tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65522503341881964542024-03-14T11:52:25.902+02:00Eliyahu's BranchesUpdates of Chaim Freedman's book "Eliyahu's Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family" (Avotaynu 1997)Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-74023082929929628122018-08-23T19:32:00.000+03:002018-08-23T19:32:16.513+03:00Genetic master list for relatives of the Vilna Gaon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">By Chaim Freedman 23/08/2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="file:///C:/Users/chaim/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="140" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">The family of Chaim Freedman holds a
tradition of descent from the Vilna Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> T</o:p><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">his tradition was supported by oral
history conveyed by diverse relatives as well as persons who were familiar with
the family and knew of its claim to a relationship with the Vilna Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">A religious book passed down through
several generations of the family, included handwritten inscriptions which indicated
the manner of the relationship, namely descent from Ester, a daughter of the
Gaon’s second son Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Serei, Lithuania.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Full details of the evidence, before
DNA testing was used,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">is explained in Chaim Freedman’s
blog,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://eliyahusbranches.blogspot.com/2011/03/komisaruk-familys-descent-from-vilna.html"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://eliyahusbranches.blogspot.com/2011/03/komisaruk-familys-descent-from-vilna.html</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">With the advent of DNA testing as a
valuable aid in genealogical research, it is now possible to validate the
Komisaruk descent from the Vilna Gaon including relationships with some
prominent figures such as the President and the Prime Minister of Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">In 1997 Chaim authored a book
“Eliyahu’s Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family”
published by Avotaynu. The book recorded 20,000 relatives of the Gaon.
Following the distribution of the book extensive correspondence with about
10,000 potential relatives, yet to be recorded in Freedman’s database.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Chaim Freedman began his genetic
testing about ten years ago through the company Family Tree DNA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Knowing families whose descent from
the Gaon was definitely established, Chaim searched his database of DNA marches
and located a number of such families with whom he shared a genetic match.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Family Finder of Family Tree DNA
searches for markers on all of the autosomal chromosomes and measures the
degree of overlap with each individual in its database.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">An explanation can be studied on the
FTDNA site <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://www.familytreedna.com/products/family-finder"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.familytreedna.com/products/family-finder</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">In order to establish that his
matches were through the Komisaruk line of his ancestry, and not via other
lines such as his father, Chaim was granted access to two cousins’ databases:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">1) Mel Comisarow whose
great-grandfather Velvel Komisaruk was a brother to Chaim Freedman’s great
great grandfather Rabbi Pinchas Komisaruk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">2)Stella Krasik whose
great-grandmother Reizel Kogan was a sister to Chaim’s two great-grandfather’s
Meir Komisaruk (father of Chaim’s maternal grandmother Chana-Reizel
Komesaroff/Kaye) and Menachem-Mendel Komisaruk (father of Chaim’s maternal
grandfather Shlomo-Zalman Komesaroff/Kaye).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Thus, Chaim was doubly descended
from the Gaon through his mother’s Komisaruk two grandfathers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Oo1KPHorO0/W37glEDKSmI/AAAAAAAAH7o/5USzlq-FBgcNMxK8Xr8KfleY0jWQKzqfACLcBGAs/s1600/Chaim%2BFreedman%2Bdescent%2Bfrom%2BVilna%2BGaon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1133" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Oo1KPHorO0/W37glEDKSmI/AAAAAAAAH7o/5USzlq-FBgcNMxK8Xr8KfleY0jWQKzqfACLcBGAs/s400/Chaim%2BFreedman%2Bdescent%2Bfrom%2BVilna%2BGaon.jpg" width="282" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">A third line of descent is through
the Zmood family as can be seen from the attached chart, yet to be verified by
genetic testing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">These two cousins, Mel and Stella
also matched the same families, as did Chaim, known descendants of the Vilna
Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Chaim contacted several branches of
the Gaon’s family to add further proof to the relationships. These families
allowed Chaim to access their databases. Chaim discovered that such families
not only matched his DNA, but also matched each other. Thus, a genetic source
control established a means of testing the claims of families for a
relationship with the Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">In some cases, the families, which
held such a claim, were compared with Chaim’s list of genetically related
families and if there were no matches, it was established that those families
were not related to the Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">The connections appear in the
attached table which to date includes seventeen descendants of the Gaon through
his children and grandchildren and seven members of the Rivlin family,
descendants of the Gaon’s great uncle . In addition appears the Netanyahu
family reputedly descended from an unknown cousin of the cousin of the Gaon.
This genetic match confirms such a relationship although the identity of such a
cousin has not been established.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WukimMUp4Uk/W37gKmnAF4I/AAAAAAAAH7c/UjpFj94uEWswCeB1-QykyVF6D3zAoYMqQCLcBGAs/s1600/Gaon%2Bof%2BVilna%2BGenetic%2Bmatches_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1133" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WukimMUp4Uk/W37gKmnAF4I/AAAAAAAAH7c/UjpFj94uEWswCeB1-QykyVF6D3zAoYMqQCLcBGAs/s320/Gaon%2Bof%2BVilna%2BGenetic%2Bmatches_0002.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYTiGeiK0N4/W37f_ogt94I/AAAAAAAAH7Y/ypr6628q6z8hu3-8Hs4KliQt547oz3cWwCLcBGAs/s1600/Gaon%2Bof%2BVilna%2BGenetic%2Bmatches_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1133" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYTiGeiK0N4/W37f_ogt94I/AAAAAAAAH7Y/ypr6628q6z8hu3-8Hs4KliQt547oz3cWwCLcBGAs/s320/Gaon%2Bof%2BVilna%2BGenetic%2Bmatches_0001.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">A close match is Eli Eshed. His
grandmother was a daughter of Rabbi Eliyahu Landa, son of Elazar, son of
Yaakov-Moshe, son of Avraham, youngest son of the Vilna Gaon. Lists of
descendants of the Gaon were compiled by Eliyahu Landa when he visited them in
Europe and the USA in the early twentieth century. Having Eshed’s match with
the people on my list provides a DNA marker for claimed descent from the Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">An earlier ancestor of the Gaon,
Rabbi Moshe Kremer is represented by a match with his descendant, the late
Chief Rabbi of Israel, Isser Yehudah Unterman. So it seems that the ancestry of
the Gaon may be confirmed by the use of genetic matches between his ancestral
families and Freedman‘s genetic marker list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Chaim is currently searching for
other links based on families that appear in his book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">To add additional families to the
growing list of Vilna Gaon descendants whose descent can now be proven by DNA
testing Chaim is encouraging his relatives and others to do the test, only at
Family Tree DNA in order to endure matching with Chaim’s database.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://www.familytreedna.com/products/family-finder"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.familytreedna.com/products/family-finder</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Gary
Mokotoff asked:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">“Is
there a Vilna Gaon “gene”? That is, can a person tell if he is descended from
the Vilna Gaon by taking a DNA test?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Yes,
absolutely!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discussed this with a cousin who said, “We
don’t have the DNA of the Gaon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">But
we do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">All
the people on the list of my DNA testing matches carry the DNA that we received
from the Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">We
are preserving the DNA of the Vilna Gaon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">The
later Rebbitzen Devora Shternbuch, from whom is descended a prominent Charedi
rabbinical family, once commented when she heard people boasting of their
ancestry, “Yichus alone is not enough. It is obligating !”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Caveat:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363636; font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The principle upon which the above research is based takes into
account the statistical probability that two persons whose DNA matches each
other, to <b><i>whatever degree of centimorgans</i>,</b> and who also match
people who all genetically match each other, and hold a tradition of descent from
the Vilna Gaon or his blood relatives, provides scientific <b>evidence of their
relationship with the Vilna Gaon</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "narkisim" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-16867125790488747142011-03-31T09:51:00.002+02:002011-04-06T11:07:52.554+03:00Telza, the Mother of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Telza, the mother of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas.</span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(updated 30.03.2011)</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My article "Ancestry of the Gaon of Vilna – Descent from King David" was published in "Avotaynu" Volume XXI, Number 3, Fall 2005. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hebrew translation by Benyamin Pantelat </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <a href="http://toladot.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://toladot.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Further research provides<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a possible explanation for the confusion between Moshe Rivkas' father's identity as Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer of <city w:st="on">Prague</city> or Hersh Fass of <place w:st="on">Krakow</place>.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I discussed the identity of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas' mother:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">"</span><span class="Indent-Kill"><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Little is known about the Gaon's female ancestors. There are two versions as to the identity of Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer's wife. Shapira</span></i></span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></b></span></span></span></i></span></a><span class="Indent-Kill"><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>refers to Naftali as Tzvi Hersh Fass and records his wife's name as Rivka, a daughter of Natan Mandel, son of Meir of <place w:st="on">Krakow</place>. </span></span></i></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span class="Indent-Kill"><i><span dir="ltr" style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But Hersh Fass lived in Krakow, whereas the father of Moshe Rivkas, Naftali Tzvi Hersh lived in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Prague</place></city> where he held the position as Sofer (scribe) of the Kahal.i Hersh Fasi held a position as Parnes Umanhig (a community leader) in <place w:st="on">Krakow</place>. Kahana</span></span></i></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><i><span dir="ltr" style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></b></span></span></span></i></span></a><span class="Indent-Kill"><i><span dir="ltr" style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> lists the children of Hersh Fass but the name of Moshe Rivkas is not included. Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer died in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Prague</city></place> in 1601, whereas <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hersh Fass is recorded in the Pinkas Hakahal (a community register book) in 1632. Therefore it can be seen that Shapira has confused two individuals. A possible explanation for the confusion may be due to the fact that Fass ' son Leib was the father-in-law (by his first marriage) of Rabbi Gershon Ashkenazi of Nikolsberg and <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Vienna</place></city> (1615-1693, author of Avodat Hagershuni) who referred to Moshe Rivkas as his “Mekhutan” (meaning that their children were married) in Gershon’s approbation to Rivkas’ Be’er Hagolah"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Benymin Rivlin</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> identifies Moshe Rivkas' mother:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCV43umTZMM/TZQt2twroNI/AAAAAAAAEMw/W7uZmdSytLg/s1600/B+Rivlin+Teltza+mother+Rivkas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCV43umTZMM/TZQt2twroNI/AAAAAAAAEMw/W7uZmdSytLg/s400/B+Rivlin+Teltza+mother+Rivkas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt;">About Reb Naftali Hirsh Sofer of the Holy Community of Prague, son of Reb Petakhiah, related his son Reb Moshe Rivkas, in the above introduction </span></i><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt;">[to his book Be’er Hagolah] <i>that “he drew water and served before the rabbi the Gaon our teacher the Rabbi Reb Falk Katz of blessed memory in the Holy Community of Lvov, after his marriage, in the year 5356 and 5357 </i>[1596 and 1597], <i>and there edited the Shulkhan Arukh and wrote at the side some matters from the Shulkhan Arukh of the above rabbi the Gaon of blessed memory.</i></span></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt;">His wife was Mrs. <b>Telza – </b>of the root of the Gaon <b>Reb Shaul Wahl, </b>and apparently he was “His Honor Hirsh the son of the master the honorable Petakhiah Sofer, tender in years, Sofer son of Sofer, who passed away in Elul 5361 </span></i><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt;">[1601]<b> </b><i>in Prague.</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This reference to Telza, Moshe Rivkas’ mother, appeared prior to Benyamin Rivlin’s comment in 1971, in 1900 in Bentzion Eizenstadt’s <i>Dor Rabanav Vesofraf</i></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NNlsq68a_lY/TZQwaN9kxlI/AAAAAAAAEM0/vXsVlTpgKnk/s1600/Dor+rabbanav+Vesofrav+Telza0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NNlsq68a_lY/TZQwaN9kxlI/AAAAAAAAEM0/vXsVlTpgKnk/s320/Dor+rabbanav+Vesofrav+Telza0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rivlin refers to other relatives of Moshe Rivkas</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B47vQnkcVJk/TZQwi2Ws8zI/AAAAAAAAEM4/Qx4bdQlyuN8/s1600/B+Rivlin++relatives+Rivkes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B47vQnkcVJk/TZQwi2Ws8zI/AAAAAAAAEM4/Qx4bdQlyuN8/s400/B+Rivlin++relatives+Rivkes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i><span dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial;">c. According to Rabbi Moshe in Be’er Hagolah his relatives were the Rabbi Reb Yeshaya Horowitz, the author of Shnei Lukhot Habrit (43) and the Rabbi Mordekhai Krasnik of the holy community of Zeil (44.</span></span></i></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><i><span dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial;">d. The Rabbi the Gaon our teacher the Rabbi Reb Gershon Ashkenazi Av Beit Din of Nikolsberg and Vienna, who was among the approbants to the book of Reb Moshe, writes of him that he was his Mekhutan.</span></span></i></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><i><span dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(43). Be’er Hagolah, Orakh Khaim 645, 7, 30 and see there Khoshen Mishpat 67, 68.</span></span></i></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><i><span dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(44). Ibid, Orakh Khaim 586. 1. 5.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MuU8p_t5eTo/TZQwxxJAi1I/AAAAAAAAEM8/XeXY2dCJXQA/s1600/Shulkhan+Arukh+Or+Kh+Rivkes+Krasnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MuU8p_t5eTo/TZQwxxJAi1I/AAAAAAAAEM8/XeXY2dCJXQA/s1600/Shulkhan+Arukh+Or+Kh+Rivkes+Krasnik.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><shape id="_x0000_i1028" o:ole="" style="height: 150.75pt; width: 108pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.png"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Questioned my relative the Rabbi Reb Mordekhai Krasnik P of the Holy Community K</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> [an abbreviation which may mean Parnes of the Holy Community of Krakow]<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy2VKOyyc7w/TZQw9R5oRiI/AAAAAAAAENA/MfVIZ5GsomA/s1600/Klilat+Yofi+krasnik+10001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy2VKOyyc7w/TZQw9R5oRiI/AAAAAAAAENA/MfVIZ5GsomA/s320/Klilat+Yofi+krasnik+10001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Moshe Rivkas' father was clearly identified by Moshe Rivkas in his introduction to "Be'er Hagolah" as Naftali Hersh Sofer of <city w:st="on">Prague</city> who died in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Prague</place></city> in 1601. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><shape id="_x0000_i1030" style="height: 153.75pt; width: 252pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Rivkas ancestry from B Rivlin0001" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image011.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDEpr6J09UY/TZQxIYVWUvI/AAAAAAAAENE/Ea16mBQrufE/s1600/Rivkas+ancestry+from+B+Rivlin0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDEpr6J09UY/TZQxIYVWUvI/AAAAAAAAENE/Ea16mBQrufE/s320/Rivkas+ancestry+from+B+Rivlin0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Moshe Rivkas was then a young boy of five. His mother was a young widow aged about twenty one. It is reasonable to assume that she remarried.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hersh Fass' first wife Rivka, daughter of Natan Mandel died in 1606. She was the mother of Leib Fass whose daughter married Gershon Ashkenazy (also know as Ulif and Fass, 1615-1693) who is referred to by Moshe Rivkas as "Mekhutani"</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">. In modern times this term indicates the relationship between the parents of a married couple. In the rabbinic literature it indicates any relationship by marriage.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><shape id="_x0000_i1031" style="height: 82.5pt; width: 306pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Moshe Rivkas Gershon Ashkenazy0001" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image013.png"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b8LQUrDqvnc/TZQxSYvojqI/AAAAAAAAENI/w8yVF-Xd-mA/s1600/Moshe+Rivkas+Gershon+Ashkenazy0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b8LQUrDqvnc/TZQxSYvojqI/AAAAAAAAENI/w8yVF-Xd-mA/s400/Moshe+Rivkas+Gershon+Ashkenazy0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hersh Fass' second wife was "Teltzel"</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> who managed the considerable fortune left by her husband.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X56P5RL-jZs/TZQxdMc_DiI/AAAAAAAAENM/XR1LTxKL1Z0/s1600/Fass+Telza0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X56P5RL-jZs/TZQxdMc_DiI/AAAAAAAAENM/XR1LTxKL1Z0/s320/Fass+Telza0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Details of Mordekhai Krasnik, referred to by Moshe Rivkas as "She'ar Besari" meaning a blood relative state that Rivkas lived in Krakow "among his relatives" before he settled in Vilna.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><shape id="_x0000_i1033" style="height: 149.25pt; width: 259.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Krasnik 20001" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image017.png"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5RmLohLzcs/TZQxmm10D6I/AAAAAAAAENQ/wc9nCEv5sdI/s1600/Krasnik+20001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5RmLohLzcs/TZQxmm10D6I/AAAAAAAAENQ/wc9nCEv5sdI/s320/Krasnik+20001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Since Fass' first wife died in1606, and since Moshe Rivkas' father's wife, also claimed to be Telza, was left a widow in 1601, it is possible that she moved to <place w:st="on">Krakow</place> where lived a relative Mordekhai Krasnik, and there became the second wife of Hersh Fass.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thus the apparent contraditions in the sources as to the identity of Moshe Rivkas' father as either Nafatli Tzvi Sofer of <city w:st="on">Prague</city> or Hersh Fass of <place w:st="on">Krakow</place>, arose from the possibility that <b>Fass was Rivkas' step-father from his mother Telza's second marriage.</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This also explains the term "mekhutan" used by Rivlas to refer to Gershon Ashkenazy who was a son-in-law to Rivkas' step-brother Leib Fass.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><shape id="_x0000_i1034" style="height: 226.5pt; width: 414.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Sofer Fass Rivkas Ashkenazy0001" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image019.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoLaUwzSBbo/TZQx2MWODLI/AAAAAAAAENU/Xdv1AOrl4vQ/s1600/Sofer+Fass+Rivkas+Ashkenazy0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoLaUwzSBbo/TZQx2MWODLI/AAAAAAAAENU/Xdv1AOrl4vQ/s400/Sofer+Fass+Rivkas+Ashkenazy0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Additional Notes:</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1) Eliyahu Landa's notes on the family of the Vilna Gaon do not mention the above relationships.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2) "Sefer Yukhsin" by Ch.Y.D Weiss (2007) confuses the relationships.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3) Gershon Ashkenazy in his book "Avodat Hagershuni" refers also to Rabbi Shabtai Hakohen the "Shakh" as "mekhutni". This may be explained by the fact that Ashkenazy's father-in-law Leib Fass had a sister who married Moshe Leizers, a nephew of Moshe Isserles, the "Rema", whose great-great-grand-daughter was the wife of the Shakh. </span></span></div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><br />
<strong><u>Sources:</u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> Shapira, Yaakov Leib. <i>Mishpakhot Atikot Beyisrael</i>. Tel Aviv 1981.</span></div></div><div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kahana, S.Z. <i>Anaf Etz Avot.</i> <place w:st="on">Krakow</place> 1903.<span dir="rtl" lang="HE"></span></span></span></div></div><div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rivlin, Benyamin. <i>Reb Moshe Rivkas</i>. <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Jerusalem</place></city> 1971<span dir="rtl" lang="HE"></span></span></span></div></div><div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Eizenstadt, Bentzion. <i>Dor rabanav Vesofrav.</i> Vilna 1900.<span dir="rtl" lang="HE"></span></span></span></div></div><div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fishman-Maimon, Yehuda Leib. <i>Sefer Hagra.</i> <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Jerusalem</city></place>, 1954.<span dir="rtl" lang="HE"></span></span></span></div></div><div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Dembitzer, Chaim Natan, <place w:st="on">Krakow</place> 1893</span></div></div><div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Yeshurum"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1999,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>page 685 article by Betzalel Landau, originally published in "Hamodia" in Av 1964, "Rabbi Moshe Rivkas – author of "Be'er Hagolah", <span dir="rtl" lang="HE"></span></span></span></div></div><div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dembitzer, Chaim Natan, <place w:st="on">Krakow</place> 1893.<span dir="rtl" lang="HE"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<hr align="right" size="1" width="33%" /></div></div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-54259058648695972082011-03-28T13:10:00.003+02:002011-03-28T19:27:36.128+02:00Bibliography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Alfasi, Yitskhak. "Sefer Hayakhas Lebeit Eliash". 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Census of Jews in Eretz Yisrael in 1839.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerusalem, 1987.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מיפקד יהודי ארץ ישראל 1839</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Australian Jewish Historical Society - Journal Vol.XII 1993.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Avodat Hakohen". Warsaw 1889.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עבודת הכהן</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Avraham, ben Eliyahu. "Saarat Eliyahu". Grodno, 1876.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">סערת אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Avraham, ben Eliyahu. "Targum Avraham". Jerusalem, 1896</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תרגום אברהם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Avraham, ben Eliyahu. "Rav Pealim". Warsaw, 1894.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">רב פעלים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Balaban, M. "Dzieje Zydow w Krakowie i na Kazimierzu". Krakow, 1912.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Barzin, A.Z. "Kedushe Tarpat".Jerusalem, 1930.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">קדושי תרפ"ט</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bayuk, Y.M. "Emunat Torat Moshe". USA c.1920.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 3.95pt; text-indent: -28.4pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אמונת תורת משה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Behrman, S. "Mishpakhot K.K. Shklov". Jerusalem, 1936.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">משפחות ק"ק שקלוב</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Beider, A. "A Dictionary Of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teaneck, NJ. USA. 1993.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Beilinson,M.E."Megilat Yukhsin".Odessa, 1863.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מגילת יוחסין</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">copy of original manuscript from the archive of the late Shmuel Gorr. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Beilinson,M.E. "Shlomei Emunei Yisrael". Odessa 1898</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שלומי אמוני ישראל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bloch. Avraham David. "Divrei Eliyahu" .Lakewood, N.J. USA.1947</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דברי אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bloch, Avraham David. "Tzitzit Hakanaf". Vilna, 1934.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ציצית הכנף</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Boyarsky, Tsvi Hersh. "Tosefet Shabat". Warsaw, 1886.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תוספת שבת</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Braverman,V. "Sefer Anshei Shem". Warsaw, 1892.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר אנשי שם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Brisk, Asher Leib. "Khelkat Mekhokek". Jerusalem 1910-c.1919</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">חלקת מחוקק</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">British Consular records in Jerusalem.Gorr archive.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bunimowitz, David." Mikhtav Mieliyahu". Vilna 1902</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מכתב מאליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Buber, Shlomo. "Anshei Shem". Krakow, 1895.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אנשי שם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Charlap, Heiman."Yalkut Maaravi" . New York, 1905</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ילקוט מערבי</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cohen, C.G. "The Shtetl Finder". Los Angeles, 1980.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cygielman, S.A. "Yehudei Polin Lita ad 1645". The Jews of Poland and Lithuania until 1645. Jerusalem, 1991</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">יהודי פולין ליטא עד 1645</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dansky, Miriam. "Gateshead". Israel 1992.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Danzig, Avraham. "Khokhmat Adam". Vilna, 1828.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">חכמת אדם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dembitzer. "Klilat Yofi". Krakow, 1888.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">כלילת יופי</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Der Soite-Afrikanisher Yahrbuk" -1920 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Dictionary of National Biography" (1922-1930)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Dictionary of National Biography" (1951-1960) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Don Yechia, Bentzion. "Lekutei Megadim". Latvia, c.1930</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">לקוטי מגדים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dubnow, Shimon. "History of the Jews in Russia and Poland". Philadelphia, 1916.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Edelman, T.H. "Gedulat Shaul". London, 1854.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">גדולת שאול</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Efrati, David. "Toldot Anshei Shem" .Warsaw 1875</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תולדות אנשי שם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Efrati, Eliezer."Dor vedorshav". Vilna 1889. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דור ודורשיו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ehrenburg, Ilya."The Black Book". USSR.1980</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eizenstadt, B."Dorot Haakhronim". Brooklyn 1937.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דורות אחרונים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eizenstadt, B. "Dor Rabanav Vesofrav". Vilna, 1900.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דור רבניו וסופריו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eizenstadt, B."Letoldot Yisrael Beamerica" . New York, 1917.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">לתולדות ישראל באמריקה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eizenstadt, B. "Rabbanei Minsk". Vilna 1899</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">רבני מינסק</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eizenstadt,Y.T."Daat Kedoshim".St Petersburg 1898.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דעת קדושים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna. "Aderet Eliyahu". Dubrovno, 1804.