovich
Meir and Busia Elin
Chaim Elin – brother to Meir

Places
Kazakhstan
Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel

48. Rina Gilde-Rubinstein
People
Family
Max Gilde – married Eida Judelvich
    Rina Gilde – daughter of Max and Eida; married Reuven Rubenstein; author
Fruma Gurvich – sister of Max

Fruma Hasman – sister of Eida Judelvich

Friends and Acquaintances
Pesah (Pisinka) and Chanale Joselevich - siblings

Places
Siberia, Soviet Union
Palestine
Haifa, Israel

49. Rina Zupovich-Kaplan-Wolbe and Simon Wolbe
People
Family
Chaya Hinde Strashuner –
    Mira Strashuner – daughter of Chaya; married Meir Zupovich
        Rina Zupovich (Kaplan) – married Simon Wolbe; authors
    Frida Strashuner – daughter of Chaya (twin of Mira); married Yakov Kaplan
        Mark and Daniel Kaplan – sons of Frida and Yakov
        Rina Zupovich – adopted by Frida and Yakov (see above)
    Rosa Strashuner – daughter of Chaya
    Leibke Strashuner – son of Chaya

    Meir Zupovich – married Mira Strashuner (see above)
    Moshe Zupovich – brother of Meir
    Yehuda (Juda) Zupovich – brother of Meir; married Dita (Judith)

    Dita (Judith) Zupovich became Shperling when she re-married (see above)

Haim Wolbe – married Frida Epstein; married Zlate Mashkantz (2nd wife)
    Haya Wolbe – daughter of Haim and Frida
    Moshe Wolbe – son of Haim and Frida
    Simon Wolbe – son of Haim and Frida; married Rina Zupovich (see above);
    Itzhak Wolbe – son of Haim and Zlate

    Riva and Israel – children of Zlate

Places
Israel
K’far Sava, Israel

50. Kama Ginkas
People

Family
Avraam Gink
    Miron Ginkas – son of Avraam; married Manya Zingman
        Kama Ginkas – son of Miron and Manya; married Henrietta Yanovskaya; author
        Zhenya Ginkas – son of Miron and Manya
        Alisa Ginkas – daughter of Miron and Manya
    Lyolya (Lev) Gink – son of Avraam
   
Liza Zingman
    Khesya Zingman – son of Liza
    Manya Zingman – daughter of Liza (see above)

Places
Moscow, Russia

To go to the informative website of Dovid Katz who has made Jewish Lithuania, including the Holocaust,  his area of research and publication, click here.

Half the Way Home: A Memoir of Father and Son by Adam Hochschild 1986

"Mr. Hochschild illuminates, with a rare tact, the situations of fathers and sons, and he avoids the traps of sentimentality and rancor both." From a review by Mary Gordon in the New York Times June 15, 1986

In this engaging memoir, journalist and writer Adam Hochschild (b. 1942) explores the relationship he had with his father, Harold Hochschild, who was the child of German Jewish immigrants. The author’s grandfather, Berthold, who came from a small village near Frankfurt, arrived in America in 1886 traveling first class, sent by his metal trading company to establish an affiliate in the states.

Hochschild writes that his grandfather spoke German and celebrated Christmas. He felt he had nothing in common with the masses of Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and wanted nothing to do with them. His like-minded son Harold did what he could to suppress his Jewish origins. He married a socially prominent Protestant and moved from the Upper West Side enclave of German Jewish immigrants to Park Avenue on the East Side.

Hochschild’s father became the Director of his father’s company, by now a global metal trading company with interests in mines worldwide. A socially ambitious man, Harold Hochschild lived his life purposefully, acquiring all the trappings of success. The author, his only child, had a governess, he was chauffeured to private school, then went away to boarding school, and he traveled all over the world with his parents. Summer months were spent at Eagle Nest, a compound in the Adirondack mountains where the family, aided by a large assortment of cooks, maids, butlers, and groundsmen, entertained large groups constantly.

Harold Hochschild had expectations that his son, Adam, would follow in his footsteps, but Adam Hochschild resisted the pressure he felt his father always applied to keep him on the track he was expected to follow. Because of his father's expectations and because his father was emotionally repressed, he felt tense in his father's presence from as early as he can remember.

After his father’s death, in cleaning out his study, Hochschild came across a memo his father had written in 1940 when Hitler was marching across Europe that helped him to see that many of his father’s behaviors were reactions to his suppressed Jewish identity. His father's memo was about antisemitism and he wrote that Jews should conduct themselves so as to be not singled out as Jews;  they should not call attention to themselves. Harold Hochschild, the son of a successful German Jewish immigrant, did what he could to assimilate into the larger culture, convinced that this strategy was in the best interests of his family.

To read an interesting article about American Jews and assimilation, click here.

