February 2000 | September 2000 | March 2001 | September 2001| March 2002 | September 2002 | September 2003 | February 2004 |January 2005| September 2005| April 2006| September 2006| March 2007|September 2007|April 2008|Home
The
FREIDINS of
ZELVA
February 2000 |
September
2000 | March 2001 |
September 2001|
March
2002 | September 2002 |
September 2003 |
February
2004 |January 2005|
September 2005| April 2006|
September
2006| March 2007|September
2007|April 2008|Home
Where We've Come From
During our most recent trip, to look in on my aged mother-in-law in Florida, we had the opportunity to look through some of my late father-in-law's papers again, and discovered an overlooked document that was quite revealing. It was a letter from the Dean of Students at the University of Konigsberg in East Prussia, written to him sometime between 1936 and 1938, during the time he was studying medicine at Albertus University, also in Konigsberg.
If you read the biographical sketch that I published, after he passed away last year, you would have noted that he proposed to begin his studies in medicine in 1933. As a Jew in America, he found the doors to American medical schools closed to him, because of the anti-Semitic numerus clausus that restricted the ability of Jewish students to enter American medical schools at that time. By virtue of having been born in Berlin, (and then coming to the United States at the age of 2), he managed to gain entry into Albertus University, despite the fact that Adolf Hitler had just come to power as the Chancellor of Germany. His shield against Nazi predation, during those years, appears to have been his American passport.
It appears that, midway through his schooling, he had to meet a requirement to do a practical rotation in a hospital. Here is the reply he got to his application in Konigsbeerg, accompanied by the translation:
 |
Student Affairs The University of Königsberg (Prussia) District of East Prussia Mr. Candidate for Physician Morris Kleinberg Here
Knochenstrasse 5
Be notified of the fact, that we cannot permit you to have access to a Practical Rotation in the Maternity Ward of our University Women’s Clinic. You are most certainly acquainted with the regulation concerning the installation and employment of those who are members of the Jewish Race in German Clinics and Hospitals. This also applies, naturally, to the employment of students in these Hospitals.
Heil Hitler!
(Signature of) Friell (?) Otto
Vocational Group Leader (Seal of the Medical Vocational Group)
|
It is currently not known to us how my late father-in-law met his 'practical' requirements in medical school, but we know that he graduated, received a diploma, and returned to the United States, in September 1938. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, initially commissioned as a Lieutenant, serving in the Philippines as a Captain, and retiring after the War as a Major.
Not unlike the Japanese Nisei, he too found an inspiration to serve his country with distinction, even though it had spurned him.
We have come a long way, and we are far from perfect. In dialogue with various friends, it is sometimes pointed out that when The United States came into being, it was not even a free society: people of means held slaves. The magic of our country is we have an almost unique capacity to improve. Our progress does not always come steadily, or consistently, but somehow, over the long run, "where we are" appears to be better than "where we came from."
Gmar Tov
! cIy kzn
As a result of opening up a line of communication with Ophra Gilony in Israel, we have news of the following births to report:
Ori, born to Matan & Tamar Gilony Columbus, about January 2007.
New Baby, born to Rabbi Avinoam & Ayelet Zomer, a week before Passover 2007. Further information not yet arrived.
Lily Symone, on May 16, 2007 to Harry-Paul & Judyth Ellen Greenbaum. Congratulations to the paternal grandparents, Mike & Leona Greenbaum. Carol & Jack Berger are overjoyed to welcome their eight grandchild into the family (my ocho candelika for this coming Hanukkah!). A special Mazel Tov to great-grandmother, Frances Kleinberg, who sees her eighth great-grandchild into the world. Her Hebrew name Sima is to catch the name of her late great-grandmother, Sarah Freed Berger, and Maya, to catch the name of her late great-grandfather Dr. Morris Kleinberg.
Evan Maxwell, born June 21st, 2007, to Todd & Danielle Kasen Staber. Congratulations to grandparents Charles & Leona Kasen. He is named in loving memory of Leona's mother, Ruth Leventhal, and Charlie's mother, Sarah Kasen, (Raphael Shalom). He weighed in at 7 pounds 5 ounces, and was 21 inches long.. Leona writes: He is 7 weeks old now, a most handsome and intelligent baby, and a welcomed addition to our family!! Evan becomes the sixth Kasen grandchild, joining Zachary (15), Joshua (11), Brandon (10), Dylan (8), and Zoey (4).
