Family1 5november

- 18 -
‫לקחת לקח מפי מורה וכה חלפו ימים ונגוזו‬
‫שבועות ושלום החלה לקננה בביתינו אבל‬
‫אך עארגיע הצלחת ישראל ולא יכון שלותם‬
‫כי על זה אנו גלינו מארצינו לטלטלנו טלטלת גבר‬
‫ אך הגולה השלוה להראות‬,‫ככדור על רחבת ידים‬
‫פנים שוחקת ומעבר מזה היה שקט ושלוה ומעבר‬
‫מזה נראתה עננים עבים אשר היעיבו שמי ההצלחה‬
‫כי בפתע פתאום נסע אז גסי זעליג לעיר מאזיקען‬
‫הסמוכה לוועקסנה ולא שב עוד לביתו כי משם‬
‫צעד לדרך פעמיו ואנחנו לא ידע מאומה כשבוע‬
‫שלימה עבר ועקבותיו לא נודעו ולשוא היה כל‬
‫ כי עמלינו‬.‫עמלינו להתחקות על שרשי הדבר הזה‬
‫עלה בתוהו ובתר נסיעתו לא ידענו אז הינו‬
‫במבוכה אך במלאת שבועה תמימה קבלנו מכתב‬
‫כי כאשר בא במאזמקען מצא שם חבל סוחרים הנוסעים‬
‫לרגל מסחרם לאינגלאנד ונצרך להם איש לשמור‬
‫סחורותם בדרך יקבל די הוצאותיו עד עיר דובלין‬
‫ושם עמד עד אשר ירוח לשים הלאה פעמותיו‬

………….to learn from my teacher.
and so the days and weeks passed by and though we were calm and settled
there were bumps along the way and even though there was peace and quiet there were thick
clouds on the horizon which threatened to disturb the success because suddenly my brother in
law, Zelig, travelled to Mazeikiai, a
neighbouring town to Vechshnau and he never returned again to his home because from there
he went on his way and we knew nothing and a whole
week went by and whatever we tried to do came up with nothing.
Our labours bore no fruit for we had no information as to his travels and
we were depressed however after another week we received a letter that
when he had arrived in Mazeikiai, he found a group of traders who were taking their goods to
England and they needed a watchman for the journey and
he got the job which would pay for his journey to Dublin and so he went
on his way………………………………………….

- 19 -
‫ומן המכתב אשר קבלנו נסתם כל חזון ואין כ ֹקל ואין‬
‫קשב כשלשה חדשים ואז היה ימים אין חפץ בהם ימי‬
‫עוני לאחותי עם שלשה בניה הנשארים בלי משען לחם ומים‬
‫ורק מקץ שלשה חדשים קבלנו מכתב והנה כתובה פנים‬

'‫ואחור ובד נהי וקינים ודגא כי גם שם נגעה יד ד‬
‫ לעכוב‬16‫אליו לרעה וקרהו אסון אשר בעבורה היה מוכחרך‬

‫שם זמן רב עד עת ההיא ורק אז צלחה לו ביתר עוז‬
‫לבוא לאיינגלאנד וישב בעיר הבירא איינגלאנד‬

‫היא ל ָאנד ָאן ומשם כתב מכתבים שונים אבל למשען‬
‫כסף לא עזר מאומה וכראות אבי מורי כי מחיבוק ידים‬

‫לא יבוא תועלת ויחל לדאוג היאך לשלחנה לאישה‬
‫ובעמל רב הצליח בידו וישלחיה מאיליו בשנת תר"ן‬
‫ כל לב נמס וכל עין גרע דמע בראות‬.‫א' לחדש שבט‬
‫כי אשה עניה סוערה אעם שלשה ילדיה הרכים נוסעים‬

‫למרחקים והקרח נורא מאוד מי יכילנה אבל בתוך‬
‫לבבינו שמחנו כי אולי בזה יהיה גמר הצרות אבל‬
‫ אסון על אסון עד כי בעזרת הבורא‬17‫גם בדרך קרהה‬

__ .‫הגיעה אל מחוז חפצה היא ושלשת ילדיה‬

From the letter that we received all our hope was lost for three months and there were very
difficult days of poverty for my sister and her three children who had been left without food
and water and only after three months we received a letter and he wrote that he had bad luck
and things did not go his way but eventually he arrived in England to the capital city of
England, London.
From there he wrote various letters but he never sent any money and this did not help the
health of my father, my teacher, because by sitting idly he would not be able to send for his
wife.
And painstakingly he eventually succeeded and he sent for her in 1890 on the first day of
Shevat.
Every heart melts and every eye sheds a tear for a poor woman who will travel long distances
in the extremely cold weather with her three children and who will feed
her but in our hearts we were happy because perhaps this would be the end of her troubles but
even so on the way there were many disasters but she eventually with the help of the Creator
she and her three children arrived at their destination.

‫ מוכרח‬16
‫ קרה לה‬16

- 20 -

‫ב' ר"ח אדר תר"ן‬
‫היום קבלנו מכתב נחומים מאחותי תמרה כי ב"ה‬
‫מצאתה אצל בעלה הכל בסדר יפה ונקוה כי שם‬
‫ד' קץ לחשב כי לקתה כפלים על כל חטותיה וגם כתב‬
‫כי בטרם באה לענגלאנד ללאנדאן נסע אישה לעיר‬
. ‫מאנשעסטער וישב שם וגם היא נתיסשבה שם‬

‫ היום רבה מעט שמחתינו‬.‫ג' ד'אדר תר"ן‬
‫כי אני נעשיתי היום בן י"ג ונחשבתי לבעל בעמי‬
‫ואבותי עשו לי בגדים חדשים וגם עשו לזכרון יום‬
‫הולדת משתה מעט והרבה צהלת אמי שזכתה לגדלני‬
‫ "ברוך שפטרנו" ובשבת עליתי‬.‫וגם אבי שמח בברכו‬

.~~‫לתורה כדרך כל בר מצוה‬
‫ב' ניסן הנ"ל כיון שנכנס ניסן מרבים בשמחה‬
‫ הנה האביב בא הנצנים‬.‫ובאמת על מה לא ישמחו‬
‫נראו בארץ עת התור הגיע האדמה השליך מעליה‬
‫את אדרתה הל ָבנה ותחתיה צמחה פרחים וששנים‬
‫הילדים שמחים הנה עוד מעט ונקראו דרור מחדריהם‬
‫ האוכלים מיגיעת כפת שמחים‬,‫הצר ומבית כלאם‬
‫הנה נפתח המקור לכל פרנסה ועוד מעט ונהנים‬

Second Day of Rosh Chodesh Adar 1890
Today we received a comforting letter from my sister Tamara that with the help of G-d that she found
that everything was in order and good shape with her husband and we hope that now this will be the
end because she has really suffered more than her due and she also wrote that before she arrived in
London, England, she travelled to the city of Manchester with a woman who stayed there and she also
stayed there.
23rd February 1890. Today we were a little happier because I reached age thirteen and I was considered
to be a man in his nation and my parents made new clothes for me and for my birthday they made a
small feast and I rejoiced that I had managed to grow and my father was happy with his son. “Blessed
is He who rid’s me from the penalties due to this one” and on Shabbat I was called to the Torah as is
the way of every BarMitzvah Boy.
23rd March 1890. Now that Nissan has arrived our happiness is greater and we can rejoice on what we
did not rejoice before Spring is here and behold the buds have arrived and the earth sheds it’s white
cover and beneath the flowers and roses grow and children are happy as the Sparrows leave their nests.
Those that eat from the labour of their hands are happy because they see the fruits of their earnings and
soon they will enjoy………………………………………………

-21-
‫וכל חייהם כי זו כל חיי ֻאמלל ונדכה כל השנה עובדים בעבודת‬

‫רק‬-‫פרך ובזיעת אפם אוכלים לחם עצבת רק‬
‫יום טוב כל נחמתם ומלבד חג הפסח כל עני שבישראל הופי ַע‬

‫ מורי ילדי ישראל‬,‫כמלך בגדוד מלבשים לבן‬
‫שמחים הנה עוד מעט ונחפשו מעבודתם עבודת הקודש בכלל‬

‫החדש ניסן מנחת הכלל היא ושמחת הפרט‬
‫והיום קבלנו מכתב מאחותי "שלוה" כי יכבדות מדבר‬