People
Berthold Hochschild
    Harold Hochschild – son of Berthold; married Mary Marquand
        Adam Hochschild – son of Harold and Mary; married to Arlie Russell; author
            David and Gabriel Hochschild – sons of Adam and Arlie
    Walter Hochschild – son of Berhold;
    Gertrude Hochschild – daughter of Berthold; married Boris Sergievsky
        Kira Sergievsky – daughter of Gertrude and Boris
Hannah Blumenthal – cousin (exact relationship unexplained)

Places
New York City
Germany
Eagle Nest, Adirondacks, NY
Princeton, NJ
San Fransisco, California

What They Saved: Pieces of a Jewish Past by Nancy K. Miller 2011

"Although Nancy Miller calls this book a memoir, it is in many ways more a family detective story, tracking a set of clues back into the past and across the globe. Or, perhaps better, it exemplifies how writing a memoir can move an author onto the openly shifting grounds of memory. . . ."  from a review by Joanne Jacobson in The Forward 9/20/2011

Nancy K. Miller (born 1941), scholar and Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, has written a very useful memoir for those of us who are involved in genealogical research. This memoir is about the process of the search itself as well as the results.

Her mother’s large family – the Millers – were always a part of her life. Her father, Louis Kipnis, seemed not to have any close family. Because she was so disconnected from her Kipnis roots, and also because she was a committed feminist, she had elected, when she was younger, to relinquish a claim to the Kipnis name and adopted her mother’s Miller name as her last name. However, once both of Professor Miller’s parents died, she inherited the family archives – the letters, photos, and documents that had been stored in her parents’ dresser drawers. What she found concerning the Kipnis side of her family intrigued her: letters in Yiddish she needed to have translated, photos of presumed family members she could not identify, and documents that provided some answers but raised further questions.

She knew her father had had an older brother who had moved from New York to Arizona because his son had very bad asthma. She also knew she had never met her uncle and didn’t remember her father ever visiting him. Did anything happen that caused the brothers to be distant in ways that superseded geographical distance? Who were all these other relatives she had never met and why had she never even heard of them?

In trying to answer these questions she takes her readers on the same zigzag trail she ended up going on herself. She went straight ahead, became sidetracked, had to double back, got stalled, put the puzzle pieces aside, then started again after taking a fresh look. She met family members she never knew existed, consulted experts, hired researchers, and traveled to destinations all over the globe – to Tucson, Arizona, towns in the Ukraine, and to Israel - to follow clues.

During the course of the memoir she learned many important lessons which she passes on to her readers. For example, she learned that just because she was interested in uncovering her Kipnis roots, she couldn’t expect that others would be as interested or as enthusiastic or even cooperative. She learned that she often was working on erroneous assumptions. This involved a certain kind of tunnel vision that often impeded progress. And finally she learned that she had to come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t uncover every bit of information she was hoping to find, or that she expected to find. She had to concede that the wholeness of the past is finally irretrievable. Some questions would never be answered.

And she raises the important question about why she engaged in this quest at all. She devoted inordinate numbers of hours to the search which stretched over years, and she spent substantial sums of money on travel, on research, and on researchers. Although married, she has no children, neither does her one sibling, so there are no direct descendants to inherit or be enriched by what she uncovered. But she felt the need deep in her psyche – she craved a connection to her ancestors that was precipitated when she opened the dresser drawer. Perhaps, she suggests, it’s the preoccupation of an older person whose future is limited but whose past stretches back generations. She can now link her life to theirs.

To read an interview with Nancy Miller about her memoir, click here.
For more information on the Kishinev progroms, click here.

This memoir includes an extensive family tree, most of it reproduced in list form below. 

People
Author’s paternal grandfather’s side of the family
Harry Kipnis
    Moishe Mordecai Kipnis – son of Harry; married Zirel
        Raphael Kipnis – son of Moishe and Zirel; married Deborah (Dora) Cohen
            Chaim (Harry) Kipnis – son of Raphael and Deborah; married Sore (Sarah) Peak
                Raphael Kipnis – son of Chaim and Sore; married Sheindel (Sadie) Scholnick
                    Samuel Kipnis – son of Raphael and Sheindel; married Rose Epstein
                        Julian Kipnis – son of Samuel and Rose; married Billie Ruth
                            Sarah Kipnis – daughter of Julian and Billie Ruth; married Tillman Castleberry
                                Shannon Castleberry – daughter of Sarah and Tillman; married Joseph Davenport
                                Kelly Castleberry – son of Sarah and Tillman; married Stephanie Ware
                                    Kellan and Caiden Castleberry – children of Kelly and Stephanie
                    Louis Kipnis –  son of Raphael and Sheindel; married Mollie Miller
                        Nancy Kipnis (Miller) – daughter of Louis and Mollie; married Sandy Petry (author)
                        Ronna Kipnis – daughter of Louis and Mollie
                Zirl (Beckie) Kipnis – daughter of Chaim and Sore; married Louis Jacknis
                                        Rose Kipnis Jacobson – daughter of Zirl and Louis
                    William Kipnis – son of Zirl and Louis
                Itzock (Isidore) Kipnis – son of Chaim and Sore; married Beatrice Gordon
                    Frank Kipnis – son of Itzock and Beatrice; married Dorothy Sokol
        Israel Kipnis – son of Moishe and Zirel; married Esther   
            Abraham (Berel) Kipnis – son of Israel and Esther; married Sarah Greenstein; second marriage to Sarah Maidonick
                Feige and Sadie Kipnis – daughters of Abraham and Sarah           