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אדרת אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna - commentary on "Bamidbar", "Devarim". Vilna 1866.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פירוש הגר"א על ספר במדבר ועל ספר דברים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna. "Derekh Selula". Vilna, 1826.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דרך סלולה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna. "Kane Khokhma". Vilna-Horodno, 1829.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">קני חכמה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna. "Mikhtav Eliyahu". Prague, 1811.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מכתב אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna.- commentary on "Mishlei". Vilna, 1803; Prague, 1814.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פירוש הגר"א על משלי</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna. "Yahel Or veNefesh David". Vilna, 1882.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">יהל אור ונפש דוד</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna - commentary on "Shulkhan Arukh, Orakh Khaim". Shklov,1803.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פירוש הגר"א על שולחן ארוך אורך חיים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the gaon of Vilna - commentary on "Shulkhan Arukh, Even Haezer".Vilna, 1819.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פירוש הגר"א על שולחן ארוך אבן העזר</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eliyahu, the gaon of Vilna - commentary on "Shulkhan Arukh, Yorei<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deah".Horodno 1806</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פירוש הגר"א על שולחן ארוך יורה דעה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna - commentary on "Shir Hashirim".Warsaw 1842.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פירוש הגר"א על שיר השירים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Encyclopedia Judaica".</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Encyclopedia Shel Galuyot - Warsaw". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אנציקלופדיה של גלויות</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Farfel, Y.L. & Bloch, A.D. "Divrei Eliyahu". Lakewood, USA. 1947.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דברי אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Feingold, Stephen W. "From Raseyn to Worcester: The Generations of Gershon Mendele Ziv".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>USA. 1983.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Feinstein, A.L. "Ir Tehillah". Warsaw, 1880.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עיר תהילה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Feinstein, Michel & Waxman, Nissan. "Maalot Hatorah". New York 1946</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מעלות התורה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Includes biography and details of family compiled by Prof. Louis Ginsberg. An<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>edition published by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tsvi Luria (Jerusalem 1947) has notes by Eliyahu Landau.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Feivelson, Barukh Moshe. "Birkhot Moshe". Jerusalem 1994</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ברכות משה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finfer, Pesakh. "Torah Mitzion" .Jerusalem, 1898.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תורה מציון</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finfer, Yitskhak. "Divrei Yitskhak". Pietrikov 1911.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דברי יצחק</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finkelman, S. and Scherman, N."Reb Moshe".Brooklyn 1986.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finn, Shmuel Yosef. "Kiryah Neemanah". Vilna 1860.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">קריה נאמנה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finn, Shmuel Yosef. "Knesset Yisrael". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">כנסת ישראל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Fishman-Maimon, Yehuda Leib. "Sefer Hagra". Jerusalem 1954.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר הגר"א</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Foner, Sarah Feiga."Mizikhronot Yemei Yalduti".Warsaw 1903</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מזכרונות ימי ילדותי</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Freedman, Chaim."Our Fathers' Harvest".Petah Tikvah 1982, supplement 1990.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Friedenstein, S.E. "Ir Giborim". Vilna, 1880.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עיר גבורים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Friedman, Natan Tsvi. "Otsar Harabbanim". Bneir Brak 1975.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אוצר הרבנים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Friedman,P.and Gliksman,P.Z."Stary Cmentarz Zydowski w Lodzi"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lodz 1938.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Frumkin, Y.L. "Toldot Khakhmei Yerushalayim". Vilna, 1874.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תולדות חכמי ירושלים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Funk & Wagnalls. "The Jewish Encyclopedia".</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gervitz, M. "In Our Leaders' Footsteps". Jerusalem, 1965.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gilbert, Martin. "Atlas of the Holocaust". London, 1982.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ginzberg, Louis."Students,Scholars<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Saints".New York, 1958.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gorr, Shmuel. "Jewish Personal Names, Their Origin, Derivation and Diminutive Forms."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teaneck, NJ. USA.1992.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gorr, Shmuel."Yiddishkeit" Issue No.2.(Jer. 1986)."From Kelme to Melbourne"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gorr, Shmuel - archive. Records of Safed Khevra Kaddisha</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gottleib, Noakh. "Ohalei Shem". Pinsk 1912</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אוהלי שם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Grad Family Newsletter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Grayevsky, Pinkhas. "Zikharon Lekhovevim Rishonim". Jerusalem, 1928</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">זכרונות לחובבים ראשונים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Greenbaum, Masha. "The Jews Of Lithuania". Jerusalem, 1995.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Haaretz", Hebrew newspaper. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הארץ</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Haasif", Hebrew newspaper, 1886.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">האסיף</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Haavar", journal of Russian Jewish history. Tel Aviv. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">העבר</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hacarmel" - Hebrew newspaper</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הכרמל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hakohen Zadok."Pri Tsadik".Lublin 1901. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פרי צדיק</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt; text-indent: -28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Halevanon", Hebrew newspaper. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הלבנון</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Halevy, Zev. "Emek Halakhah". Vilna, 1845.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm; text-indent: -28.4pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עמק הלכה</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm; text-indent: -28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hamaggid", Hebrew newspaper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">המגיד</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hamelitz", Hebrew newspaper</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">המליץ</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hatsefirah", Hebrew newspaper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הצפירה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hatzofeh" Hebrew newspaper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הצופה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Heilprin, S.E. "Sefer Hatsetzaim shel Rabbenu Shneour Zalmen Miladi". Book of the Descendants of Rabbi Shneur Zalmen of Liadi. Jerusalem, 1980.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר הצאצאים של רבנו שניאור זלמן מלאדי</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Heilprin, Y. "Pinkas Vaad Arbah Artzot". Jerusalem, 1945.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פינקס ועד ארבע ארצות</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hirschman, Ira. "Caution to the Winds". New York 1962</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Horowitz, Elyakim, Getzel."Torat Hamitzvah". Warsaw 1908</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תורת המצוה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Horowitz, Tsvi. "Kitvei Hagaonim". Pietrikov, 1928.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">כתבי הגאונים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Horowitz, Y.M."Gidul Tzion". Jerusalem 1910.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">גידול ציון</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Idisher Bilder" Riga 18.2.1938.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אידישער בילדער</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jewish Encyclopedia - Funk & Wagnall </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jung, Leo. "Jewish Leaders". Jerusalem, 1953.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kadishowitz, Kalmen Yitskhak."Toldot Yitskhak". Keidan, 1937.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תולדות יצחק</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kagan, Berel. "Sefer Haprenumeranten". New York, 1975.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר הפרענומעראנטען</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kagan, Berel."Shtet und Shtetlach be Lita". New York, 1991</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שטעט אונד שטעטלאך בליטא</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kahan, Barukh."Sefer Hazikaron".New York 1920</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר הזכרון</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kahana, S.Z. "Anaf Etz Avot". Krakow, 1903.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ענף עץ אבות</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kahanowitz, M. "Sefer Zikaron lekehilat Ivia". Tel Aviv, 1968.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר הזכרון לקהילת איביה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kantorovitch, Avraham. "Shelosha Mimishpakha Akhat". Israel c.1963</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שלושה ממשפחה אחת</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Karlinsky, Kh. "Harishon Leshoshelet Brisk". Jerusalem, 1984.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הראשון לשושלת בריסק</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Katz, Dov. "Mussar Movement". Tel Aviv, 1975.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Khaim ben Simkha."Retzon Yereyim".Vilna 1859.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">רצון יראים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Khaklaim Yehudiim Bearbvot Russia". Jewish Agriculturalists on the Russian Steppe. Tel Aviv,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1965.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">חקלאים יהודיים בערבות רוסיה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Khaver, Y. "Aderet Eliyahu". Tel Aviv, 1955.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אדרת אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Khevra Kadisha Anshei Maamad" - register of Vilna burial society, 1836-1904. Gorr archive.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">חברה קדישה אנשי מעמד</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Klarsfeld, S. "Memorial to the Jews Deported from France". New York, 1983.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Klausner, Yisrael. "Korot Beit Haalmin Hayashan Bevilna". The sources of the old cemetery in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vilna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vilna, 935.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">קורות בית העלמין הישן בווילנה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Klausner, Yisrael. "Toldot Hakehilah Haivrit Bevilna". Vilna, 1935.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תולדות הקהילה העברימ בווילנה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Klausner, Yisrael. "Hapulmus hapenimi Bekehilat Vilna". Jerusalem, 1940.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הפולמוס הפנימי בקהילת ווילנא</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kovno Khevra Kaddisha registers - Gorr archive (Chaim Freedman).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kroll, Tsvi & Linman, Tzadok."Beit Hakvarot Hayashan BeTel Aviv".Tel Aviv 1940</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">בית הקברות הישן בתל אביב</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Klyaza, M.Z. "Tov Lezikaron". Vilna, 1896.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">טוב לזכרון</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kossowsky-Shachor, Yaakov."Masoret Shaul".Bnei Brak, 1981.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מסורת שאול</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kremer, Hillel. "Divrei Hillel". Pietrykov, 1898.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דברי הלל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Landau, Betzalel. "Hagaon Hakhassid Mivilna".Jerusalem 1978.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הגאון החסיד מוילנא</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Landau, Betzalel. "The Vilna Gaon". translated and edited by Y. Rosenblum. New York, 1994.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Landau, Eliyahu. "Maaseh Rav". Jerusalem, 1896.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מעשה רב</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Levin, Yehoshua Heshel. "Aliyot Eliyahu". Vilna, 1855.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עליות אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Levy, Arnold. "The Behr Tree". Taunton, England, 1949.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lewin, Y. "Eleh Ezkereh". New York, 1957.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אלה אזכרה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lipman, D.M. "Toldot Hayehudim beKovno veSlobodka". Keidan, 1931.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">לתולדות היהודים בקובנה וסלובודקה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lipshitz, A.L. "Avot Ateret Levanim". Warsaw, 1927.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אבות עטרת לבנים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lipshitz, Yaakov. "Zikhron Yaakov"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">זכרון יעקב</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Lita", New York, 1951,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ליטע</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Luakh Akhiasaf", 1899.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">לוח אחיאסף</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luntz, Yehuda Leib. "Kovetz Shoshanim". Warsaw, 1892.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">קובץ שושנים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luria, Shaul."Ateret Shaul". Vilna, 1841</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עטרת שאול</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luria, Tsvi. ed."Maalot hatorah" (by Avraham Ragoler). Jerusalem 1947.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מעלות התורה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Otsar Yisrael" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אוצר ישראל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Maggid, David. "Toldot Mishpakhat Ginzberg". St.Petersburg, 1899.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תולדות משפחת גינצבורג</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mandelbaum, Simkha. "Asara Dorot Be-Eretz Yisrael". Jerusalem, 1994.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עשרה דורות בארץ ישראל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Margolis, M.L. & Marx, A. "A History of the Jewish People". Philadelphia, 1963.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Markovitch, Moshe. "Lekorot Hair Keidan Urabbaneha". Warsaw, 1913.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">לקורות העיר קיידאן ורבניה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Markovitch, Moshe. "Lekorot Hair Rassein Urabbaneha". Warsaw, 1913.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">לקורות העיר ראסיין ורבניה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Markovitch, Moshe. "Shem Hagedolim Hashlishi". Vilna, 1910.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שם הגדולים השלישי</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Menton, Arthur. "The Book Of Destiny: Toledot Charlap". Cold Spring Harbour, N.Y. USA. 1996</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Michelson, T.Y. "Beit Yekhezkel". Pietrikov, 1924.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">בית יחזקאל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Misgav Ladakh" - records of old age home in Jerusalem. Gorr archive.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">משגב לדך</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mokotoff, Gary & Sack, Sallyann. "Where Once We Walked". Teaneck, NJ. USA. 1991.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Montefiore Census 1839,1866, 1875.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Morgenstern, A."Geulah Bederekh Hatevah".Jerusalem, 1989.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">גאולה בדרך הטבע</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Morgenstern, A."Meshikhut Veyishuv Eretz Yisrael". Jerusalem, 1985.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">משיחות וישוב ארץ ישראל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Moshe, ben Yehuda Leib of Pinsk. "Shnot Eliyahu". Lemberg, 1799; Warsaw, 1860.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שנות אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Nature" Vol 339, 1989 - "New Light on the Lysenko era". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Neumark, Avraham Yaakov. "Eshel Avraham"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אשל אברהם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nikitin,N."Yevreiski Zemlyedeltsi" Jewish Agriculturalists. St.Petersburg, 1887.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ovchinsky, Levi. "Nakhalat Avot". Vilna, 1894.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">נחלת אבות</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Pinkas Hakehilot - Lita" - Yad Vashem, Jerusalem,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1996,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פנקס הקהילות - ליטא</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Pinkas Hakhevra Kaddisha DePraga" - 1788-1870.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פנקס החברה קדישא דפראגא</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minutes of a burial society<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the Praga district of Warsaw. Original manuscript held by "The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Central<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Archives for the History of the Jewish People", Jerusalem, Israel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Pinkas Klois Hagra" - the minutes of the Gaon's study circle - manuscript<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>held by the "Central<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Archives For The History Of the Jewish People"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פנקס קלויז הגר"א</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Pinkas Khevra Kadisha Slutsk" - records of the burial society in Slutsk, Byelorussia, c.1650-1925.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">פנקס חברה קדישא סלוצק</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pinkhas ben Azriel. "Nakhalat Azriel". Grodno 1817 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">נחלת עזריאל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Project Chicago". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Records of donations from Chicago Jews to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the settlers in Eretz Yisrael during the nineteenth and early<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>twentieth century, published in "Shemesh Tzedakah" and researched by Shmuel Gorr with notes by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charles Bernstein (Chicago).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabinowicz, H. "The World Of Hasidism". London, 1970.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabinowitsch, W.Z. "Lithuanian Hasidism". London, 1970.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabinowitz, Meir Mikhel."Meir Leolam" - Vilna, 1903.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מאיר לעולם</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ragoler, Avraham. "Maalot Hatorah". Vilna, 1824.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מעלות התורה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ragoler, Shlomo Zalmen."Beit Avot", Berlin 1889<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">בית אבות</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ran, Leyzer. "Yerushalayim Delita". New York, 1974. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ירושלים דליטע</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rapaport, David. "Tsemakh David". Keidan 1925.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">צמח דוד</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivlin, Benyamin. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personal archive containing his research, that of his father Eliezer Rivlin, and genealogical lists of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rabbi Eliyahu Landau. Jerusalem. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivlin, Benyamin. :Reb Moshe Rivkas". Jerusalem. 1971</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ר' משה רבקש</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivlin, Eliezer."Sefer Hayakhas Lemishpakhat Rivlin veHaGaon miVilna." Jerusalem, 1935.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר היחס למשפחת ריבלין ומשפחות הגר"א מווילנא, אליש, ראש-יוסף ולידא</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivlin, Eliezer. "Hatzadik Reb Yosef Zundel MiSalant Verabotav".Jerusalem, 1927.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">הצדיר ר' יוסף זונדל מסלנט ורבותיו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivlin, Kh.Z. "Khazon Tzion". Tel Aviv, 1947.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">חזון ציון</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rosenblum, Yehoshua Mordekhai. "Heavar" Tel Aviv, 1965.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">העבר</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rosenstein, E. & N. "Latter Day Leaders, Sages and Scholars". Elizabeth, NY. USA. 1983.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rozenkranz, A. "Sefer Yukhsin". Warsaw, 1885.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר יוחסיו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sackheim, George. "Scattered Seed". USA. 1986.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Samsonowitz, Miriam."Grandma".Israel, 1994.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Schechter, Solomon. "Studies In Judaism". New York, 1958.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Schwartz, Pinkhas Zelig."Shem Hagdolim". New York 1958.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שם הגדולים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Sefer Zgierz". Tel Aviv, 1975.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ספר זגירז</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Selavan, Ida. "In Search of Sarah Menkin Foner"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Shabad, Avraham Khaim. "Toldot Hayamin". Vilna, 1904.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תולדות הימים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Shapira, Yaakov Leib. "Mishpakhot Atikot Beyisrael" Ancient Families of Israel. Tel Aviv, 1981.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">משפחות עתיקות בישראל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Shemesh Tzedakah" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שמש צדקה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- records of donors and recipients of funds supporting Jewish settlers in Eretz Yisrael - 1884-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1924.Gorr archive held by Chaim Freedman.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Shverdsharf, M.Y. "Nakhalat Yesharim". Sziget, 1903.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">נחלת ישרים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sieff, Israel (Lord), memoirs</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Sinai" 1961. Mossad Harav Kook, Jerusalem. - article by Benyamin Rivlin about the children of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">סיני</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sirkis, Pinkhas."Ish Haemunah". Tel Aviv, Israel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">איש האמונה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Slush, David. "Reshit David". Warsaw, 1881 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">ראשית דוד</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Steinshneider, H."Ir Vilna".Vilna 1900</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עיר ווילנא</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Stern, Y.Z. "Zekher Leyehosef".Warsaw. 1898.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">זכר ליהוסף</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sternberg, S."Heter Tarmat". Tel Aviv 1986 </span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">היתר תרמ"ט</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sternbuch Family, "Shirat Devorah". Bnei Brak, Israel, 1994</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">שירת דבורה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Teller, Hanoch."The Lion's Share, Reb Leib Gurewitz."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The Age", newspaper, Melbourne, Australia.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The Anixter family".</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Jewish Agency." Register of Jewish Survivors". Jerusalem,1945.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The Jewish News", newspaper, Melbourne, Australia.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The Times", newspaper, London, England.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Tidhar, D. "Encyclopedia lekhalutsei hayishuv ubonav". Tel Aviv, 1947.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אנציקלופדיה לחלוצי הישוב ובוניה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Toldot Kehilat Pinsk 1506-1880".History of the community of Pinsk 1506-1880. Tel Aviv, 1973.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תולדות קהילת פינסק 1506-1880</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Treves, H.D. "Avodat Hakohen". Warsaw, 1889.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עבודת הכהן</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Wasserman, Yosef Zundel. "Megilat Hayakhas". Tel Aviv, 1957.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מגילת היחס</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Weinkle, Marcus Joseph,memoirs 1928,edited by Charlotte Chassin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jamesburg, N.J. USA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Who's Who in America 1972"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Who's Who in America" 1955</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Who's Who In Israel" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Wilensky, Mordekhai. "Khassidim Umitnagdim". Jerusalem, 1970.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">חסידים ומתנגדים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Wolf, V. "Der Geshikhte fun di Yidden in Lettland'. The History of the Jews in Latvia.Riga, 1923.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">דער געשיכטע פון דער יידן אין לעטלאנד</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Wolkovisker Yizkor Book" - New York 1949.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">וואקאוויסקער יזכור בוך</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Wunder, Meir. "Elef Margaliot". Jerusalem, 1993.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אלף מרגליות</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Yaari, E. "Igrot Eretz Yisrael". Ramat Gan, Israel, 1971.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אגרות ארץ ישראל</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yahadut Latvia". Latvian Jewry. Tel Aviv, 1953.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">יהדות לטביה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yahadut Lita". Tel Aviv, 1967.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">יהדות ליטה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Yedaya, ben Avraham. "Or Khakhamin". Horodno, 1795.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">אור חכמים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Yevnin, S. "Nakhalat Olamin". Warsaw 1882</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">נחלת עולמים</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Zagorske-Menkin, Efraim. "Torat Almavet". Vilna 1860.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">תורת אל-מוות</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Zandman, Felix."In a Hole Under the Floor"Anti Defamation League Bulletin, 1989.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Zeligman, Yisrael."Megilat Yukhsin". Privately published, Latvia, c.1939.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מגילת יוחסין</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zev Wolf halevy. "Emek Halakha". Vilna 1845.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">עמק הלכה</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Zikhron Eliyahu ". Bnei Brak,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel, 1989.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">זכרון אליהו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 28.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Zinovitz, Moshe. "Mir". Tel Aviv 1981.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Narkisim; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Narkisim; mso-hansi-font-family: Narkisim;">מיר</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div></div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-25134586129178134622011-03-28T12:35:00.002+02:002011-03-28T13:30:53.336+02:00Bloch<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">BLOCH</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Several Bloch families claim descent from the Gaon of Vilna. Although these Bloch families were not aware of a close relationship between them, the common denominator between their independent traditions of ancestry is the claim of descent from the Gaon of Vilna. This tradition is so widespread that it would seem that there must be some basis to their claims, as it improbable that so many people of the same surname would unjustifiably claim to be descended from the Gaon. It is not clear whether all Blochs are related. The name is particularly prevalent in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place>, where the earliest persons bearing the name lived in the seventeenth century in Vilna and included the in-laws of the Gaon's cousin Eliyahu Pesseles. The name may have been registered for many unrelated families by an overzealous government clerk who was responsible for enforcing the surname law in the Russian Empire in 1804. