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Our Family History

“Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.” JOEL 1:3

 
There is strength in our roots.

 

Safer/Katz Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAFER FAMILY HISTORY - PART 3

Click to go to: Safer History - Part 1 - - - Safer History Part 2 - - - Safer Descendants - - - Katz History - - - Katz Descendants - - - Photos of Pruzhany

GENERATION No. 4

 CLICK ON THESE NAMES TO SKIP TO INFO BELOW ON THE CHILDREN OF:

ÜYitzchak-Isaac Safer & Mollie Katz

ÜChaia-Sarah Safer's Children

ÜChava Safer & David Spelke

Ü Pesche Safer & Yosef Quatinsky

 

AS OF YET, WE HAVE NO INFO AVAILABLE ON THE CHILDREN OF:

Leah, Simcha, the twins - Rivka and Mar'yasha, Gitl-Rochlya or T'zivya

 

CHILDREN OF YITZCHAK-ISAAC SAFER & MOLLIE KATZ

 

The SAFER's and the POMERANTZ's are linked because Pauline Safer married Nathan Pomerantz.

The Safer's circa 1925

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP ROW: (left to right): Mollie (see note below), Schmoiel Safer, Hershel Block, Anna Safer, Zelig Safer, Pauline Pomerantz, Nathan Pomerantz, Yankele (Jake) Safer MIDDLE ROW: (left to right): Henry Safer (son of Zelig), Rachel Safer Block, May Safer Silverman, Mollie Katz Safer, Yitzchak Isaac Safer, Anna Safer Weisenfeld, Minnie Safer, Lillian Pomerantz IN BETWEEN THE MIDDLE & BOTTOM ROWS: Henry Block BOTTOM ROW: (left to right): Bert Pomerantz, Fanny Block, Fanny Safer, Sarah Safer, Charlie Safer, Frank Block, Flora Pomerantz, Harold Safer, Frances Safer, Henry Safer (son of Yankele)

NOTE: Mollie was originally engaged to Schmoiel Safer who eventually married Raizel (Rose) Stubofsky. Schmoiel was discouraged from marrying Mollie because her name was the same as Schmoiel’s mother’s name (Chayie Malka). In the Jewish tradition of naming children after the dead, it may have brought bad luck upon Chaiye-Malka to have a daughter-in-law with the same name!

PAULINE SAFER (aka Pesche Freide Seifer or Pauline Pomerantz)

PAULINE SAFER (YITZCHAK ISAAC 3, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 15 May 1882 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzhany), and died 07 Feb 1968 in Flower 5th Ave Hospital, NYC. She married NATHAN POMERANTZ (marriage certificate # 6332), son of DAVID POMERANTZ and CHANA-RAISEL DUBINER. He was born 02 Feb 1881 in Kamenets-Litovsk, Belarus, and died 20 Apr 1962 in Brooklyn, NY (Coney Island Hosp).

ISSUE: Her age and birth date are uncertain as there is considerable conflicting information: The Potsdam ship manifest, lists her as being 20 in 1904 (implying birth year 1884); her marriage certificate states she was 22 when she married in 1908 (implying birth year 1886); the birth certificate of her eldest child concurs with her marriage certificate stating she was 23 in 1909 (implying birth year 1886); her naturalization papers state she was born in 1882 and her death certificate implies she was born in 1888. So, we can only assume she was born between 1882-1888 and died between the ages of 80-86!

Pauline arrived in the USA August 23, 1904 on the Potsdam, a ship that departed from Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. She is listed on the ship’s manifest as “Pesche Seifer” from Rozany (sounds a lot like Pruzhany to me!) They have her listed as being twenty implying she was born in 1884. Her manifest states she was a “tailoress”, paid her own passage, had $2.50 with her and she was going to her brother-in-law — J. Friedman 127 E. 59th St. (??? - see next few paragraphs - ???)

Long complicated story: Chana Berezniak Friedman was the eldest daughter of Chaya Safer Berezniak (Blinderman) who was Yitzchak Isaac Safer's sister and therefore, Pauline's aunt. Chana (Pauline's cousin) was married to Avrum Mendel Friedman. We believe that on Pauline's ship manifest she either meant "A. Friedman" who was Avrum Mendel (her cousin Chana's husband) OR she was headed to Avrum Mendel's sister, Lena Friedman Caspert (and the J is really an L). In 1910, Lena was married to Herman B. Caspert and was living at 1104 First Avenue which is very close to 127 E 59th Street. (Lena was cousin Chana's sister-in-law).

When Pauline arrived in NY, she was detained overnight and as she always talked about arriving in Castle Gardens, we assume she was detained there rather than at Ellis Island. During this detention she got meals for breakfast, dinner and supper. The cause of her detention is listed as: "sis" while others are listed as "bro". The detention disposition is listed as: Cousin, Mrs. Fanny Friedman, 325 E 8th Street, NYC. To date we do not know who Fanny Friedman is.

In any event, this complicated story implies the Safer's, the Friedman's, the Beresniaks, the Caspert's and the Pomerantz's all had very close ties and were all related by birth or marriage.

Nathan and Pauline married on August 16, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He was 29 and she was 26. (Source: marriage certificate # 6332; Sam Cohen and Harvey Saratsky witnessed their marriage certificate.)................. [SEE THEIR WEDDING INVITATION]

It is believed they were introduced by Avrum Mendel Friedman, brother of Hymie Friedman who later, in 1912, married Nathan's sister Jennie. Together, Nathan and Pauline ran a neighborhood grocery store and had three daughters (lillian, Flora and Bert) who were all born in Brooklyn, New York.