.~~‫כה אבל אבי לא יחפוץ בשדוך הזה‬
‫א"ח דפסח תרנ"א היום נתעליתי על כל בני גילי‬
‫כי נתנשה על גרם המעלות ללמוד עם בחורי הישיבה בחרדת‬

‫קדש נפל עלי בשבתי בראשונה בישיבה‬
‫של מטה ולעיני נחשב כישיבה של מעלה אבל מה השתוממתי‬

‫ראות מנהגי הישיבה אשר לא ישרה בעיני אבל חברי‬
.‫יעקב מטריסיק נחמינו כי אך זו הדרך העולה בית ֵאל‬

‫כ"א ניסן נ"ב ה"ה שמחתינו נהפך ליגון כי היום‬
‫ לדעת כי אשר אמי הולך תלך ודלה כל זמן‬/‫החילנו‬/
‫החרץ וחשבנו אך למקרה ודמיתי כי כאשר יבוא האביב‬
‫ והרופא‬.‫ גברה מלקלת אמי‬-‫תיטב בריאתה אבל הה"ה היום‬

'‫אמר כי מחלתה אנושה ונתן סמי מרפא יתן ד‬
.‫ויהיה לרפואה‬

……………….all their lives because their lives are miserable and all year they work in labour
and sweat and they eat loaves of bread only – only the festival brings them consolation and only
on Chag Pesach when even the poor of Israel will appear as a king and wearing white and the
Teachers and the children are happy and soon they will look at their work - a sacred service -
because this month is Nissan an offering of common and individual joy.
And today we received a letter from my sister “Shalva” that she was intending “to marry” but my
father did not want this marriage.
4th Day of Pesach 1891. Today I exceeded above all of my age as I was going to study in a
Yeshiva and I was very much afraid when I first arrived to the Yeshiva because what seemed to
me to be a upper class Yeshiva I was astonished what seemed to me that the leaders of the
Yeshiva were not sincere but my friend Yaacov Matrisik Mintz told me that this was the way
things were.
29th April 1891 Our happiness turned to grief because we discovered that my mother was getting
weaker even though we thought that with the beginning of Spring her health would improve but
today her health got worse and the doctor told us that her sickness was terminal and he gave her
drugs and please G-d this will help and she will recover.

- 22 -
‫ ה"ה סמי הרפואה לא עלתה‬:‫ב דסיון תרנב‬
‫ליפה ומצב אמי לא הוטב ואחותי שלוה אשר באה‬
‫אלינו בבקשת אמה שבה ודרכה בנפש ֹכ ֶאבת‬
‫ ליהיות ליד אמנו‬/‫נשארה‬/ ‫ואחותה הצעירה זלדה‬
‫ה"ה אמי הלך ודלה‬.‫לשרתה לכל עת הצורך אבל א‬
– .‫בבקר בבקר ד ירחם אליה ותעמידיה מחלה‬
‫י"ח אב הנ"ל ֵא ֵשב דומם ומתבונן במצבינו הה אבוד‬
‫כמעט ימי הקיץ עבר ותרופה עוד רחק מאמי היקרה‬

‫וגדול צערה מנשוא ה"ה אל רחום עד מתי רחם לא תרחם‬

‫עלינו ועד מתי לא תרגענה עיניך בעניינו וצרת לבבינו‬
~ .‫חוסה נא רחם נא כי עת נחמה השתא‬

‫ הנה היום‬.‫ ה"ה רק שבר ומצוקה ישמע‬.‫ב' דר"ח אלול‬
‫פרצה ֵאש מנטע גארדאן והתלקחה ותאחז בארבע‬
‫פנות הסחוב ויעל עשנה עד לשמים וגדול המהומה‬

‫בעירינו ורבים נשארו בארום ובחסר כל ולא נשאר‬
‫אוד מוצל מאש כי אש אלקים ירד מן השמים ותאכל‬
‫על ימין ועל שמאל וגם חברת מכבי אש לא יכלו לעמוד‬

~ .‫בפרץ ולעצור המשריפה הגדולה הזאת‬

1st April 1892. All the same the doctor’s medicine did not have a good effect and my mother’s
illness did not improve and my sister Slova, who came to us at my mother’s request, returned
home with a heavy and painful heart and my younger sister Zelda stayed to be with my mother
to help her with whatever she needed but all the same my mother became weaker each morning
- please G-d have mercy on her that she may overcome her illness.
11th August 1892 I sit silently and quietly and think about our situation and also my Father and
almost all of the summer has passed and there is no improvement with my dear Mother’s
health.
We grieve in this matter and when will you have compassion on us and when will we find
favour in your eyes and our troubles will end – have compassion for the time of comforting is
here.
24th August 1892 - We are only broken and distressed because today a fire broke out
……………………and spread to………………..and the smoke rose to the heavens and there
was panic and mayhem in our town and many were left naked and lost everything they
had…………………….. and the fire of G-d descended from the heavens on the right and on the
left and even the fireman could not manage to control this fire.

- 23 -
‫ ימים לחדש אלול‬/'‫ב‬/

‫היום אך גדול המבוכה בעירינו‬
‫ איך האמללים עומדים אצל גחליהם רקם ונשארו תחת‬/‫ראות‬/

'‫כפת השמים וכל בני ישראל יבכו את השריפה אשר שרץ ד‬
‫כל לב יתפלץ לראות איך אנשים עשירם נשארו‬

‫בן לילה עניים מרודים בבקר נחה רנה ולבקר בכי וגדול והלחץ‬
‫בעירינו כי הכחזיקו שבעה אנשים באיש אחד לאמר בביתיך‬
~~ ,‫ֵנשבו וגם הרעב ישתרה מעט‬
'‫ היום דרבץ רבינו הרב ר‬,‫ד' מוצש"ק אלול בערב‬
‫יעקב אבא בבהכ מעניני דיומה והוכיח כל איש אשר‬
‫יש לו מאומה מן השרפה להשיבינה לבעלים כי גדול‬
‫ ואם‬.‫עונו מנשוא לאיש אשר יעלם דבר קטן או גדול‬
‫לא ידע למי הדברים והחפצים שייכים יביאם אל הרב בבהכ‬
.‫ויהיו אצלו ועד שיחקור וידרוש למי ישיבם‬
~. :‫ונקוה כי יהיה תועלת רבה בדרשתו‬
‫ כי חפצים רבים‬.‫ כאשר קוינו כן היה‬.‫ה' ט' אלול‬
‫ובא בשבועה הזה אל אבד פה והוא הושיבם‬
‫כל אחת אל בעליה אחרי שחקר ודרש אם אמת‬
‫הדבר וכן עבר השבוע ה‬

Saturday 29th August 1892
Today there is great perplexity in our town
To see all these miserable people standing alongside the burning embers of what was their’s
and standing under the open sky and all of Israel will cry over this fire and each heart will cry
out when they see how rich people became desperately poor overnight and in the morning there
were cries of desperation because seven people died in the fire and also some people were
hungry.
Saturday evening – after Shabbat - …….. our Rabbi Yizhak Abba of the Beit Knesset told us
that if anyone had found anything belonging to another then they should bring it to him and in
good time he would return the goods to their owners.
We hope that his request will be honoured.
Thursday 1st September – As we hoped so did it happen – many items were brought in and after
a full investigation was completed and it was determined that people told the truth the items
were returned to their owners and so the week passed.