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Members of a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bloch family which originated in <city w:st="on">Kretingen</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region> and settled in the north of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">England</place></country-region> claim that the wife of their ancestor, Rabbi Shemaryahu Yitskhak Bloch (1864-1923),</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BZlawxMRVE/TZBtqt9oKTI/AAAAAAAAEMQ/epP1eUqQJTU/s1600/Shemaryahu+Yitskhak+Bloch+1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BZlawxMRVE/TZBtqt9oKTI/AAAAAAAAEMQ/epP1eUqQJTU/s320/Shemaryahu+Yitskhak+Bloch+1915.JPG" width="138" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rabbi Shemaryahu Yitskhak Bloch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-22qLcYU7M/TZBt6-NkA-I/AAAAAAAAEMU/EpJfTEpV3ps/s1600/Bloch-Adler+Wedding+1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-22qLcYU7M/TZBt6-NkA-I/AAAAAAAAEMU/EpJfTEpV3ps/s320/Bloch-Adler+Wedding+1915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bloch Adler wedding </div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> was the link with the Gaon. Bloch's wife, Rakhel, was a daughter of Rabbi Yehoshua Eliezer Rokeakh of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Vidz</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place>. The source of this information was the late Rabbi Yosef Kahanaman<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rosh Yeshiva Ponevezh in Bnei Brak, who told members of the family when he met them on several occasions that Yehoshua Eliezer Rokeakh was a descendant of the Vilna Gaon in the fifth or sixth generation. Rokeach lived in the town of <city w:st="on">Vidz</city>, <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place>, where Kahanaman had served as rabbi and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was told directly of the relationship. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Although no documentary evidence exists to trace the exact line of descent of the Rokeakh and Bloch families, it seems that the connection is well founded, as a scholar of Rabbi Kahanaman's reputation would not have repeated idle rumours.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This author has researched many Bloch and Rokeakh families, but has failed to locate any record of Rabbi Yehoshua Eliezer Rokeakh of Vidz. There were few Rokeachs in <country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region>; the major branch of the family is Khassidic and was located in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Belz</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Galicia</country-region></place>. One prominent Rokeakh family lived in <city w:st="on">Pinsk</city> and was connected with the renowned Levin family<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Pinsk</city></place>. The Vilna Rokeach family shares its ancestry with the Galician branch, and spread from Vilna to Volkovysk and Bialystok.There were marital ties between several branches of the Rokeakh and Bloch families, but Yehoshua Eliezer Rokeakh has not been discovered amongst the descendants of such unions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The relationship of the Bloch family with the Gaon of Vilna was established after the discovery of a tombstone, dating from 1877,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sydney</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place> . The following is a translation of the Hebrew inscription:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-kqtSoGIJo/TZBuHSWKptI/AAAAAAAAEMY/cJizsziUFLI/s1600/Hyman+Bloch+Phillips+Sydney+18770001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-kqtSoGIJo/TZBuHSWKptI/AAAAAAAAEMY/cJizsziUFLI/s320/Hyman+Bloch+Phillips+Sydney+18770001.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is interred</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Khaim Naftali son of Our Teacher the Rabbi</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uri Shraga and grandson of Rabban</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eliyahu son of Shlomo from Vilna</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Died on Thursday 3rd of Tamuz</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and was buried on the Eve of Sabbath</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the year 5637</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>aged sixty years</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May his soul be bound up in the Bond of Life.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The English reads:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sacred</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the memory</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyam Phillips</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandson of</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raban Eliasz</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salamona Z. Wilne</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who departed this life</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Tuesday</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>June 14th A.M. 5637 </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aged 60 years </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The discovery of a photograph of the tombstone (the cemetery</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">has since been destroyed) is highly significant, both historically and genealogically. A tradition of descent of Hyam Phillips from the Gaon was</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">perpetuated by his family in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed they preserve a</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">picture of the Gaon which has an inscription referring to their</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">descent. Details of Phillip's biography were researched by Jenny</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">King who located death and marriage certificates in <country-region w:st="on">England</country-region> and <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place>. It was known by the family that Phillips came from Poland/Lithuania to <country-region w:st="on">England</country-region> about 1850 and settled in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place> in 1854. His original surname was Bloch, and he changed it in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">England</country-region></place> to Phillips.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The terms of the tombstone inscription bring the descent of Hyam Phillips much closer to the Gaon than would have been expected from the material researched by this author, particularly with respect to the time frame involved. The Gaon was born in 1720 and died in 1797, eighty years before Hyam Phillips died. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Accepting the authenticity of the tombstone inscription establishes that an actual grandson of the Gaon of Vilna settled in far off colonial <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place>, a unique and amazing discovery. In fact Hyam Phillips's departure from Lithiuania in 1850 and subsequent move from <city w:st="on">London</city> to <country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region> in 1854 took<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>place at about the same time as several of the Gaon's grandchildren and great-grandchildren left <place w:st="on">Europe</place>. Tuviah Yurbarsky settled in <city w:st="on">Jerusalem</city> about 1860, and Shmuel Yekhezkel Vilner settled in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">England</country-region></place> about 1870. These emigrations are unique in that they preceeded the large waves of Eastern European Jewish emigration, which took place in the 1880's.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Given the name of Hyam Phillips's father as stated on the tombstone as "</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-font-style: italic;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabbi Uri Shraga</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span>ת</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span> Hyam Phillips' identity can be established precisely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyam's marriage certificate records his father's name as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"</i></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-font-style: italic;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Philip Phillips", </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">but the death certificate records the father's name as "</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-font-style: italic;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hyam Block Phillips"</span></i><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span>. It can be assumed that neither record was exact, particularly since the father and son could not have had the same name. Ashkenazi Jewish naming custom forbids naming a son after a living father. It was a common custom for Jews in English speaking countries to use the name <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phillip </i>for the Hebrew <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shraga</i>. Knowing from the tombstone in <country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region> that Hyam Block Phillips's father's name was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Uri Shraga</i>, it appears that Hyam Bloch (or Block) changed his surname to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phillips</i> upon arriving in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">England</country-region></place>, based on the common anglification of his father's first name. The reason for the name change may have been connected with Hyam Phillips's reputed activities in the Polish revolt. He may have been sought by the Russian authorities and concealed his identity upon arriving in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">England</country-region></place>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The identity of Hyam Phillips' father can be established within the immediate family of the Gaon of Vilna. The Gaon had a son-in-law Rabbi Uri-Shraga-Feibush, son of Shlomo, of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Dubrovno</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Byelorussia</country-region></place>. The triple-barrelled name consisted of the Hebrew Uri with the Yiddish/German Shraga-Feibush and was often shortened by dropping one or other of the names. Rabbi Uri-Shraga-Feibush was married to the Gaon's daughter Tauba. Tauba was Uri-Shraga-Feibush's first wife and several other marriages by Uri-Shraga-Feibush are recorded. The multiple marriages of Uri-Shraga- Feibush complicate the establishment of Hyam Phillips amongst his progeny with respect to the other two wives. Yet, since the tombstone states that Hyam was a grandson of the Gaon, his mother must have been Uri-Shraga-Feibush's first wife Tauba, the Gaon's daughter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Unfortunately virtually nothing is known about Tauba. The Gaon's various</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">biographers either omit her name and refer only to her husband, or</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">at best include her name with no biographic details. Similarly, little concrete<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>biographic material exists regarding Tauba's husband Rabbi Uri-Shraga-Feibish of Dubrovno. His claim to fame seems to have been his status as a son-in-law of the Gaon, and the fact that he helped publish the Gaon's writings after the Gaon's death,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>together with the Gaon's sons Yehudah-Leib and Avraham, and another of the Gaon's sons-in-law, Moshe of Pinsk. In addition to his efforts with the Gaon's writings,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rabbi Uri-Shraga-Feibish wrote a book in his own right called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Menorat Shlomo",</i> dedicated to the memory of his father, Shlomo.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A study of the various sources quoted by this author, as well as the various books written by the Gaon, his family and students, facilitates the establishment of the period in which Tauba and Uri-Shraga-Feibish lived. In order to establish Tauba's lifespan, references to her husband</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">have been sought in several books written by relatives of his second and third wives which refer to him , such that the relevant time span can be narrowed down .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In addition to the discovery by this author of the existence of Tauba's son Hyam Phillips, there is oral information about a certain son of Tauba and Uri-Shraga-Feibish who settled in Safed, Eretz Yisrael about 1836. Most of his family perished in one of the frequent earthquakes of the period, and his descendants returned to <place w:st="on">Europe</place>, settling in what is now Hungary/Roumania. His family claims that the name of this son of Tauba and Uri-Shraga-Feibush was Eliyahu Reezel. The Reezel family maintains that Eliyahu's mother was Tauba, daughter of the Gaon. Details of this family and others, coupled with Hyam Phillips' birthdate, led this author to conclude that Tauba was one of the Gaon's youngest progeny. This had to be so if she was still of childbearing age at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the time of Hyam Phillips' birth in about 1812. Hyam must have been Tauba's youngest child because her birthdate cannot be stretched later than about 1768, bearing in mind Tauba's mother's age and childbearing ability.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hyam Phillips's birthdate varies in the available sources. His tombstone states </span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sixty</i>"</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span> both in Hebrew and English, establishing a birthdate 0f 1817. His marriage certificate in 1851 states his age as 31, which sets his birthdate at 1820, and not 1817. The death certificate, however states his age as 65 which would make his birthdate 1812. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">According to information on and by the family of Uri-Shraga-Feibush's later wives , it can be calculated that his first wife Tauba died at the</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">time of, or very shortly after, Hyam Block Phillips' birth. In fact one of the books which was written by Uri-Shraga-Feibush second wife's grandfather was published in 1817 ("<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nakhalat Azriel</i>") . Since Uri-Shraga-Feibush and his second wife are both mentioned in the introduction to the book, the first wife, Tauba, must have already died by the time the book was published in 1817. Therefore, it can be concluded that Tauba's last child, Hyam Block Phillips, was born<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>before 1817.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It seems that the surnames Bloch and Rokeakh may have been used interchangeably by families in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place> bearing these names. Rabbi Levi ben David Rokeach (died 1818 in Vilna) married a daughter of Noakh Bloch (died 1809 in Vilna) . Some of their descendants used the surname Bloch and others used Rokeach. Support for the contention that these two familes may have been the same family is found in a death notice that appeared in the Hebrew newspaper Hamaggid in 1874 for Moshe-Leib <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Bloch Rokeach</u></i>!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Further supporting evidence for a Bloch-Rokeach connection is the fact that the father of the abovementioned Noach Bloch of Vilna was named Shraga-Feibush. This name passed down through both the Bloch and Rokeakh families and presumably shared its origins with the father of Hyam Phillips, alias Khaim Naftali ben Uri Shraga (Feibush) Bloch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This author has tried to trace the ancestry of Rabbi Uri-Shraga-Feibush of Dubrovno to establish a Bloch connection, to no avail. Jews in the Russian Empire were not required by law to use surnames until 1804, so for most of his life Uri-Shraga-Feibush would have had no official surname, if in fact he ever adopted one. Therefore it seems that his sons took different surnames, some chosing Bloch, others Rokeakh and one Reezel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">One Bloch family claims descent from the Gaon via the families Shmukler and Boyarsky . One member of the family, Rabbi Avraham David Bloch (died in 1943 in Vilna) wrote several books including "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Divrei Eliyahu</i>". Whilst Bloch's wife was reputed to be descended from the Gaon, Bloch does not mention any relationship with the Gaon in his book. This is surprising since Bloch spent most of his life studying in the </span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kloiz </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">of the Gaon</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span> in Vilna. His wife, Khaya Feiga was the daughter of Rabbi Eliyahu Shmukler of Ivia. A biographic note about Shmukler in "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sefer Zikaron Lekehilat Ivia" (</i>the memorial book of the community of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Ivia</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place>) states that Shmukler was of non-rabbinic descent. So if Shmukler's descendants were connected with the Gaon it would have had to be through Shmukler's wife, Tzeite Miriam Boyarsky. This author's study of the Boyarsky family does not confirm this.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">An interesting reference about the Bloch family was discovered by this author while researching the Boyarsky family, although no connection was discovered to the above Shmukler family. The father-in-law of the Gaon's son Yehudah Leib of Serhei was Rabbi Avraham of Serhei. Very little information is known about Avraham, but he is mentioned in "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tosefet Shabat</i>"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>88</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Boyarsky, 1886). Extensive details are given about the author's family. Boyarsky was descended from Noakh Bloch of Vilna and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bialystok</span></city></place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. Boyarsky notes that Noakh Bloch had two famous Mekhutanim:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabbi Alexander Margolis of Satanov.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabbi Avraham ABD Lazdei who was the Mekhutan of the Gaon of Vilna.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Whilst the connection between Bloch and Margolis is known<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>, the relationship with Avraham of Lazdei (later of Serhei) remains a mystery, yet another tangled Bloch connection.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;"><br />
</div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-40930047572819973662011-03-28T12:27:00.002+02:002011-03-28T12:27:06.933+02:00Friedlander<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">FRIEDLANDER</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><state w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">New York</span></state><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> genealogist Alex Friedlander has provided a a great deal of information for this book about various families, particularly those living in what was once Suwalki Guberniya - southwest Lithuania/north-east <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Poland</place></country-region>. Records of the families,Altshuler,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bardin, Charlap, Frank, Friedlander, Kantorowitz, Lapin, Margolis, Shatz, Visanska, Warszawsky, Wishtynetsky,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winstock, Ziv,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and many others, show<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a phenomenon of considerable intermarriage between them. Furthermore, the families shared an often repeated oral tradition of descent from the Gaon of Vilna. <b>Yet the exact nature of the Friedlander family's descent from the Gaon has yet to be documented</b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">From the available evidence researched by Friedlander, it seems highly likely that the link with the Gaon was through the Gaon's son Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Serhei, since his family had a considerable number of marital ties in the region where the Friedlander family lived, the town of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Versbolova</city></place> (known also as Virbalin).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The generation of the Friedlander family which is relevant to a marital link with the Gaon's son Yehudah Leib of Serhei is that of Yitskhak Friedlander of Versbolova, who was born about 1785. Yitskhak's wife Golda was most probably a daughter of Yehudah Leib of Serhei. Other branches of the Friedlander family that also hold a tradition of descent from the Gaon were compared to Friedlander's family by genetic testing and found to be unrelated and should be deleted from the database of the family of the Gaon. Further details follow. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Despite the lack of documented evidence, this author<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>included the Friedlander family in Eliyhau's Branches, so that, should such evidence be forthcoming in the future, the family will be able to take its rightful place on the family tree of the Gaon of Vilna. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;"><br />
</div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-17885790919340344002011-03-28T12:21:00.003+02:002011-03-28T12:28:06.525+02:00Chinitz<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 18pt 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 18pt 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">CHINITZ</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Members of this extensive family possess a document that traces the history of the Abarbanel family and the alleged marriage of one member of the Abarbanel family to a daughter of the Gaon of Vilna. One descendant of this family is claimed to be Rabbi Moshe of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Pinsk</city></place>, who was married to the Gaon's daughter Khiena, hence the origin of the surname Chinitz.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Unfortunately the location of the original Hebrew manuscript is unknown</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and the English translation is therefore a second hand source. Nevertheless it is unwise to disregard such a tradition, despite the unavailability of the original documented evidence on which the tradition was based.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A number of statements in the Chinitz document<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are inconsistent with</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">historical facts. Although the presence of these inconsistencies is troublesome in regard to the authenticity of the source, it is possible that they may have been deliberately construed in order to establish false identities for the Chinitz brothers, or their sons, to enable them to evade conscription into the notoriously anti-semitic Tsarist army.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Whatever its other merits, the claim of the manuscript that Moshe of Pinsk changed his name to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zalmen Zelig </i>is contrary to accepted Jewsih practice and conflicts with the facts recorded about Moshe of Pinsk. Moshe of Pinsk is accurately recorded in a number of books , including those written by the Gaon and published by Moshe, such as "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shnot Eliyahu</i>" . Likewise Moshe's father's ancestry is detailed in "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sefer Yukhsin</i>" <u>52</u> (Rozenkranz, 1885), and in "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zekher Leyehosef</i>" (Stern,1898). From these sources it is clear that Moshe of Pinsk's father was Yehudah Leib of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Pinsk</city></place><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and had no connection with the Abarbanel family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It remains to be seen whether the Gaon's daughter Khiena (and not Khana as incorrectly recorded in the Chinitz document and other sources) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">had two husbands, Zalman-Zelig and then Moshe. Another possibility is that the name<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zalman-Zelig </i>was fictitiously listed in his sons' or</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">grandsons' military documents in order to confuse the authorities as to their conscription obligations. This practice was commonly used by many families which recorded some of their sons as belonging to different parents, whose sons<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were exempt from military service.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In summary, the weight of evidence, both from those parts of the Chinitz document that are historically tenable, and from the strength of oral tradition of descent from the Gaon, held by many branches of the Chinitz family, it is the opinion of this author that such descent is most likely valid. This assertion is independent of the problems of establishing the identity of Khiena's husband as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zalmen-Zelig on the one hand and Moshe on the other.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivlin records only one son of Khiena and Moshe of Pinsk: Avraham.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">To further complicate the issue, members of the Bayuk and Palefsky families<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>claim descent from the Gaon through Moshe of Pinsk, whom they claim was known by the surname "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Penchuk</i>" or "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pinchuk</i>". Moshe of Pinsk does not use this surname, or any other, as his signature to his introduction to "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shnot Eliyahu</i>" . The name, probably derived from the name of the town <city w:st="on">Pinsk</city>, may have been adopted by one son of Moshe of Pinsk, Yedidiah Penchuk, when Yedidiah left <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Pinsk</city></place> to settle in Kobrin, and not used by Moshe himself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Archival records show that the Gaon had a daughter by his second wife Gittel nee Luntz. The daughter was named Khana after the Gaon's first wife.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This may contribute to an explanation of the relationship of the Chinitz and other families from two daughters of the Gaon, Khiena and Khana.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Archival records provide further information and will be presented here in the future.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-6373778765491967142011-03-28T12:12:00.001+02:002011-03-28T13:22:34.997+02:00BARDIN, LIPSHITZ, OLKENITSKY, GRAD<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 9pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 9pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">THE ORPHAN GRAND-DAUGHTERS OF THE GAON OF VILNA</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">FAMILIES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BARDIN, LIPSHITZ, OLKENITSKY, GRAD</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">(updated 28.03.2011)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabbi Eliyahu Landau (born 1872 Jerusalem, great-grandson of Avraham son of the Gaon), expert on the family of the Gaon of Vilna<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>, told Rabbi Eliyahu Kushilevsky of Jerusalem,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that the Gaon had two granddaughters who were orphaned from their parents at an early age and were then raised in the Gaon's household. <b>Rabbi Landau claimed that many families were descended from these two granddaughters</b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BfZPLao-U6E/TZBvIF52MkI/AAAAAAAAEMc/_zSU5Ag9IZA/s1600/Eliyahu+Landa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BfZPLao-U6E/TZBvIF52MkI/AAAAAAAAEMc/_zSU5Ag9IZA/s320/Eliyahu+Landa.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivlin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>records one daughter of the Gaon's eldest son Shlomo Zalmen, named Treina. Since Shlomo Zalmen was born about 1758, it can be estimated that his two daughters were born about 1776 and 1777. The younger daughter was born about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1777 when her mother Rakhel (nee Kissin) seems to have died in childbirth, thus accounting for the fact that Shlomo Zalmen had no further children. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">it is known that Shlomo Zalmen was sickly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and died during his father's lifetime , about 1780, apparently soon after the death of his wife, otherwise he would have remarried and other children would be recorded. <b>This situation regarding the Gaon's son Shlomo Zalmen correlates with the story about the two orphan granddaughters of the Gaon.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Gaon had undertaken to support his son Shlomo Zalmen and daughter-in-law after her father, Yisrael Kissin of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Vitebsk</city></place> had completed his obligation in that respect. The Gaon did not live up to his promise and may have felt guilty after their death, hence his </span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">adoption</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span> of his granddaughters.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Evidence for the existence of children of the Gaon's son Shlomo Zalmen appears in records of the "</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-font-style: italic;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kloiz Hagra</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in Vilna which refer to trustees who were responsible for the property of Shlomo Zalmen's heirs.