When Nathan & Pauline first married, they lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn where they had a small neighborhood grocery store. Every Sunday morning, Nathan would walk across the Williamsburg Bridge to his father’s grocery storeroom on the Lower East Side in Manhattan to procure stock. He walked back carrying lox, bagels and other items on his back. When the girls were of age, they were sent across the same bridge to scrub floors in their grandparent’s home every Friday afternoon, in preparation for Shabbat. All three girls worked in the family store after school and on Sunday. All three girls took music lessons and when Flora graduated from HS, Lil bought her a violin (for $90) as a graduation present. (Flora's great niece, Elizabeth Albertson-Crowl, is still playing that violin as of 2009!)

They moved from Williamsburg to Brighton Beach when Bert was in HS and opened a produce store across the street from Nathan’s synagogue. Apparently only men worshipped in Nathan’s tiny synagogue and Pauline went to different shul up the block. Lil, Bert and Flora all said that Nathan was a really good man but he was not a business man. He never earned a lot of money, never knew how to tie his tie, and he preferred to study torah and the Talmud. He never learned much English and he never raised a hand to his daughters. Once the girls were married, Nathan delivered a bag of fruits and vegetables every Friday to each of his daughter’s homes.

Nathan became a naturalized US citizen April 3, 1925 at the age of 46. At the time, he lived at 429 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn. His naturalization certificate describes him as: Height 5'9" Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, Fair Complexion, Origin: Russia. Pauline became a naturalized US citizen November 26, 1940 at the age of 58. At that time, they lived at 1875 W 9th St, Brooklyn, NY. Her naturalization certificate describes her as: Height: 5'6" 190 lbs. Eyes: Brown Hair: Gray Complexion: Fair Origin: Polish. When the judge who swore her in as a citizen asked what she would do for her country, she replied “I will cook for the boys in the army.” The judge said she would make a wonderful citizen.

Pauline died February 07, 1968 in Flower 5th Ave Hospital, NYC. Cause of Death: gangrene (after she refused to have her leg amputated). Her Yahrtzeit is the 8th of Shevat. She is buried with Nathan in Beth David Cemetery Section G Block 4 Row J Graves 2-4 Congregation Kochab Jacob Kaminets D'Lite.

Children of PAULINE SAFER and NATHAN POMERANTZ are:

i. LILLIAN POMERANTZ-FRIEDMAN, b. 29 Jun 1909, Brooklyn, NY; d. 07 Dec 1995, Deerfield, FL; m. CHARLES FRIEDMAN, 05 Dec 1937, Brooklyn, New York; b. 29 Nov 1902, Yampola, Odessa; d. 11 Aug 1959, Great Neck, NY.

ii. FLORA GLADYS POMERANTZ-WELLER, b. 18 Dec 1912, Brooklyn, NY; d. 12 Jun 1991, Pembroke Pines, FL; m. SAMUEL WELLER, 23 May 1937, Brooklyn, New York; b. 19 Mar 1912, Brooklyn, NY; d. 09 Nov 1997, Pembroke Pines, FL.

iii. BERT POMERANTZ-FINE, b. 10 Oct 1914, Brooklyn, NY; d. 12 Jul 2000, Gainesville, FL; m. JULIUS FINE, 25 Feb 1940, Brooklyn, New York; b. 12 Aug 1911, New Jersey; d. 11 Jul 1984, Florida.

ÜFOR MORE INFORMATION ON PAULINE AND NATHAN, SEE NATHAN POMERANTZ

ZELIG SAFER

ZELIG (aka Selig) SAFER (YITZCHAK ISAAC 3, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 06 Oct 1886 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzhany), and died Mar 1970 in Atlantic City, NJ. He married ASSNEH (ANNA) SABASOVITCH 1912. She was born 1886, and died 1961 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Zelig was the survivor of a set of twins. The other died at birth. He immigrated to the US on the SS Barcelona 20 DEC 1906 at age 21. He is listed as a tinsmith, 5' 6". from Prusan and had $14. He lists his sister, Peshe Seifer at 10 Cannon Street, NYC as his destination. It was said that his sister Pauline saved money to pay for his passage.

Aside: He seems to be traveling with Chiam Friedman, a shoemaker from Prusan, who is also 21 and is going to his brother Abraham Friedman. Chiam is 5' 2" and has $10.

Zelig married Assneh (aka Annie or Anna) in 1912. She had immigrated in 1905. They had four children including Fannie & Henry who were twins. At some time after they were married they must have moved to Canada as both Charles and Sarah are listed as being born in Canada and immigrating to the US in 1915.

The 1920 census shows “Selig” and “Annie” living at 515 Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. It states they both came from Russia and Zelig is listed as a sheet metal mechanic.

Children of ZELIG SAFER and ASSNEH SABASOVITCH are:

i. CHARLES SAFER, b. 15 Jan 1913, Canada; d. Feb 1985, PA; m. BELLE HOCH, 1935; b. 14 Feb 1905; d. Oct 1992, PA.

ii. SARAH SAFER, b. 1914, Canada; m. ISAAC (ISRAEL) BECKER, 1935; b. 1903; d. 1970.

iii. FANNIE (TWIN) SAFER, b. 28 Dec 1917, NY; d. 16 May 2002, NJ.

iv. HENRY (TWIN) SAFER, b. 28 Dec 1917; d. Apr 1961, NJ; m. MIRIAM ZINMAN, 1945; b. 15 Dec 1919; d. 07 May 2001, NJ.

YANKELE (aka Jack or Jake) SAFER

YANKELE (JACK) SAFER (YITZCHAK ISAAC 3, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 14 Apr 1891 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzhany) and died 27 Jan 1948 in NY. He married MINNIE ROSEN 01 Apr 1916 in NYC, daughter of SAMUEL ROSEN and IDA BLINDER(?!?). Minnie was born 1893 and died 20 May 1989. She immigrated in 1910.