‫‪- 24 -‬‬

‫א"ח דסוכות תרנ"ג‬

‫עבר שמחה מארץ ונשבש ששון מבני אדם‬
‫וחלף החגים הנותנים ֳצרו על רוח כהה‪ .‬ונוגת‬

‫בני אדם חזרה ליושנה‪ .‬מי לא יודע תכונת אחרי כל‬
‫חג ומועד‪ .‬כאלו נתחדש עתה עולם חדש‪ .‬כל אחד יבקש‬
‫באשר ימצא מקום לכל ימי החרף העז‪ .‬אך בביתינו רבתה‬
‫עתה תוגינו שבעתיים כעל כל בני חלוף כי אמי היקרה‬

‫הולך ודלה בכל יום ויום ֵאל הביטה בענינו כירבו‬
‫מכאובינו וצרת אמינו‪ .‬עד מה נראה כבלע בשר הורינו‬

‫ומולדינו‪ .‬אנא חושה רחם ושלח משמים ישעיך‪~.‬‬

‫כ"ב מר חשון הנ"ל‬

‫הנה מכבר החדש הזה ל ַמר נחשב‪ .‬אבל עתה‬

‫כארי יקום וכלביא יתנשא‪ .‬ויגדל ֹפרה ראש ולענה וראש‬
‫פתנים אכזר‪ .‬כי אך דרך החדש הזה ותאכל חרבו‬

‫על ימין ועל שמאל ויפרוש רשתו לצודד נפשות עניים‬
‫ויכרע לטבח נער לא יֻחן וזקן לא יהדר וכצפעוני יעטם‬

‫אזנו לבלי שומע על המתחננים לפניו ועל השוטחים‬

‫כפים נגד השמים לבקש על פרי בטנם עולל‪ ,‬טיפוחיו‬

‫‪The day after Succot 1892 - Joy passed through the country, and people were confused, and the‬‬
‫‪holidays passed, which gave a shadow over a dark wind. The lamenting of the people has‬‬
‫‪returned. Who does not know in their wisdom that after every holiday it is as if a new world‬‬
‫‪were now being renewed? Everyone will ask for a place for all the days of the fierce winter, but‬‬
‫‪in our home now our turn is seven times more than other people, because my dear mother gets‬‬
‫‪weaker every day and she cannot look into our eyes and every day her pain and distress is‬‬
‫‪worse. …………………………………… Please G-d feel pity and send your redemption from the‬‬
‫‪heavens.‬‬

‫)‪1st November 1892: the same (the same year‬‬
‫?????????????……………………………………………‬

‫‪- 25 -‬‬
‫ימים וחנינה להקימם מערש דוי כי אך דרך על‬
‫פתן וקול ישמע ה"ה מות בסף‪ .‬הה נפשי תחרד בקרבי‬
‫בראותי איך פרש המות עתה את רשתו וכמעט שאין‬
‫‪-/‬ם‪ /‬אשר לא יובל נפשות טהורות לעולמם על שדי הקברות‬
‫ויתן אלהי הרחמים קץ לחשך ובלע המות לנצח ‪~ -‬‬
‫ו' לחדש כסליו תרנ"ג בבקר ה"ה או ואבוי‪ .‬היום נפל‬
‫ארז בארזים מכרם ישראל אחד מיחידי סגולה טרף הזמן‬
‫נשאר הדור אחריו כאלמן‪ .‬ה"ה וויוי על דעבדין ולא משתכחין‬
‫לי על פטירת בעל בעמינו‪ .‬רצוי לרוב אחיו אחיו ודורש‬
‫טוב לעמו‪ .‬נודע ביהודה ובישראל גדול שמו‪ ,‬וכל אחד‬
‫נשא קינה על ראש גולת אריאל‪ .‬האדם הגדול בענקים‬
‫אשר היה לעמו לצבי‪ .‬הוא האיש המצויין הש"ץ מוה"ר‬
‫הרב ר' צבי זצ"ל ולכל בני ישראל מעירינו עתה אבל‬

‫יחידי ומספד מר‪ .‬תנצב"ה‪~~~~ .‬‬
‫הנ"ל ביום ~~‪ .‬המכתב אשר קבלנו אתמול בערב אשר‬
‫כתב לנו אחותי כי בא פרקא לינשה‪ .‬ואת השידוך אשר‬
‫נדבר בה מאז הוקם ָעל‪ ,‬ובקרב הימים והיה יום הכסא‬

‫המכתב הזה הרגיע מעט את רוחינו המלא אך תוגה‬

‫????????…………………………………………………………‬
‫‪He describes the death of one of the leading Rabbis – Rabbi Zvi Zetzel and he was mourned‬‬

‫‪At the bottom of this page he writes about his sister’s marriage‬‬
‫‪The letter that we received yesterday evening which she wrote after the marriage previously recor‬‬
‫…………………………… ‪This letter calmed us‬‬

‫‪- 26 -‬‬

‫תוגת ֵאם אשר בקרב הימים האלה נשתנה בריאותה לרע‬

‫והיום קראתה מקרה זר אשר לא נדע את שחרה אם לשבט‬

‫אם לחסד ואך היום היקיצה מתנומתה אשר זה ימים‬

‫אחדים נמה‪ .‬ודרשה אודות המכתב יתן ד' את שנויה‬

‫לטוב לה כל הימים‪~~ ..‬‬

‫היום רבתה מחלת אמי‬ ‫יום א' ח' לכסליו~~~‪.‬‬

‫היקרה עשרת מונים מאשר עד עתה ואת שנויה‬

‫אשר קוינו לעשות פרי תרופה‪ .‬נהפך לרעה‪ .‬לבי ַי ֵתר‬

‫בקרבי ָהה בראותי כי אנשי חסד נאספים בביתינו‬

‫ואין מבין ואין מ ֻכלם ַנחלו על שברינו ועל פרצינו אשר‬

‫פרץ ה' בנו היום אראה ה ֵעת מאשר פחדתי מאז ממנו בשלל‬

‫צבעיה אויה לי כי אראה הדר שמשי שו ֵק ַע כי‬

‫יבוא השמש בצהרים אראה החרב המתהפכת על‬

‫פתחי ביתינו גם אלינו ועבר כוס התרעלה המלא‬

‫רעל על כל גדותיו א ָהה יגונות‪ ,‬יעבור ראשי לזרם דמעות‪,‬‬

‫שטף את הקינה אשר אנכי נושא ואת עטי הדלת‪~.‬‬

‫ט' כסליו ‪/‬ב‪ /---‬הלילה עברה עלות השחר קרבה אך‬

‫אין שחר לה שחר כי אפילתו לילד עם כל בלהותיה‬

‫נשארה ה"ה היד וקרץ תאניה ואניה בעתים‬

‫האפיל הלילה את אפיליה הנוראים הה שדדתי‬

‫????????????????????????????????????????????‬
‫‪Sunday 27th November 1892 – Today my mother’s illness became ten times worse than it was‬‬

‫‪before‬‬

‫‪The medications did not help and my heart his very heavy because men of grace have gathered‬‬

‫‪in our home and they do not see my grief and now it would seem that the time that I was‬‬

‫‪dreading is upon‬‬
‫…………………………………………………………………………………………………‪us‬‬
‫……………………………………………………………………………………………………‬
‫‪……………………………….‬‬

‫‪- 27 -‬‬

‫נפצתי נגעתיו בלילה הזה ֻלקח עטרת תפארתי בא המורט‬
‫בחלונינו וערץ עקרת הבית ה ֵאם הבנים ההי אמי אמי‬

‫על מה נטשת מעט הצאן ארבעה בניך ההי לבי יתר ‪/‬בקרא‪/‬‬
‫אללי לי אללי‪ .‬האם יש ֳצרי בגלעד לפצעינו ולחבורתינו הנוראים‬

‫עיני עיני זורמו דמע באין הפוגות בנחל ָל ָע ִין צרת נפשי‬
‫ושטפו ועברו ראשי ומדי עברם שפטו מקירות לבי את הקינה‬

‫הזאת אשר בחדרי לבבי משכנתה ‪----‬‬
‫‪-‬א‪-‬‬

‫בן חלקיה בואה קינה למדיני‬
‫לבכות ולספוד על גדול שברי‬
‫לקונן ולהתאונן על רב יגוני‬
‫אל הלקח עטרת תפארת פארו‬

‫‪-‬ב‪-‬‬
‫את גדול אבלי מי יבין כמוני‬
‫מי מכלם ידעו מה רב אבדתי‬
‫באין הפוגות דמעותי תדמעני‬
‫אל הלקח אל מות אמי מורתי‬

‫‪-‬ג‪-‬‬
‫קול קנה אשמיע קול נהי ויללה‬
‫על אם רחמניה כי נשם מגוזליה‬
‫בא שמש בצהרים החשוך כלולה‬
‫באפילת מצרים תמיש אפיליה‬

‫‪-‬ד‪-‬‬
‫כוכבי אלוה ממעל ִחתמו אורכם‬
‫גם חרש וסהר אל תופיעי נהרה‬
‫אך ‪/‬היעינים‪ /‬שאו יללת קולכם‬
‫השמיעו אבליכם בתוך אבלי הצרה‬