Yosef, born on Sunday, July 29, 2007, to Drs. Ari & Annie Steiner, and older sister Meira. Congratulations to Dr. Ira & Susan Hollander on the arrival of a second grandchild. Special Mazel Tov to great-grandparents Harold & Pearl Freed. Yosef is named for Ira's late father, who passed away shortly after the Shavuot holiday this year (see below). Here is a portrait taken after the baby was born:
Dr. Annie, and Newborn Yosef Steiner
Daniel Alexander, born to Lee & Olga Grunberger August 17, 2007 at 19:10 Central Time in Kansas City at Overland Park Regional Medical Center... Daniel was 7 lbs 7 oz at birth. As we write, he is a month old and is reported to be starting to take an interest in his surroundings and so far he is doing fine. Here is the little guy's birth picture, and a second photo showing Dad, boning up on some of the essentials not covered in 'Fathering 101.'
We offer a special Mazel Tov to first-time grandmother, Andrea Kasen Grunberger. The Berger Family notes, with considerable amusement, and satisfaction, that this baby follows in the D A naming convention that has found so much favor in our own ranks....!
Mazel Tov to One
&All!
Joseph Hollander, father of Dr. Ira Hollander, shortly after the Shavuot holiday, as a result of an unfortunate accidental fall that took place during Passover.
Katriel Lashowitz, on Sunday September 8, 2007 in Petakh Tikva in Israel. Volkovysk landsleit will immediately recognize his name, as the author of the third of the Volkovysk Yizkor Books that I translated as part of the 'Trilogy' in English. Katriel was one of the few from his city that survived by escaping the Nazi dragnet in Byelorussia, and fought against them from the ranks of the partisans. In the immediate post-war years, he was active in the underground activities that brought many displaced persons out of Eastern Europe to British Mandatory Palestine, where they eventually became citizens of the newly formed State of Israel in 1948. We recall, with fondness,, that in his foreword, Katriel identifies the goading by his non-Yiddish speaking granddaughter, Yael, as a prime mover in causing him to sit down and prepare his -- Hebrew language -- version of a Yizkor Boork.
***
We extend the sincerest condolences of our entire family of readers to those who have been bereaved.
News from All Over
|
We are pleased to report that the Spiritual Leader of 'Virtual Zelva', Rabbi Zalman Kossowsky t"yhka, has retired from his pulpit in Zurich Switzerland, and is comfortably re-settled in Boynton Beach, Florida. I had the pleasure of talking to him on the phone before Yom Tov, since we were down in Florida to look after my aged mother-in-law. Regrettably, the exigencies of tending to her needs consumed our time, so I could not meet Rabbi Zalman personally. Nevertheless, we exchanged New Years greetings, and the expectation that we would get together, personally, in the fullness of time... *** Ike Siskind, a Dereczin scion, who lives in my area, submits the following travelogue: I guess I missed out on a Passover greeting this year. Your newsletter reminded me after the fact. We were away on an extended trip to South America-Chile, Argentina, and Brazil arriving home last week. One of the highlights of our trip was to visit mishpoche in Buenos Aires. Your translation of the Dereczin Yizkor Book played a significant role in rediscovering a remote part of the Abelovich family. I met a first cousin and her husband in Buenos Aires who received us very warmly. I was also brought up to date on other family members living in other cities. We were on a tour and time was short. It was very moving to find photos of my wedding, my parents, and as a youngster wearing knickers. All this in another home in another country so many 1,000s of miles from NY. All in all, a great experience, with beautiful scenery, great food and friendly people. *** Steve Lance of the Zelva Lantzevitzkys, writes as follows: As you know, I'm on the board of Share The Care - a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support individuals and families who are caring for a loved one; or people without a caregiver. Whenever we make presentations to organizations, individuals and corporations about Share The Care we say, "Share The Care is for anyone who’s ever asked……"what can I do to help?" At the start of our semi-annual appeal we need your help more than ever! Share The Care shows how friends, neighbors and even acquaintances can organize themselves to give essential support to a friend and their family during a major health crisis. Now we’re asking for your support and donation to keep our work alive…… If you already know about Share The Care, I don’t have to tell you the difference it’s made in people’s lives. If you’re not familiar with our work, I invite you to go to our Website www.sharethecare.org and read some of the stories of groups and individuals who’ve benefited from Share The Care. PLEASE help! You can make a tax-deductible contribution online under the "Make a Donation" button (on the left side of the page) or send a check to: Share The Caregiving, Inc. 551 Fifth Avenue –– 28th Floor New York, NY 10176 Please be sure to include your name and address so we can acknowledge your gift. I’d like to thank you in advance for supporting our work. Your contribution is a step in answering the question ""What can I do to help?"" and helping more people learn how to Share The Care. Steve Lance