Sources & Assumptions: NYC marriage certificate # 3964, states he was 24 on 1 Apr 1916 implying birth year of 1891 and states she was 23 in 1916 implying birth year of 1893. We do not have a copy of their marriage certificate but it states Minnie was living at 1338 East NY Ave, NY, was 23, from Grodno, Russia; Her father was SAMUEL ROSEN and her mother was IDA BLINDER (!). “Jacob" (Jack) was also living at 1338 East NY Ave (?), was 24, from Grodno, Russia, and his occupation is listed as brass worker; His father is listed as Isaac and his mother as Mollie Katz. HARRY JANOWITZ (!) & Victor Forcer witnessed the marriage certificate.

Yankele indexed as "Janhel Seifer" arrived in the USA on July 5, 1907 on the Andalusia, a ship that departed from Hamburg, Germany. His ethnicity is listed as “Russia” and his age is listed as 16.He had $10 and lists himself as a locksmith. Upon arrival he went to live with his brother Selig Seifer at 10 Cannon St in NYC.

In 1910, he is living and working with his cousin Louis Beresnick at Louis' brass foundry in the Bronx. By 1915 he has moved in with his cousin Chana Beresnyak-Friedman and her husband, Avrum Mendel and their three children at 115 Broome St, NYC. He is still working in a brass foundry.

Uncle Jake, as he was fondly known in the family, was a bronze worker and made many bronze and other cast sculptures for members of the family. There are candlesticks, lamps, ash trays, etc. that he made as gifts that are still treasured today. I have his elephant bookends and a devil-like footed ashtray. Rozzie Silverman has candlesticks and Miriam Kelty has a personalized piggy-bank and the ashtray with the lady’s butt showing in the back!

ÜSee some of Jake's Handiwork

The Pomerantz girls, Lil, Flora & Bert, all referred to Jack as their favorite uncle. Lil reported that one of her cousins was killed in a roller-skating accident (???) and therefore, her father would never let any of the girls have roller skates. Uncle Jack bought her a pair of roller skates and kept them for her in his house. Every Friday afternoon she went to visit and got to use her skates. Lil said Jack took her to see her first Broadway show—Abie’s Irish Rose!

Jack & Minnie are buried in Mt. Hebron in the Workmen’s Circle plot that is diagonally across from Charles Friedman (who is in Block 76D, Section A, Line 8 #16). Jack died of tuberculosis in a sanitarium in the Catskill Mountains..

Children of YANKELE SAFER and MINNIE ROSEN are:

i. FRANCES SAFER-MILLER, b. about 1917; m. HYMAN MILLER, 1938; b. 1914.

ii. HAROLD J. SAFER, b. 24 Aug 1920; d. 28 Sep 1976; m. NATALIE UNKNOWN, 1950; b. 26 Feb 1927; d. Sep 1970.

iii. HENRY SAFER, b. 1922; m. RITA UNKNOWN, 1945; b. 08 Apr 1922; d. May 1987, NJ.

iv. HARRIET SAFER-PUNIM, b. 1926; d. 22 Jul 2004, Seal Beach, CA (Source: SSDI.); m. NORMAN PUNIM, 1947; b. 1925.

RACHEL SAFER (aka Rose ... Ruchel Bliacher ... Rachel Block)

RACHEL (ROSE) SAFER (YITZCHAK ISAAC 3, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 1892 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzhany) and died 15 Apr 1964 in NY. She married HERSCHEL (HARRY) BLOCK (aka Herschel Blacher) 1911 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzany) (Source: 1930 census). He was born 1887 and died 30 Oct 1954.

Herschel was a shoemaker and shoe salesman in the US. The 1930 US Census shows them living at 120 Sumner Avenue in Brooklyn and indicates they were married in 1911. Rachel would have been 19 and Herschel 20. (NOTE: The 1920 US Census states they were married in 1907. This seems unlikely as Rachel would have been only 15.)

Herschel immigrated to the US on March 20, 1913 on the SS Potsdam that sailed from Rotterdam. and Rachel immigrated eight years later on the Gothland in 1921 with her children, Frank (9) and Fannie (8), her parents and three of her siblings. Rachel and Herschel were separated for those eight years as Herschel never made a trip back and never saw his daughter Fannie (born 6 months after he left) until she got to America. (Consider that WWI would have made ocean crossings prohibitive for four of those years.) When Herschel got to the US he went to his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Pauline and Nathan Pomerantz who were living at 433 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn at the time.

Herschel and Rachel are buried at Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Queens, NY. Block 113, Row 11 on the left hand side. His Yahrtzeit is 3 Heshvan and hers is 3 Iyar.

The etymology of the surname "BLOCH": Polish: the word "blacha" means sheet metal. A blacharz was a tinsmith (pronounced with a K, not a CH) So the name BLOCH might have come from the metal trade and described the type of work that the person performed, much like the English "Smith". German: Blech is the German word for sheetmetal and for tin. Kagaanoff, however, holds that the name Bloch comes from the Polish Vlach, for "foreigner"--a name given to someone who settled in Poland from another country, and that it got the form Bloch when Jews from Poland who were named Vlach settled elsewhere.

Children of RACHEL SAFER and HERSCHEL BLOCK are:

i. FRANK BLOCK, b. 12 Apr 1912, Pruzzeneh (Pruzany); d. 15 Sep 1986, Nassau, NY ; m. (1) MAY STERN, 1944; d. 10 Sep 1971; m. (2) DORIS UNKNOWN, 1975.

ii. FANNIE BLOCK-GUTERMAN, b. 08 Sep 1913, Pruzzeneh; d. 21 Jul 1983, Queens, NY; m. HARRY GUTERMAN, 14 Mar 1956; d. about 1990.

iii. HENRY BLOCK, b. 1923, NY; m. BETTY (BASHA) ISMACK, 1948; b. 30 May 1921; d. 21 Dec 1980, NYC of breast cancer.

iv. LESTER BLOCK, b. 02 May 1931, NY; d. Dec 2002; m. PHYLLIS ESTHER LEVY, 1956; b. 16 Dec 1933; d. 2001.

