The Children of Zev Yehuda (Opi) Deutsch

Opi Deutsch and two of his granddaughters
Dita Bauer nee Kaufman (l)
Irene Richter nee Kohn (r)
Baden bei Wien, Austria 1930

Ma's grandparents Zev Yehuda and Sulka Deutsch had five children. About them here and here

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Ma's Tante Therese nee Deutsch הי"ד and Uncle Rudolf Kohn הי"ד
1- Deszo  2- Edi  4- Bobo - Joe  3- Irene Richter
5- Martha הי"דi 6- Zigel  7- Grete הי"ד
Vienna 1927

1. רבקה - Therese הי"ד the wife of ראובן בן רפאל הכהן - Rudolf (Rudy) Kohn הי"ד.
   
   

   

   Ma's Uncle Rudy Kohn's stamp

   
   
   ראובן כהן was one of the חשובע בעלי בתים and a board member in the Schiffschul. After the Schiffschul was destroyed by the Nazis, he maintained a Minyan in his home במסירת נפש, until 1941. Uncle Rudy (who was a Kohen), would take all the silver coins he received for performing Pidyon Habens and have them melted down and formed into Menorahs.  He would then give these Menorahs as presents to various relatives. see here
   • דוד - Deszo. His wife's name was Rita. They lived in Vienna (-1996).
   • משה אליהו - Edi. Married Leah Lange. Vienna - London.
   • יוסף חיים - Joe (1911-2008) Vienna - Vineland, NJ - Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
   • חנה - Irene (1913-1993) married פנחס - Paul (1906-1991) Richter. Vienna - Vineland, NJ - Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
   • סולקא - Martha הי"ד. Perished in holocaust with two children.
   • שמואל יונתן - Zigel. Vienna - USA - Italy - Israel.
   • גיטל חיה - Grete הי"ד.
     
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   Ma's Uncle Leopold Deutsch
   Vienna circa 1910

2. אריה - Leopold
   
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   Ma's Uncle Adolf and Tante Rosa Deutch
   1950

3. אהרן - Adolf - Arthur. His wife's name was Rosa. They lived in Switzerland.
   • Erenst
   • daughter
     
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4. יונתן - Johan.
   
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   מלכה - Malvine Kaufman nee Deutsch
   Ma's mother with her three daughters
   Greta (l), Dita (c), Ma (r)
   Vienna June 16, 1920

5. מלכה - Malvine (Omi). Married אליעזר - Lajos - Lazar (Opi) Kaufman.
   
   • סולקא - Cilla (Ma) married דוד - Edwin (Dally) Stroh
   • טויבא - Dita (Aunty) married ישראל - Siegfried (Fritz) Bauer
   • חנה - Greta הי"ד married Erno Bauer 

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Slide show of the Deutsch Family Album

שבת הגדול Eisenstadt 1896

The Stroh House
This house is mentioned by Rabbi Kutna in his דרשה
the place where ר' עקיבא איגר was born
and the חתם סופר got married

In 1896 the Stroh's were still living in Eisenstadt. As we have mentioned in a previous post they lived in the house in which ר' עקיבא איגר was born. This fact is mentioned in a fascinating שבת הגדול דרשה which most definitely was attended by Dally's father דוב הי"ד and by his grandfather דוד ע"ה.

This דרשה is mentioned in a letter written by הרב שלום קוטנא זצ"ל the Rav of Eisenstadt (1870-1909), to his son-in-law הרב ישעי' פירשט זצ"ל the Rav of the Schiffschul in Vienna. In the letter he remarks that he is still exhausted from the שבת הגדול דרשה that he gave to the members of his קהלה the previous day.

He writes how he spoke for over an hour and a half, giving them מוסר, stronger than he ever had. He thanks השם for giving him the strength to deliver the דרשה and feels his words have accomplished there purpose.

The ר' שמשון ווערטהיימער ביהמ"ד in the Wolf House
c. 1930's

The ר' שמשון ווערטהיימער ביהמ"ד in the
Wolf House, as it appears today

In his דרשה he mentioned the various houses in the town starting from the first house, "The large stately house  of the Wolfs, which was built by the great גאון and famous שתדלן Rav Shamshon Vienna [Wertheimer], who also built a shul in the house". He then mentions the second house "the one who was born there has a great name, the גאון הר' עקיבא איגר זצ"ל, and the חופה of the חתם סופר also took place in that house".

He than goes on to the house that the grandfather of ר' עקיבא איגר donated as a Keren Kayemes - endowment for תלמידי חכמים. 

The courtyard of the הקדש
With the steps leading up to the ביהמ"ד full of ספרים

After mentioning the rest of the town's houses he spoke about the הקדש - a house and courtyard with a ביהמ"ד full of ספרים and apartments for the widows and the poor.