Author’s paternal grandmother’s side of the family
Judah Scholnick – married Sarah Spack
    Shaindel (Sadie) Scholnick – daughter of Judah and Sarah; married Rafael Kipnis (see above)
    Sarah Scholnick – daughter of Judah and Sarah
        Gert Scholnick –daughter of Sarah; married Joseph Elieson
            Sarah Ann Elieson – daughter of Gert and Joseph
            Samuel Elieson – son of Gert and Joseph; married Nina
        Fredi Scholnick  – daughter of Sarah; married Tom Goldbloom
            Sam and Nathan Goldbloom – sons of Fredi and Tom
    Dvorah Scholnick Weisman – daughter of Juda and Sarah
        Etyushele Weisman – daughter of Dvorah

Author’s maternal grandfather’s side of the family
Willie Miller
    David Miller – son of Willie
    Abraham Miller – son of Willie
    Fay Miller – daughter of Willie
    Mollie Miller – daughter of Willie; married Louis Kipnis
        Nancy – daughter of Mollie and Louis (author; see above)

Family of author’s uncle Sam Kipnis’ wife Rose Epstein
Rachel (Ray) Epstein – Rose’s sister; married to Jack Ellison
    Brownie Ellison – daughter of Rachel and Jack; married to Joseph Ebner
        Michael Ebner – son of Brownie and Joseph
        Sarah Ebner – daughter of Brownie and Joseph; married to Bernard Frieden
            Miriam Frieden – daughter of Sarah and Bernard

Friends and Acquaintances
David R. Zaslowsky
David Linetsky
Max Meyerson
Fima Ephraim Rabinovitch
Yitzhaq Feller
Samuel Traub
Olga Sivac

Places
DeWitt Clinton High School, NYC
Talmud Torah Anshe Zitomir, NYCZitomir Talmud Torah Darchei Noam, NYC        
New York City, NY
Kishinev, formerly capital of Bessarabia, now Moldova
Bratslav, Ukraine
Peschanka, Ukraine
Podolsk, Ukraine
Pechora (Dead Loop), Ukraine
Tulchin, Ukraine
Ein Hemed, Jerusalem, Israel

The Mirador: Dreamed Memories of Irene Nemirovsky by Her Daughter by Elisabeth Gille, published in French in 1992; published in English in 2011 (a novel)

"Although, of course, 'The Mirador' carries with it all the emotional weight of a daughter’s grieving monument to her mother, it also makes no effort to accuse or to apologize for Némirovsky’s fraught relationship with her Jewishness, a subject of which Gille is not only aware but one that she bravely confronts head-on." from a review by James K. McAuley in the Harvard Crimson, 11/15/2011
 
The Mirador, written by the younger of the writer Irene Nemerovsky’s two daughters, is an intriguing and largely successful literary experiment. Elisabeth Gille, who was five when her mother was deported, has written a fictional memoir. She has imagined her mother’s voice and has her mother tell her story, starting from her mother’s childhood in Russia up until she is seized by the Nazis from where she is living in a small town in France.

This fictional memoir is divided into two parts: In Part I the imagined voice of Nemerovsky narrates her privileged life growing up in Russia. Gille, who was born in France in 1937, conducted extensive research. She is wonderful at bringing to life the heady days of pre-Revolutionary Russia enjoyed by the elite which included her mother’s family. She paints pictures of engrossing cultural and political scenes, detailing how the Nemerovskys spent their time entertaining and being entertained. But times became difficult for Russian Jews; anti-Semitism lurked right below the surface and when there was any kind of economic pressure and political unrest, the lives of all Jews were restricted and they were often the victims of violence. Anticipating the difficulties for his family during the upheavals created both by World War I and the Russian Revolution, Nemerovsky’s very wealthy banker father managed to move his assets to Stockholm and smuggle his wife and daughter to France with their jewels sewed into the linings of their clothes.