SAM (aka Schmoiel) SAFER

SAM (SCHMOIEL) SAFER (YITZCHAK ISAAC 3, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 1900 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzhany), and died 25 Sep 1985 in NY. He married RAIZEL (ROSE) STUBOFSKY 19 May 1928 in New York . She was born 22 Feb 1903, and died Dec 1996 in NY.

Sam immigrated to the US with his parents and siblings on 29 Mar 1921 . They arrived at Philadelphia on the Gothland. The ship manifest reports him as having been born in 1902 however, he may have been making himself appear younger in order to avoid conscription back in Pruzzeneh. We believe he was actually born in 1900.

His father, Yitzchak-Isaac, lived with Raizel & Schmoiel at 1412 Charlotte St. in the Bronx after Mollie died. Zelig and Sarah Katz lived in the same building. Sam Safer worked in a foundry—perhaps with his brother Jack or with his cousin, Joe Blinderman.

Children of SAM SAFER and RAIZEL STUBOFSKY are:

i. ESTHER SAFER, b. 01 Apr 1929; m. BERNARD ZAPKEN, 23 May 1953; b. 1927.

ii. SYLVIA SAFER, b. 30 Apr 1931; d. Mar 1986; m. LEO LATTNER, 1956; b. 17 Oct 1922; d. Sep 1996.

iii. SHIRLEY SAFER, b. 20 Oct 1935; m. MARSHALL SCHLESINGER, 06 Nov 1955; b. 22 Dec 1934.

ANNA SAFER (aka Henja ... Anna Weisenfeld) (Twin of May)

ANNA SAFER (YITZCHAK ISAAC 3, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 15 Feb 1906 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzany), and died 18 Dec 1993 in CA. She married REUBEN (RUBY) WEISENFELD 12 Jun 1926. He was born 21 Apr 1904, and died 17 May 1967 in NJ.

ANNA immigrated to the US with her parents and siblings on 29 Mar 1921. They arrived at Philadelphia on the GOTHLAND.

Zelig (Anna’s older brother) was living in Atlantic City (not sure why) and Anna’s siblings, knowing Anna & Ruby were not doing well financially, helped them purchase a house in Atlantic City. That is how Anna & Ruby came to run a rooming house in Atlantic City.

Click here to see Anna's Eulogy

Children of ANNA SAFER and REUBEN WEISENFELD are:

i. LILLIAN WEISENFELD-BOARDMAN, b. 28 Feb 1927 ; d. 22 Mar 1997 ; m. JERRY BOARDMAN, 15 Sep 1946 ; b. 1927.

ii. SIDNEY WEISENFELD, b. 26 Mar 1928 ; m. MARCIA UNKNOWN, 1955.

iii. HARVEY WEISENFELD, b. 02 Aug 1932 ; m. MARIE UNKNOWN, 1961.

iv. CLAIRE WEISENFELD-GOLDMAN, b. 17 Jan 1938 ; m. (1) MAURICE GOLDMAN, 1958; m. (2) JOHN MCKIM, 1996.

MAY SAFER (aka Maya... May Silverman) (Twin of Anna)

MAY SAFER (YITZCHAK ISAAC 3, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 15 Feb 1906 in Pruzzeneh (Pruzhany), and died 26 Sep 1971. She married SOL SILVERMAN 24 Jul 1926. He was born 10 Nov 1903, and died 09 Oct 1984.

MAY immigrated to the US with her parents and siblings on 29 Mar 1921. They arrived in Philadelphia on the Gothland.

MAY and SOL are buried at Beth Moses Cemetery in Pinelawn, LI, NY - Workman's Circle Block 10, Row 11.

Children of MAY SAFER and SOL SILVERMAN are:

i. ROSLYN SILVERMAN-GOTTLIEB, b. 27 Aug 1927, NYC; m. ELI GOTTLIEB, 27 Oct 1951; b. 08 Oct 1921, Poland; d. 20 Jun 1998, NYC.

ii. HENRY SILVERMAN, b. 21 Aug 1929; d. 05 Oct 1997; m. DONNA SIEGEL, 08 Oct 1950; b. 13 Nov 1932.

iii. JERRY SILVERMAN, b. 12 Jun 1934, Monticello; m. EVA ISRAEL, 04 Jul 1960; b. 16 Apr 1938 Germany.

iv. HERBERT SILVERMAN, b. 20 Oct 1937; m. PHYLLIS FRIEDMAN, 09 Mar 1958; b. 04 Oct 1938.

 

 

CHILDREN OF CHAYA-SARAH SAFER & ELYA BEREZNYAK

 

CHANA BEREZNYAK

CHANA BEREZNYAK (CHAIA SARAH 3 SAFER , HENACH 2 SEIFER , ZELIK ICKOVICH 1 ) (aka Annie) was born about 1879 in Pruzzeneh and died 26 Sep 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. She married AVRUM MENDEL FRIEDMAN about 1902 in Pruzzeneh, son of ISAAC FRIEDMAN and CHANA BERESTITSKY . He was born 15 Jul 1877 in Malch, Belarus and died 03 Oct 1946 in NY, NY.

Sources: US census; WWI Draft Registration – 1918; and Norma Cavey had a letter from Fannie Friedman-Greenberg dated Jan 11, 1984 detailing info.