‫‪His mother dies and he writes a poem‬‬
‫??????????????????????????????????????????‬

‫‪- 28 -‬‬
‫‪-‬ה‪-‬‬
‫אב ָדתי מה רבה ? גדלה עצמה‬
‫פצעי מה דיה ואנושה ושוד ורצח‬
‫אין נחומים לי ואיך אתנ ֵח ָמה‬
‫לעד אבדתי ואקונן לנצח‬
‫‪-‬ו‪-‬‬
‫יום התשיעי בכסליו בדמעות אז ֹכרה‬
‫בימים לא ִי ָס ֵפר בימי השנה לא ַי ָחד‬
‫תמורתו יהיה חושך אל תופע נהרה‬
‫ועם אוררי יום‪ .‬אתם אבכה י ַחד‬
‫‪-‬ז‪-‬‬
‫וגם את "וועקשנה" העליזה והשמחה‬
‫שבש משושך עצב ויגון ִכ ָס ִיך‬
‫"וויכה ָש ָנה" שמחתך ליגון ואנחה‬
‫עת בלעך מחמדי תבל בקב ָר ִיך‬
‫‪-‬ח‪-‬‬
‫"וויכשה ָנ ָעה" ונדכה נשארנו‬
‫כל מוצאינו יהרגינו ב ֹה ֵרג ָ ִעין‬
‫אחרי נפל הכרוב הסוכך בעדינו‬
‫אמרתי נואש מקוה לנו ָא ִין‬
‫‪-‬ט‪-‬‬
‫סערה לבבי מקול המות בא כרעם‬
‫ויסעף עץ ה ֵמ ַצל עם רב צ ֶלי ָה‬
‫וידח גרזן עליה בחמה וזעם‬
‫ולא חמל על מיטב ימיה ועל פר ֶי ָה‬

‫טטטטטטטטטטטטטטטטטטט‬

‫‪-29-‬‬
‫‪-‬י‪-‬‬
‫אויה לי אללי לי אהמה ותא ֵ ִב ִבי‬
‫לא אנוח ולא אשקוט מגדול מכ ֹאבי‬
‫אפ ֹרמי‪ 18‬בגדי לארץ אתיי ֵש ִבי‬
‫בזכרי מות אמי נפשי ולבבי‬
‫‪ -‬יא ‪-‬‬
‫אך את אחותי אדנה כי תבינה‬
‫הוציאו כל מלה‪ .‬תבשרנה שבר‬
‫לקול אנחותי‪ ,‬אנחותיך הד תענינה‬
‫ואנחות שנינו ישמיעו שבברינו לכל גבר‬
‫‪ -‬יב ‪-‬‬
‫אך גם לבכות לא אוכלה כי עיני נגרה‬
‫לבי יתר בקרבי ימס כמים‬
‫סביבי יחול סער אך פחד ומורא‬
‫בלעדיך הודי למה לי חיים‬
‫‪ -‬יג ‪-‬‬
‫את אמי מורתי הולכת למנוחות‬
‫שם תשכח יגון ֶת ִשי חיי האמש‬
‫אך אותנו השארת פה לאנחה‬
‫זכרך כמו ַחי מלבינו לא ֵתמש‬
‫‪ -‬יד ‪-‬‬

‫עעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעעע‬

‫‪ 18‬הוספת יחסה‬

‫‪- 30 -‬‬
‫יום א' ט"ו כסליו‪ .‬היום כלה שבעת ימי אבלינו היום יצאתי‬
‫לשאוף רוח חדש אחר שבתינו שבעת ימים כלואים בביתינו‬
‫אבל ָאך שביבי אך חושך וצלמות‪ .‬יגון ואעפילה‪ 19‬כעפילת מצרים‬

‫כי איך אטעם חופש אחרי אשר נאסרתי בכבלי היגון‬
‫ועצבת כי נותש ביתינו כי היינו כקן נעזב כצפור‬
‫נודד כצאן פזורות אשר מאסף אין להם נשארנו‬

‫כערער בערבה כעץ שתול בארץ חברה‪ .‬מי ישקיתינו‬
‫מי יאכילינו ואלה צעירי הצאן מה יעשו מי ַי ַאספם‬
‫מי יקבצם הה אמי אמי נתשתנו עזבתנו ונשארנו‬
‫עזובי עולם לא יולד עוד משליך‪....‬‬

‫ב' י"ז כסליו‪ – .‬דור הולך ודור בא והארץ לעולם‬
‫עומדת‪ .‬יש לפעמים אשר חזיז ורעם ורוח סערה עובר‬
‫בקרב הארץ אשר לקול המולם ושאונם נדמה כי כ ָל ָיה‬
‫הוא עושה עם הבריות‪ .‬כי אך שמה ושאיה ישאר בארץ‬

‫ויהרג לו מותת נפשות אין מספר‪ .‬אך כמעט עבר‬
‫הזעם והקולות יחדלו והארץ ישוב לקדמותה ושמחה וששון‬

‫ישמע עוד בקרב הארץ‪ .‬גם בחיי משפחתי שומה הצער‬
‫לא רפא את כוחינו עוד משבכינו האיום עוד‬

‫אך עצב ויגון מלאו את כל חדרי לבבינו‪ ,‬והנה‬

‫‪Sunday 4th September 1892 - The seven days of our mourning has ended and I went out to‬‬
‫‪breathe in some fresh air after we had been “imprisoned” in our homes surrounded by‬‬
‫‪darkness and the shadow of death and grief as the darkness of Egypt but how can I feel free‬‬
‫‪after I have been imprisoned with grief I was sad as you left our home as a mother bird leaves‬‬
‫‪it’s nest to roam as sheep who have no shepherd. We are like a tree planted in a thirsty land,‬‬
‫‪who will water us , who will feed us and we are the young of the flock who will gather us and‬‬
‫‪who will keep us together, Mother oh Mother you have left us and we are left and the we‬‬
‫‪will never have another like you.‬‬

‫‪5th December 1892 – A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth still stands.‬‬
‫………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………‬
‫‪……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….‬‬

‫‪ 19‬אפלה‬

-31-

‫ כי‬.‫אך עברה עת לבכות והנה עת לשמוח בא‬
‫היום קבלנו מכתב מאחותי שלוה כי ביום טבת‬

‫ הבשורה הזאת מצד אחד אבש‬,‫נועד חג כלולתה‬
‫פצעינו מעט ומצד אחד דוה לבנו כי חג כלולתינו‬
‫אחותי מעורב עם כוס הרעל אשר שתינו לא כבר‬

.‫ואת אסונו נשבך בששונו‬
‫יום א' כ' להדר כ ט טבת שנת תרנ"ג – היום בבקר‬

‫באנו לפרויענבורג אחר נסיעינו כל הלילה אשר‬
‫אכלנו הקרח הנורא השורר עתה בעצם תקפו‬

........‫וב"ה מצאנו את כל הדרוש לחג שמחתינו‬
‫יום ב כאב ו – עברה ימי הרנה ימי שמחה‬

‫וששון ימי תוף ונבל בערב שעה העשירית היתה‬
‫חופת אחותי ת"ל עם בן גילה יתן ד' אלהי הרחמים‬
‫במזל טוב ובשעה מוצלחת כי תהיה נחמתינו מעצבינו‬

‫ כל החתונה היה ברוב פאר‬.‫אשר אררה ה' אותנו‬
‫וכל עדת הקרואים שמחו ששו מטוב לבם אך לנו‬
‫היה כשר שרים על לב רע כי איך נשמח אחרי אשר‬
‫ כזאת היום לעת ערב נסע אבי לביתו ואני נשארתי‬/‫קכרנו‬/

‫אצל אחותי על שבועות אחדים‬

But the time for crying is passed and now is the time to be happy because we received a letter from my
sister Shalva that on the day …. Of Tavet she was to be married. On the one hand this news healed our
wounds but on the other hand it made our hearts heavy because the day of marriage of my sister was
mixed with the glass of poison that we had drunk recently and this disaster reduced our happiness.
Sunday 8th January 1893 – This morning we arrived in Fraenburg after an overnight journey during
which the weather was freezing as is during this time and thank goodness we found that everything
necessary had been done for our celebration.
Monday 9th – the days of rejoicing and the days of happiness with music and rejoicing and the evening
has passed and we rejoiced at the Chuppah of my sister and her man of a similar age and may the Lord
bless them with much happiness and success because that will be our satisfaction .
All the wedding was in a luxurious atmosphere and all the guests were happy but we had a heavy heart.
This evening my father went back home and I remained with my sister for a few weeks.