Part II, which takes place in France where the family arrived in 1919 when Nemerovsky was 16, starts with Nemerovsky’s education, and moves on to her gradual triumphs as a writer, her marriage to Michel Epstein- a fellow émigré from Russia who had the means to maintain the very comfortable lifestyle Nemerovsky was accustomed to - and the birth of their two daughters. In the 1930’s as Hitler’s threats increased, Nemerovsky saw no reason to leave France. She considered herself French, never having identified as a Jew. And felt well-placed amongst the intellectual elite.She felt no connection to the poor foreign Jews flooding into France from Easter Europe.  But gradually she was forced to acknowledge the threat of Hitler’s reign in neighboring Germany. Gille gives an interesting and useful historical overview of encroaching Nazism in France, and she shows how Nemerovsky finally saw herself being hemmed in more and more by the government’s pronouncements against Jews. In July of 1942, in the midst of writing the novel Suite Francaise (which was finally published posthumously in its unfinished state in French in 2004 and  in English in 2006), the Nazis seized Nemerovsky and she died in Auschwitz at the age of 39.

Gille’s experiment of creating her mother’s voice and re-creating her life gave Gille the opportunity to get to know the mother she never really knew. She gleaned information from all of her mother’s writing, conducted interviews, and consulted historical sources in order to re-create her mother and her family as well as her life in Russia in the first two decades of the twentieth century and in France in the next two decades. 

Gille creates a layered structure that works to intensify the tragic outcome. Each chapter starts with a page that contains a date followed by a paragraph in italics. These preliminary paragraphs are about the author – Elisabeth Gille. The first is about her birth, and each subsequent paragraph at the beginning of each chapter details a moment in her life that take the reader right up to 1991. These paragraphs act both as a parallel condensed memoir and as commentary on the larger story of her relationship to her mother and her mother’s premature death.

Although it reads like a memoir, we must think of this as a novel. We cannot assume that every scene, every characterization, is exactly as Irene Nemerovsky herself would have rendered it. It’s impossible for a reader to sort out fact from fiction. But it seems that Gille was aiming for accuracy – she was trying to explain her mother to herself and to a larger audience. In forcefully recreating her mother's short life, she ably depicts a personal and public tragedy.

This English translation published by the New York Review of Book also includes an Afterword by Rene de Ceccatty in which he discusses, amongst other topics, the challenges Gille took on in writing in her mother's voice. It also includes an interview de Ceccatty conducted with Gille.

To learn more about Irene Nemerovsky, her writing and her family, as well as to see photos, click here.

People
Irene Nemerovsky’s father’s family
Boris Nemerovsky – married Eudoxia Korsounsky
    Leon Borosovich Nemerovsky – married to Fannie
        Irene Nemerovsky - daughter of Leon and Fannie; married Michel Epstein; author
            Denise Nemerovsky-Dauple – daughter of Irene and Michel
            Elisabeth Epstein Gille – daughter of Irene and Michel

Irene Nemerovsky’s mother’s family
    Jonas Margoulis – married Bella Chtchedrovitch
        Assia Margoulis – daughter of Jonas and Bella
        Fannie - daughter of Jonas and Bella; married Leon Borosovich
            Irene Borosovich – daughter of Leon; marries Michel Epstein (see above); author

Irene Nemerovsky’s husband’s family
Efim Epstein
    Samuel Epstein – son of Efim;  married to Alexandria Ginzbourg
        Natasha Epstein– daughter of Samuel and Alexandria
    Paul Epstein – son of Efim
    Sophie (Mavlik) Epstein – daughter of Efim
        Victor ? – son of Sophie
    Michel Epstein – married to Irene Nemerovsky (author)
Rhaissa Epstein – sister of Effim Epstein; married Alfred Adler

Friends
Boris Kamenka
    Daria Kamenka – daughter of Boris
    Hippolyte – son of Boris
Mila Gordon
Helene Gordon – sister of Mila; married to Pierre Lazareff   
Harry Baur
Daniel Halevy
Emmanuel Berl
Tristan Bernard   
       
Places
Kiev, Ukraine
    Podol neighborhood of Kiev
Odessa, Russia   
    Moldavanka ghetto, Kiev
Moscow, Russia
St. Petersburg (Petrograd), Russia
Paris, France
Issy-L’Eveque, France
Auschwitz, Poland

The Arrogant Years: One Girl’s Search for Her Lost Youth, from Cairo to Brooklyn By Lucette Lagnado 2011

"'The Arrogant Years' . . .  [is] a paragon of memoir writing, a story about the complex swirl of people and events and forces out of which individual lives are made — some, like Ms. Lagnado’s, more painfully, but also more fully, than others." from a review by Alana Newhouse  in the New York Times 9/8/2011

This sequel to Lagnado’s first memoir, “The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit,” follows the same trajectory as the first – the memoir starts in Cairo where the Legnados lived as members of a large, prosperous Jewish community before they immigrated to Brooklyn, New York. But this second memoir shines the spotlight on different family members. This time around Lagnado spends very little time on her father who was the subject of her first memoir. Instead, she focuses on both her mother’s life and her own. 

She starts by recounting what she has learned about her mother’s childhood, describing in detail her mother’s mother and the life and culture of Jewish women in the Levant. She relates how her mother, highly educated with a satisfying career, felt obligated to give it up when she married. The marriage was problematic from the start. The author’s father felt free to do what he wanted whenever he wanted to; her mother became a passive, depressed housewife and mother.