CHANA was the eldest of Chaya Sarah's children and the only daughter of ELYA BERESNIAK. She married Avrum Mendel at an early age prior to 1902 – perhaps as early as 1900. She was the first of Chaya Sarah's children to emigrate to the US. Chana sailed on the SS Noordam, leaving Rotterdam on April 8th, 1905 and arriving in NY on April 19th. she stated she was going to her husband, A. Friedman at 310 Rivington St., NYC. She is listed on the manifest as "Chaina" Friedman, age 25, wife, from Prusany. She is listed as having no money. As she is traveling alone, we assume her son Elya died in Pruzhany earlier in 1905.

As confirmed by the 1920 US census, her husband, immigrated before her. Avrum Mendel immigrated on the SS Albano which sailed from Hamburg 2 DEC 1903 and arrived in NY on 22 DEC 1903.

The 1905 NYS Census states Avrum and Annie were living at 364 Madison St., NYC. Pesche (Epstein) Bresnyak and Leibl Bresnyak (son of Chaya-Sarah Safer-Blinderman) immigrated to the US Feb 1906 and their destimation was Avrum Friedman at 364 Madison St.

The 1915 NYS Census shows Avrum living at 115 Broome St. with his wife and three children. Also living with them is Annie's cousin, Jacob "Saffer", age 23, brass molder (presumably working for Leibl Bresnyak - his cousin).

Avrum Mendel lists his birth date as 15 JUL 1877 on his WWI draft registration in 1918 and states he and his wife Annie were living at 115 Broome St, NY, NY. His draft registration states he was short, of medium build, with gray eyes and dark hair. He states he was self employed.

The 1920 US census shows them still living at 115 Broome St and states Abram was a junk peddler. It states they were both naturalized in 1913 and had three children: Sam, age 13; Jacob, age 12 and Fannie, age 7.

The 1930 US census shows them living on West 100th St., NYC. All three children are still living with them. Abraham is shown to have a grocery store, Sam is listed as an attorney and Jack is listed as an accountant. It is unclear as to whether or not Fannie works in a bank.

Children of CHANA BEREZNYAK and AVRUM F RIEDMAN are:

i. ELYA FRIEDMAN , b. before 1903, Pruzhany (Source: Fannie Greenberg letter dated 11 JAN 1984.); d. in Pruzhany before 1905.

ii. SAMUEL FRIEDMAN (aka Henach Simcha), b. 30 Jan 1906, New York City (Source: Fannie Greenberg letter dated 11 JAN 1984.); d. 1972.

Henry Spelke and David Katz both made mention of a family lawyer ... it was Sam Friedman.

iii. JACOB FRIEDMAN , b. 13 May 1907, New York City (Source: Fannie Greenberg letter dated 11 JAN 1984.); d. 1987. (drove a bakery truck)

iv. FANNIE FRIEDMAN (aka Frances) , b. 11 Jan 1913, New York City (Source: Fannie Greenberg letter dated 11 JAN 1984.); d. about 1984; m. SOL GREENBERG .

Sol and Fanny lived in Brooklyn (Bensonhurst) but after the Dodger's left Brooklyn they left too (being true Dodger fans) and they moved to Florida. Sol had a garage in Brooklyn and opened another one in FL. Unfortunately, a car fell on him and killed him. After that Fanny took over the garage.

LEIBL BEREZNIAK

LEIBL BEREZNIAK (aka Louis BRESNIK) (CHAIA SARAH 3 SAFER , HENACH 2 SEIFER , ZELIK ICKOVICH 1 ) was born 06 Feb 1886 in Pruzzeneh, and died in New York. He married PESCHE RAISEL EPSTEIN 29 May 1909 in NYC. She was born Oct 1886 in Pruzhany and died 1976 in New York.

Leibl was Chaya Sarah's eldest son and the second child of ELYA BERESNIAK. Leibl was about six when his father died. Shortly thereafter, when his mother remarried Hershel BLINDERMAN, Leibl was sent to Pruzzeneh to live with his paternal grandmother to learn to be a blacksmith apprentice.

In 1906, at age 21, he immigrated with his wife-to-be, on the SS Statendam from Rotterdam arriving in NYC on Feb 13, 1906. Leibl traveled under an assumed name (Hirsh Scherr) as family lore suggests he was a fugitive being sought by the Czar's army for having shot a soldier and had to leave Pruzhany immediately. Rose (indexed as Fesche Epstein) was 18, a seamstress and had $2.50. They both stated they were going to their brother in-law A Friedman on 364 Madison St. and that they were coming from Prusan (Pruzzneh).

Lieb BERESNEK and Rose EPSTEIN were married in 29 May 1909 in New York City.

Children of LEIBL BEREZNIAK and PESCHE RAISEL EPSTEIN are:

i. ELYA BREZNICK (aka Eli or Alex), b. 27 Aug 1910, New York; d. 17 May 2002, FL.

ii. NATHAN BREZNICK , b. 1914, New York; d. about 1916, New York.

iii. HENRY (TWIN) BREZNICK , b. 1916, New York. (named for Henoch Safer), d. JUN 1977, Bronx, NY

iv. LAWRENCE (TWIN) BREZNICK (aka Lazarus) , b. 7 APR 1916, New York, d. 11 OCT 1997 FL

 

CHILDREN OF CHAYA-SARAH SAFER & HERSCHEL BLINDERMAN

CELIA BLINDERMAN (aka Celia Schwartz)

CELIA BLINDERMAN (CHAIA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 11 Dec 1893 in Pruzzeneh, and died 17 May 1966 in San Francisco, CA . She married HARRY SCHWARTZ on 1 Nov 1913 in NYC. He was born 1892 in Russia, and died 1965 in CA.

Celia Blinderman (indexed as Ciwje Blmderman) immigrated to the US March 15, 1910 on the SS Rijndam at the age of 16. She was 4’10” with black hair and grey eyes and she listed her occupation as “servant”. She listed Abram Friedman, 260 Madison St., NYC as her contact in the US (giving no explanation about the relationship).