-32-

‫יום ג' ה' שבט היום אסע אפה לשוב אל‬

‫ביתי השמם היינו אל אבי ואל עיר מושבי ועל הוצאת‬

‫הדרך נתן גסי לי רו"כ אחד ועד מאזייק אשלם‬

.‫ כחצות הלילה נוסעים אנחנו‬.‫ פרוטות‬75 20‫להעגלון‬

‫יום ד ח' שבט היום בשעה העשירית הגיענו‬

‫למאזייק ובעבור כי אחרתי את המכונה הנוסעת‬

‫ אם‬.‫לוועקשנה מוכרח אנכי לישב פה כל היום‬

.‫כי הכסף להוצאה אזל מכיסי‬

‫יום ה ט' שבט אתמול בערב באתי הלום‬

‫ומצאתי את אבי גר אצל שימעון החייט וואינער‬

‫אך עלי היתה רעה המעשה עד מאוד כי אך‬

‫עתה ראיתי את ההרוס והחלתי ללמוד בהישיבה‬

‫תרנ"ג‬ .‫ לאחר‬21‫ אך נהפחתי‬.‫כמקודם‬

‫יום ה כ"ג שבט – היום בערב נשא אבי אשה‬
‫אחרת את שמחה אשת ד'יצחק טינט האלמנה‬
‫אשר אישה מת ימים אחדים לפני מות אמי מורתי‬

.‫בוועקשנה‬

‫יום א כ"ג אדר – היום העמדתני אצל אפית‬
‫מצות אם כי אבי ואמי חורגתי לא חפצו‬

Tuesday 20th January 1893 - today I travel from here to return to the deserted home of my father in my
hometown and for the travel expenses for the journey my brother-in-law gave me one rubel to pay as far as
Maizekiai and 75 prutot to the coachman. We will travel tonight.
Saturday 21st January 1893 - Today in the tenth hour we arrived to “Maizekiai” because I missed the “travel
machine”(train) to Vekschnau so I had to wait here the whole day and I had no more money in my pocket
Thursday 26th January 1893 -- Yesterday evening I arrived and was shocked to find that my father was living
with Shimon the Tailor Weiner and for me this was a bad sign and I began to study in a Yeshiva as an
attendant and I felt transformed.
1893
Thursday 9th February 1893 – this evening my father married another woman, Simcha the widow of Reb.
Yizhak Tinet who died a few days before my mother, my teacher, in Vechsnau.
Saturday 11th March 1893 – Today I stood at the crossroads even though my father and stepmother did not
want this

‫ ָל ֶעגלֹון‬20
‫ נהפכתי‬21

-33-

‫ אך אנכי לא שמעתי לזאת כי השכר‬.‫בזאת‬
.‫ ומי יתן ואוכל עמוד‬.‫חמש וחצי רובל היה נחוץ לי‬
‫ היום בבקר כליתי את חלכתי עבודת‬.‫ יום ה' י"ג‬-

.‫ וקבלתי שכרי במלואו‬.‫הפרח בכי טוב‬
‫יום א' אסרו חג דפסח כ"ג ניסן עתה אני פוסח על שני‬

‫ אנה אני אפנה ללמוד הקיץ הזה‬22‫השעיפים‬
.‫כי פה אראה כי לא להואיל הוא‬

‫ הלילה הזה באתי לפאפעלאן ללמוד‬.‫יום ה כ"ז ניסן‬
‫פה הקיץ אך לא קלעתי אל המטרה כי אמי זקנתי אשר גר‬

‫ נסע בלילה‬,‫בפאפעלאן ואצלה קויתי למצוא מחסה‬
‫טרם בואי לאקמעיאן אל דודי אליעזר ועל כן נשארתי‬

‫ ועל כן‬.‫בלי משען ומשענה וגם הכסף אזל מכיסי‬
/‫דובער‬/ ‫ארחתי אצל בעל הבית מאמי זקנתי המלמד‬

.‫והוא קבלני בסבר פנים יפות‬

‫ התרועעי עם בן גילי הנער‬.‫היום – יום כ"ט ניסן‬
.‫ ונשא חן בעיני עד מאוד‬.‫יעקב שמואל מלדעלאוויץ מזאגער‬

‫ היום שבה אמי זקנתי אך מצאתני‬.‫ג' ב' אייר‬
‫ כי ימים היה לי עם כי בזיעת אפי‬.‫הכל על מכונו‬

But I did not listen to them because the salary of five and a half rubels was very necessary for me.
And where will the food come from?
Thursday 30th March 1893 – this morning I finished my work in an excellent fashion and received
my full salary.
Sunday the day after Pesach – Isru Pesach.
Now I am in two minds where to study this summer because it seems as if here is not going to be
suitable.
Thursday 14th April 1893 – This night I arrived in Papalaan to learn here during the summer but I
missed my opportunity because my aged mother (maybe his grandmother) who lived in Papalaan
had left to go to Akmene to my uncle Eliezer and so I was stranded without any place to go and also
my money was running out and so I stayed with the the Melamed Dovhar and his elderly mother
and they received me very gracefully.
Today 15th April 1893 I spent the day with a boy of my age , Yaacov Shmuel Edelowitz from Zaagar
and I found him to be a very nice person.
Tuesday 18th April 1893 – Today my elderly mother returned…………………………….

‫ סעיפים‬22

-34-

.‫באו אלי וגם הוצאות המיוחדות נשלחים לי מאבי‬
‫ היום באתי להתאורח אצל האשה‬.‫יום א' כ"א אייר‬

‫ ופה רוח לי מעט‬.‫חנה אשת יצחק ראסטאווסקיא‬
‫ וגם בתה‬.‫כי פה מצאתי מקום ללון בחדר מיוחד‬

.‫שאפוא אם יתר בניה הם בני אמון‬
‫ היום באתי לוועקשנה להפרידני‬.‫ י' סיון‬/--‫ו‬/ ‫יום‬
‫מאת אחותי הצעירה זלדה אשר תסע למרחקים‬

‫לאנגליא המדינה וגם אחותי שלוה וגסי באו‬
‫ללותה ובן דודי שלום קראפמאן‬

‫ היום הפרדנו איש מאת אחיו‬.‫יום א י"ב סיון‬
‫גם אחותי ובעלה נסעו לביתם ובשאלה אחותי‬
‫זעלדה מאת גסי הירש לעזרה בהוצאות הדרך שב‬

.‫פניה ריקם בשאלתה‬

And also my expenses were sent to me from my father.
7th May 1893 – Today I arrived to stay with the woman Chana the wife of Yizhak
Rostauvaskna.
Here I was a little more comfortable as I found a room for myself and also their daughter
Shafia and the other children were people I felt I could trust.
25th May 1893 – Today I came to Vechshnau to bid farewell to my younger sister Zelda who
was going far away to England and also my sister Shalva and her husband came to be with
her and also my cousin Shalom Kraufmann.
Sunday 27th May 1893 – Today we parted ways as brother and sister and also my sister and
brother in law returned to their home and when my sister Zelda asked my (her) brother in
law for travel expenses but her request went unanswered.

ZEIDA’S SISTERS and HALF-BROTHER

Zeida writes in his “Tages Buch” on Page 12 that in the year 1885 when he was in his 8th
year his sister TAMARA GITTEL married Zelig Dimand from Telsch.

On Page 21 of the diary Zeida writes that the family received a letter from his sister
“SLOVA” informing them of her pending marriage and that his father was not happy about
this news.

On page 22 of the diary Zeida writes and describes his mother’s illness and that the
medication was not having any effect and that his sister SLOVA was there at their mother’s
request and also the youngest sister ZELDA was there to help and take care of their mother.

From all this it is clear that Zeida had three sisters.

It is documented that Zelig Dimand went to London via Dublin in 1889-90 and
that TAMARA GITTEL and their 3 children followed in 1890.
The names of two of these children are recorded in the diary:
Avraham Israel and Golda.

There is very little information about SLOVA except the description of her
wedding in Frauenburg in 1893 but the name of the man that she married is not
recorded until the very last page of the diary.