Once Nasser came into power most members of the Jewish community fled, many going to Israel and the United States.  Lagnado’s father resisted leaving until conditions were just about impossible and they  immigrated in 1963 when the author was 7,  settling in Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, New York amongst other Jewish immigrants from the Levant.

In subsequent chapters the author elaborates on growing up in Brooklyn in the midst of a socially conservative, insular, transplanted immigrant Jewish community from the Levant where the cultural ties to their home countries were strong. Like in many immigrant groups, parents tried to keep the old ways, replicating customs they grew up with, including founding both religious and educational institutions that were designed to mirror those they left behind. Lagnado notes that some children stayed close to their parents, happy to abide by their wishes, choosing mates from within the community and settling close by. But in some families, like in her own, there was an ongoing tension between conducting their lives the way they had in the past versus embracing American customs and values.

Her father, partly because of a fall and botched surgery in Cairo, never attained the stature he had in Cairo, and sat by, a tired old man, while his family defied him. His children went to American schools and colleges, and his wife decided to go back to work. But although the author’s mother enjoyed her work at the Brooklyn Public Library, it was clear that the cultural shift was difficult and wearing on her. Especially upsetting was that Suzette, their oldest daughter, although still unmarried, moved away shortly after they arrived in America never to live with them again.

The author was very close to her mother who allowed her some freedom, but not enough. She would not let her mother's and the community’s old-world values stand in the way of what she wanted - the chance to embrace America, and to take advantage of what it had to offer. She succeeds in this struggle, becoming a well-established journalist and writer, but toward the end of the memoir she looks back. She revisited old friends from the community now dispersed, some living in Israel. She found many of them living lives very similar to the lives they led when they were growing up in Bensonhurst. While she cannot imagine living the lives they lead, she envies their feeling rooted in their traditions and clear-headed about the choices they made. She feels especially sorry about the tragedy of her mother's life: being caught between two worlds, not comfortable in either one.

To read the post in this blog reviewing Lagnado's The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit, click here.

To read an article about the displacement of Jews from Arab countries, click here.

People
Family
Descendants of father’s side of Laniado rabbinic dynasty of Aleppo, Syria
    Shlomo Laniado – rabbi in 17th century

Leon Lagnado - married Edith Lagnado
    Suzette Lagnado – daughter of Leon and Edith
        Sasha – son of Suzette
    Cesar Lagnado – son of Leon and Edith; married Monica
        Carolyn and Evelyn Lagnado – daughters of Caesar and Monica
    Isaac Lagnado – son of Leon and Edith
    Lucette Lagnado – daughter of  and Edith; married Douglas Feiden

Maternal family
Selim Dana – married Rachel Dana (his niece)
    Alexandra Dana – daughter of Selim and Rachel married Isaac Matalon
        Edith Matalon – daughter of Alexandra and Isaac; married Leon Lagnado (see above)
        Felix Matalon – son of Alexandra and Isaac
Edgar Dana – Alexandra’s brother; married Marie
    Rachel Dana – daughter of Edgar and Marie
Farida – half-sister of Alexandria
Rosee – half-sister of Alexandra
    Lily – daughter of Rosee
Edouard  – half-brother of Alexandra
Lily Halawani – cousin of mother (daughter of Rosee, above?) exact relationship not clear

Salomone Silvera – relative, relationship to side of family unclear; married Sally
    Davide Silvera – son of Salomone and Sally
Rachel and Pico Hakim – relatives, relationship to side of family unclear
    Rosette Hakim – daughter of Rachel and Pico


Friends, Acquaintances and Members of the Jewish Community Past and Present
In U.S.A.
Rabbi Harry Rubin
    Miriam, Deborah, Rebecca, Rochelle and David Rubin – children of Harry
Abraham and Adele Cohen
    Leah, Gracie, Esther, Margarita Cohen - daughters of Abraham and Adele
    Rebecca Cohen Choueka – daughter of Abraham and Adele; married Eric Choueka
Rita Douek
Karen Alter
Marlene and Avi Ben Dayan
Celia Garzon Weinstein - Moshe Garzon's sister
Moshe Garzon – Celia Garzon Weinstein's brother
Joseph Hannon
Sarah Menachem
Rabbi Baruch Ben Haim
Rabbi Saul Kassin
Lillian Mosseri
Carin Roth
Eugene Gold
    Wendy – daughter of Eugene
Henry Finkelstein
Cyrus Wolf
    Laurie Wolf Bryk– daughter of Cyrus; married to Eli Bryk
        Lanie and Jackie – daughters of Laurie
    Trudy Wolf – daughter of Cyrus
Dr. Sydney Diamond
Rabbi Sam Horowitz
Fortune Cohen
Gladys – sister of Fortune; married Saul
Rabbi Rafael Benchimol
Kim Amzallag
Leah Iny
Stella Issever