</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span> These records clearly indicates that Shlomo Zalmen died during the Gaon's lifetime and that he left children, who had rights to the Gaon's property.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The families <b>Grad, Bardin, Lipshitz and Olkenitsky</b> hold strong oral traditions of descent from the Gaon of Vilna. <b>Yet this author has been unable to determine the exact nature of their descent.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The author's extensive research of the family of the Gaon and his familiarity with the descendants of many branches of the family, lead him to the conclusion that the families are most likely not descended from the Gaon's sons Yehudah Leib or Avraham, nor are they likely to be descended from the Gaon's daughters.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The author, having studied the details of these families, believed that it is most <b>highly likely that they descend from the orphan daughters of Shlomo Zalmen, the Gaon's eldest son</b>. Despite the lack of documented evidence, the author has included these families in Eliyahu's Branches, in the hope that such evidence will be discovered in the future.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since publication of Eliyahu's Branches in 1997, such evidence has not been forthcoming such that the above scenario requires review.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">BARDIN:</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Genealogist Alex Friedlander, aside from his descent from the Gaon through the Friedlander family, also holds a strong tradition of descent from the Gaon of the Bardin family. The Bardin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family was intermarried with the Friedlander family, but a number of branches of the family hold a tradition of descent from the Gaon, independent of the Friedlander tradition. The evidence lead this author to conclude that <b>Rakhel, the wife of Yaakov Bardin (born about 1770 in Suwalki Guberniya), was a daughter of Rabbi Shlomo Zalmen, the Gaon's eldest son. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This scenario is compatible with the tradition related<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Rabbi Eliyahu Landau about the families descended from two orphaned grand-daughters of the Gaon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Various theories have been propounded as to the meaning of the</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">surname Bardin. The origin of the name most likely relates to the phrase "</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-font-style: italic;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ben Av Bet Din",</span></i><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-font-style: italic;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span> </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">son of the head of the rabbinic court, who was usually the Chief Rabbi of a town. This form of surname adopted by the Jews was based on an abbreviation of either the individual's name, title or occupation. Given that the Rabbi (Av Bet Din) of Serhei, Avraham( born about 1730) was the father-in-law of Yehudah Leib (1764 -1816) son of the Gaon, and thereby already associated with the Gaon's family, it is possible that, when a match was sought for the earliest recorded Bardin, Yaakov (born about 1770), a suitable bride was sought from the family of the Gaon. It is possible that the Bardin family can be identified from a list of individuals in Serhei who subscribed to a book published in 1795.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The book "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Or Khakhamin</i>" (Yedaya ben Avraham, 1795) , includes a list of eight rabbis from Serhei who supported the publication of the book. Heading the list is </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The Rabbi the great luminary, our teacher Avraham, may his light shine forth B"D (</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Beit Din) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of the holy community of Lazdei".</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rabbi Avraham's father, Rabbi Yekhezkel was Chief Rabbi of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Lazdei</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place>, and Avraham was referred to in relation to his home town.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The third member of the list is:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The Rabbani, the Nagid</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> (prominent person) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reb Yaakov, son of Rabbi Yekhezkel".</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Yaakov Bardin was the son of an individual called Yekhezkel.</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span> He may have been identical with "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yaakov son of Yekhezkel</i>" who appears in the above list. It should be remembered that the Jewish communities in small towns like Serhei at the end of the seventeenth century were very small, numbering a few dozen families . Therefore it is to be expected that these families were intermarried, particular the rabbinic families who sought good matches amongst themselves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bearing in mind that that the father of Rabbi Avraham of Serhei was called Yekhezkel, and the father of Yaakov Bardin was also called Yekhezkel, and that Avraham and Yaakov both lived in Serhei at the time of the publication of "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Or Khakhamim" </i>in 1795, it is possible that the two families were already related. If so, a match within the family circle would have been the obvious choice when a bride was sought for Yaakov Bardin. Records of the Bardin family indicate that Yaakov Bardin's wife's name was Rakhel. For that reason, this author proposed that Rakhel was the name of one of the orphaned daughter of Rabbi Shlomo Zalmen of Vilna, named after her mother Rakhek Kissin who appears to have died in childbirth, and may have been the wife of Yaakov Bardin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Whilst these theories may be the result of a number of coincidences, they provide a basis for further research to verify the exact link between the Gaon of Vilna and the Bardin family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">However, since another link is possible, it is preferable to disconnect the Bardin family from this specific link to the database of the Gaon's family and regard them as being descended from an "unknown link".</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">LIPSHITZ</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The identity of the husband of Treina, the other daughter of the Gaon's son Shlomo Zalmen can only be proposed in theory, as specific records have not been discovered. A family Lipshitz, which settled in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Petah Tikvah</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Israel</country-region></place> at the end of the nineteeth century, is descended from the Gaon of Vilna. Moshe Mordekhai Lipshitz (1817-1899) was the son of Shlomo Zalmen Lipshitz (born about 1796) who is described by Tidhar as</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grandson of the Gaon Reb Eliyahu of Vilna".</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A manuscript<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>73</u> which lists tombstone inscriptions in Vilna records:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Shlomo Zalmen, the son of Tsvi Hersh, </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">grandson of the Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">died 3rd of Av, 5598</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> (1838)"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The identity of this grandson of the Gaon has not been noted in any of the souces reviewed by this author. The time period is compatible with a theoretic connection between the above Shlomo Zalmen Lipshitz and the Gaon's eldest son Shlomo Zalmen. Shlomo Zalmen Lipshitz, born about 1796 may have been named after the Gaon's son Shlomo Zalmen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who died about 1780. Such a relationship would account for the statement by Tidhar that Shlomo Zalmen Lipshitz was a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grandson</i> of the Gaon. The term "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grandson"</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>was often used by authors and on tombstones to indicate descent of some degree, and not specifically a grandson. If the above theory is correct, Shlomo Zalmen Lipshitz was a great-grandson of the Gaon. If Shlomo Zalmen Lipshitz was identical with the Shlomo Zalmen whose epitaph is quoted above, then his mother was most probably Treina, one of the daughters of the Gaon's son Shlomo Zalmen. If this was so, than Treina's husband was "Tsvi Hersh" who appears in the epitaph as the father of Shlomo Zalmen. That is to say, Treina's husband was an individual called Tsvi Hersh Lipshitz.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">GRAD</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Grad family maintains a tradition of descent from the Gaon. Considerable research by the late Dr. Eli Grad did not produce a definitive link, despite the consistency of the oral tradition related independently by many branches of the family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">According to Eli Grad :</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The tradition of descent from the Gaon has been well established in EVERY branch of the family - though some branches had no contact with others for half a century or longer. In my own case, my grandfather was the source of this information, and he cited HIS grandfather as having transmitted the tradition to him. I am convinced that the fact of descent is accurate, but I have not been able to establish the connection yet. It appears that the missing link is only one or two generations: my grandfather was born before 1850. His grandfather must have been born around 1800 - so the time gap is not too great." </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eli Grad's grandfather was Barukh Grad. Barukh Grad's grandfather was Barukh Bendet Grad (born about 1800). Barukh Bendet Grad was identified as one of the earliest known ancestors of the family in the memoirs of Rose Tennenbaum . She refers to Barukh Bendet as </span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jacob's father, Bennet, was one of the most learned men in Plungyan</i>." (In fact Jacob lived in Plungyan, not his father). Records of such an individual appear in a number of Prenumeranten lists from the town of <city w:st="on">Ritova</city>, <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place>, in particular in "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Retzon Yireyim" (</i>1859)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. This book includes only a few notable people who subscribed to the book. The first entry for the town of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Ritova</city></place> is:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The great wise man, generous in spirit, keen and expert, all his ways are based on truth, and his wisdom is apparent, our teacher the Rabbi Barukh Bendet, son of our teacher Rabbi Yoel, of blessed memory".</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It is of interest that the very first person listed in "Retzon Yireyim" is "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shlomo the son of our teacher Rabbi Tzvi Friedlander</i>" who appears in the list of subscribers from "Verbelov" (Versbolova). Perhaps it is more than coincidental that the ancestors of two families claiming descent from the Gaon appear prominently in the same prenumeranten list.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A study of many factors such as the recurrence of personal names,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">the relevance of dates and places of residence of the succeeding generations, leads to the theory that the link between the Grad family and the Gaon was through his eldest son Rabbi Shlomo-Zalmen's orphaned daughters as referred to above. Yaakov Grad was born in 1825, so his mother Gittel could have been born about 1800. Thus Gittel's mother (who could have been born about.1780) could have been one the two orphaned daughters of the Gaon's eldest son, Rabbi Shlomo-Zalman of Vilna. That is, Gittel was most probably a daughter of Shlomo Zalmen's daughter Treina and her husband Tzvi Hersh Lipshitz (see above regarding the Lipshitz family).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another relationship between the Gaon of Vilna and one branch of the Grad family was through the Ziv family. The wife of Yaakov Grad, son of Barukh Bendet, was Peena (1817-1913), the daughter of Shlomo-Zalmen-Leib. Family tradition held that Peena was reputed to be a Gaon descendant in her own right. Her maiden name was thought to be "Ziv" or "<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Israel</country-region></place>"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. Peena's surname is confirmed as "Ziv" from the memoirs of the famous English businessman, Lord Israel Sieff (originally Ziv). Sieff<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>relates that he was told by his great-grandfather that he was a descendant of the Gaon's bother </span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Joshua</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span dir="ltr"></span> Since the Gaon had no brother bearing this name, it seems that the brother in question may have been Yissakhar-Ber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A common name in the Ziv family was Azriel. It seems that the father of Peena Grad was Shlomo Zalmen Leib, son of Azriel Ziv. The name<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Azriel </i>was confused in oral tradition with <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Israel</i></country-region></place>. Exactly which Azriel Ziv has yet to be established, as does the connection by marriage with the Gaon's brother Yissakhar-Ber.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Archival records provide further information and will be included here in the future.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">OLKENITSKY</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(KOMISAR, HELMAN, BAMBERGER)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Olkenitsky family of Vilna held a tradition of descent from the Gaon of Vilna. A descendant of this family, the late Leib David Komisar of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Hertzlia</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Israel</country-region></place> related what was known to him of the family tradition :</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My grandfather, Yehuda Leib David Olkenitsky (born 1865) was the son of Yaakov Olkenitsky and Sarah Mera Olkenitsky (nee Rubin). She was, according to tradition a descendant of the Gaon of Vilna. I don't know which of her parents was the descendant of the Gaon. I was given this information by my mother's cousin. Lately I have checked the notes I took about 25 years ago after a comprehensive conversation with my late aunt, Freida Gorodosh (nee Olkenitsky). She maintained another version: according to her, it was not Sarah Mera, the wife of Yaakov Olkenitsky, who was the descendant of the Gaon, but the mother of Yaakov Olkenitsky, whose name was Fruma, and who was either a grand-daughter or great-grand-daughter of the Gaon."</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Komisar further related that his great-grandfather, Yehuda Leib David Olkenitsky, who operated a wine store in Vilna, had a family tree tracing his descent to the Gaon. This tree hung on the wall of his shop, and when he died in 1910, it was published in a Vilna newspaper. Unfortunately, neither the family tree nor the newspaper article about it, have been located. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Independently of the information conveyed by Komisar, this author received collaborating information from Khaya Bamberger of Bnei Brak <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Israel</country-region></place> . She related<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stories of her descent from the Gaon which she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>heard from her grandmother, Zelda Tsiftman:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The elders of the family told that there was a person by the name of Olkenitsky, who was a cousin of Freida Gittel (grandmother's grandmother). He owned a wine shop in Vilna and in his cellar he had a family tree which reached back to the Gaon. My grandmother believes that apparently the connection with the family of the Gaon is via the wife of Yeshaya Helman (</i>the father of Freida Gittel Gerbish, 1855-1921) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and whose name was Reizel. Either Olkenitsky's father<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or mother was a brother or sister of Reizel."</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Zelda Tsiftman believed that the family was probably descended from a daughter of the Gaon, although this theory was not firmly established.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The obvious common denominator between the traditions held independently by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Komisar and Tsiftman enabled this author to link the family trees of the two families which, although they had lived in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Israel</country-region></place> concurrently for about fiftly years, were not aware of each other.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another link in the chain was provided by a nephew of Zelda Tsiftman, Rabbi Avraham Gurwicz of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Gateshead</city>, <country-region w:st="on">England</country-region></place><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would advise you to contact Rabbi Eliyahu Kushelevsky, who is my late father's brother, and who, many years ago discussed our family's descent from the Gaon with Reb Eliyahu Landau of Tel Aviv. According to what I understood from him, the Gaon had a daughter who was widowed at a young<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>age and her two daughters grew up in the Gaon's home, and our descent is from one of these daughters. My late father told me that as a young boy he visited Vilna and a member of his family had the family's family tree, from the Gaon, printed on the wall of his shop."</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCAl866Bi1k/TZBvbuiQ8hI/AAAAAAAAEMg/aAkzqHcecb0/s1600/Rav+Avraham+Gurewicz+gateshead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCAl866Bi1k/TZBvbuiQ8hI/AAAAAAAAEMg/aAkzqHcecb0/s320/Rav+Avraham+Gurewicz+gateshead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This information also confirmed the traditions related above. Research by this author, as related above, leads him to conclude that, whilst this tradition of descent from the Gaon is essentially valid, the circumstances seem to fit more closely the situation of the early death of the Gaon's eldest son Shlomo Zalmen, since both he and his wife died young leaving two orphaned daughters. Rabbi Eliyahu Kushilevsky confirmed Rabbi Gurwicz's version of the tradition, adding that, according to Rabbi Eliyahu Landau:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Many of the families who do not know the exact details of their descent from the Gaon are descended from the two orphaned grand-daughters."</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The archive of Benyamin Rivlin includes a note about the Olkenitsky family. Apparently Rivlin discovered information confirming that the Yaakov Olkenitsky's father, who Rivlin records as Moshe Dov Olkenitsky, was married to a descendant of the Gaon. Rivlin does not note her name, but, according to the Komisar family, Yaakov Olkenitsky's mother was called Fruma. She was most probably a daughter of Treina Lipshitz, one of the Gaon's orphaned grand-daughters. Based on tradition conveyed by Zelda Tsiftman, Reizel Helman must have been a sister of Yaakov Olkenitsky, thus accounting for the descent from the Gaon of the Kushilevsky, Gurwicz and related families.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Further research is required to confirm the above theoretic relationships with the Gaon's family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Archival records provide further information and will be included here in the future.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-66288235277001960332011-03-28T10:37:00.007+02:002011-03-28T13:28:25.201+02:00Kamai and Finkel Families<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kamai and Finkel families</span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(Updated March 28, 2011)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There is a longstanding tradition that the families Kamai and Finkel,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rabbis of Mir Yeshiva, are descended from Avraham Ragoler, a brother of the Vilna Gaon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The connection is to be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>found in the 1816 revision list for Zemaiciu Naumiestis (Neustadt)</span><a href="http://www.jewishfamilyhistory.org/1816%20Zemaiciu%20Naumiestis%20Rev%20List%20-%20Part%201.htm"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">http://www.jewishfamilyhistory.org/1816%20Zemaiciu%20Naumiestis%20Rev%20List%20-%20Part%201.htm</span></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua88TYqAEiI/TZBIf0ek8gI/AAAAAAAAEMM/bioW4MXLZMs/s1600/Kamai+1816+census0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 269px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 545px;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua88TYqAEiI/TZBIf0ek8gI/AAAAAAAAEMM/bioW4MXLZMs/s400/Kamai+1816+census0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Avraham's son Eliyahu appears under the "surname" Magit. A son-in-law is Uriash Komay, married to Eliyahu's daughter Pera. Their son was Abram, and he is known to be the father of Rabbi Eliyahu Barukh Kamai, the <br />
father-in-law of Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, Rosh Yeshivah Mir whose many descendants are now able to know their exact relationship to the family of the Vilna Gaon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62gMEnq58Nk/TZBwpUAOGTI/AAAAAAAAEMo/HjMTdjmZL94/s1600/%25D7%2590%25D7%25A8%25D7%259B%25D7%2599%25D7%2595%25D7%259F+%25D7%25A8%25D7%25A4%25D7%2590%25D7%259C+%25D7%25A9%25D7%259E%25D7%2595%25D7%2590%25D7%259C%25D7%2591%25D7%2599%25D7%25A5+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62gMEnq58Nk/TZBwpUAOGTI/AAAAAAAAEMo/HjMTdjmZL94/s320/%25D7%2590%25D7%25A8%25D7%259B%25D7%2599%25D7%2595%25D7%259F+%25D7%25A8%25D7%25A4%25D7%2590%25D7%259C+%25D7%25A9%25D7%259E%25D7%2595%25D7%2590%25D7%259C%25D7%2591%25D7%2599%25D7%25A5+011.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;">Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel (1877-1965)</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fOZB53iYwY/TZBv_NqxT_I/AAAAAAAAEMk/6uvDVC5ene8/s1600/Eliyahu+Borukh+Finkel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fOZB53iYwY/TZBv_NqxT_I/AAAAAAAAEMk/6uvDVC5ene8/s320/Eliyahu+Borukh+Finkel.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;">Rabbi Eliyahu-Barukh Finkel (1947-2008 Jerusalem)</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Kamai and Finkel families are being researched by Yosef-Meir Finkel, a great-grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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</div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-89425609341033542792011-03-02T15:07:00.001+02:002011-03-28T13:34:25.280+02:00Ziv family<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Ziv summary</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">(Chaim Freedman March 15, 2010)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Study of the the many Zivs on Jewishgen's <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lithuania</place></country-region> database yields no evidence that they are all related.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">This despite Lord Israel Sieff's claim in his memoirs that his great-grandfather Yosef Ziv told him that all Zivs (sic) are related.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">According to Lord Sieff his great-grandfather told him that his branch of the Ziv family was descended from the Vilna Gaon's brother Joshua.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Since the Gaon did not have a brother named Joshua, I assume that the name suffered in the translation and that it was Yissakhar-Ber.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">The main branches of Ziv families are those in Plunge, Ariogala, Kedeiniai, Raseiniai, Seta, Tavrig and smaller numbers in many towns.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Lipman's "Toldot Heyehudim BeKovno Ve Slovodka" (Keidan 1931) establishes the line descended from Azriel ben Yehudah Leib, the first rabbi of Kovno, born about 1700.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">His son Yehudah-Leib was ABD in Plunge . Lipman claims that Yehudah Leib was a signatory on documents in 1782 and 1836, fifty four years apart. If he lived until 1836 he would have been about 100 years old. Yet he had descendants born in 1799 and 1810 named Leib.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears that he died before 1799 and the person who appeared in the 1836 signature was a different Yehudah Leib</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">His son Gershon Mendel is claimed to have died in 1900. Although most sources claim he was a son of the above Yehudah Leib, there is too wide a gap and therefore a generation may be missing or the date of death incorrect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Gershon Mendel was ABD in Plunge and Tavrig.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">He had a son Tuviah.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Azriel Ziv who was ABD of Birz died young in 1827 and was apparently a brother of Moshe father of Zev Wulf (1816-1864).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Lipman however claims that Azriel and Moshe were cousins to Gershon Mendel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">However Moshe's son Zev Wulf <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was the father-in-law of Moshe Yaakov Zevadia. In the latter's book "Me'eyn Ganim" (Vilna 1904) he claims that Moshe was a son of Gershon Mendel of Plunge and Tavrig.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">If so, extrapolation backwards would place Gerson Mendel's birthdate at c. 1760 in which case he could not have died in 1900. .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">To accomodate these and other calculations, it appears that the death date of 1900 was wrong.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Gershon Mendel Ziv of Plunge and Tavrig should not be confused with Gershon Mendel Ziv of Raseiniai (1816-1902). His family is described in Stephen. W. Feingold's "From Rasseyn to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Worcester</place></city>: The Generations of Gershom Mendel Ziv" (published1983-1984). He was related in some way to the Plunge Zivs and to Lord Sieff. He is mentioned in Markovich's "Lekorot Ir Rassein Urabbaneiha" (<city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Warsaw</place></city> 1913).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">From the Plunge records a Zelman son of Israel Ziv was born in 1799. In various records Azriel appears as <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Israel</place></country-region>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Zelman's wife was Lessa.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">In the tradition of the Grad family, Yaakov Grad's wife Peena/Pina 1817-1913 ( see Plunge records) was a Ziv with some recollection of "Izrael". Her tombstone on Har Hazeitim in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Jerusalem</place></city> gives her father as Shlomo Zalman Leib.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Another family tradition/confusion claims that her name was Peena-Lessa, which could not be so as she had a grand-daughter born during her lifetime Breina-Lessa.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Note that the above Zelman son of Israel Ziv of Plunge was the husband of a Lessa.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Putting all the above together we can conclude that Peena Grad was a daughter of Zelman (ben Azriel) Ziv and Leesa.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Zelman had descendants named Zelman-Leib, so it is possible that that was his full name, correlating with the name of Peena's father Shlomo Zalman Leib which appears on her tombstone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Given the Grad tradition that Peena was descended/related to the Vilna Gaon, my original estimation in my book "Eliyahu's Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His family" (Avotaynu 1997) that Peena's grandfather Azriel was a son-in-law of the Gra's brother Yissakhar-Ber, appears to be correct. Thus Peena's father Shlomo Zalman Leib was named after Yissakhar-Ber's father Shlomo Zalman.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Regarding Rabbi Yosef Yuzel Hurwitz,(1849-1919, who changed his name from Ziv), the Alter of Novardok, a tradition recently conveyed claims that he too was related to the Vilna Gaon. His biographies state that his father Shlomo Zalman Ziv was Rabbi in Plunge and then Kurtuvenai. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/Novogrudok/nov033.html">http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/Novogrudok/nov033.html</a></span></u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/Novogrudok/nov033.html"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">There is a birth record in Kovno in 1882 of Menukha a daughter of Azriel Ziv son of Zalman. Azriel is described as "family from Kurtuvenai"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">From this it is fair to assume that Azriel was a brother of the Alter of Novardok, whose father Shlomo Zalman may have been a son of an Azriel Ziv.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">A book "Netiv Oz" (Baltimore 2007) written by Azriel Yehudah Ziv includes a recommendation by Rabbi Mordekhai Zev Yofen, a descendant of the Alter of Novardok. He describes the auther as "She'er Besari" indicating a blood relationship, further evidence of the Ziv connections of the Alter of Novardok.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">As to the Ariogala Zivs, it is not ready ascernable if they are related to the Plunge Zivs. The only clue is the name Azriel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Lord Israel Sieff's family was established by Oscar Friedman from the 1887 Ariogola family list and <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Manchester</city></place> records as follows</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Lord Sieff, Azriel Moshe born 1889.