On the 25th May 1893 Zeida went to bid farewell to ZELDA who was travelling
“far away to England” and present at that farewell were his sister SLOVA and
her husband HIRSCH and also a cousin by the name of Shalom Kropman
(unknown)

It is a known fact that aside from what is written in the diary, that Zelda was
married to a man called Abraham Solden and that they lived in Liverpool and
later in Manchester and that they had nine children.

I was always aware of the Solden family in Manchester and Leeds, but never
knew that there were two other sisters and as there was never any mention either
from Zeida, or from Dad or Mom nor from my cousins Sheila Erner (Samuel
Solden’s younger daughter) and Allan Solden (Jack Solden’s younger son) about
any other sisters except for Zelda Solden.

All this has been a real mystery.

Recently and especially in the past six months, information regarding all three of
the sisters has come to my knowledge. All of this in no small measure to my
having made contact via the internet, with some very interesting people.
Margaret Fullarton in Australia, Martin Been in England and David Jackson in
Dublin, all of whom are in one way or another the descendants of the Kropman
families from Akmene, Laizuva and Triski in the district of Shavli, Lithuania.

What follows is a very interesting account of Zeida’s three sisters.

TAMARA GITTEL KROPMAN:

Tamara Gittel married Zelig Dimand on the 24th May 1885 and together with
two of their children she followed him to England in 1890.
The children were Golda, Abraham and Mary and I now know that that they
had seven more children, the youngest being Jack who was born in Liverpool in
1904.
Sometime after her arrival in England in 1890, Tamara Gittel changed her given
name to Mary.
Zelig anglicized his name to Samuel (Sam) Diamond and they lived in Liverpool
until 1913 when the family made their way to the USA and they settled in
Philadelphia.

1. Birth of Daughter Golda Diamond (1886–1960) Minsk, Russia
2. Birth of Son Abraham Diamond (1888–?) May 1888 • Russia
3. Birth of Daughter Mary Diamond(1890– ?) Liverpool, England
4. Birth of Daughter Fannie Diamond(1892– ?) Liverpool, England
5. Birth of Son Morris Diamond(1894–? ) Liverpool, England
6. Birth of Daughter Jennie Diamond(1896– ?) Liverpool, England
7. Birth of Daughter Tillie Diamond(1898–? ) Liverpool, England
8. Birth of Daughter Leah Diamond(15.03.1900 –1956 )Dublin, Ireland
9. Birth of Daughter Lilly Diamond(22.2.1903– ?) Liverpool, England
10. Birth of Son Jack Diamond (22.2.1904–1979) Liverpool, England

There seems to be some discrepancy in the year of birth of Abraham which is
given in the family tree as 1888 – according to Zeida’s diary the birth date of

Abraham Yisrael was 23rd September 1886.

Below is the manifest of the S.S Dominion that sailed from Liverpool to the USA
on July 9th 1913 and it clearly shows the names of Mary Diamond and her
children Morris, Tillie and Ike (Jack).

The last residence in Liverpool before leaving is given as that of daughter Mary
Boltfeather at 58 Duckenfield Street, Liverpool

The family arrived in the USA in 1914 and in a census taken on 12th January
1920 they are registered as living in Block 55, Ward 17 in Philadelphia.

Those registered are:
Samuel Diamond – aged 62, Occupation – painter.

Mary Diamond – aged 56, Occupation – none.
Morris Diamond – aged 19, Occupation – printer.

Leah Diamond – aged 18, Occupation – tailor.
Tilly Diamond – aged 17, Occupation – knitter.
They had a lodger by the name of Samuel Seigel.

On 10th April 1930 there was another census taken and the family are still registered in Block 55, Ward 17
Philadelphia.

Those registered are:
Samuel Diamond – aged 70, Occupation – laborer in a lamp factory.

Mary Diamond – aged 66, no occupation.
Tillie Diamond – aged 34, Occupation – filing clerk.

The last known address for Mary Diamond was 531 West Thompson Street, Philadelphia
U.S.A

Mary (Tamara Gittel) Diamond – photo taken in Philadelphia.

When enlarged to 300% it is evident that on the bottom right hand corner there is an imprint of the details
of the photographic studio.

I found this picture and the
one above in the suitcase
given to me by Fishel
Kaufman when we met in
Cape Town in August 2018.

The photo on the left is most This suitcase had belonged
probably Mary Diamonds to Fishel’s father Shalom
husband Zelig (seated) and their and after Shalom passed
eldest son away in 1970, Fishel just
Avraham Yisrael (standing) kept the suitcase and never
really referred to it as most
of what was written was in
yiddish.

Samuel Diamond passed away on 15 November 1947.

Mary (Tamara Gittel) Diamond
passed away aged 90 years on 9th February 1956.

Below the Death Certificate on which is recorded that
Tamara Gittel was the daughter of Fischel Kropman

SLOWA/SLAWE/SLAWA KROPMAN:
SLOWA – ‫ שלוה‬was born in 1870 to Fischel and Cheyna Kropmann

SLOWA married “a man of her age” (name not given)
on Sunday 8th January 1893 in Frauenberg (Saldus)

Zeida writes – Pager 31 of the Diary:

“This morning we arrived in Frauenburg (Saldus) after an overnight journey during which the
weather was freezing as is during this time and thank goodness we found that everything
necessary had been done for our celebration.
Monday 9th – the days of rejoicing and the days of happiness with music and rejoicing and the
evening has passed and we rejoiced at the Chuppah of my sister and her man of a similar age
and may the Lord bless them with much happiness and success because that will be our
satisfaction.
All the wedding was in a luxurious atmosphere and all the guests were happy but we had a
heavy heart.
This evening my father went back home and I remained with my sister for a few weeks”

At the time of writing this description of the wedding there is no mention of the name of the
man whom Slowa married and it is only on the very last page of the diary that Zeida writes

about his brother in law - Hirsch.

‫ היום הפרדנו איש מאת אחיו‬.‫יום א י"ב סיון‬ Sunday 27th May 1893 –
‫גם אחותי ובעלה נסעו לביתם ובשאלה אחותי‬ Today we parted ways as
‫זעלדה מאת גסי הירש לעזרה בהוצאות הדרך שב‬ brother and sister and also my
sister and brother in law
.‫פניה ריקם בשאלתה‬ returned to their home and
when my sister Zelda asked
my (her) brother in law for
travel expenses but her request
went unanswered.

NO MENTION OF HIRSCH’S SURNAME.

After many months of research and with the help of Margaret Fullarton, David Jackson and
Martin Been (my distant Kropman cousins) the following has come to light.

The document below from “My Hertitage” shows that Slowa’s was married to a man by the
name of HIRSCH TRUNK and that Slowa and Hirsh had at least three children:
Maria (Tamara), Movsha (Moshe) and Shepse (Shapsel) and they all lived in Riga – Latvia.
Also noted in the information below is that Slowa was a “maid”

Family name TRUNK
Maiden name KROPMANN
Other family name
Given name Slawe
Father Fischel
Mother
Date of birth 1870
Place of birth Frauenburg
Date of death 1941
Place of death Riga
Prewar residence Riga
War residence Riga
Occupation Maid
Gender F
Family status Widow
Spouse Hirsch
Fate in 1941-1945 Ghetto, killed
Source [2] [7]
Comments

The photo below was given to me by my cousin Sheila Erner (Solden) and she told me that
the lady on the right of the picture was her grandmother Zelda Solden.

Sheila had no more information as to the lady standing with Zelda in the photo.

Amongst the photos and documents in the suitcase given to me by Fishel, I found a copy of
the same photo except that this one had some information on the reverse side showing that it
had been photographed in a studio “Jerome” on 4th January 1939.
This is a screenshot of Google searching for Jerome Photographic Studios and it shows that
this was a very famous studio in Manchester which was where Zelda and her family lived.

In the “suitcase” was a photo of a lady
which was taken in a studio
FOTO D. DORUM
RIGA

From the family heritage document shown
above we know that the Trunk Family lived

and perished in
RIGA.

There was another photo in the “suitcase”
showing a couple, either a man and wife or
a mother and son.
I see a certain resemblance in the lady’s face

in all three these photos – just that they
were obviously photographed at different

times in her life and I am taking an
educated guess that this is

SLOWA and HIRSCH TRUNK

I would like to believe that in 1939, Slowa travelled from Riga to Manchester to visit her
sister Zelda. They were photographed together at Jerome Studios and then SLOWA
returned to Riga and lived until 1941 when she and her family perished in the Riga Ghetto.