In Egypt (or roots in Egypt)
Alice Suarez – married Yussef Cattaui
    Indjii, Aslan, and Rene,  – children of Alice and Yussef
        Nimet Cattaui – granddaughter of Alice and Yussef
            Michel Alexane – son of Nimet
        Stephane Cattaui – grandson of Alice and Yussef; married Maria Livanos
        Indjy Cattaui-Dumon – granddaughter of Alice and Yussef
    George Cattaui – nephew of Yussef
                Florence Sutter – gggranddaughter of Alice and Yussef (exact relationship unclear)
Moise Cattaui
Odette Harari
    David Harari – son of Odette
Yussef “Sousou” Makar
Sarah Naggar Halawani
Desi Sakkal
Ninette Toussoun
Rabbi Haim Nahum
Dr. Baroukh Kodsi
Maggie Wahba
Carmen Weinstein
Victor, George, and Haim Haboucha

Places
 Egypt
    Cairo
        neighborhoods: Garden City, Sakakini, Haret-el-Yahood, Heliopolis, Zamelek, Maadi, Fustat
        L’Ecole Cattui – Sakakini
        Le Sebil Jewish school
        Cicurel Department store
        Orozdi-Back Department store
        Shepheard Hotel
        L’Hopital Israelite
        Groppi’s
        Temple Hanan
        Ben Ezra Synagogue
        Gazira Sporting Club
        Villa Cattaui
    Alexandria
        Neighborhoods: Sporting, San Sefano, Sidi Bishr
        Delices
    Ras el-Bar, Egypt
        Aslan Hotel

USA
    Brooklyn, New York
        Neighborhoods: Bensonhurst, Brighton Beach, Park Slope, Ocean Parkway
        Shield of Young David Synagogue (David Magen)
        Ahaba ve Ahava synagogue
        House of Jacob Academy (Beis Ya’akov)
        Berkeley Institute
    Five Towns, Long Island, NY –areas: North Woodmere, Hewlett Harbor
    Gates of Prayer Synagogue, Manhattan
    Fifth Avenue Synagogue, Manhattan
    Deal, New Jersey

The Invention of Solitude by Paul Auster 1982

"'What really struck me was the purity of his tone. As a publisher, you're always looking for tone and he had that in blinding amounts, a faintly detached, very cerebral tone,' [Robert] McCrum says." Quoted in an interview with Hadley Freeman published in The Guardian on 10/25/2002

The writer Paul Auster’s two-part memoir deals in the first half with his relationship with his father. The second part is more a philosophical meditation and intellectual inquiry into the author’s role as both father and as grandson.  It also deals with the interplay between memory, the role of language in apprehending memories and the nature of solitude. 

The first section of Auster’s memoir, called “Portrait of an Invisible Man,” is about his father’s absence when he was growing up. Samuel Auster, who was born in around 1911, worked long hours, leaving the house before his two children awoke and returning home after they were asleep. But more to the point, even when the author spent time with him on the weekends and holidays, he was remote and emotionally unavailable. Auster recounts vivid examples of how his father failed him, puzzling over his father’s behavior, longing for a way to reach him.

When he was adult, the frustration of having such an unsatisfactory relationship with his father drove him to learn more about him. Eventually the author was able to piece together a narrative from several sources that revealed his father’s very difficult childhood, which included a rather nomadic existence. His grandparents, Jewish immigrants from Austria, started a business in Lawrence, Kansas that failed. Eventually they settled for a while in Kanosha, Wisconsin where his father, the youngest of five, was raised during his early years. When the author was already an adult an old man from Kanosha who happened to sit next to his cousin on a plane, told a horrifying story about the Austers and  directed her to newspaper articles from 1919  in the Kenosha Evening News for details.

What he learns about his father’s upbringing may help him intellectually to better understand his father’s remoteness, but does not wipe away the longing he had for a meaningful relationship. The poetic intensity of Auster’s prose heightens the effect, leaving the reader with a powerful image of a relationship that was never whole.

Although family relationships have a place in the second half of the memoir, “The Book of Memory” is a more extended meditation on life, on life cut short, on presence and absence, on the function of memory. The author writes about his own absence in his son’s life once he and his wife divorced, and also about his caring for his dying maternal grandfather which of course triggers vivid memories of their life together. Auster’s style of writing in this section is not typical of a memoir. It is both intimate and ruminative. He probes and poses difficult questions.

To watch an interview with Paul Auster discussing his writing, click here. 

People
Family
Samuel Auster – brother of Harry Auster; author’s great-uncle
Harry Auster – brother of Samuel Auster; married Anna; author’s paternal grandparents
    Samuel Auster – son of Harry and Anna; married Queenie
        Paul Auster – son of Samuel and Queenie; author
            Daniel Auster - son of Paul Auster
Elizabeth Grossman - Anna Auster's sister

Friends and Acquaintances
Fanny Koplan
Rabbi M. Hartman
Gregory Altschuller

Places
Lawrence, Kansas
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Chicago, Illinois
Weequahic section of  Newark, New Jersey
New York City, New York




.