Celia married Harry SCHWARTZ 1 Nov 1913 in Manhattan and in 1920, they were living next door to Ida at 175 East 109 th St., NYC. Celia listed her mother as "Ida Schaeffer" and her father as "Harry" on her marriage certificate. The 1920 US Census, lists Harry Schwartz as a “Cigar Maker - shop owner” and states he was age 27 and immigrated in 1911. Celia Schwartz is listed as age 26, immigrated in 1909 (although we know she arrived in 1910). Also listed are two daughters: Elsie (age 5) and Lillian (age 2). HOWEVER, the family knows nothing about Lillian and believes the son Walter, who was two in 1920, was erroneously listed as “Lillian”! In the mid-1920’s the Schwartz’s moved to California possibly to join Harry’s brothers who were already in CA.

Children of CELIA BLINDERMAN and HARRY SCHWARTZ are:

i. ELSIE SCHWARTZ-RUDOMETKIN, b. 1914, NYC; d. 1998, CA; m. WILLIAM MICHAEL RUDOMETKIN; b. 1914; d. 1981, CA.

ii. WALTER SCHWARTZ, b. 1918, NYC; d. 1997, CA; m. (1) CHARLOTTE CAROLINA ZIER; b. 1915; m. (2) ELSIE FLORENCE MYERSON, about 1948; b. 1920; d. 1977.

iii. FRANCIS SCHWARTZ, b. 1920, NYC; m. LOUIS EHRENBERG EVERETT, before 1947; b. 1920; d. 2003, CA.

JOE BLINDERMAN

JOE BLINDERMAN (CHAIA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 15 Apr 1894 in Pruzzeneh, and died May 1978 in Queens, NY. He married FRIEDA PESETSKY 28 Feb 1920 in the Bronx, NY. She was born 19 May 1896 in Pruzzeneh, and died May 1974 in Flushing, NY. Frieda immigrated to the US in 1914.

Joe immigrated to the US in 1911 on the SS Potsdam. He was followed by his sister Ronya in 1913 and his mother Chaia with his other two sisters, Rochel and Annie in 1914. They all listed their brother-in-law Abraham Friedman as their US destination. When Joe arrived, Abraham was living at 115 Broome Street.

Joe Blinderman’s WWI Draft Registration was completed on June 5, 1917. It states he was 23, born April 15, 1894 in Russia, was single and living at 203 East 96th Street in NYC with his mother and sisters and was their sole support. He was medium height and of medium build with brown eyes and black hair and had no other distinguishing marks. He was working at a bronze foundry at 612 East 83rd (?) St.

The 1930 US Census indicates Joe married Frieda in 1920 and was living with his family on Suburban Place in the Bronx. He was still working in the brass foundry that, according to the 1933-34 NYC Directory was called JB Brass & Bronze Aluminum Factory. (Did the JB stand for Joe Blinderman?)

Supposedly, Joe’s son, Harold (Hesche) Blinderman established a foundry in Hollywood, FL. An internet search shows an H. Blinderman & Sons Foundry exists today, but as of this writing, no connection has been established.

Children of JOE BLINDERMAN and FRIEDA PESETSKY are:

i. HAROLD BLINDERMAN, b. 1920, NY.

ii. ANNA BLINDERMAN-MITCHELL, b. 1922, NY; m. UNKNOWN MITCHELL.

iii. CHARLES S. BLINDERMAN, b. 31 OCT 1930, NYC, d. 7 JAN 2002, MA.

RONYA (ROSE) BLINDERMAN

RONYA BLINDERMAN immigrated on the SS Rotterdam on March 20, 1913 when she was 17 years old. The ship manifest states she was from "Briczan", Russia, Grodno, was 4'9" and had a fair complexion, brown hair and gray eyes. She listed her occupation as a seamstress and her mother, Chaie Blinderman as her closest relative back home.

Ronya (in 1913), like her sister Celia (in 1910) listed her brother-in-law Abram Friedman, 115 Broome St., NYC as her contact in the US. Census records imply a birth year of 1896.

She married WILLIE WILLENSKY 28 Sep 1919 in Manhattan, NYC.

Child of RONYA BLINDERMAN and WILLIE WILLENSKY is:

i. HERSCHEL WILLENSKY , b. New York.

 

RACHEL BLINDERMAN (aka Ray Pomerantz)

RACHEL BLINDERMAN (CHAIA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 1902 in Pruzzeneh.

At age 11, Rachel immigrated to the US on 09 Jun 1914 on the SS Noordam with her mother and her sister Anna.

Rachel married (1) Louis Pave. After his early death, she married (2) SAM POMERANTZ 20 MAR 1926 in NYC (Certificate # 9022). She was 24 and Sam was 29 at the time of their marriage. They were married at 65 East 109th Street in NYC, very close to where the Blinderman's were living. Sam was born in Russia in 1897 to Morris Pomerantz and Esther Goldberg. Her husband Sam was an unrelated Pomerantz to the best of our knowledge!

Child of RACHEL BLINDERMAN and SAM POMERANTZ is:

i. HOWARD POMERANTZ.

ANNA BLINDERMAN (aka Anna Pomerantz)

ANNA BLINDERMAN (CHAIA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 1904 in Pruzzeneh and immigrated to the US on 09 Jun 1914 at age 10 on the SS Noordam with her mother and her sister Rochel. She married LEO POMERANTZ (another unrelated Pomerantz to the best of my knowledge!) some time after 1930 in NY. Anna and Leo had two daughters. Leo died young of a heart attack. Louis Bresnick and Joe Blinderman helped to support the family after Leo's death.