SHABSE TRUNK - son of SLOWA & HIRSCH
Perished in Riga Ghetto

Family name TRUNK
Maiden name
Other family name Schapse
Given name Hirsch
Father Slawa
Mother 1905
Date of birth Frauenburg
Place of birth 1944 04 05
Date of death Riga
Place of death Riga
Prewar residence Riga
War residence Shopkeeper
Occupation M
Gender Married
Family status Eta nee SHUROWSKY
Spouse Central prison, killed
Fate in 1941-1945 [2] [8] [10]
Source

ETA TRUNK nee SHUROWSKY married to SHABSE TRUNK.
Daughter in law of Slowa and Hirsch - mother to Scheina
Perished in Riga Ghetto 1941.

Family name TRUNK
Maiden name SHUROWSKY
Other family name
Given name Eta
Father Israel
Scheina nee
Mother SLEDSEWITSCH
1908 28 01
Date of birth Riga
Place of birth 1941
Date of death Riga
Place of death Riga
Prewar residence Riga
War residence Housewife
Occupation F
Gender Married
Family status Schapse
Spouse Ghetto, killed
Fate in 1941-1945 [2] [3] [10]
Source

SCHEINA TRUNK – daughter of SHAPSE & ETA
Granddaughter of Slowa.- Perished in Riga Ghetto

Family name TRUNK
Maiden name
Other family name Scheina
Given name Schapse
Father Eta nee SHUROWSKY
Mother 1935 15 07
Date of birth Riga
Place of birth
Date of death Riga
Place of death Riga
Prewar residence
War residence F
Occupation Child
Gender
Family status Ghetto?
Spouse [3] [10]
Fate in 1941-1945
Source

RIVA TRUNK – daughter of SHAPSE & ETA
Granddaughter of Slowa and Hirsch.- Perished in Riga Ghetto – 1941.

Family name TRUNK
Maiden name
Other family name Riva
Given name Schapse
Father Eta nee SHUROWSKY
Mother 1930 20 11
Date of birth Riga
Place of birth
Date of death Riga
Place of death Riga
Prewar residence
War residence F
Occupation Child
Gender
Family status Ghetto
Spouse [2] [10]
Fate in 1941-1945
Source
Comments

MARIA SEIF (TRUNK) daughter of SLOWA & HIRSCH

married to Abram Seif. - Both perished in the Riga Ghetto 1941.

Family name SEIF
Maiden name
Other family name Abram / Abe Mowscha
Given name
Father 1900 08 02
Mother Griva
Date of birth
Place of birth Riga
Date of death Riga
Place of death
Prewar residence M
War residence Married
Occupation Maria
Gender Ghetto?
Family status [2] [10]
Spouse
Fate in 1941-1945
Source
Comments

MOVSHA TRUNK – son of SLOWA & HIRSCH TRUNK

HIRSCH TRUNK died on 19th January 1941 which was a few months before the Germans
murdered all or most of the Jews in the Riga Ghetto later in the same year.

JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial
Registry - Courland
Burial Record

Run on Mon, 05 Mar 2018 12:17:24 -0700

Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Hebrew Name Age
(Other Burial Date
Surnames) Place of Death Date of Death Hebrew Date

TRUNK, Hirsch 19-Jan-1941 20 Tevet 5701
Plot
No Image Available

Spouse Father Comments Cemetery Name
Mother
City / Country
/

Gender: M

Liepāja / Latvia

This document – copied from the database of Shoah victims - shows that
SLOWA TRUNK was registered as having lived in Riga prior to the outbreak of WW II.

SLOWA TRUNK (KROPMANN) perished in the Riga Ghetto sometime
between the dates July 1941 to October 1941.

Riga Ghetto

Riga ghetto, map from Nazi controlled newspaper, summer 1941
Also known as Ghetto Riga, Maskavas Forštate, Moscow Forshtat

Location Riga, Latvia and vicinity, including Rumbula and
Biķernieki forests

Date July 1941 to October 1943

Incident type Imprisonment, mass shootings, forced labor,
starvation, exile, forced abortions and sterilization

Perpetrators Hans-Adolf Prützmann, Franz Walter Stahlecker,
Hinrich Lohse, Friedrich Jeckeln, Kurt Krause,
Eduard Roschmann

Organizations Nazi SS, Arajs Kommando, Latvian Auxiliary
Police

Camp Kaiserwald

Victims About 30,000 Latvian Jews and 20,000 German,
Czech, and Austrian Jews

Survivors About 1,000 people

Memorials At ruins of Great Choral Synagogue in Riga and in
Rumbula and Biķernieki forests

General information about the Trunk Family in Courland (Latvia)

Courland Voters Lists 1907 Duma, including
1905 Windau/Ventspils

Searching for Surname (phonetically like) : TRUNK

3 matching records found.

Run on Mon, 05 Mar 2018 12:14:32 -0700

Entry Surname Variant Given Name Father Town Date Comments
Number Surnames

2 -447 TRUNK Girsh/Hirsch Yankel Saldus 1907 Eligibility 2

2 -453 TRUNK Osher Girsch/Hirsch Saldus 1907 Eligibility 6

2 -455 TRUNK Yankel Girsch/Hirsch Saldus 1907 Eligibility 6

Saldus is the same place as Frauenburg

ZELDA/ELENA/LEAH KROPMAN.

THE SOLDEN FAMILY – LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, LEEDS and USA
On 25th May 1893 Zeida makes an entry to his diary – Page 34

“Today I came to Vechshnau to bid farewell to my younger sister
Zelda who was going far away to England and also my sister Slova
and her husband came to be with her and also my cousin Sholom
Kropman was there”
Two days later on Sunday 27 May 1893 Zeida writes:
“Today we parted ways as brother and sister and also my sister and
brother in law returned to their home and when my sister Zelda
asked my (her) brother in law for travel expenses but her request
went unanswered”

Zelda then leaves for England.

The next piece of information can be seen in the marriage certificate below.

Zelda now uses the name Elena
and she marries Abraham Solden - a Draper -
on the 29th December 1895 in Dublin, Ireland.
Abraham Solden gives his father’s name as Lewis Solden – Hebrew teacher
Elena/Zelda gives her father’s name as Phillip Kropman – Tailor
Zeida, in his diary, often refers to his father’s work
but never actually tells the reader what that work was.
From the above declaration on Zelda/Elena’s marriage certificate

it becomes evident that
Yehoshua Fischel (Phillip) Kropman, was a tailor by trade.

ZELDA and her husband AVRAHAM SOLDEN

This photo was given to me by Fishel Kaufman when I met him in Cape Town in August
2018.
When I first met Fishel in Israel in July 2018 he said, and I quote “I have an old suitcase full
of photos and letters, but I never did anything with it because everything is written in
Yiddish and I do not read Yiddish.”
On the back of the photo is written in yiddish to her father:

‫דייס ייז דיין טאוכטאר זעלדע ממיט מיין מאן אווראמען‬
This is your daughter Zelda with my husband Avraham

There is no date but on the edge of the back of the photo is the address of the photographic studio where
this was taken:
Stafford Johns, 2 Walpole Avenue & Little Switzerland, Douglas, I.O.M (Isle of Man)
When I searched the internet for any information regarding this studio I discovered that there are records
in the Greater Manchester County Record Office from 1914.

I would like to assume that this photo was taken circa 1914 which would make Zelda at about 40 yrs.
I have given the original and some other photos to my cousin Sheila Erner (Solden),
grand-daughter of Zelda and Avraham

The documents below show the birth details for Solomon Solden,
the first born to Abraham and Leah Solden.
Elena/Zelda now uses the name Leah.

The birth is registered in Limerick, Ireland on 28 April 1897.
Solomon (Solly) was born on 18th February 1897

The surname Kropman is now spelled Cropman.

In the census 1901 England & Wales - Leah Solden - it is evident that the family now lived in
Liverpool at the address:
Civil Parish – Liverpool. Ecclesiastical Parish – St. David. County Borough – Liverpool.
Ward of Municipal Borough – St. George. Parliamentary Borough – Abercromby.
Road, Street & Name of House – 45 Warren Street.