He than preceded to take the קהלה to task for neglecting the upkeep of this wonderful קהלה and its institutions. Pointing out that what was lacking more than anything else was דבקות ושלום which prevents them from properly maintaining the wonderful institutions of the קהלה.

Letter of R' Sholom Kutna Rav of Eisenstadt 1896

בעזה"י יום א' פ' צו ... תרנ"ו לפ"ק

שלום לך אהובי חותני הרב הג' הגאון כש"ת כמוה" ישעי' פירשט נ"י

אחד"ש הנה אודיע לך משלומנו הטוב. גם אשלח לכ' ע"י המוכ"ז ס' ויקרא עם ת"כ ופי' המלבי"ם והוא ס' נאה מאוד.

אמש דרשתי כנהוג, והוכחתי את כל בני הקהלה בתוכחות נמרצים, כאשר כן לא הוכחתי עוד מעולם. ברוך ה' הנותן

ליעף כח. ודברי עשו לפי שעה רושם גדול. והיום עודני חלש מאוד.

והלכתי כסדר מבית לבית והתחלתי בבית הגדול והיפה של וואלף שנתיסד מהגאון האדיר מוהר"ש ווינא ראש ושתדלן ובנה בביתו בהכ"נ.

ובית השני אשר אדיר למי שנולד שמה הגאון ר"ע איגר, ובו הי' חפת רבנו בעל ח"ס.

וזקנו של ר"ע איגר הקים אשל תוך ביתו לק"ק [קרן קיימת] ללמוד התורה.

וכמו כן הלכתי מבית לבית עד שבאתי להקדש, הוא הבית וחצר הגדול ובהמ"ד מלא ספרים, בנו לתלפיות ושם דירות לאביונים ואלמנות. ועתה כמעט הבית חרב.

אבן מקיר תזעק! מדוע אינכם מת[קנים] את בדק הבית.

אם לא [השומר] אתם עשירים ונגידים בתים כאלה? אך מדוע הבית הולך וחרב ויהי לחרבה ולשממה? ועוד חורבה יותר ברחובתנו לדאבון לב ולשממות נפש, והוא הקהלה המפוארה.

כאלה וכאלה דרשתי במרירות גדולה, דברים החודרים אל הלב, לא נשמע כאלה פה.

ואמרתי צר לי אם יאמרו השומעים על דרשתי ותוכחתי, כי על זה פלוני שמתי דברי, כן יחשוב האחד או האחר, ואני מוכיח לאשר האשם לו.

אבל, כאשר יכאוב לבי בהחשב האחד כי רק עליו יריתי חצי תוכחתי, עוד יותר ויותר יכאב בלבי, אם יחשוב רק אחד מכם בני הקהלה שלא כונתי אליו.

אין נקי! כולכם פשעתם!

ועד"ז דברתי כמו שעה וחצי. אך אמרתי לבסוף כמו שלבנו דאבה ביותר בבית העושה ליפול, אם האבנים והעצים טובים ויפים וגם הסיד עוד יש להועיל, רק מכח עצלה יאבדו, ויהיו כאין כי אין מחזיקים בדקי הבית.

כמו [כן] הקהלה אם אנשיו בעלי מעלה עושר ומידות טובות, ואין חסר מהם כ"א הדבקות והשלום, והם מלאים עצלה ורפיון, תכאב הלב עוד יותר על אבדן הגדול.

ודרשה זאת עשתה רושם גדול. וה' יתן שיהפכו ...

תשו"ח להר' שמואל בנימין לעפפלער נ"י
שממנו קבלנו מכתב הנ"ל

Netzkarte

Dally's Netzkarte (transit system pass) for the month of November 1938, shortly before he fled Europe.  At that time Vienna was already under Nazi occupation and travel for Jews was extremely dangerous. Dally had special rights to travel as he was needed by the Austrian company for which he was employed as a salesman.

As we can see the card was renewed monthly and a new sticker was applied above the old one. Most likely in the month of December it was already impossible for Jews to obtain a renewal.

"Ein echter Stroh... sehr lustig"

Dally and his siblings

In 1949 Dally traveled to London for the חתונה of his youngest brother Ernst (שמעון יהודה) A"H and יבל"ח his wife Rossi שתחי. This was the first time since the war that Dally met with his siblings, who were all living in London.

His sister Elly (גיטל) A"H was married to יבל"ח Uncle Yossi Braun שיחי and had a number of children. His brother Alex (שלמה) Stroh ע"ה was married to Tante Lizzy ע"ה nee Grunhut.

Many other relatives, cousins of Ma and Dally had also settled in England. There were also a large number of friends and acquaintances from Vienna that were living in England.