Life With a Star by Jiri Weil published in Czech in 1949, published in English in 1989 (a novel); introduction written by Philip Roth

"[Josef Roubicek's] story stands as one of the most powerful works to emerge from the Holocaust; it is a fierce and necessary work of art." from a review in the New York Times by Michiko Kakutani on 6/9/1989

Jiri Weil (1900-1959) was a Jewish Czech writer who lived in Prague, and, according to Philip Roth’s lauditory introduction to this novel, lived a life in some ways similar to his main character Josef Roubicek. When the Nazis came to deport Weil he disappeared with the help of the resistance.

In the novel, which takes place in Prague, Roubicek at the time of the Nazi occupation is a young man who had been a bank clerk, but because of the restrictions placed on employing Jews, he has lost his job and lives starving in a garret where he’s burned most of his furnishings to keep himself warm.

Weil recreates an absurd and cruel world which takes on a surreal quality governed by Roubicek’s terror. The prose is spare and matter-of-fact, which has the effect of highlighting the horror. Roubicek knows he has been condemned even though he is innocent,  and we watch with mounting tension as he obsesses about what will happen to him next. When will his destroyers finally close in? When will he be selected to be deported?

Weil is also very adept at recreating the "Community," the part of the nightmare version of everyday life when Jew turned against Jew.The group of Jews in Prague who the Nazis designated as a governing body to enforce Nazi rules and regulations  are a terrifying presence. Roubicek lives in dread of  a message from them or a knock on the door.

Weil convincingly plumbs the psyche of his main character, his alter-ego. He also recreates the streets and neighborhoods of Prague filled with officials, as well as Roubicek's friends, acquaintances and many fellow sufferers. All of these various threads contribute to the novel's texture of reality.

People
Jiri Weil - author



Places
Prague. Czechoslovakia
Stresovice neighborhood of Prague

To read an article about the History of the Jews in Prague, click here.

Shlemiel Crooks by Anna Olswanger, illustrated by Paula Goodman Koz 2005

"The best thing here ... is Olswanger's Yiddish storyteller's voice, particularly the hilarious curses she weaves into the story ... Great for reading aloud." Reviewed by Hazel Rochman in Booklist

 A recent very entertaining children’s book awarded the designation of Sydney Taylor Honor Book is Anna Olswanger’s Shlemiel Crooks, colorfully illustrated by Paula Goodman Koz. Olswanger’s story which takes place in the first decade of the 20th  century is about Jewish immigrants in St. Louis. Why St. Louis?  Anna Olswanger based her children’s story on real events; she is recreating and joyfully embellishing an incident in the life of her great-grandfather when his saloon was nearly robbed.

In a short postscript in her book she tells the reader  that she only learned of the names of her great-grandparents, Elias and Dora Olschwanger, when, in 1982, she “started to research her family tree” which took her to St. Louis where they had lived. Part of the results of that research are two documents from the St. Louis Jewish Record that she reproduces at the end of her book in their original Yiddish along with English translations.

The first document is an ad placed by Olswanger’s great grandfather in February of 1918: It reads in part: “Eliyahu Olschwanger wishes to make known to all his friends that he has a fine and large stock of full and half-bottles of Carmel wines and cognacs. He has also purchased a large stock of Manischewitz from Cincinnati,…slivovitz, and … pesach’dik mead… Come in and order in time before the rush…” His name, address and phone number follow.

The second article reproduced was published a year later in 1919 (in Yiddish) under the heading “Reb Eliyahu Olschwanger Almost Robbed.”

“Shlimazel crooks, their work was unsuccessful. Last Thursday at 3:00 a.m. in the middle of the night, several men drove to the saloon of Reb Eliyahu Olschwanger at the corner of 14th and Carr streets. They opened the saloon and removed several barrels of brandy and beer. Mr. Mankel who lives on the second floor, upon hearing what was going on in the saloon, opened the window and began shouting for help. Benjamin Resnik from 1329 Carr Street, hearing the shouting, shot his revolver from his window. The band of crooks got scared and left everything, including their own horse and wagon and ran away. Police immediately came and took everything to the police station.”

 Out of these details and her imagination Olswanger has created a vibrant children’s book. The narrator tells this story in an animated “Guess what happened - Reb Olschwanger was almost robbed” tone of voice which pulls us right in. The story is dotted with Yiddish words, for example, “Such a tummel they were making!” And enhancing the animated narration are the colorful drawings by Paula Goddman Koz, many of them full-page. We see tenements where the wash is strung out across buildings. Another is a re-creation of what the storefront of Reb Olschwanger’s saloon might have looked like with men, women, boys and girls in period clothing, and another is of men studying Talmud.