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">son of Efraim born c. 1855</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">son of Naftali-Khaim born 1842</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">son of Yosef Leizer born 1820,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">son of Efraim.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcEse7HYK0o/TZBx-VOc6MI/AAAAAAAAEMs/KqtObJcZrhk/s1600/I_Sieff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcEse7HYK0o/TZBx-VOc6MI/AAAAAAAAEMs/KqtObJcZrhk/s320/I_Sieff.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;">Lord Israel Sieff (1889-1972)</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">According to Lord Sieff's memoirs his family lived in Ariogala and Siady (Seta).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Since Lord Sieff's great-grandfather Yosef claimed descent from a brother of the Gaon, and since Lord Sieff bore the name Azriel, it is reasonable to expect that Lord Sieff's family is a part of the Plunge Zivs, as too Peena Grad and the Alter of Novardok.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Regarding the mother of the Alter of Kelm Simkha-Zissel Braude-Ziv (born 1824, son of Yisrael son of Menakhem Nakhum Braude): his mother Khaya is recorded in a family tree by Reuven Poupka as "Ziv" and descended from the Khakham Tzvi. His source was Rabbi Nakhum Zeev Dessler of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Cleveland</place></city>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">It has yet to be established how she was a Ziv. But this explains why her son chose the surname Ziv when he changed his name from Braude.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">A clue may be found in the 1816 Revison List in Kedainiai which records a Iudel Leyb son of Izrael Ziv whose wife Chaya (born 1773) was a sister of Leyb Movsha son of Wulf Braude.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">DNA testing conducted by Simon Ziff shows that there are various Ziv (sic) families who are not related.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-65817525131760063882011-03-02T15:03:00.004+02:002011-03-02T15:06:58.782+02:00Komisaruk Family's Descent from the Vilna Gaon<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Komisaruk Family's Descent from the Vilna Gaon</span></u></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape id="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 192.75pt; width: 135.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="gaonbig" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9HnAfTEClz4/TW43kfvoYLI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/jRiCKdlXmMw/s1600/gaonbig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9HnAfTEClz4/TW43kfvoYLI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/jRiCKdlXmMw/s1600/gaonbig.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">(Reviewed February 22, 2011, Chaim Freedman)</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My interest in family history was aroused when I was a young boy in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Melbourne</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place> in the 1950's taking part in family gatherings at the home of my maternal grandparents Shlomo-Zalman (1886-1958) and Chana-Reizel Komesaroff<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> (1887-1955). </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9VJEGmtuNkk/TW43yDYTySI/AAAAAAAAEKA/HHyP0O_AEv8/s1600/Nanna+Pappa+Tessie+John+Keith+swing+Roz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9VJEGmtuNkk/TW43yDYTySI/AAAAAAAAEKA/HHyP0O_AEv8/s320/Nanna+Pappa+Tessie+John+Keith+swing+Roz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div align="center" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><shape id="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 150pt; width: 222pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Nanna Pappa Tessie John Keith swing Roz" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></imagedata></shape><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chana-Reizel and Zalman Komesaroff (Kaye), John, Tessie and Chaim (Keith) Freedman. <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Melbourne</place></city> c. 1954</span></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My grandparents talked with their siblings about their life in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Russia</country-region></place>, and I heard the names of relatives unknown to me. </span></div><div align="center" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--qILcb6EVOA/TW435K65eCI/AAAAAAAAEKE/SRs4vL8clnc/s1600/Tessie%252C+Nanna%252C+Pappa%252C+Moura+ROZ+seder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--qILcb6EVOA/TW435K65eCI/AAAAAAAAEKE/SRs4vL8clnc/s320/Tessie%252C+Nanna%252C+Pappa%252C+Moura+ROZ+seder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chana-Reizel and Zalman, Tessie Freedman and Moura Kaye</span></i></div><div align="center" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">c. 1937</span></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A place of particular honor and affection was held by their grandfather<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a> Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk (1830-1897)..</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1028" style="height: 90.75pt; width: 414.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Hamelitz Pinkhas extract" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.jpg"></imagedata></shape></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eOBtMhHXOJI/TW44EMOOjeI/AAAAAAAAEKI/bSnLGIjdiuc/s1600/Hamelitz+Pinkhas+extract.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eOBtMhHXOJI/TW44EMOOjeI/AAAAAAAAEKI/bSnLGIjdiuc/s320/Hamelitz+Pinkhas+extract.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Obituary of Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk, "Hamelitz" 26 Adar I, 5657/1897</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was common knowledge that the family descended from a long line of rabbis, although I do not recall that the Vilna Gaon was mentioned by name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if he had, as a youngster aged eight when my grandmother died, I would not have known who he was.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately the untimely deaths of my grandparents deprived me of a rich source of information as I had not recorded their stories during their lifetimes and had not been able to ask them questions about the family ancestry. But my brother, who is older than me, had sketched a family tree according to our grandmother's knowledge of it. This tree commenced with my grandparents' great-grandfather Rabbi Shlomo-Zalman Komisaruk (1798-1853)</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xiV8NO5jugk/TW45b-__nYI/AAAAAAAAEKM/xFgIlSw_ITs/s1600/nf+family+tree0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xiV8NO5jugk/TW45b-__nYI/AAAAAAAAEKM/xFgIlSw_ITs/s320/nf+family+tree0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Family Tree drawn by Neville Freedman, <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Melbourne</place></city> c.1950</span></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After the death in 1958 of my late grandfather Shlomo Zalman Komesaroff (originally Komisaruk) I found a treasure trove of sources of family history. There were old photos and documents from <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Russia</place></country-region> such as his marriage certificate, passport, my mother’s birth certificate, letters from relatives in Yiddish and Russian, and old religious books with inscriptions by relatives. I learned Russian and was able to read the names inscribed on the back of the photos. Amazingly my mother was able to identify all of them and we constructed a family tree.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KewQrd00nMo/TW45z6iUhTI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/546Ja7GpX5E/s1600/Yahrtzeits+Etz+Khaim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KewQrd00nMo/TW45z6iUhTI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/546Ja7GpX5E/s400/Yahrtzeits+Etz+Khaim.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1030" style="height: 239.25pt; width: 297pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Yahrtzeits Etz Khaim" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image011.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Inscription of death anniversaries inscribed in a Hebrew book by Zalman Komesaroff.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The connection between the Komisaruk family and the Gaon of Vilna is based primarily on oral tradition. While archival research has produced considerable material about the family, specific documentary proof of descent from the Gaon has not been found. However, analysis of the oral traditions together with personal inscriptions in books and written family memoirs strongly supports a relationship.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">Evidence: </span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1) The oral tradition of descent from the Gaon was maintained by my late grandmother, Chana Reizel Komesaroff (1887-1955) of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Melbourne</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place>, and other relatives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W_vHr60iBv8/TW46B3Y56RI/AAAAAAAAEKU/4n-tkqLU5JU/s1600/Nanna+Roz+drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W_vHr60iBv8/TW46B3Y56RI/AAAAAAAAEKU/4n-tkqLU5JU/s320/Nanna+Roz+drive.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chana-Reizel Komesaroff (Kaye). c.1953 <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Melbourne</city></place></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>brother Neville Freedman recalled how our grandmother, Chana Reizel Komesaroff, spoke of discussing the subject of descent from the Gaon with Sara Tsipora (1880-1962), the wife of Rabbi Yosef Lipman Gurewicz of Vilna who lived in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Melbourne</city></place>. Rebbitzen Gurewicz was the daughter of Rabbi Avraham Yitskhak Bendet of Vilna who also claimed descent from the Gaon (as noted on her tombstone</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">). Unfortunately, neither the Gurewicz family nor the Komesaroff family recorded in writing the exact nature of the relationship between them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2) There were three families in <city w:st="on">Melbourne</city> whose roots in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Russia</country-region></place> showed them to be interrelated by several cousin marriages: <b>Komesaroff (Komisaruk), Zmood and Grinblat.</b> In addition to marriages at the generation level of my grandparents, several members</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> of these families claimed that they had been told by their elder relatives that the three families were related independently of these marriages and were descended from a common primogenitor. My interpolations of the family trees and traditions led me to believe that the common ancestor of these three families was <b><i>Rabbi Dov Ber Halevy Komisaruk (1776-1843) of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Raseiniai</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place>.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1032" style="height: 66.75pt; width: 414.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Rassein 1816 Komisaruk men0001" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image015.png"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V2ekxry9uys/TW46SI_yi-I/AAAAAAAAEKY/Nf4BXSJi8CE/s1600/Rassein+revision+list+1816+Leibl%252CBerel+Komisaruk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V2ekxry9uys/TW46SI_yi-I/AAAAAAAAEKY/Nf4BXSJi8CE/s400/Rassein+revision+list+1816+Leibl%252CBerel+Komisaruk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YMe8T_prPOE/TW461CNa6uI/AAAAAAAAEKc/3fKUTgay0zE/s1600/Rassein+1816+Komisaruk+women0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YMe8T_prPOE/TW461CNa6uI/AAAAAAAAEKc/3fKUTgay0zE/s400/Rassein+1816+Komisaruk+women0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1033" style="height: 73.5pt; width: 414.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Rassein 1816 Komisaruk women0001" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image017.png"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">1816 Census, Rassein (now Raseiniai), <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place> including</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Berel son of David Komisaruk aged 40, his wife Ester aged 39, their son Zalman aged 18 and his wife Yokhet (Yokhved) aged 18.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="" id="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 24pt; width: 24pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"></shape></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 8pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: #ddd6e4; border-bottom: 1.5pt outset; border-left: 1.5pt outset; border-right: 1.5pt outset; border-top: 1.5pt outset; height: 798px; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt; width: 450px;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Name </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Born</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Father </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Age</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Comments </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Type of Record</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Day </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Month </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Year</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Town </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Uyezd </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Guberniya</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Archive/Fond/Inventory/File </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Record # </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Page #</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KAMISARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Berel</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">David </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">died in 1843 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Taxpayers - Unable to Pay </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1846 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/1620 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">22 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KOMISARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Zelman</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Berel </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">real estate (houses); 1.16 rubles tax </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Box Taxpayers </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1848 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/2181 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">22 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">181 </span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KOMISARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Sender</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Velvel </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">real estate (houses); 1.60 rubles tax </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Box Taxpayers </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1848 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/2181 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">23 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">182 </span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KOMISARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Shender</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">53 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbi Electors </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">29 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">December </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1860 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/4103 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">18 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">764 </span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KOMISARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Yankel</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">37 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbi Electors </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">29 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">December </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1860 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/4103 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">50 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">765 </span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KOMISARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Sender</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbi Electors </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1847 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/1813 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">49 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">6 </span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KOMISARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Zelman</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbi Electors </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1847 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/1813 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">61 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">6 </span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="6" style="background: #b3a3c2; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KOMISSARUK</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Sender</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">well-to-do; 2 people in family </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Box Taxpayers </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1885 </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Raseiniai </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Kaunas</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 2.25pt; padding-left: 2.25pt; padding-right: 2.25pt; padding-top: 2.25pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA/I-49/1/14655 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">65 </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">142 </span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><cite><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim;">.</span></cite><span style="font-size: 8pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lithuanian archival records of the Komisaruk family.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">One member of these families in Melbourne, Raymond Grinblat</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, spoke of the family relationships to my parents at several social gatherings. When I met him he told me that his family came from Salant in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place> and that they were descended from a famous rabbi known as <b><i>"the Gaon"</i></b>. While that title is bandied around widely now, it was not always the case. A study of the rabbis of Salant included many famous figures. None of the Salant rabbis was known especially as "the Gaon". <b>This was my first indication that the ancestor might have been the Vilna Gaon.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3) Supporting evidence came from the <b>memoirs of Marcus Joseph Weinkle</b> (1866-1933) written in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">USA</place></country-region> in 1928. He was a member of the Winnikoffsky family several members of which married into the Komisaruk family. Bearing in mind the period in which Weinkle lived, he had first-hand knowledge of the early generations of the Komisaruk family, having been personally acquainted with them. Weinkle noted an event which is highly significant in the explanation of the descent of the Komisaruk family. This is Weinkle's record of the marriage of his aunt,<span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span> Feigel Winnikoffsky to Zev Wolf Komisaruk. Weinkle wrote</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> :</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Feigel married Wolf Komisaruk, a Rabbi's brother, descended, as it is said, from the great Jewish sage, the Gaon of Vilna." </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The importance of this statement is that it was written by one who personally knew my great-great-grandfather Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk (1830-1897). This familiarity with the tradition of the Komisaruk family's descent from the Gaon is completely independent of the Komisaruk family's oral traditions, and therefore represents strong confirmation of the linkage.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4) The exact nature of the link between the Gaon of Vilna and the Komisaruk family was established by an inscription in an old book passed down through the generations of the Komisaruk family. A copy of <b>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Khokhmat Adam</i>"</b></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, dating from 1860, was in the possession of Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk (1830-1897).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next to the name of the author, Rabbi Avraham Danzig of Vilna (1748-1820), was a fading</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> handwritten inscription in Hebrew<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <b>"av dodi"</b> </i>meaning <b>"</b><span dir="rtl"></span><b><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="mso-ansi-font-style: italic;"><span dir="rtl"></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">father of my uncle</i>".</b> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JxkUdK2epTg/TW47udM-WnI/AAAAAAAAEKg/BvMasqXTjnw/s1600/Av+Dodi+restoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JxkUdK2epTg/TW47udM-WnI/AAAAAAAAEKg/BvMasqXTjnw/s640/Av+Dodi+restoration.jpg" width="404" /></a></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1035" style="height: 321pt; width: 203.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Av Dodi restoration" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image021.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Khokhmat Adam, 1860 with inscription <b>"Av Dodi" </b>(reconstructed)</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Other inscriptions indicate that the book was of considerable sentimental value to the family, particularly the relationship with the author, and thereby with the Vilna Gaon, such that it was passed from father to son for several generations:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"This book Khokhmat Adam belonged to the distinguished and outstanding one, my father and my teacher, the Rabbi Pinkhas, son of our teacher the Rabbi Shlomo Zalman of blessed and righteous memory, Segal, of Kolonya Grafskoy, Komisaruk."</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-42aI_rDubSs/TW48DlqEXWI/AAAAAAAAEKk/BJI14houIag/s1600/Khokhmat+Adam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-42aI_rDubSs/TW48DlqEXWI/AAAAAAAAEKk/BJI14houIag/s320/Khokhmat+Adam.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><shape id="_x0000_i1036" style="height: 285.75pt; width: 245.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Khokhmat Adam" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image023.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Below this inscription appears the signature of Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk's son, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Komisaruk (1862-1920), Rabbi of the <placetype w:st="on">village</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Vasilkovka</placename>, Yekaterinoslav Government (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Ukraine</country-region></place>):</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 28.4pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Shlomo Zalman, son of our teacher the Rabbi Pinkhas." </i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><shape id="_x0000_i1037" style="height: 218.25pt; width: 171pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="zalmen" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image025.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Komisaruk, son of Pinkhas,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vasilkovka, c.1917.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Zi9n8HEOZDA/TW48TqXdI2I/AAAAAAAAEKo/_m7iEaqwCNA/s1600/zalmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Zi9n8HEOZDA/TW48TqXdI2I/AAAAAAAAEKo/_m7iEaqwCNA/s320/zalmen.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><em>Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Komisaruk, son of Pinkhas, Vasilkovka c.1917</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><em><br />
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">These signatures confer authenticity on the inscription written next to the name of the author of the book, which was obviously intended to preserve for posterity a record of the relationship between the Komisaruk family and the author of the book, Rabbi Avraham Danzig.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Consideration of the expression <b>"father of my uncle"</b> indicates two possibilities. The father of one's uncle could either be one's grandfather, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in which case he would have been referred to as such, or the father </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">of an uncle by marriage, namely one's aunt's husband.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Since Avraham Danzig's son, Rabbi Yitskhak Danzig ( c. 1785-1853) was married to Gittel (died 1857), a daughter of Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Serhei (1764-1816), the Gaon of Vilna's second son, the link between the Komisaruk family and the Gaon can be firmly established.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Given that the <place w:st="on">Danzig</place> family was not Levitic, whilst the Komisaruk family</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">was, and ruling out a relationship with the families of Avraham Danzig's other children, whose connections are not applicable to the Komisaruk family, it can be definitely concluded that Rabbi Yehudah Leib's son-in-law, Rabbi Yitskhak Danzig, was an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>uncle by marriage to Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk's father Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Komisaruk. This means that <b>Rabbi Shlomo Zalmen's mother was a sister of Yitskhak Danzig's wife Gittel, and a daughter of Rabbi Yehudah Leib, a son of the Gaon of Vilna.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In other words,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>the father of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Komisaruk, Rabbi Dov Ber Halevy Komisaruk was a son-in-law of Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Serhei, thus establishing the relationship between the Komisaruk family and the Gaon of Vilna.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sqVrtyMrWdU/TW49ZtoDv3I/AAAAAAAAEKs/tWrEBjO8LYc/s1600/Komisaruk+from+Gaon0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sqVrtyMrWdU/TW49ZtoDv3I/AAAAAAAAEKs/tWrEBjO8LYc/s640/Komisaruk+from+Gaon0001.JPG" width="444" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1038" style="height: 597.75pt; width: 414.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Komisaruk from Gaon0001" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image027.png"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">5) Indication of this relationship was sought from the genealogy complied by <b>Eliezer Rivlin</b></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> . I have carried out extensive research on the Gaon's family which shows that Rivlin's list of the grand-children of the Gaon of Vilna is far from complete. Rivlin recorded thirteen grandchildren of the Gaon, whilst I have identified over forty. Research indicates that, unknown to Rivlin, many families in south-western <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lithuania</place></country-region> established marital ties with the son of the Gaon, Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Serhei.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Documented confirmation of the identity of the relevant daughter of Rabbi Yehudah Leib was sought by this author. Genealogist Alex Friedlander of <state w:st="on">New York</state> extensively researched birth, marriage and death records obtained from the area in south-western Lithuanian and north-eastern <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Poland</country-region></place> where Yehudah Leib's family lived. Friedlander was able to add details about a number of the individuals referred to by Rivlin, however the period during when the children of Yehudah Leib were born, from about 1785 to about 1800, was not within the time period covered by the available records for Serhei. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Records of the Komisaruk family in Raseiniai do exist for the late 18<sup>th</sup> and early to mid-19<sup>th</sup> century.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Personal visits to <country-region w:st="on">Poland</country-region> and <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place> by Friedlander have yet to prove fruitful in solving oral traditions of descent from the Gaon held by a number of families. Likewise, recently opened Russian and Lithuanian archives have not yielded specific material. It should be noted that registration of Jewish births became mandatory by Tsarist law from about 1804. Therefore there were no official birth records of most of the Gaon's grandchildren. It is possible that "Reviski Skazi" (census lists which were recorded for taxation purposes), should they become available for the relevant towns and period, may yield the required information. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The <b>archive of Benyamin Rivlin</b> son of Eliezer Rivlin, the author of "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sefer Hayakhas" </i>includes material on the family of the Gaon of Vilna. Amongst this material are copies of genealogical lists prepared by Rabbi <b>Eliyahu Landa</b> (1873-1946, a great-great grandson of the Gaon) who was the major source for that section pertaining to the Gaon in Eliezer Rivlin's "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sefer Hayakhas". </i>The names and number of the daughters of Yehudah Leib of Serhei is ambiguous. Landau wrote two versions of his lists, although both state that Yehudah Leib had four daughters and not two as recorded in "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sefer Hayakhas".