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CHILDREN OF CHAVA SAFER & DAVID SPELKE

SARAH SPELKE (aka Sarah Reback)

SARAH SPELKE (CHAVA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1 ) was born about 1897 in Russia, and died about 1970 in CT. She married JOSEPH REBACK about 1917 in Stamford, CT. He was born about 1885 in Russia, and died 1941 in CT.

SARAH SPELKE immigrated to the US on 30 Jun 1907 on the Pennsylvania from Hamburg. She traveled with her mother and siblings. JOSEPH REBACK was a pharmacist and he owned drug store.

Children of SARAH SPELKE and JOSEPH REBACK are:

i. DANIEL REBACK, b. 1919; m. JOY UNKNOWN.

ii. LOUISE REBACK, b. 1923; d. 06 Nov 1959, Stamford, CT; m. MURRAY WEINGRAD, about 1950, CT.

SAM SPELKE

SAM SPELKE (CHAVA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born about 1901 in Russia, and died from TB about 1966 in the Bronx, NY. He immigrated to the US 30 Jun 1907 on the Pennsylvania from Hamburg, with his mother and siblings.

Sam was in the Plumber's Union in NY and lived on McCombs Road in the Bronx, NY. He married 3 times and had no children. Emily was his third wife.  

ANNA SPELKE (aka Anna Mintz)

ANNA SPELKE (CHAVA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born about 1906 in Poland, and died about 1970 in CT. She married WILLIE MINTZ 1941 in NY.

ANNA immigrated to the US 30 Jun 1907 on the Pennsylvania from Hamburg, with her mother and siblings.

Child of ANNA SPELKE and WILLIE MINTZ is:

i. EVA MINTZ-WILENSKY, m. UNKNOWN WILENSKY, Freeport , NJ .

HENRY SPELKE

HENRY SPELKE (CHAVA 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 01 Sep 1908 in Stamford, CT, and died Nov 2003 in FL. He married JUDITH BERGER 12 Jun 1954 in Stamford, CT. She was born 28 Feb 1922 in Hungary, and died 05 May 2004 in Delray Beach, FL.

HENRY was a break bulker (warehouses).

Children of HENRY SPELKE and JUDITH BERGER are:

i. CLIFF SPELKE, b. 29 Mar 1955, CT; m. LESLIE GREBINAR, 21 Sep 1985, Nassau County, NY; b. 14 Aug 1959, CA.

ii. ROBERT SPELKE, b. 11 Jul 1957, Stamford, CT; m. MERYL FRIED, 28 Apr 1984; b. 17 Dec 1959. Occupation: Attorney, Dept of Justice

 

 

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CHILDREN OF PESCHE SAFER & YOSEF QUATINSKY/KOVATINITZ

MOSHE KVUATINITZ

MOSHE KVUATINITZ (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born before 1893 in Israel, and died about 1970 in Argentina. He married ROSA GALARMAN in Argentina.

Moshe was sent to Argentina when he was 17 or 18 years old. Sometime after arriving in Argentina (before 1918), he changed his name from Quatinsky to Kvuatinitz claiming that was the original family name. It is believed that the Quatinsky's were originally from Argentina; Occupation: Furniture business

Children of MOSHE KOVATINITZ and ROSA GALARMAN are:

i. ABRAHAM KVUATINITZ, b. 1920, d. 1978 Buenos Aires, Argentina.

ii. SOFIA KVUATINITZ, b. 1921, d. abt. 1987 Buenos Aires, Argentina.

iii. CELINA KVUATINITZ, b. 1925, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

iv. SANTIAGO KVUATINITZ, b.1926, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

ROCHEL QUATINSKY (aka Rachel Levin)

ROCHEL QUATINSKY (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born about 1892 in Palestine, and died 1971 in Israel. She married MOISHE LEVIN. He was born in Palestine about 1890 and was a carpenter.

Children of ROCHEL QUATINSKY and MOISHE LEVIN are:

i. AHUVA LEVIN, b. 1923, Palestine; d. 1971, Israel; m. DOV NAKDIMON; b. Palestine; d. Israel. (DOV NAKDIMON died of a stroke.)

ii. CHANA LEVIN, b. about 1924, Palestine; d. age 80 Israel; m. CHIAM TAMIR; b. Palestine; d. Israel. CHIAM TAMIR teaches phys ed for Maccabeah games

iii. YONA LEVIN, b. about 1924, Palestine; d. age 80 Israel; m. ASHER ROGEV; b. Palestine; d. Israel.

iv. AVRAM YITZCHACK LEVIN, b. about 1934, Palestine; d. Nov 1984, Israel; m. NITZA LIEBERMAN, 1963; b. 1940, Palestine.

NECHAMA QUATINSKY (aka Nechama Wittenberg)

NECHAMA QUATINSKY (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 1895 in Jerusalem, Palestine, and died 1985 in Israel. She married ABRAHAM BARUCH WITTENBERG. He was born about 1895 in Radomsk, Poland, immigrated to Palestine about 1920, and died about 1945 in Israel. He was a carpenter.

Erev Rosh Hashonnah - - Sept 3, 1939 - - Radomsk , Poland ... Approximately 70 of the Wittenberg’s remaining in Poland were gathered for a holiday dinner when the first bomb dropped on Poland in WWII fell on the building they were dining in. Everyone was killed.

During the time of the British Mandate of Palestine, Abraham Wittenberg was accidentally killed by a British army truck when it hit him and crushed him against a wall. He lived for about 5 days after the accident. At the time, his son David was in the British Navy. David made it back to Israel in time for his father's funeral. Abraham is buried near Mt. Scopus & Mount of Olives.