|
This is an appropriate place as any for putting in my usual plug for the ALEH Foundation. They continue to do their exceptional work in providing a safe haven for exceptional children in Israel. Please try to be generous. Their address is: ALEH Foundation 5701 13th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219 *** Some time ago, Leah Lambert wrote to me, that her brother, Allen Rubin who is a professor of Social Work at the University of Texas, will be receiving an amazing honor. He was selected as the recipient of the Council on Social Work Education's 2007 Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award. The award will be presented at the opening ceremony of the Annual Program Meeting scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2007, at 6:00 PM at the Hilton, San Francisco, California. As luck would have it, my wife and I will be traveling to San Francisco at that time to visit our son David and his family. I contacted Allen, and we have decided to meet, and take a same day trip to Napa Valley, on his arrival with his wife, Chris, thus giving us a chance to get to know one another.... *** Here is a chatty letter from Elaine Shapiro: Apologize that I haven't communicated in a while. I was extremely busy helping plan the 100 year Anniversary Reunion for the Averbach family. My maternal Grandmother, Bessie Averbach, was the first of her family to emigrate to Canada in 2007 and we now have 8 branches in Canada and a brother's four branches who emigrated to Omaha NE. Two weekends ago, we had 150 people in attendance at the reunion here in LA. I was on the board and it was great as I made a lot of new, dear friends. The chairman was Jordan Kerner, a movie producer of family films, (most recent Charlotte's Web) and we had a spectacular BBQ at his Beverly Hills home. You would have been proud of our efforts as we did a Memory Book with the families submitting pictures and biographies and also DVD's of each branch of the family. A lot of hours and hard work went into this, but it was really special. Believe it or not but Phil is officially retired. He sold that "fershtunkena" dry cleaning business and now is so happy to be relieved of that burden. After he cleans out the garage, he should take some computer classes so he will know how to turn on this machine and maybe even communicate once in a while. After much deliberation, he wants you to know that he needs a vacation first, before he tackles such a huge project!!. Love Elaine ** As anticipated, my son, Dr. Daniel Berger has moved to Medford, New Jersey, one of the suburbs that rings the Philadelphia-Camden urban center. The last phases of the relocation are underway as I write, with both of his boys, Adam & Isaac, comfortably ensconced in the local school system there.... *** Please see the New Years message below, and extend a Refuah Shlema to Odded Ritz .... We look forward to seeing him during his upcoming visit to the United States.... We offer a prayer for the recovery of Faygl Garber York, who is recuperating from adverse reactions to medications that she was taking, and the wish for her return to good health... ***
As we went to press, we learned that
Gertie "Gutka" Boyarski had an unfortunate
accident at her summer apartment in Monticello, NY, on September 1,
one day prior to initiating her departure for Florida, where she
lives for most of the year in West Palm Beach.
She appears to have fallen down, and sustained multiple fractures in
the facial area, mostly around the eyes. Subsequently, it was
discovered that she also had a hairline fracture in the pelvis.
Fortunately, none of these injuries required any surgery, but she
will be undergoing rehabilitation in Bridgewater, NJ, not far from
the home of her daughter, Dorothy
Halperin.
Gutka has told me that she will probably remain
under care through the beginning of October, when she will return to
her daughter's home for additional convalescence. I hope to be
visiting her later in this coming week....
|
New Years Greetings