</i> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">6) <b>Rabbi Chaim-Mendel (Marvin) Luban</b></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, formerly Rabbi of Young Israel Synagogue in Forest Hills, New York, and retired to Jerusalem, met a lady at a social event who told him that she came from Harbin, Manchuria where she was told by members of the Komisaruk family that they were descended from the Vilna Gaon. This incident may tie into a visit to <city w:st="on">Melbourne</city> about 1970 by Rachel Komissaroff of <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place>. Her father-in-law Avraham-Avner Komissaroff lived in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Harbin</place></city> during the 1920's and 1930's. Rachel recalled that when a new rabbi arrived in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Harbin</place></city> he was concerned about the level of Kashrut of members of the community. He was prepared to eat in the Komissaroff household because he knew they were descended from the Vilna Gaon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This story is problematical as the Komissaroff family in <city w:st="on">Harbin</city>, originally from <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Novozybkov</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Russia</country-region></place>, was not of Levitic descent while the Komesaroffs and Komisaruks were Leviim. Research into the Novozybkov family has not revealed a relationship, which, if at all, could only have resulted from a non-Levitical Komissaroff marrying the daughter of a Levitical Komisaruk. Yet when Henry Komissaroff, Rachel's husband, met the Melbourne Komesaroffs about 1950, they were convinced that they were related.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It is possible that the <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Harbin</place></city> story was based on a meeting with the Luban family that was living there between 1924-1928, namely Rabbi Chaim Luban's grandparents Chaim-Moshe and Ester Luban. Ester was a daughter of Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk. If this was the case, then this may be further evidence of the Komisaruk family's descent from the Vilna Gaon.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1039" style="height: 286.5pt; width: 171.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Ester Khaim M Harbin" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image029.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A5gmgFZqBLI/TW49w178LII/AAAAAAAAEKw/zs_a48BAQ3Q/s1600/Ester+Khaim+M+Harbin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A5gmgFZqBLI/TW49w178LII/AAAAAAAAEKw/zs_a48BAQ3Q/s320/Ester+Khaim+M+Harbin.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">7) The memoirs of <b>Norman Mendelson</b></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (1913-1998) of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Melbourne</city></place> refer to the rabbinic ancestry of the Komisaruk family as related to him by his grandmother Beila Reeva Komesaroff</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn13" name="_ednref13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[13]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (1865-1935):</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"We came from <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lithuania</place></country-region>. From our branch in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lithuania</place></country-region> we could boast a few famous rabbis. Rabbi Ber was our noted man. He was such a great rabbi that people came from all over to hear his opinion and evaluation on questions".</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Research of a "famous" Rabbi Ber in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Raseiniai</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</country-region></place> (the town of origin of the Komisaruk family) fails to identify such a person. It is possible that Norman may have confused one of his rabbinical ancestors, Rabbi Dov Ber Komisaruk, with a more famous ancestor, the Vilna Gaon, who would fit the description conveyed by Beila-Reeva.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IAC7KMCUbdw/TW4-OzRmneI/AAAAAAAAEK4/8i8y5eNswlk/s1600/Beila+Reeva+Komesaroff+and+Norman+Mendelson+c.19290001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IAC7KMCUbdw/TW4-OzRmneI/AAAAAAAAEK4/8i8y5eNswlk/s320/Beila+Reeva+Komesaroff+and+Norman+Mendelson+c.19290001.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DIWBDTXBcRU/TW4-EVIssnI/AAAAAAAAEK0/pahlF5lciTU/s1600/Mendel+Komisaruk++Grafskoy+1913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DIWBDTXBcRU/TW4-EVIssnI/AAAAAAAAEK0/pahlF5lciTU/s320/Mendel+Komisaruk++Grafskoy+1913.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><shape id="_x0000_i1040" style="height: 191.25pt; width: 116.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Beila Reeva Komesaroff and Norman Mendelson c" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image031.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><shape id="_x0000_i1041" style="height: 191.25pt; width: 157.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <imagedata o:title="Mendel Komisaruk Grafskoy 1913" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image033.jpg"></imagedata></span></shape></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Beila-Reeva Komesaroff(Komisaruk), Norman Mendelson, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Melbourne</city></place> c.1926</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Menakhem-Mendel son of Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk, Grafskoy, <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ukraine</place></country-region> 1913</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">7) <b>Physiognomic similarities</b> between several people may be claimed to indicate a relationship between them. I am usually dubious of this type of genealogical evidence. Modesty might deter me from writing of this but in the interests of completeness I am including this point. A portrait of the Vilna Gaon</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_edn14" name="_ednref14" style="mso-endnote-id: edn14;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[14]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> hangs in my house. Several people have commented that I bear a remarkable resemblance to that portrait.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HXWqzjBIfOA/TW4-pyGB_iI/AAAAAAAAEK8/vazxkFl5aFo/s1600/Vilna+Gaon%252C+Winograd+picture+BT2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HXWqzjBIfOA/TW4-pyGB_iI/AAAAAAAAEK8/vazxkFl5aFo/s320/Vilna+Gaon%252C+Winograd+picture+BT2.bmp" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v5GCoGG1XQs/TW4-2MtZBuI/AAAAAAAAELA/ai2sX5lzWQk/s1600/P6050002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v5GCoGG1XQs/TW4-2MtZBuI/AAAAAAAAELA/ai2sX5lzWQk/s320/P6050002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maybe……………</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><shape id="_x0000_i1042" style="height: 225pt; width: 149.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Vilna Gaon, Winograd picture BT2" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image035.png"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape><shape id="_x0000_i1043" style="height: 179.25pt; width: 264pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="P6050002" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Haim\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image037.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></imagedata></shape></div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> The name was originally Komisaruk in <country-region w:st="on">Russia</country-region>, some of the family used the form Komesaroff and it was changed to Kaye by my grandfather in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place>.</span></div></div><div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rabbi Pinkhas was the paternal grandfather of both my grandparents as their fathers, Meir and Menakhem-Mendel Komisaruk were brothers.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The exact dates of birth and death of rabbi Shlomo-Zalman Komisaruk were not known until the discovery of archival records in the 1990's.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebbetzin Gurewitz's tombstone is located in the <placename w:st="on">Carlton</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Cemetery</placetype> in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Melbourne</place></city>.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moshe (Maurice) Zmood and Raymond Grinblat.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the death of Raymond Grinblat in 1975 and after my first book "Out Fathers' Harvest" appeared in 1982, Raymond's widow Miriam claimed that she did not recall these conversations.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weinkle's memoirs were translated by his grand-daughter Charlotte Chazin.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book was in the possession of William (Khaim-Velvel) Komesaroff of Melbourne and after his death in 1996, it passed to his son Michael. </span></span></div></div><div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is in the possession of Michael Komesaroff (<place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Melbourne</city></place>) and in an examination of the title page the inscription is no longer visible. A reconstruction by Chaim Freedman in 2006 was carried out from his memory of the faded inscription as he saw it about 1965. </span></span></div></div><div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Sefer Hayakhas Lemishpakhat Rivlin Vehagaon Mivilna" Eliezer Rivlin, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Jerusalem</city></place> 1935.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rabbi Chaim Luban is a grandson of Ester Luban (c.1868-1929), a daughter of Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk. He does not remember the identity of the lady who gave him this information.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn12" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norman Mendelson's father, Yaakov-Leib (1888-1952) changed his name from Komisaruk to Mendelson. He was a son of Menakhem-Mendel, son of Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn13" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref13" name="_edn13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[13]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beila Reeva was the wife of Menakhem-Mendel Komisaruk.</span></span></div></div><div id="edn14" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6552250334188196454#_ednref14" name="_edn14" style="mso-endnote-id: edn14;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[14]</span></span></span></span></a><span dir="rtl"></span><span dir="rtl"><span dir="rtl"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The portrait appears on the cover of my book "Eliyahu's Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family" (Avotaynu 1997). The provenance of this portrait is discussed in "The Gaon of Vilna. The Man and His Legacy", <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Beit</placename> <placename w:st="on">Hatefutsoth</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Museum</placetype></place> of the Jewish Diaspora, edited by Rachel Schnold, Tel Aviv 1998. The original portrait is held in the archive of Yeshayahu Winograd, <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Jerusalem</place></city>.</span></span></div></div><br />
<hr align="right" size="1" width="33%" /></div></div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-18996143435988593932011-02-24T17:16:00.003+02:002011-03-02T15:21:25.843+02:00Photos<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A selection of photos</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WThELytqiYk/TWZ2VL4iJ8I/AAAAAAAAEIM/ryCPQIitzLU/s1600/Hyman+Bloch+Phillips+Sydney+18770001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WThELytqiYk/TWZ2VL4iJ8I/AAAAAAAAEIM/ryCPQIitzLU/s200/Hyman+Bloch+Phillips+Sydney+18770001.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDBf27u1Rhg/TWZ3654bRCI/AAAAAAAAEI0/5xZ06iI1I_k/s1600/Rav+Avraham+Gurewicz+gateshead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDBf27u1Rhg/TWZ3654bRCI/AAAAAAAAEI0/5xZ06iI1I_k/s320/Rav+Avraham+Gurewicz+gateshead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W30XnNRDMFA/TWZ3-fNDj2I/AAAAAAAAEI4/oGqdoqDsEWI/s1600/Cecil_Helman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W30XnNRDMFA/TWZ3-fNDj2I/AAAAAAAAEI4/oGqdoqDsEWI/s1600/Cecil_Helman.jpg" /></a></div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-38006595966067658732011-02-24T16:22:00.001+02:002011-02-24T16:22:35.169+02:00Kremer – the Vilna Gaon had no SurnameDespite a common misconception, the Gaon had no surname and "Kremer" or “Kramer” was a nickname applied to his ancestor Rabbi Moshe "Kremer" of Vilna because he had a stall in the market.<br />
<br />
The term "Kremer" means a shopkeeper.<br />
None of the primary sources or documents contemporaneous with the Gaon and the generation after him include a surname, although several biographies in modern times have erroneously used it.<br />
<br />
There are many, many Kremers/Kramers who have nothing to do with the Gaon.<br />
However the name was adopted by the descendants of one of the Gaon’s brothers Rabbi Moshe of Podzelva. They lived mainly in Dokshitz, Belarus, and in Israel.<br />
<br />
Another family descended is from a female connection to the Gaon, a daughter of his grandson Rabbi Tuviah Yurbarsky and wife of Rabbi Yitskhak Kremer of Volkovisk (there are descendants in the USA).<br />
<br />
Unless a family has a specific tradition of descent from the Gaon, the surname Kremer alone is probably not sufficient evidence of a relationship with the Gaon.Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-91731334960334545172011-02-24T16:20:00.000+02:002011-02-24T16:20:22.681+02:00Family of the Vilna Gaon<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU87fUVZ7I/AAAAAAAAABw/wJU1TQV6pYw/s1600-h/Vilna+1765+Gaon.gif"></a><br />
<div><div><div><a href="http://www.jewishfamilyhistory.org/index.htm"><span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="color: #6699cc;">18th Century Links with the Family of the Vilna Gaon</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 180%;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 180%;"><br />
</span></div><div></div><div>Chaim Freedman's family originated in the Raseiniai district of Lithuania. David Hoffman coordinated the Raseiniai researchers for the LitvakSIG and they developed a collegial relationship over several years. Hoffman accumulated documentation about his family’s oral tradition of a relationship to the Vilna Gaon. He discussed this with Chaim Freedman, who was studying the family of the Gaon. Freedman became very supportive of Hoffman’s efforts to obtain early 19th century Russian Empire revision lists and 1784 and 1765 censuses from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Together they traced some lines of their families back to the 18th century.</div><br />
<div><br />
<strong>Rabbi Eliyahu The Vilna Gaon (1720-1797)</strong></div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div>Research of the family of the Vilna Gaon was published in 1997 by Avotaynu as Chaim Freedman’s book Eliyahu’s Branches, The Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family. There Freedman explained that the number and order of birth of the Gaon's children and their ages was not consistent in the sources. Aside from some biographies, it is necessary to study texts that, although their specific purpose was not to record the biography of the Gaon or his family, include passages from which familial information can be interpreted. These texts include in particular the introductions to books written by the Gaon.</div><br />
<div><br />
The number of children recorded in these sources ranges from a minimum of two sons and one daughter to three sons and five daughters. It seems quite certain that only three sons survived to adulthood. Five daughters can also be established, but there may have been others.<br />
The dates of birth of the Gaon's children are significant in order to establish or counter claims of families that they are descended from one or other of his children. The time period between the earliest known ancestor of claimant families and the birthdates of the Gaon's sons may preclude such a claim. On the other hand, since most of the Gaon's daughters were older than the sons, there is the possibility of a greater number of intervening generations between the daughters and hypothetical descendant families. Therefore, there may be a greater number of possibilities of descendant lines from the Gaon's daughters than from the sons. Given that the estimated age difference between the Gaon's eldest and youngest child is about twenty-five years, researching the line of descent must take into account the possibility of a variation of an entire generation in the ancestral line, depending whether descent is sought from the older or younger of the Gaon's children. </div><br />
<div><br />
The Vilna Gaon was identified in Vilna (Vilnius) in the first Russian Empire revision list (census) in 1795 and in the two censuses from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of 1784 and 1765. </div><br />
<div><br />
<strong>1795 Revision List of Vilna showing the Vilna Gaon (Eliasz Zelmanowicz and his wife Gitla):</strong></div><br />
<div></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU5bfUVZ3I/AAAAAAAAABM/McFPe8CkniI/s1600-h/VG1795.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036494902709806962" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU5bfUVZ3I/AAAAAAAAABM/McFPe8CkniI/s320/VG1795.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
</div><div></div><br />
<div><strong>1784 census list of Vilna</strong> showing the Vilna Gaon (Eliasz Zelmanowicz and his wife Gitel, daughter Chana, Son Zelman and his wife Rochla, daughter Treyna:<br />
<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU9APUVZ8I/AAAAAAAAAB4/btUnG61UUNg/s1600-h/Vilna+1784+Gaon.gif"><img alt="" border="0" height="47" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036498832604882882" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU9APUVZ8I/AAAAAAAAAB4/btUnG61UUNg/s320/Vilna+1784+Gaon.gif" style="cursor: hand; height: 28px; width: 322px;" width="497" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong>1765 census list of Vilna</strong> showing the Vilna Gaon (Eliasz Zelmanowicz, wife Chana, son Zelman, daughter Basia, and servant Nechama): </div><br />
<div><br />
<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU8yPUVZ5I/AAAAAAAAABg/hH68QbozkGc/s1600-h/VG%201765%20small.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036498592086714258" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU8yPUVZ5I/AAAAAAAAABg/hH68QbozkGc/s320/VG%25201765%2520small.gif" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div>Some of the daughters’ names were discovered for the first time by using these lists. But Freedman particularly wanted to find a son of the Gaon, Abraham, who was not listed in the Gaon’s household in 1765. Since he was aware of Abraham’s wife’s family, he was able to use this information to seek Abraham. </div><br />
<div><br />
Abraham's wife was Sarah, daughter of Nowach and Minda. Minda’s father was known as Eliyahu Pesseles. So Freedman looked for this family on the 1765 Vilna census list, and found Nowach and Minda living in her father’s household: </div></div><br />
<div><div></div><br />
<div>At 59 Ulica Zydowska: Elias son of Hirsch and his wife Chaia, with four children: Joseph (not married); Berko (married to Dwera with three children Leib, Chana and Sora-Rocha); Bejla (married to Aizik son of Abraham); and Minda (married to Nowach with one child Mirka). Also, Elias' father Hirsch, a widower; and five servants. </div><br />
<div><br />
<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RgOVttWmh_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/8UKUpTxaaCA/s1600-h/image002.gif"><img alt="" border="0" height="282" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045040620086134770" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RgOVttWmh_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/8UKUpTxaaCA/s320/image002.gif" style="cursor: hand;" width="342" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
This information is consistent with what is known of Elias (Eliyahu Pesseles) and his family. For his son-in-law Nowach it is clear that he must be recently married to Minda and that as of February 27, 1765 - the date of the census - they only had one daughter, Mirka. His daughter Sarah, who was later to marry Abraham son of the Gaon was not yet born, and this is consistent with Freedman’s postulated birth date of circa 1765 for her future husband. </div><br />
<div><br />
Further information was consistent with what Freedman knew about the Pesseles family, and he was able to identify many members of the Gaon’s family. The widower Hirsch was a brother of the Vilna Gaon’s grandfather. </div><br />
<div><br />
Freedman then turned to the 1784 census to find Nowach and Minda, hoping that Abraham, son of the Vilna Gaon, would be living with his father-in-law. In the 1784 census, Freedman located Abraham in the household of his father-in-law Nowach Abramowicz (Noah Lipshitz, Mindes), along with Nowach’s wife Minda, and Abraham’s wife Sora. In this entry no children appear with Abraham, further indicating the proximity of the marriage to the date of the census. </div><br />
<div><br />
<strong>1784 census of Vilna</strong> in the Kamienicy (house of) Eliaszowicz (Eliash), ... Nowach son of Abram, his wife Minda, son-in-law Abraham, his wife Sora, and servants Nechama and Mowsza: </div><br />
<div><br />
<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU77_UVZ4I/AAAAAAAAABY/pAqdomP0QTA/s1600-h/Vilna+1784+Noakh+Mindes.gif"><img alt="" border="0" height="158" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036497660078811010" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/ReU77_UVZ4I/AAAAAAAAABY/pAqdomP0QTA/s320/Vilna+1784+Noakh+Mindes.gif" style="cursor: hand; height: 195px; width: 452px;" width="410" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, the <strong>1795 Russian revision list</strong> records Abraham, son of the Gaon, with his age as 30. That means he was born in 1765, exactly the year stated in Freedman’s book and calculated by him from complex and often obscure references. This date is about 15 years later than the date "used" by other sources. Now the three lists 1765, 1784 and 1795 support Freedman’s scenario for the configuration of the Gaon's sons. </div><br />
<div><br />
Name: Avraham</div><div>Relationship: Head of Household<br />
Father: Eliasz<br />
Age: 30<br />
Year: 1795<br />
Town: Vilnius<br />
Wife: Sora aged 22<br />
Daughter: Chana aged 11<br />
<br />
<strong>Sources: </strong></div><br />
<div><br />
<strong>Jewish Family History Foundation</strong> <a href="http://www.jewishfamilyhistory.org/index.htm"><span style="color: #6699cc;">http://www.jewishfamilyhistory.org/index.htm</span></a> for 18th century Grand Duchy of Lithuania records, 1795 and 1816 Revision Lists. Provided by Dr. David Hoffman and Professor Eric Goldstein.<br />
For additional information about the 18th century Grand Duchy Project and examples of other successful research, including Chaim Freedman's Komisaruk family of Raseiniai, Lithuania, follow the links at <a href="http://www.jewishfamilyhistory.org/"><span style="color: #6699cc;">http://www.jewishfamilyhistory.org/</span></a>.<br />
<br />
Learn more about the thirty years of scholarly research that led to the publication in 1997 of Eliyahu's Branches: <strong>The Descendants of the Vilna Gaon (of blessed and saintly memory) and His Family, by Chaim Freedman at the Avotaynu Website</strong> <a href="http://www.avotaynu.com/books/gaon.htm"><span style="color: #6699cc;">http://www.avotaynu.com/books/gaon.htm</span></a>.</div><br />
<div></div><br />
<div>The book analyzed many source materials, from religious writings to the writings of the Gaon and his disciples. </div><br />
<div><br />
Freedman's book about the Vilna Gaon contains a rare portrait of the illustrious 18th-century Eastern European sage, a discussion of his substantial influence on the Jewish world and a thoroughly-documented family tree listing more than 20,000 descendants of the rabbi and his siblings. A small portion of the tree--the <a href="http://www.avotaynu.com/gaontree.html"><span style="color: #6699cc;">first four generations</span></a>--is available on the Web. </div><div><br />
This current article, using the previously unavailable 1795 Russian revision list and 18th century GDL census lists, resolves inconsistencies and provides new documentary evidence for Freedman's theories. </div></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-76855911898379390002011-02-24T15:57:00.003+02:002012-03-06T16:11:54.816+02:00Ancestry of the Gaon of Vilna – Descent from King David<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><strong>Ancestry of the Gaon of Vilna – Descent from King David</strong><br />
<br />
Chaim Freedman, Petah Tikvah, Israel, September 2005<br />
Published in "Avotaynu" Volume XXI, Number 3, Fall 2005<br />
Hebrew translation by Rabbi Benyamin Yedidiah Panteliat is being posted progressively at <a href="http://toladot.blogspot.com/">http://toladot.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalmen, the Vilna Gaon (1720-1797)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[1]</span></a> is descended from several prominent rabbinical scholars of Vilna: Rabbi Moshe Rivkas (1596-1671) and Rabbi Moshe Kremer (died 1688). The ancestry of these rabbis was known by the Gaon’s biographers for only a few generations, no earlier than the mid sixteenth century. To date relationships with other prominent rabbinical families was unknown. This was a rare situation considering that most ancient [or other suitable word] rabbinical families were interrelated and could trace their ancestry for centuries.<br />
<br />
Throughout the course of the Bible the narrative revolves around the sequence of the generations, from the patriarchs, the division of the Children Of Israel into the Twelve Tribes, the Exodus from Egypt, the pioneers in the establishment of the Jewish nation in Eretz Yisrael, the Prophets, the Royal House of David until the destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile into the Diaspora<br />
<br />
During the pre-Exilic period the Jews preserved records of their genealogical connection to the nation. This continuity was lost to a great extent due to the disruption of the Exile to Babylon and the Diaspora in Europe. Many families painstakingly preserved their traditions of descent even in the post-Exilic period. Some of these families settled in the Rhineland and France in the ninth and tenth centuries. A prominent family which claimed Davidic descent was that of great Biblical and Talmudic commentator Rashi (1040-1105). Traditions of descent from famous rabbis and in particular from Rashi have long intrigued genealogists. The subject was discussed at length in several issues of Avotaynu some years ago<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[2]</span></a>. Rashi’s family and disciples established centers of learning and laid the foundations of the communities which became the hub of Jewish life in many towns in Western Europe. Later, in the fourteenth century, their descendants moved to Eastern Europe. Thus a vast interrelated dynasty of rabbinic families spread across Europe.<br />
<br />
Since most of the prominent rabbinical families are inter-related due to Shidukhim (matchmaking), there was a core of medieval rabbinical families who were descended from Rashi. Some examples are Treves, Shapira, Luria, Katzenellenbogen, Jaffe, Heilprin, Landau, Lipshitz, Margolis, Rapaport, Heller, Weil, Isserles, Shorr, Klausner, Horowitz, Katz, Teomim, Epstein, Gunzburg, to name but a few. These families comprise the root from which most other rabbinical families stemmed. A specific family may descend from a number of marital ties between rabbinical families, which ultimately connect back to Katzenellenbogen, Luria etc, and through them to Rashi and King David.<br />
<br />
Details of these families can be studied on the Davidic Dynasty site <a href="http://www.davidicdynasty.org/"><span style="color: #6699cc;">http://www.davidicdynasty.org/</span></a> </div><br />
<div>A new study of the ancestry of the Vilna Gaon by this author revealed previously unknown sources which when correlated show that the Vilna Gaon is in fact descended from many of the above families and is descended from King David.<br />
<br />
An extensive study of the ancestry of the Gaon of Vilna was written by the late Benyamin Rivlin and published in Sefer Hagra <a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_Ref115237316"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[3]</span></a>.<br />
<br />
The Gaon's parents were Rabbi Shlomo-Zalmen (died 1758) and Treina. His mother came from the town of Seltz (today, Selets) near Grodno. His father came from a prominent Vilna family. The known male line of the Gaon's ancestry commences with Rabbi David Ashkenazi (died 1645), who was a Rosh Yeshiva in Lemberg, Poland. According to Professor Louis Ginzberg<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[4]</span></a>, David Ashkenazi may have been identical with Rabbi David, son of Mordekhai Ashkenazi, mentioned in Klilat Yofi<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[5]</span></a>. David's son, Rabbi Moshe Kremer (died 1688), held the position of Av Beit Din (chief rabbi) of Vilna. Moshe Kremer's son, Rabbi Eliyahu (died 1710), was known as “Khassid” due to his piety.<br />
<br />
Eliyahu Khassid had three sons: Rabbi Yissakhar Ber (or Yissakhar Dov), Rabbi Tzvi Hersh (died 1765) and Rabbi Moshe (died 1765). Tzvi Hersh was the ancestor of several prominent families, including Rivlin and Eliash, who held influential positions in the Vilna community<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[6]</span></a>. Yissakhar Ber was the father of Rabbi Shlomo Zalmen, who was the father of five sons and a daughter. The eldest son was Rabbi Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna (1720–1797).<br />
<br />
The Gaon's great-grandfather Eliyahu Khassid married into another prominent rabbinic family. His wife was a daughter of Rabbi Petakhiah, son of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas (died 1671). Rabbi Moshe Rivkas came to Vilna from Prague in the early seventeenth century. During the Cossack massacres in 1655, Rivkas fled to Amsterdam, where he completed his commentary on the Shulkhan Arukh called Be-er Hagolah<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_Ref115237743"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[7]</span></a>.<br />
<br />
The earliest known ancestor of Moshe Rivkas was Yosef Hakhaver of Ofen (later Budapest), one of the members of the Jewish community of Vienna who was exiled to Prague in 1559<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_Ref114814603"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[8]</span></a>. Yosef's son, Rabbi Petakhiah (died 1598), was sofer (scribe) of the Prague community, as was his son, Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Hersh. Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer (died Prague 1601) was the father of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_3RrLSmax5Q/T1YZj1cBBsI/AAAAAAAAEQI/gymC0Y5rhmk/s1600/Yosef+Khaver+to+Gaon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_3RrLSmax5Q/T1YZj1cBBsI/AAAAAAAAEQI/gymC0Y5rhmk/s320/Yosef+Khaver+to+Gaon.jpg" uda="true" width="290" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div><strong>Maternal Ancestors</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><br />
<div>Little is known about the Gaon's female ancestors. There are two versions as to the identity of Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer's wife. Shapira<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[9]</span></a> refers to Naftali as Tzvi Hersh Fasi and records his wife's name as Rivka, a daughter of Natan Mandel, son of Meir of Krakow.<br />
<br />