Children of NECHAMA QUATINSKY and ABRAHAM WITTENBERG are:

i. DAVID WITTENBERG, b. 29 Jul 1922, Palestine; m. SARAH KORLANSKY, 17 Apr 1951, Israel; b. Palestine. More about DAVID WITTENBERG: Occupation: carpenter

ii. ELIEZAR WITTENBERG, b. about 1923, Palestine; d. about 1928, Israel.

iii. YEHEZKEL WITTENBERG, b. 1925; m. TZEYEERA. More about YEHEZKEL WITTENBERG: Occupation: carpenter

iv. RACHEL WITTENBERG, b. about 1927, Palestine; d. Israel; m. BETZALEL UMINER; b. Palestine. RACHEL WITTENBERG died after her son Chiam was born. Her sister Leah raised her children after her death.

v. MALKA WITTENBERG, b. about 1929, Palestine; d. 2004, Israel; m. MOSHE LINDMAN; b. Israel.

vi. LEAH WITTENBERG, b. about 1931, Palestine; m. CHIAM FARKASH (PAZ); b. Israel.

ÜSee the WITTENBERG Family Tree

NOTE: Clicking on the link above will open an ADOBE .pdf file. To view the file you will need to have ADOBE installed on your PC. If necessary, follow the instructions on your screen to install ADOBE. You MAY need to close the ADOBE file to return to this site.

AARON QUATINSKY

AARON QUATINSKY (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born after 1899 in Palestine, and died about 1952 in Israel. He married SIMCHA FINKELSTEIN in Israel. She was born in Palestine, and died in Israel.

AARON QUATINSKY worked with his father in Jerusalem. He was a blacksmith.

Children of AARON QUATINSKY and SIMCHA FINKELSTEIN are:

i. AVRAHAM QUATINSKY, b. about 1922 in Palestine; m. TEACHER UNKNOWN; d. Wailing Wall, Jerusalem.

In 1948, AVRAHAM QUATINSKY was captured by the Syrians and was imprisoned for two years. He was an engineer and his wife was a teacher. She escorted a tour group to the Wailing Wall (Kotel) and she fell into a hole and died.

ii. LEAH QUATINSKY, b. about 1924 in Palestine ; d. Israel; m. AVIV ROSENZWEIG; d. Israel.

ITZRAK QUATINSKY

ITZRAK QUATINSKY (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born about 1901 in Palestine, and died in Jerusalem, Israel. He married SARAH STERN in Israel. She was born in Palestine, and died in Israel.

ITZRAK was captured and recruited by the Turks to serve in WWI - he served in the Ottoman army. He worked as a Real Estate Agent.

Children of ITZRAK QUATINSKY and SARAH STERN are:

i. MOSHE QUATINSKY, b. Israel; m. CHEVDA UNKNOWN; b. Poland. Occupation: Electrical Engineer

ii. BINA QUATINSKY, b. Israel; d. Israel; m. JOSHUA GROSSMAN; b. Israel; d. Israel.

iii. YOSEF QUATINSKY, b. about 1947, Israel; d. about 1965, Israel.

SHIFRA QUATINSKY (aka Shifra Stein)

SHIFRA QUATINSKY (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born 02 Aug 1902 in Israel, and died 13 Mar 1993 in Washington, DC (Source: Murray Stein) She married HYMIE STEIN 1926. He was born 27 Jul 1889 in Minsk, and died 1985 in Washington, DC.

In 1926, Hymie Stein went to Palestine to visit his mother. While he was there he met and married Shifra Quatinsky. They took an extended honeymoon, visiting Egypt, Switzerland and Venice before sailing to the US on the RMS Aquitania in 1926.

SHIFRA QUATINSKY immigrated to the US from Palestine in 1926. HYMIE STEIN immigrated to the US in 1909.

Children of SHIFRA QUATINSKY and HYMIE STEIN are:

i. MURRAY (MORDECAI) STEIN, b. 22 Mar 1927, Bronx, NY; m. (1) JEAN ROSENTHAL, 17 Jun 1951, Washington, DC; b. 17 Nov 1931; m. (2) MARYLEE CLARKE, b. 1962; m. (3) CAROL WOLK, 28 Nov 1992, Washington, DC; b. 12 Mar 1943.

ii. RUTH STEIN, b. 03 Jun 1931, Washington, DC; m. MARK SCHLOSBURG, 30 Mar 1952, Washington, DC; b. 10 Mar 1928.

NOTE: Murray makes stunning turned bowls and wooden and metal sculptures. He also paints. CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME OF MURRAY'S HANDIWORK or click here to see more on the Dallas Area's Woodturner's site. It is worth a look!

ZALMAN QUATINSKY

ZALMAN QUATINSKY (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born about 1906 in Palestine, and died in Israel. He married TZIPORA UNKNOWN. She was born in Palestine, and died in Israel.

ZALMAN worked in blacksmith shop with his father until they had an argument and then he opened his own shop.

Children of ZALMAN QUATINSKY and TZIPORA UNKNOWN are:

i. JOSHUA QUATINSKY, b. about 1926 in Palestine; d. 2002, Israel; m. MAZEL UNKNOWN. Occupation: Blacksmith

ii. RIFKA QUATINSKY, b. about 1928 in Palestine; m. PAUL UNKNOWN.

RIFKA QUATINSKY (aka Rifka Tiktin)

RIFKA QUATINSKY (PESHE 3 SAFER, HENACH 2 SEIFER, ZELIK ICKOVICH 1) was born about 1905 in Jerusalem, Palestine, and died in Israel. She married BOAZ TIKTIN. He was born 1903 in Palestine.

Children of RIFKA QUATINSKY and BOAZ TIKTIN are:

i. AMNON TIKTIN, b. about 1935 in Palestine, d. 1968 at age 30, Cause of Death: kidney problems

ii. YOSEF TIKTIN, b. about 1937 in Palestine, Israel; m. UNKNOWN UNKNOWN.

 

 

 

 
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