The documents would, of course, thrill a family researcher. They are “only” a business advertisement and a report of an “almost” robbery but there is significant information to be gleaned. Reading these documents Anna Olswanger would have learned what her great-grandfather did for a living, that he was an enterprising business man serving his community and that he most probably spoke Yiddish. She would have found out his home address and his business address and phone number and of course she would have noticed that he spelled his name differently from the way she spells hers. She also would have learned the names and addresses of several of his neighbors which seems to indicate that he lived in a Jewish neighborhood.

Anna Olswanger has honored her great-grandfather by writing a children’s book based on an incident from his life which helps us to experience aspects of early immigrant life in America. Paula Goodman Koz's illustrations contribute a great deal to our experience.

To learn more about the genesis of this book and more about the Olschwanger family, click here.

People
Elias (Eliyahu)and Dora Olschwanger - author's paternal great-grandparents
          Anna Olswanger - author
Benjamin Resnik - neighbor   
Paula Good Koz - illustrator

Place
St. Louis, Missouri

The Neppi Modona Diaries: Reading Jewish Survival through My Italian Family by Kate Cohen 1997

 "The voices of the Neppi Modona family are interwoven with their discussions with the author. The frequent shift of focus enlightens rather than obscures. Four stories that remind us of the human dimension of history." from a review from Kirkus Reviews 11/1/96

Kate Cohen wrote this book with the financial help for foreign study from the Dartmouth College Committee on Graduate Fellowships. The award financed a trip to Italy so that Cohen could interview relatives of her father - Rachel Neppi Modona and her daughter Lionella, the two surviving members of their immediate family of four. The entire family had survived World War II, but Rachel’s husband Aldo and their son Leo, both of whom had kept diaries during the war years, died before the author began working on this book.

Having access to the two diaries and being able to interview the surviving women gave the author a window into how the family and many of their fellow Jews survived during World War II, first under Mussolini and then Hitler. The memoir is divided into four sections. In a general introduction we meet these Italian family members and learn some of their history. The next two sections consist of excerpts from the two diaries, first Leo’s rather short one, then his father’s longer diary. Throughout both sections Cohen intersperses diary entries with conversations she had with both Rachel Neppi Modona and her daughter Lionella who clarify and expand upon some of the circumstances discussed in the diaries. In the fourth section the author contextualizes their World War II experience and discusses the effects of the trauma of uncertainty, fleeing and hiding had on family members during the war and in post-war Italy. 

Some of what we learn from reading this memoir is that the Neppi Modona family whose home city was Florence was financially well off, well educated, and part of a large social circle. Aldo Neppi Modona’s family had lived in Italy for many generations and he was not at all an assimilated Jew. He was traditionally Orthodox and his religion and observance were very important to him. He was a fervent Italian patriot who had served in World War I and, in fact, was a member of the Fascist party. He could not believe that he would become a pariah. Little by little his status was eroded. Eventually he lost his teaching position, had to leave his home, and with his family wandered from one town to the next boarding with relatives, friends, and friends of friends in order to evade detection.

In reading the excerpts from these diaries, the discussions with the survivors, and the author’s commentary, we learn about the specific situation of the Neppi Modonas during World War II as well as the situation of Italian Jews in general. The author ends by explaining how reading the diaries and conducting the interviews helped her to gain insights into her own upbringing as a post-war Jewish American.

To read an article in the New York Times about recent research that deals with Jews in Italy during World War II, click here.

People
Leone Neppi Modona – married to Ada
    Aldo Neppi Modona – son of Leone and Ada; married to Rachel Fintz
        Lionella Neppi Modona – daughter of Aldo and Rachel; married to Guiseppi Viterbo
            Ada Viterbo – daughter of Lionella and Guiseppi
                Tal – daughter of Ada
            Emanuele Viterbo – son of Lionella and Guiseppi; married to Lia
        Leo Neppi Modona – son of Aldo and Rachel

Carlos Alberto Viterbo – father of Guiseppi Viterbo (married to Lionella Neppi Modona)

Family relatives – exact relationships unstated
Valentina Neppi Modona
Leone Ambron – cousin of Aldo Neppi Modona
Bettino and Luisa Errera
Matilde Nissim
Ernesta Neppi Modona
Amalie Cohen
    Ralph Cohen – son of Amalie; married to Judy
        Kate Cohen – daughter of Ralph and Judy;  married to Adam Daniel Greenberg; author
        Amy Cohen – daughter of Ralph

Friends and Acquaintances
Alfonso Pacifici
Enzo Bonaventura
Alfredo Forti
Siebzehner family
Costanza Salmon
Segre family
Viterbo family
Riccardo Dallo Volta
    Enrico Dalla Volta – son of Riccardo
    Margherita Dalla Volta – daughter of Riccardo
D’Urbino sisters
Nathan Cassuto – married to Anna
    David Cassuto – son of Nathan
       

Places
Rhodes
Anghiari, Italy
Florence, Italy
Galluzzo, Italy
Rome, Italy
Patmos, Greece
Israel