But Tzvi Hersh Fasi lived in Krakow, whereas the father of Moshe Rivkas, Naftali Tzvi Hersh lived in Prague where he held the position as Sofer (scribe) of the Kahal. Tzvi Hersh Fasi held a position as Parnes Umanhig (a community leader) in Krakow. Kahana<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[10]</span></a> lists the children of Tzvi Hersh Fasi but the name of Moshe Rivkas is not included. Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer died in Prague in 1601, whereas Tzvi Hersh Fasi is recorded in the Pinkas Hakahal (a community register book) in 1632. Therefore it can be seen that Shapira has confused two individuals. A possible explanation for the confusion may be due to the fact that Fasi’s son Leib was the father-in-law (by his first marriage) of Rabbi Gershon Ashkenazi of Nikolsberg and Vienna (1615-1693, author of Avodat Hagershuni) who referred to Moshe Rivkas as his “Mekhutan” (meaning that their children were married) in Gershon’s approbation to Rivkas’ Be’er Hagolah<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[11]</span></a></div><br />
<div><strong>Moshe Rivkas' Descent from King David</strong></div><br />
<div>Details of the ancestry of Moshe Rivkas can be established from the correlation of several sources. Eliezer Rivlin in the introduction to Sefer Hayakhas6 conveys a tradition of the family’s descent from King David:<br />
<br />
“Sefer Hayakhas” Eliezer Rivlin (Jerusalem 1935)<br />
<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswOqWxFbUI/AAAAAAAAAGw/SYGmbze0oq0/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image003.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101468598732680514" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswOqWxFbUI/AAAAAAAAAGw/SYGmbze0oq0/s320/vilnaarticles_image003.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
<br />
Translation<br />
<em>According to ancient family traditions these ancestors of the family were descended from the dynasty of the House of David and the elders of the family used to relate that they saw the ancient writings in which the names of the dynasty were detailed until the House of David. Various legends also spread between the various branches of the family about the origin of their ancestors from the Spanish Exile which was in Amsterdam, and so on and so on. But if we rely on certain scientific documents we are unable to give details of he names above the Holy Rabbi Yosef Khaver, the ancestor of Rivkas on the Rivkas side, and above Rabbi David Ashkenazi father of Kremer on the Kremer side</em>.<br />
<br />
Although Rivlin dismisses these oral traditions because they are not based on “certain scientific documents”, he was apparently unaware of sources which, when considered together, support the oral tradition of descent from King David.<br />
<br />
One of these sources appears in a rare comment in Saarat Eliyahu<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_Ref114819769"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn12;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[12]</span></a> , a eulogy of the Vilna Gaon written by his youngest son Avraham. It was not the habit of the Gaon to mention in his many writings members of his family. Nor was it the custom of his sons. To date few such comments have been discovered:<br />
<br />
“Saarat Eliyhau” Avraham son of the Gaon, Grodno 1876 </div><br />
<br />
<div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswPBWxFbVI/AAAAAAAAAG4/HxweTFzl1Cs/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image005.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="45" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101468993869671762" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswPBWxFbVI/AAAAAAAAAG4/HxweTFzl1Cs/s320/vilnaarticles_image005.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 31px; width: 347px;" width="375" /></a></div><br />
<div></div><div>Translation<br />
…….<em>Samalion (which is the name of an angel as explained by our ancestors the Arukh and the Baalei Hatosafot)……..</em>Two lines of ancestry are noted, one from the author of the Arukh, Rabbi Natan of Rome (1035-1106). A gap of 700 years between the Gaon and Natan makes it difficult to establish the nature of the descent. A family which also claims descent from Natan is that of Rabbi Yomtov Lipman Heller (1574-1654), author of Tosfot Yomtov. Research of the Heller family might establish a connection with the Vilna Gaon’s ancestors<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn13;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[13]</span></a>.<br />
<br />
Of greater importance is that part of the comment by Avraham (son of the Gaon) which refers to<em> “our grandfathers the Baalei Hatosafot”.</em> The term “grandfathers” is a figurative term meaning “ancestors”.<br />
<br />
The Baalei Hatosafot were the Talmudic commentators who functioned after Rashi (1040-1105). Initially these were his sons-in-law, grandsons and their families. Then each of these relatives of Rashi had their students and the group as a whole were known as Baalei Hatosafot, meaning the authors of the additional commentaries to those of Rashi and his predecessors.<br />
<br />
Avraham’s comment referring to his ancestors as Baalei Hatosafot may theoretically include any of the Talmudic scholars regarded as members of this group, and not necessarily the family of Rashi. But given Rivlin’s note about the tradition of descent from King David, and given that Rashi and his family were descended from King David, the intersection of the two factors indicates that it is likely that Avraham’s comment points to the Gaon’s descent from those of the Baalei Hatosafot, who were members of Rashi’s family. Further evidence will add weight to this contention.<br />
<br />
It might be claimed that the term “zikneynu”, “our grandfathers/ancestors” could mean “our elders” and not necessarily ancestors. But that identical term “zikneynu” is used by he Gaon’s sons in their introduction to his commentary on Shulkhan Arukh Orakh Khaim<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn14;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[14]</span></a> .<br />
<br />
Introduction by the Gaon’s sons to his commentary on “Shulkhan Arukh Orakh Khaim” (Shklov 1803) </div></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswZVWxFbnI/AAAAAAAAAJI/jKWzXecs7Dc/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image007.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101480332583333490" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswZVWxFbnI/AAAAAAAAAJI/jKWzXecs7Dc/s320/vilnaarticles_image007.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a> </div><div>Translation<br />
<em>And our ancestor the Rabbi the Gaon our Teacher the Rabbi Reb M. who authored Be’er Hagolah.</em><br />
There the term “zikneynu” is applied to Rabbi Moshe Rivkas, the Gaon’s great-great-great-grandfather. In those instances where scholars of previous generations are referred to, the term usually used is “khazal” meaning “our wise men of blessed memory”, or “razal” meaning “our rabbis of blessed memory”. In Saarat Eliyahu10 Avraham uses the term “razal” for other scholars and only in this one instance uses “zikneynu” to refer to his ancestors Natan of Rome and the Baalei Hatosafot.<br />
<br />
It might be asked how Avraham knew of his ancestry. It seems unlikely that his father The Vilna Gaon would have taken time away from his studies to tell his sons stories about their ancestors. Such is the impression given by descriptions of the Gaon’s character with respect to his total dedication to study, begrudging any diversion for secular purposes, to the extent that he rarely enquired of his family’s welfare. Yet there is evidence that the Gaon did tell his sons about their ancestry as described by Avraham in Saarat Eliyahu:<br />
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“Saarat Eliyhau” Avraham son of the Gaon, Grodno 1876<br />
<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswQC2xFbXI/AAAAAAAAAHI/GHN6HzP1QbI/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image009.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="73" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101470119151103346" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswQC2xFbXI/AAAAAAAAAHI/GHN6HzP1QbI/s320/vilnaarticles_image009.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" width="396" /></a><br />
Translation<br />
………<em> How have we forgotten our holy ancestors. The rabbi the Gaon of our strength our Rabbi Moshe of blessed memory, Av Beit Din of community may it thrive, who saved us from several slanders and blood libels through his wonderful deeds. And from evil officials, as told us our lord our teacher and Rabbi my father the Gaon … who knew in his youth elders who told him, and the son of the above Gaon Reb M. of blessed memory, the rabbi the Khassid Rabbi Eliyahu of blessed memory after whose name our lord our father our teacher the rabbi of blessed memory was called. His great piety and separation, and the thunder of his brave righteousness</em> ….<br />
<br />
Here is clear evidence that the Gaon heard in his youth from the elders of Vilna information about his ancestors. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that the Gaon was the source for Avraham’s information about his descent from Natan of Rome and the Baalei Hatosafot.<br />
<br />
A possible relationship between Moshe Rivkas and the Katzenellenbogen family was mentioned in Eliyahu’s Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn15;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[15]</span></a>. At the time of writing of that book, evidence to explain the claim was not available and so the author wrote “This claim is unsubstantiated”. New evidence makes that statement no longer appropriate.<br />
<br />
Benyamin Rivlin, the son of Eliezer Rivlin, the author of Sefer Hayakhas6, wrote a small biography of his ancestor Rabbi Moshe Rivkas, Reb Moshe Rivkas<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_Ref115499874"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn16;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[16]</span></a>:<br />
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“R’ Moshe Rivkes – Benyamin Rivlin (Jerusalem 1971)<br />
<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswaAWxFboI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/6epO0vfltvk/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101481071317708418" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswaAWxFboI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/6epO0vfltvk/s320/vilnaarticles_image011.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
Translation<br />
<em>About Reb Naftali Hirsh Sofer of the Holy Community of Prague, son of Reb Petakhiah, related his son Reb Moshe Rivkas, in the above introduction [to his book Be’er Hagolah] that “he drew water and served before the rabbi the Gaon our teacher the Rabbi Reb Falk Katz of blessed memory in the Holy Community of Lvov, after his marriage, in the year 5356 and 5357 [1596 and 1597], and there edited the Shulkhan Arukh and wrote at the side some matters from the Shulkhan Arukh of the above rabbi the Gaon of blessed memory.<br />
His wife was Mrs. Telza – of the root of the Gaon Reb Shaul Wahl, and apparently he was “His Honor Hirsh the son of the master the honorable Petakhiah Sofer, tender in years, Sofer son of Sofer, who passed away in Elul 5361 [1601] in Prague.</em>Although Benyamin Rivlin does not refer to his father’s comment about Davidic descent, if, as he states, Moshe Rivkas mother was “of the trunk of Shaul Wahl” then Moshe Rivkas was thereby descended from King David since Shaul Wahl’s family, Katzenellenbogen was descended through the Luria and Mintz families from Rashi, and thereby from King David.<br />
<br />
This reference to Telza, Moshe Rivkas’ mother, appeared prior to Benyamin Rivlin’s comment in 1971, in 1900 in Bentzion Eizenstadt’s Dor Rabanav Vesofraf<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn17;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[17]</span></a> where he quotes Tzvi Hersh Edelman as stating that Telza was <em>“a granddaughter of Shaul Wahl”.</em> Edelman wrote in 1845 Gedulat Shaul<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn18;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[18]</span></a> a history of Shaul Wahl’s family based on a 1755 manuscript Yesh Mankhilin<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_Ref115241474"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn19;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[19]</span></a> held in the Bodlean library in Oxford. Yesh Mankhilin includes many details of the Katzenellenbogen family, yet does not refer to Telza. Nor does Edelman’s Gedulat Shaul refer to Telza. That book was planned to appear in four volumes, only one of which is extant. Possibly Eizenstadt took his source from an unpublished manuscript by Edelman. Benyamin Rivlin makes a similar statement without quoting his source, describing Telza as “<em>of the trunk of Shaul Wahl”</em> whereas Eizenstadt narrows down the relationship to <em>“a granddaughter of Shaul Wahl”.</em><br />
Prior to publishing his Reb Moshe Rivkas in 1971, in 1954 Benyamin Rivlin wrote a chapter in Sefer Hagra1 providing biographical details of the Gaon’s ancestors Rabbi Moshe Kremer and Rabbi Moshe Rivkas. He includes several sources in which Moshe Rivkas refers to his relatives:<br />
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Relatives of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas – Sefer Hagra, Benyamin Rivlin<br />
<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswQymxFbZI/AAAAAAAAAHY/tNX8aD_Q3RQ/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image013.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="104" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101470939489856914" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswQymxFbZI/AAAAAAAAAHY/tNX8aD_Q3RQ/s320/vilnaarticles_image013.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" width="355" /></a></div><div align="left"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswRjmxFbbI/AAAAAAAAAHo/BUi33v-_1xk/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image015.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101471781303446962" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswRjmxFbbI/AAAAAAAAAHo/BUi33v-_1xk/s320/vilnaarticles_image015.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a></div><div><br />
Translation<br />
<em>a. The author of the book Or Yekarot and Leviat Khen (Zolkva, 5516 [1716] ) is descended from Reb Moshe Rivkas and writes that he is from the family Khefetz from the Holy Community of Vilna, and so writes the author of Maamar Efsharut Hativit (Amsterdam 5522 [1762] `from the family Khefetz’</em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn20;" title=""><em><span style="color: #6699cc;">[20]</span></em></a><em>.<br />
b. not relevant<br />
c. According to Rabbi Moshe in Be’er Hagolah his relatives were the Rabbi Reb Yeshaya Horowitz, the author of Shnei Lukhot Habrit (43) and the Rabbi Mordekhai Krasnik of the holy community of Zeil (44.<br />
d. The Rabbi the Gaon our teacher the Rabbi Reb Gershon Ashkenazi Av Beit Din of Nikolsberg and Vienna, who was among the approbants to the book of Reb Moshe, writes of him that he was his Mekhutan</em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn21;" title=""><em><span style="color: #6699cc;">[21]</span></em></a><em>.<br />
(43). Be’er Hagolah, Orakh Khaim 645, 7, 30 and see there Khoshen Mishpat 67, 68.<br />
(44). Ibid, Orakh Khaim 586. 1. 5.</em>The following are Rabbi Moshe Rivkas’ comments about his relatives in his book Be’er Hagolah:<br />
Shulkhan Arukh, Be’er Hagolah Orakh Khaim Khoshen Mishpat<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswRZ2xFbaI/AAAAAAAAAHg/XyDww7DlZR0/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image017.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101471613799722402" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswRZ2xFbaI/AAAAAAAAAHg/XyDww7DlZR0/s320/vilnaarticles_image017.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswUfGxFbeI/AAAAAAAAAIA/uhuh3ZWCx-c/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image019.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101475002528919010" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswUfGxFbeI/AAAAAAAAAIA/uhuh3ZWCx-c/s320/vilnaarticles_image019.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswUmGxFbfI/AAAAAAAAAII/qCi0voOHEqc/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image021.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101475122788003314" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswUmGxFbfI/AAAAAAAAAII/qCi0voOHEqc/s320/vilnaarticles_image021.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
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Yeshaya Horowitz “Shelah” Mordekhai Krasnik Yeshaya Horowitz “Shelah”<br />
<br />
Translation<br />
<em>(Wrote my relative the Rabbi, Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz in his book Shnei Lukhot Habrit …<br />
(Questioned my relative the rabbi Reb Mordekhai Krasnik P of the Holy Community K [an abbreviation which may mean Parnes of the Holy Community of Krakow] ….<br />
……. and my relative the Rabbi author of Shnei Lukhot Habrit……</em>Mordekhai Krasnik of Zeil was a Dayan (rabbinical judge) in Krakow in 1643 and then rabbi in Luntshitz<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn22;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[22]</span></a>. His relationship with Rivkas requires further research.<br />
<br />
Rivkas’ reference to <strong><em>“my relative Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz”,</em></strong> taken independently of other relationships quoted above, might not establish the nature of the Rivkas/Horowitz relationship. But taking into account Rivkas’ Katzenellenbogen relationship, his link to Yeshaya Horowitz can be seen as follows:<br />
<br />
Moshe Rivkas was born in 1596.<br />
<br />
Shaul Wahl was born in 1545. His son Meir was born no earlier than 1565, since his namesake great-grandfather Rabbi Meir Katzenellenbogen the “Maharam Padua” died in 1565. </div><div><br />
The period between the birth date of Shaul Wahl and Moshe Rivkas was fifty-one years which had to include two generations for Telza to have been a granddaughter of Shaul Wahl. </div><div></div><div>From a study of the various children and grandchildren of Shaul Wahl, it seems that Moshe Rivkas’ mother Telza was a daughter of Shaul Wahl’s son Meir Katzenellenbogen and was born about 1580 when her father was aged about fifteen.</div><div></div><div>Telza was about sixteen years of age when she gave birth to Moshe Rivkas in 1596.<br />
<br />
No other scenario is feasible as the other children of Shaul Wahl were too young to have been the parent of Telza, given that her son Moshe Rivkas was born in 1596.<br />
<br />
The Horowitz relationship stated by Moshe Rivkas confirms the above explanation of the Katzenellenbogen relationship since Meir Katzenellenbogen’s wife Hinda was a daughter of Pinkhas Horowitz, a second-cousin to Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz, thus explaining why Moshe Rivkas refers to Horowitz as shear besari, “my flesh relative”.<br />
<br />
Rabbi Pinkhas Horowitz<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn23;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[23]</span></a> of Prague was a son of Yisrael Horowitz, son of Aharon Meshulam Zalmen Horowitz, son of Yeshaya Halevy Horowitz of Prague. The latter Yeshaya had another son Shabtai Sheftel, father of Avraham, father of Yeshaya (1570-1626), author of Shnei Lukhot Habrit, and known by the abbreviation of that book as the Sheloh. The Sheloh possibly born in Prague, served as rabbi in several communities before taking up the position as rabbi of Prague in 1614. He left that position in 1621 to settle in Eretz Yisrael where he died in Tiberias in 1626.<br />
<br />
From the logistics of the Sheloh’s biography it can be seen that his relative Moshe Rivkas, from the age of eighteen, could have been personally acquainted with the Sheloh when he lived in Prague. Hence Rivkas’ comment in Be’er Hagolah that he was related to the Sheloh.<br />
<br />
The relations of Meir Katzenellenbogen appear in Yesh Mankhilin:<br />
<br />
Yesh Mankhilin – editor’s introduction<br />
<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswVf2xFbgI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Tl6qJoCq46c/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image023.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101476114925448706" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswVf2xFbgI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Tl6qJoCq46c/s320/vilnaarticles_image023.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
Translation<br />
<em>The Gaon Reb Meir Katzenellenbogen was a son of the Sar [officer/lord] our Rabbi Shaul Wahl of blessed memory. He was a son-in-law of Reb Pinkhas Horowitz, because he took his daughter Hinda to be his wife………</em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWfmxFblI/AAAAAAAAAI4/G8y2qi__WEE/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image028.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101477210142109266" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWfmxFblI/AAAAAAAAAI4/G8y2qi__WEE/s320/vilnaarticles_image028.gif" style="cursor: hand;" /></a></div><div><div></div><div></div><div>Yesh Mankhilin – Pinkhas Katzenellenbogen </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswVnWxFbhI/AAAAAAAAAIY/vjsvk4h-nBo/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image025.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101476243774467602" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswVnWxFbhI/AAAAAAAAAIY/vjsvk4h-nBo/s320/vilnaarticles_image025.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWHGxFbiI/AAAAAAAAAIg/AGugq-JDZoo/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image027.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101476789235314210" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWHGxFbiI/AAAAAAAAAIg/AGugq-JDZoo/s320/vilnaarticles_image027.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a></div><div><br />
Translation<br />
<em>And my father’s father’s father the Rabbi Our Teacher the Rabbi Reb Meir Shaul’s of blessed memory [Av Beit Din of the Holy Community of Brisk], his wife the Rabbanit Mrs. Hinda may her soul be in Eden, daughter of the famous, Our Teacher the Rabbi Pinkhas Segal Horowitz from Krakow, brother-in-law of the Remo of blessed memory.<br />
And his father was the famous [Shaul] Wahl] [the Sar] and his wife Mrs. Devorah, may her soul be in Eden, daughter of Reb David.</em><br />
Rivkas’ comment about his Horowitz relative confirms that his mother Telza was a daughter of Meir Katzenellenbogen since Meir’s wife was a Horowitz.<br />
<br />
Other relatives of Moshe Rivkas bore the surname (or appellation) Wahl or Wahls. Whether this indicated a relationship with Shaul Wahl requires further research.</div><div>An additional source for the ancestry of Moshe Rivkas through the Katzenellenbogen and Horowitz families appears in Shnot Eliyahu<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn24;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[24]</span></a> the Vilna Gaon’s commentary on the Order Zeraim of the Mishnah, edited by his son-in-law Rabbi Moshe of Pinsk. A reference to Moshe’s ancestor Rabbi Shmuel of Antipol, Karlin and Pinsk, as being a blood relative of the Gaon appears there.<br />
<br />
The author of Sefer Yukhsin<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn25;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[25]</span></a> mentions that the nature of the relationship was not known to him:<br />
<br />
Sefer Yukhsin, Rozenkrantz<br />
<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWO2xFbjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Hhe1Kfg0_oU/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image031.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101476922379300402" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWO2xFbjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Hhe1Kfg0_oU/s320/vilnaarticles_image031.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWXmxFbkI/AAAAAAAAAIw/bjoRsctNkYo/s1600-h/vilnaarticles_image033.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101477072703155778" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lp0IOJ1VXv4/RswWXmxFbkI/AAAAAAAAAIw/bjoRsctNkYo/s320/vilnaarticles_image033.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br />
<br />
Translation<br />
<em>The Gaon Reb Eliyahu of Vilna, of blessed and righteous memory, was descended from one family with my grandfather [ancestor] the Gaon Reb Shmuel of blessed memory Av Beit Din of the Holy Community of Karlin and his brothers, which is found in Shnot Eliyahu on Zeraim where it is mentioned there about my grandfather the Gaon R”Sh who was his relative. But I have not found out at the moment in a clear tradition, the head of which paternal house in the dynasty of our family.<br />
<br />
Our Rabbi Maharsha of blessed memory was the father-in-law of the Gaon, the sharp, the saint Reb Moshe son of the Gaon Reb Yitskhak of blessed memory, and the above Reb Yitskhak was a son-in-law of Reb Simkha Bunem Av Beit Din of the Holy Community of Krakow, son-in-law of the Gaon Head of all the Diaspora, the saint Reb Moshe author of the Mapah, and the above Reb Moshe son of Yitskhak was Av Beit Din of the Holy Community of Lublin and he was the author of the book Mahadura Batra of the Maharsha, and his son-in-law was the Gaon Reb Avraham Feigas of blessed memory. The son of Reb Avraham was the Gaon Rabbi Reb Yosef Khassid Koidanover, the son of Reb Yosef was the Rabbi the Gaon the saint Reb Kalman, Av Beit Din of the Holy Community of Pinsk. The son of Reb Kalman was the Rabbi the Gaon the saint Reb Leib of blessed memory, …………The Rabbi the Gaon the saint Reb Leib had three sons, 1. the Rabbi the Gaon the saint Reb Shmuel of blessed memory Av Beit Din of Antipole, Karlin and Pinsk.</em><br />
The Horowitz descent of the Gaon, established from Moshe Rivkas’ comment in Be’er Hagolah solves Rozenkranz’s problem. He shows that Shmuel of Pinsk was descended from Rabbi Moshe Isserles, the Remo. Isserles’ sister Beila was the wife of Pinkhas Horowitz. Thus the Gaon and Shmuel of Karlin shared ancestry from the Isserles family.<br />
<br />
The Vilna Gaon and Shmuel of Karlin relationship, the manner of which was hitherto unknown, correlates and confirms the other seemingly isolated sources, which taken together, establish the Davidic descent of the Vilna Gaon.<br />
<br />
The comment of Avraham, (son of the Vilna Gaon) in Saarat Eliyahu, about descent from the author of the Arukh, Rabbi Natan of Rome, requires further research. But it should be noted that one family which also claimed descent from Natan was that of Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller (1579-1654), author of Tosefot Yom Tov. Heller’s wife Rekhel was a granddaughter of Pinkhas Horowitz’s sister and thus related to Moshe Rivkas. Heller also functioned as rabbi in Prague during a period when Rivkas could have been acquainted with him. Natan of Rome was a member of the Anav family. Members of the Anav family also lived in Prague. One of Moshe Rivkas’ female ancestors may have been an Anav, thus accounting for Avraham’s comment about his descent from Natan of Rome. </div><div><br />
Most sources<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn26;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[26]</span></a> claim that Natan Heller was descended from Natan of Rome through his father. One source<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftn27" name="_ftnref27" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn27;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[27]</span></a> states that it was though his mother.</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHt08NDuBjQ/T1YbGwedigI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/xZmC8N9agEo/s1600/Anav+Heller+Gaon+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHt08NDuBjQ/T1YbGwedigI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/xZmC8N9agEo/s320/Anav+Heller+Gaon+001.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div>Notes<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[1]</span></a> Freedman, Chaim. Eliyahu’s Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family. Avotaynu, Teaneck, New Jersey U.S.A. 1997.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[2]</span></a> Avotaynu, Spring 1989, Spring 1990, Winter 1994, articles by Neil Rosenstein and Paul Jacobi.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[3]</span></a> Fishman-Maimon, Yehuda Leib. Sefer Hagra. Jerusalem, 1954.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[4]</span></a> Ginzberg, Louis. Students Scholars and Saints. New York, 1958.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[5]</span></a> Dembitzer. Klilat Yofi. Krakow, 1888.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[6]</span></a> Klausner, Yisrael. Toldot Hakehilah Haivrit Bevilna. Vilna, 1935.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[7]</span></a> Rivkas, Moshe. Beer Hagolah . Amsterdam 1661-1664.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[8]</span></a> Rivlin, Eliezer. Sefer Hayakhas Lemishpakhat Rivlin Vehagaon Mivilna. Jerusalem 1935.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[9]</span></a> Shapira, Yaakov Leib. Mishpakhot Atikot Beyisrael. Tel Aviv 1981.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[10]</span></a> Kahana, S.Z. Anaf Etz Avot. Krakow 1903.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[11]</span></a> See reference below.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn12;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[12]</span></a> Avraham son of Eliyahu (the Gaon). Saarat Eliyahu. Grodno 1876.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn13;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[13]</span></a> Heller’s wife was a great grand-daughter of Yisrael Horowitz, who it will be seen later, was an ancestor of Moshe Rivkas.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn14;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[14]</span></a> Eliyahu the Gaon of Vilna. Commentary on Shulkhan Arukh Orakh Khaim. Shklov 1803. Introduction by the Gaon’s sons Yehudah Leib and Avraham.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn15;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[15]</span></a> Freedman, Chaim. Eliyahu’s Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family. Avotaynu, Teaneck, New Jersey 1997.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn16;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[16]</span></a> Rivlin, Benyamin. Reb Moshe Rivkas. Jerusalem 1971.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn17;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[17]</span></a> Eizenstadt, Bentzion. Dor rabanav Vesofrav. Vilna 1900.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn18;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[18]</span></a> Edelman, Tzvi Hersh. Gedulat Shaul . London 1845.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn19;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[19]</span></a> Katzenellenbogen, Pinkhas. Yesh Mankhilin. Boskowitz, Moravia 1755; edited by Feld, Yaakov Dov, Jerusalem 1986.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn20;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[20]</span></a> Khefetz family in Prague: Hock, Mishpekhot K”K Prague. Prague 1892.<br />
Koppelman, Lieben. Gal Ed. Prague 1856. Khefetz family in Vilna, see Rivlin.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn21;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[21]</span></a> The exact relationship requires research.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn22;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[22]</span></a> Friedman, Natan Tzvi. Otsar Harabanim. Bnei Brak, Israel 1975.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn23;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[23]</span></a> Muneles, Otto. Ketovot Beveit Ha’almin Hayehudi Ha’atik Beprag. Jerusalem 1988.<br />