The members of the family at that time were:
Abraham Solden – head of household
Leah Solden – wife
Solomon – 3 yrs.

Jennie/Jane – 1 yr. (most probably named after her grandmother Cheyna)

Abraham and Leah (Zelda) continued to live in Liverpool and later moved to Manchester.
The census below shows that in 1911 the family was living at 28 Nightingale Street,
Manchester – the census is signed by Leah/Zelda – no mention of Abraham??
At that time there were 10 souls living in that house:
Leah/ Zelda – 38 yrs. old. – Head of household.
Solomon aged 14 – Water proofer
Jany/Jennie - aged 11 - school
Jacob - aged 9 - school
Louis - aged 8 - school
Doris - aged 6 - school
Fanny aged 4
Samuel aged 1 - born in Manchester.
Mary/Marie aged 1 month – born in Manchester
Margaret Turney – aged 21 – Boarder – assistant draper.
Sylvia/Cecile was not born yet and she was the youngest of the 9 children.

Photographs below by courtesy of my cousin Sheila Erner (Solden) – Leeds.
Sheila is the daughter of Samuel & Rebecca Solden.

L to R: Sam Leah/Zelda Louis Lily L to R: Unknown lady Zelda Solden (Kropman)
(further information see under Slowa Trunk)
Sam was Zelda’s youngest son.
Louis was married to Lily

After Louis passed away Lily decided to move to South Africa and she stayed in
Johannesburg. She would often visit us in Klerksdorp.

Both Dad and his older brother Charles had matriculated at SACS High School in Cape
Town and had both studied for a Medical BA at Cape Town University. They completed
their medical studies at Liverpool University and both received loans from Bobba’s
brothers, Hyman and Max Joffe.

Being in Liverpool and so close to Manchester, Dad would often visit his Aunt Zelda and
Uncle Abe and the story was that Zelda was a seamstress by trade and that she was the main
provider for the family. They were poor but that did not deter Abe from a gambling habit
and that he was busy all day long reading the Horse race odds and results.

Dad was particularly close to his cousins Samuel (Sam), Jacob (Jack), Louis and their sister
Mary (Marie).
As a young boy I distinctly remember when Marie visited our home in Klerksdorp.

The first time that I met the Solden’s of Manchester was in 1958 when Mom and Dad took
Basil and I on an overseas holiday from South Africa to England, Europe and Israel.
When in England we travelled by train from London to Liverpool and visited Dad’s Alma
Mater and we also visited Mrs. Kaplan in whose house Dad had been a boarder.
From Liverpool we travelled by train to Manchester and Sam Solden came to meet us at the
station. It was a freezing cold day and I remember that when we got into his car it was lovely
and warm – I had never ever seen a heater in a motor car.
We stayed with Sam and Betty (Rebecca) and we met our cousins Arlene and Sheila.
Sheila and I are of the same age and so one evening she took Basil and I along to a youth
movement meeting.
Nine years later – 1967 – I had completed my dental studies and done my army service in
the S.A.D.F (South African Defence Force) and I travelled to London to work on the
National Health Dental Services program, so I could earn some money to travel to Europe
and Israel.

On several occasions, I visited Marie/Mary in her apartment in the West End.
Marie told me about the family and that Solly (Solomon) and his wife Esther were living in
Leeds and they had two sons – Phillip (Phil) and Donald (Don).
I contacted them and decided that I would visit Leeds but first I wanted to go on a golfing
trip to Scotland, so I travelled to Edinburgh on the night sleeper and played golf at
St. Andrews and Carnoustie and on my back to London I stopped in Leeds to visit the
Solden Family.
I stayed with Don and Sybil and met Solly and Esther as well as Phil and his wife Sylvia and
also Sheila Erner.
I remember sitting with them for hours and discussing the family in South Africa and when
I left they all said that one day they would come to South Africa to meet the family there.

Norma and I sent wedding invitations to the family in Leeds.
Solly and Esther accepted our invitation and were guests at our wedding.

L to R: Nat, Raie, Ada Joffe, Phisie (Phillip) Joffe, Ben, Bess, Mike, Sonny, Esther, Solly.

This rather rare family photo shows the cousins
most of whom are the descendants of

Avraham Zalman Kaufman (Kropman)
and

Leah/Zelda/Elena Solden (Kropman) – Zeida’s youngest sister.

• Nat Goodman – husband of Raie (Rachel) Kaufman.
• Rachel (Raie) Goodman born Kaufman – youngest daughter of Avraham Zalman.
• Ada Joffe – wife of Phillip (Phissie Joffe)
• Phillip (Phisie) Joffe – son of Hyman and Sara Joffe. Hyman Joffe – Bobba’s brother.
• Benzion (Ben) Kaufman – Zeida’s youngest son.
• Elizabeth (Bess) Kaufman – Ben’s wife.
• Meyer (Mike) Kaufman – Zeida’s son and one of a twin.
• Sarah (Sonny) Kaufman – married to Mike.
• Esther Solden – married to Solomon Solden – Zelda’s eldest son.
• Solomon (Solly) Solden – Leah/Zelda’s eldest son – born Limerick, Ireland.

Around 1972 Jack (Jacob) and Mildred visited South Africa from the USA and Norma and I
took them touring around Cape Town and then in 1973 Don and Sybil from Leeds paid a
visit to Cape Town.
Norma and I, together with Aaron and Sara visited Leeds on our way to Israel in 1974 and
we met many of the other members of the Solden family.

Back row seated: Sybil Solly Esther Don
Front row seated: Aaron Sara

Photograph taken in Leeds in August 1974.
We were on our way to Israel and travelled via England and visited Leeds where we stayed with Don and

Sybil Solden.
Don was the younger son of Solly and Esther and the grandson of Zelda.

Don and Sybil’s home in Leeds (1974)

Apologies for the poor resolution of this photo which was taken almost 50 years ago (1974) with my polaroid
camera.

Don and Sybil Solden took us out for dinner and shown here are
Back: Sheila Erner, Sybil, Norma, Lily Solden, Rebecca Solden (Sheila’s mother)

In the far left is Solly Esther and Don.

It was in the late 1980’s that I discovered that Sheila and her husband Saul had purchased a
holiday apartment in Israel and ever since we have been in very close contact.

It was at the wedding of their daughter Samantha and Anthony Shapiro in Leeds 2007
that there was a very memorable meeting of the descendants – 3rd generation –
of Leah/ Zelda Solden (Kropman) and Avraham Zalman Kaufman (Kropman)

Samantha, Saul, Haley, Sheila – Leeds 2007
Sheila (Erner) is Zelda’s grand daughter

Samantha and Haley are Leah/Zelda’s great grand-daughters

Arlene (Sheila's sister & Zelda’s grand-daughter) with daughter Joanne Tracey Green and
Grandson Jacob Samuel (Zelda’s great great-grandson)

Sheila (Zelda’s granddaughter) & Saul Erner at their daughter Samantha’s wedding – June 2007

Allan & Phyllis Solden (New Jersey USA) at
Samantha and Anthony’s wedding in Leeds – June

2007
Allan is the son of Jack (Jacob) and Mildred and

grandson of Leah/Zelda

Allan, Phyllis, Norma, Cyril at Samantha and Anthony’s wedding.
Allan is Leah/Zelda’s grandson – Cyril is Avraham Zalman’s grandson

Sheila & Saul Erner at their daughter Samantha’s (Sammy) Wedding - June 2007
Sammy married Anthony Shapiro.

Sheila is the daughter of Sam (Samuel) and Betty (Rebecca)
and is Leah\Zelda's great grand-daughter.

THE SOLDEN FAMILY IN THE U.S.A

Jack Solden married Mildred and they emigrated to the USA and eventually retired in
Florida.
Jack and Mildred had two sons – Sidney and Allan.
In 1972 they visited Cape Town and Norma and I met them for the first time. We spent a
lovely day with them taking them to Cape Point, Kirstenbosch and other Cape Town
attractions.
This photograph is at their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1974.

Jack (‫ )יעקב‬passed away Thu, 14 January 1988 - ‫כ״ד ְּב ֵט ֵבת תשמ״ח‬
Mildred (‫ )מלכה‬passed away Fri, 15 August 1997 -‫י״ב ְּב ָאב תשנ״ז‬