Friedberg. B. Toldot Mishpakhat Horowitz. Frankfurt-am-Main, 1911.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn24;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[24]</span></a> Moshe of Pinsk. Shnot Eliyahu. Lemberg 1799, Warsaw 1860.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn25;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[25]</span></a> Rozenkranz, A. Sefer Yukhsin. Warsaw 1885.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn26;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[26]</span></a> Wunder, Meir. Elef Margaliot . Jerusalem 1993<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7997827830026984403#_ftnref27" name="_ftn27" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn27;" title=""><span style="color: #6699cc;">[27]</span></a> Horowitz-Heller, Yekhiel. Megilat Yukhsin. Tel Aviv 1978.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552250334188196454.post-51552783603898265342011-02-24T15:14:00.001+02:002011-02-24T15:14:50.160+02:00THE GAON OF VILNA - VERIFYING ORAL TRADITIONS<div class="post-body entry-content"><strong><br />
</strong><br />
<em>Based on "Eliyahu's Branches - The Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family",</em><br />
<em>Chaim Freedman "Avotaynu 1997.</em><br />
<em>Published as an article in Avotaynu, Volume XIII, #3, Autumn, 1997</em><br />
<em>Chaim Freedman – lecture to the Israel Genealogy Society, Jerusalem, February 2000.</em><br />
<strong>The Legend</strong><br />
Tracing the family tree of the Gaon of Vilna, has long posed a challenge to genealogists due to the many difficulties encountered in validating the claims of families which hold an oral tradition of descent from the Gaon. Many families of Lithuanian origin preserve a tradition of descent from the Gaon, but the exact nature of many of their claims defies clear definition. Indeed, the apparent uncertainty of such claims has engendered amongst scholars and the general public an attitude of scepticism as to their authenticity, and an aura of legend has surrounded this perplexing puzzle.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>THE HISTORY OF RESEARCH OF THE FAMILY OF THE GAON OF VILNA<br />
</strong>A number of attempts have been made in the past to research the family of the Gaon of Vilna. The most comprehensive published genealogy is "Sefer Hayakhas Lemishpakhat Rivlin Umishpakhat HaGaon miVilna " (the Genealogy of the Rivlin Family and the Family of the Gaon of Vilna) written by the late Eliezer Rivlin in Jerusalem in 1935. He recorded many branches of the Gaon's family that were known at the time. But Rivlin's work encompasses only 300 descendants of the Gaon . It should be noted that at the time when Rivlin conducted his research (prior to the Second World War) communication technology was limited, and the difficulty of exchange of information over closed borders limited the scope of the material Rivlin was able to collect.<br />
<br />
<strong>Number of descendants</strong><br />
A mathematical extrapolation over the eight to ten generations that are descended from the Gaon can be shown to yield about 140,000 - 150,000 theoretical descendants. Even allowing for factors such as cousin marriages and considerable decimation during the Holocaust, the Gaon's family tree should potentially encompass a considerable number of families of Lithuanian origin.<br />
<br />
<strong>Personal involvement</strong><br />
<br />
This author has been interested in the genealogy of the Gaon since his childhood when he heard his grandparents telling stories about their ancestors, including the Gaon of Vilna. The subject of the Gaon gained new momentum during a discussion which took place in Jerusalem between genealogist the late Rabbi Shmuel Gorr and Benyamin Rivlin, son of Eliezer Rivlin, the author of the above-mentioned original genealogy of the Gaon. Rivlin suggested to Gorr that he propose to Chaim Freedman that Freedman take upon himself the project of updating the Gaon's genealogy. This major research project was instigated in mid-1987. Its objective was to collate all available material about the Gaon's family and to publish an updated genealogy. The importance of pursuing this project was that it would provide the last opportunity to preserve oral traditions and link them to related archival material before the passage of time further eroded the genealogical memory base of oral traditions which were the key to research.<br />
<br />
<strong>Comparison of parallel traditions<br />
</strong>Cross-reference by the author of seemingly independent family histories resulted in the discovery of long-standing missing links. Families which held traditions that, when considered individually failed to provide a basis for establishing their descent from the Gaon, yet when collated by the author, displayed a common denominator which led to the establishment of their relationship.<br />
<br />
<strong>Collection of material</strong><br />
<br />
Freedman's research involved the recording, analyzing and assessing of material provided by families claiming a relationship with the Gaon, as well as a comprehensive survey of library resources in Israel including community histories, newspapers, journals, rabbinic texts, biographies, manuscripts and published family histories.<br />
<br />
Additional material was provided from resource centres outside Israel by Freedman's genealogical colleagues. Notable New York genealogist, Alex Friedlander was of particular and constant help. He researched vital statistic records obtained from Polish and Lithuanian archives.<br />
<br />
The material collected by Freedman constitutes a valuable database for those interested in the Gaon's family.<br />
<br />
<strong>FAMILY CATEGORIES<br />
</strong>The nature of the material researched by this author in preparing a book on the family of the Gaon of Vilna necessitated the establishment by the author of three categories of families:<br />
<br />
1) Families which claim a relationship with the Gaon of Vilna that is definitely established by reliable sources and records.<br />
<br />
2) Families which hold an oral tradition of a relationship with the Gaon that, when critically analysed in the light of sources and records, is, in the opinion of the author, highly likely to be valid, beyond any reasonable doubt.<br />
<br />
3) Families which hold an oral tradition of a relationship with the Gaon, but are unable to provide sufficient evidence for the author to verify their claims from the sources available to him. Such families have been further divided into two groups:<br />
<br />
a) Families for which sufficient evidence exists for the author to decide to record the available information, for the purpose of preserving it in case further evidence is discovered in the future. Should such evidence be discovered, the inclusion of these families will facilitate a renewal of research, which may lead to the authentification of the families' relationship with the Gaon.<br />
<br />
b)Families which have provided information that, after analysis and research by the author, enabled him to come to the conclusion that, in his opinion, these families are most probably not related to the Gaon.<br />
<br />
<strong>ORAL TRADITION AND DOCUMENTED SOURCES<br />
<br />
Modern aids</strong><br />
The place of oral tradition in genealogical research is the subject of academic dispute. Modern genealogist have at their disposal many sources which were unavailable to their predecesors several decades ago. Modern computer and communication technology facilitate access to a wide range of depositories of sources. Documents preserved by archives throughout the world are becoming more readily accessible, particularly those documents which are held in libraries and archives in the former Soviet Union and neighbouring countries.<br />
<br />
<strong>Past reliance on oral family history</strong><br />
Genealogists in the past have relied mainly on records kept by family members. These were supplemented by research in libraries and archives where communal and personal documentation may have been found. In the case of families of rabbinic descent, the religious literature provided considerable information about the familial relationships of the authors.<br />
<br />
<strong>Vital Statistic records versus oral tradition</strong><br />
<br />
Given the rapid advances in modern Jewish genealogical research, much of it based on newly uncovered vital statistic records (birth, marriage and death registrations), there is a tendency amongst researchers to play down the importance and validity of oral tradition.This author contends that oral tradition still has, and always will have a valuable place in Jewish genealogical research. A person usually is told by his parents, grandparents or other relatives about his family history.This is the first indication that a person receives about his family history and is derived from oral tradition. Documents may or may not be available to support this information, but in their absence it is the natural tendency of a person to initially accept what he has been told. If he is sufficiently interested, he may engage in research in order to validate the oral traditions and to expand the information which he may desire to preserve for the benefit of future generations.<br />
<br />
<strong>Limitations of Oral History</strong><br />
It cannot be denied that the indiscriminate use of oral tradition by genealogists has its pitfalls. It may be embellished in order to aggrandise past generations. Distasteful information may be suppressed. When oral information is repeated it may not be recalled accurately, or it may be distorted due to insufficient attention paid when the information was conveyed. These distortions and inaccuracies may be perpetuated when the information is passed on to subsequent generations. In extreme cases information may even have been fabricated.<br />
<br />
In assessing the validity of oral tradition it is important to analyse the terms in which it was conveyed. In particular it is important to know whether the information was conveyed spontaneously without any leading questions which may have put into the mind of the person being questioned ideas which were not part of the original information. However, with respect to certain factors, it is valid to ask leading questions. For instance, a parent or grandparent may not recall the name of an ancestor when asked for the name directly. Yet, if the question is rephrased in terms of after whom the parent was named, he may then recall that he was told that he was named after a certain greatgrandparent. Such oral information may then lead to a new line of research.<br />
<br />
<strong>Preservation of traditions for future research</strong><br />
The greater the number of generations removed from a particular ancestor being sought, the more likelihood there is of discrepancy in oral tradition. If one is told that one's grandfather claimed that his grandfather was a fourth generation descendant of the Gaon then there are thirty-two possible lines of descent from the Gaon. There may be additional information, such as place of residence or dates of birth which may reduce the possibilities. But the number of ancestral lines which need to be researched is still very large. If the link is not discovered in the current generation and the story is passed on to yet another generation, members of that generation have to cope with a bigger puzzle in which the number of possibilities soars to sixty-four. This simple calculation further justifies the author's decision to record all reasonable oral traditions in his book on the family of the Gaon of Vilna, in order to assist the coming generations should they try to uncover the `missing link'.<br />
<br />
Oral tradition and documented sources complement each other in pursuing lines of research.A competent genealogist takes into account all the above factors in considering the validity of oral tradition, uses the available documented sources, and comes to a conclusion which is valid beyond a reasonable doubt.<br />
<br />
<strong>Attitude to oral tradition in Judaism</strong><br />
Since this book deals with one of the most prominent personalities of Jewish scholarship, it is fitting that a principle established in traditional Jewish law be used to support the case for the use of oral tradition. Jewish law defines the forms of evidence required in solving a dispute brought before a Beth Din. Considerable material exists in the Talmud and in its commentaries about the need for conclusive evidence being presented to prove cases brought to litigation.<br />
<br />
The late Rabbi Shmuel Gorr of Jerusalem, a prominent genealogist, used to expound the Talmudic principle ( (זבחים פרק י"ד, משנה ד'that the assertion: "I have not seen it", that is no evidence (to the contrary). He explained that simply because documented evidence may not have been discovered does not mean that the evidence does not exist, or that the point claimed to be valid must be disregarded. This was one of Rabbi Gorr's favourite quotations whenever the value of oral tradition was denigrated.<br />
<br />
In his book on the family of the Gaon of Vilna the author exhaustively sought documented evidence to establish the genealogy of the families included. Oral tradition has been objectively considered. In many cases the author has consulted genealogical colleagues and taken into consideration their opinions.The conclusions presented are those of the author based on his expertise and experience in Jewish genealogical research.<br />
<br />
<strong>RESEARCH DIFFICULTIES</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The paradox - only 200 years</strong><br />
The difficulties that have been encountered over the years in tracing the descendants of the Gaon are surprising, considering that only 200 years have elapsed since his death in 1797. Only about eight generations have been born since that time . At the time Freedman started his research in the early 1960's, there were people alive who had heard stories about their descent from the Gaon from their grandparents (born in the 1830's) who were grandchildren of the Gaon's grandchildren (born in the 1780's). Such a chain of oral tradition was not so extended as to preclude the preservation of far more oral traditions than were in fact discovered.<br />
<br />
There are several reasons for the difficulties encountered in researching the Gaon's family.<br />
<br />
<br />
1) Lack of official records<br />
<br />
Official records of births marriages and deaths were kept by a law instituted in the Russian Empire only in the early 19th century, except for communal lists which were compiled several times during the 18th century. Since all of the Gaon's children and most of his grandchildren were born prior to this date, there were few official records which could confirm their identity. It was not until the commemorative activities which took place in Vilna in 1997 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Gaon’s death that the census of 1765 was revealed. Study of the family unit of the Gaon made it possible to confirm the relative age of the Gaon’s sons as proposed in my book. Later the census lists for 1784 and 1795 added to the overall picture.<br />
<br />
2) בטול תורה<br />
<br />
It is a characteristic of Lithuanian families to play down their Yichus (pedigree). One example of this phenomenon was encountered when Freedman contacted an elderly rabbi living in Jerusalem. He was reluctant to discuss the issue, but grudgingly related what his mother had heard from her mother about their descent from the Gaon. But he soon cut the conversation short retorting: "What does it matter. Such research is Bitul Torah". He was expressing the sentiment of which the Gaon himself was a renowned proponent. One is obligated to spend as much time as possible in the study of the religious texts. The only time which can be justifiably used for other purposes is that needed to earn a mimimal livelhood. Even time required to attend to family affairs is begrudged. There are several stories related about the Gaon's disinterest in his children's everyday activities, despite his love for them. In the light of this attitude it is no wonder that orthodox Lithuanian families spent little time telling their children about their family history. Thus, much information was forgotten with the passage of time.<br />
<br />
One oral tradition conveyed to this author related that an elderly relative in Vilna had possessed a book in which the Gaon himself had recorded his genealogy. Bearing in mind the Gaon's personality and relationship with his family, this story was obviously fictitious, or at best, an embellishment of some other book in the family's possession.<br />
<br />
3) Wars<br />
<br />
Wars and pogroms which plagued Europe over the last 200 years destroyed many records. Jewish cemeteries have been severely damaged or obliterated in many towns in which the Jewish population was decimated by the Holocaust. The loss of six million Jews during the Holocaust severed what might have been a continuation of the passage of oral traditions.<br />
<br />
4) Migration<br />
<br />
Mass emigration of Jews from the age old cradles of their family origins in Europe to the `New World' in North and South America, England, Australia, South Africa and Israel severed the natural contact between the generations. A new generation grew up, cut off from contact with its grandparents. Immigrant parents were all too anxious to forget about the Diaspora and its often sad and harsh history. It is no wonder that genealogical information was not passed on.<br />
<br />
Information useful to genealogists is often found in old Hebrew prayer books, bibles or other religious texts. It was the custom in traditional families to record names of relatives and their dates of death in such books and pass them on to the ensuing generations. When young couples emigrated, these books usually remained with their parents, since they were still in use. Only if the parents or grandparents had already died at the time of their family's emigration might such books be taken with the emigrants, if they valued them.<br />
<br />
Photographs are also useful in establishing genealogical details. But people often are negligent in not writing the names of the subject of the photograph on the back. When these photographs are passed on to the next generation, the identity of the relatives depicted is often unknown.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, such photographs can lead to completely erroneous conclusions. This author was presented with an album of photographs collected by an elderly relative. Some were inscribed on the back, and others were identified by elderly relatives still alive. One photograph was the subject of much conjecture until the author examined the Russian inscription. It was a photograph of the famous Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, obviously not a relative at all !<br />
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5) Modesty<br />
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Because the Gaon of Vilna was such a prominent figure in Jewish scholarship, descent from him was considered to be particularly worthy of honour. Some people may have been embarrassed to publicise stories told by their parents about their descent lest they be thought to be boasting. Descent from the Gaon also carried with it a responsibility to live up to his standards of behaviour, particularly in religious matters. Perhaps people who no longer were religiously observant considered descent from the Gaon an onerous burden.Yet, ironically, many non-observant people take great pride in their descent from the Gaon and preserve the oral traditions conveyed to them.<br />
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6) The title “Gaon"<br />
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The term `Gaon' was quite sparingly used during the time of the Gaon of Vilna. Over the ensuing generations it has been rather liberally ascribed to rabbinic scholars as a term of honour. This may result in a person being told that he was descended from `the Gaon' yet the term may refer to another rabbi who was known by that title.<br />
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The families Elion and Jodaikin held a tradition of descent from the "Gaon Eliyahu" and believed therefore that their ancestor was the Gaon of Vilna. Two factors led to the confusion. The families were in fact descended from a famous rabbi who was often referred to as a "Gaon". He was Rabbi Eliyahu Luntz (or Rabbinowitz) of Krozhe. Furthermore, this Eliyahu was a brother-in-law of the Gaon of Vilna whose second wife was Luntz's sister. The coicidence of these two factors led the above families to believe that they were descended from Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna.<br />
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An extreme example of confusion between rabbinic personalities arose when the author was informed by a certain family of it's descent from the Gaon of Vilna. Unable to discover the link, the author's problem was solved when his contact apologised profusely. The ancestor was actually Rabbi Shneour Zalmen of Liadi, ironically the Gaon's rival !<br />
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7) Forgotten daughters<br />
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Genealogies of rabbinic families often omitted sons or sons-in-law who were not scholars. Similarly, daughters were often not recorded in such families. The Gaon's son Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Serhei, Lithuania is recorded in Rivlin's work as the father of only two daughters. This author has discovered that Yehudah Leib had at least six daughters.<br />
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8) עין הרע<br />
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Certain families, known to be descended from the Gaon, simply refuse to publish their family tree, for a number of personal reasons. This is regrettable, since their non-inclusion in this present book may lead to the impression, in the future, that such people are really not descended from the Gaon. A prominent rabbinic family in Israel is known to have about 500 living descendants, yet the family refuses to record their names.<br />
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9) Surname changes<br />
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Siblings born to a mutual father often used different surnames to each other and to that borne by their parents. This practice was prevalent in the Tsarist Empire, and was a ploy used to confuse the military authorities. The notoriously anti-Semitic practices of the Tsarist army resulted in male Jews using this surname change as a means of evading conscription. Such variation of surnames within the one family leads to confusion in genealogical research.<br />
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For example, one of the Gaon's daughters, Khiena, the wife of Rabbi Moshe of Pinsk, bore eight sons who used the surname Chinitz, one whose surname is unclear, but whose descendants used the name Lipshitz and Neches. Certain families claim that one of Khiena's sons used the surname Penchuk and yet another, Landau.<br />
Each of these claims had to be carefully analysed by the author, and some remain unverified.<br />
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10) Inaccurate translations<br />
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Some historians and genealogists who are not fluent in Hebrew have used, as the basis of their research, sources translated from Hebrew to English. These second-hand sources are prone to errors. Similarly, members of families which claim descent from the Gaon of Vilna, have been assisted in their research by incompetent translators, who are not familiar with the genealogical nuances of sources.<br />
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One researcher went to the trouble of having Rivlin's work translated into English. This led to confusion between a descendant of the Gaon's brother who lived in the town of Eiragola, Lithuania, or Ragoler to the Jews, with a certain person who live in a place called Raguva. The researcher conveniently merged the two personalities and added to his family tree hundreds of people who had no place on it.<br />
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<strong>THE WIVES, SIBLINGS AND STUDENTS OF THE GAON OF VILNA</strong><br />
Wives<br />
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The Gaon was married twice. The first wife was Khana, daughter of Yehudah Leib of Keidan. After Khana's death in 1782, the Gaon remarried a widow Gittel, daughter of Rabbi Meir Luntz (born 1709) of Krozhe, Lithuania. The fact that the Gaon was married twice has caused considerable confusion. There are families that held a tradition of descent from the Gaon's second wife, Gittel. Since the sources on her family clearly establish that Gittel bore no children to the Gaon, then families descended from Gittel are descended from her first husband, and not from the Gaon.<br />
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A major error made by a certain researcher arose from the Gaon's second marriage. Knowing that the Gaon was a brother-in-law to Rabbi Yekhezkel Luntz of Shavli, the researcher assumed that the connection was through Luntz's wife Malka. The researcher drew up a family tree of the Gaon's family and included all of the descendants of Yekhezkel Luntz as descendants of the Gaon's hypothetical sister, Malka. If the researcher had been conversant with Hebrew sources, he would have been able to read a book written by a grandson of Luntz, the contents of which make it clear that there was no such descent. The Gaon was a brother-in-law of Luntz, not through a hypothetical sister, but due to the fact that Luntz's sister Gittel was the Gaon's second wife.<br />
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Brothers and relatives<br />
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Certain families have believed that they were descended from the Gaon. After investigation however, it becomes clear that they were descended either from the brothers of the Gaon, or from one of his students. Terminology used to refer to relationships is misleading. "Of the family of the Gaon of Vilna" may mean actual descent, but more often the term refers to the descendants of the Gaon's siblings, or even may refer to more further removed connections by marriage without an actual blood relationship.<br />
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A prominent family that settled in Jerusalem 140 years ago maintained steadfastly it was descended from a daughter of the Gaon. This author failed to identify the relevant daughter, despite considerable research by members of the family. Recently new material came to light. A letter written about 1855 by a Lithuanian rabbi records a match arranged between his son and a daughter of the above family in Jerusalem. Of immense genealogical value was a statement by the writer of the letter giving details of the descent of the bridegroom from a sister of the Gaon. At last the puzzle had been solved.<br />
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Erroneous families<br />
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One of the Gaon's ancestors, Rabbi Moshe Kremer, who was chief rabbi of Vilna in the seventeenth century, was known as "Kremer", meaning shopkeeper, since his wife operated a stall in the market. The appelation "Kremer" was not a surname. Indeed most Jews in the Russian Empire only acquired surnames at the beginning of the nineteeth century. Yet many families bearing the name Kramer or Kremer erroneously believe that they are descended from the Gaon of Vilna. (Some are descended from a brother of the Gaon whose descendants did adopt the name Kremer).<br />
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Likewise a widely ramified Galician family believe that they are descended from the Gaon, simply because they bear the surname Wilner.<br />
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<strong>DOUBTFUL ORAL TRADITIONS</strong><br />
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An important means of disproving certain oral traditions is often a simple arithmetic calculation.<br />
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Members of a certain Kossowsky family, whilst probably genuinely descended from the Gaon, instilled doubt in the mind of the author when they claimed that an ancestor recalled sitting on the knee of the Gaon, who, it was claimed, was her grandfather. Since the Gaon died in 1797, and since the ancestor was born in 1826, this incident could not possibly have occurred. On rechecking the source of the story, it was found that the incident occurred a generation earlier, which brought the event within a feasible time frame.<br />
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The Kantorovitch family of Jerusalem, whose claims to descent from the Gaon are most likely valid for other reasons, recorded certain events which cannot have occured in the way they were stated. It was claimed that the Gaon's youngest son Avraham wrote a letter to a grandson, Yaakov Koppel Kantorovitch, congratulating Kantorovitch on the completion of his studies and on obtaining Semikha (rabbinic ordination). Since Avraham died in 1808 at the age of 44, it is not likely that he had grandson of a suitable age to have obtained Semikha during his lifetime.<br />
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It is claimed that the Gaon's daughter Khiena had a son "Haskell Landau" whose daughter married a Remigolsky. This author's research identified the relevant Remigolsky. Yet details of Remigolsky's son in a rabbinic encyclopedia, whilst recording his emminent rabbinic ancestors, fail to record descent from the Gaon of Vilna. This omission renders the family tradition highly suspect.<br />
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A common source of confusion in oral traditions is the assumption that if one's cousin is descended from the Gaon of Vilna, so must one also be. This author attended a family reunion at which various sides of his family were represented. He had to repeatedly correct the impression held by one side of his family that they were descendants of the Gaon, like the majority of their cousins attending the reunion.<br />
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<strong>VALID ORAL TRADITIONS</strong><br />
It has been this author's fortunate experience that he was able to verify many valid oral traditions of descent from the Gaon of Vilna. One example was discovered in Australia where a family which had settled there in 1854, still maintained an oral tradition of decent from the Gaon. Much effort was expended in researching this family which resulted in the discovery of a photograph of the tombstone of the original member of the family who settled in Australia. Although the tombstone was no longer standing, a photograph preserved by the Australian Jewish Historical Society revealed that the person in question was actually a grandson of the Gaon. Details of the inscription correlated with oral traditions held by another family living in England. Thus, this author was able to solve the links of several families, hitherto unknown to each other, yet each holding the same tradition.<br />
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Many were such success stories and the author continues to hope that other missing links, recorded in his forthcoming book, will one day be resolved.<br />
<div style="clear: both;"></div></div>Chaim Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02929354812860243028noreply@blogger.com0