The following letter was sent by Dally in London to Ma in New York. In this letter Dally reports about the חתונה and writes briefly about friends and family that he had not seen for years.

Uncle Emil ... sehr lustig ein echter Stroh
very jolly, a true Stroh

In the letter, when describing his Uncle Emil Stroh, Dally gives us his definition of a true Stroh. He writes: Uncle Emil ... sehr lustig ein echter Stroh [=very jolly a true Stroh], וטוב לב משתה תמיד.

An interesting point in the letter is the reference to Saint Elizabeth להבדיל a well known personality in Hungarian-Austrian lore, who was a symbol of charity and benevolence etc.

We transcribed the letter in its original German and translated it to English (to the best of our ability).

Following the letter, we have added some biographical information which hopefully will make the letter easier to understand.

London October 24, 1949

Dearest Cilla עמ"ש

I was very pleased having received your letter. Your worries were really totally unfounded. I would be more than glad if my return trip would not be any worse. Dear Cilla I am so happy that I am here and you (...?)

You have no idea how proud I am of you. You have such a wonderful name ב"ה from A to Z as a Saint. [They talk about you] as if they were talking about Saint Elizabeth Lehavdil. We are missing you in person particularly myself. Elly’s children keep on saying Aunty Cilla Aunty Cilla. I really did not know how far your good reputation went. Rebetzin Furst, Rab. Baumgarten, Illy, Hani, Eva, Lizzy etc. send you regards.

The חתונה passed Zu Guten. It was wunder wunder schon. [It went on] from 5 P.M. till 11 P.M. Unberufen [בלי עין הרע] I met and spoke to so many good old friends and relatives. Alex and Lizzy עמ"ש, are really unbelievably good and unassuming. I would be extremely pleased if Ernst and Rossi [who just got married] will be the same. Elly and her 8 children, she is Unbarufen an Emeste Zedekeste. The children are extremely Betamt and lovely.

Uncle Alex and Lizzy have a Berele, a real (blossom?) very sweet and lovely.

… … …

Leibe Edy עמ"ש is unchanged he has… children and a batamte wife… I was at the Sheva ברכות the next day and I met Ernst Deutch. Irma and Ignatz Kohn each send you regards, they related how you were such a conscientious worker by the Lamm’s.

Erwin Wosner is extremely Brav and Betamt. His wife Ruth is the same as always just stronger. Uncle Emil ב"ה unchanged very jolly ein echter [a true] Stroh. Dovidi is very Tuchtig [he is] my banker. Salme Breuer a true Uncle Lajos [Breuer, Salme's father], has a noble wife Edi. He is the son in law of Adi Schreiber. Chaim Grunhut (Richard) his brother in law, a spitting image of his father Heinrich, he has a very neat wife Miri, Alex’s sister in law.

Paul Breuer a very talented youth he’s 24 years old very neat. There isn’t a thing he doesn’t remember he knows everything. He knows how to learn very well. He is working by Alex in the business he also boards by him. Gluck sends regards to everyone. Dear Alex is planning to visit the U.S.A. shortly. I think I have covered everything. I am very glad to be returning home shortly.

Edwin

Dally and his brother Ernst in Nice 1963
The letter above was written by Dally after attending Ernst's חתונה

• Alex Stroh (Dally’s brother) and his wife Lizzy nee Grunhut (Ma’s second cousin)
• Ernstl Stroh and his wife Rossi nee Gestetner (whose wedding Dally attended)
• Elly nee Stroh (Dally’s sister) the wife of Yossi Braun
• Edy [Kohn] Ma’s first cousin (Joe’s brother)
• Rebitzen Furst was the wife of Harav Yeshaye Furst the Rav of the "Schiffschul"
• Rabbi Baumgarten was a Dayan in the Schiffschul and later Rav in "69" the Vienner Shul in London.
• Illy?
• Hani?
• Eva?
• Ernst Deutch?
• Ignatz Kohn and his wife Irma nee Figdor (she was Dally’s first cousin)
  As a girl Ma had worked for the Lamm Seiden Warhaus. The owner of the warehouse was Emanuel Lamm whose wife Gisella nee Figdor was a sister of Irma, hence the reference to Ma’s working at the Lamm’s mentioned by Ignatz Kohn and his wife Irma
• Erwin Wosner (Dally’ first cousin on his mothers side see here) his wife Ruth nee Stroh (Dally’s first cousin on his father’s side)
• Uncle Emil Stroh (Dally’s Uncle)
• Salme Breuer (Dally’s first cousin on his mothers side) Salme’s father Lajos Breuer (Dally’s uncle). Salme’s wife Edi nee Schrieber the daughter of Adi Scrieber. see here
• Chaim (Richard) Grunhut (Ma’s second cousin, and a sister of Tante Lizzy) his wife Miri was a sister of Salme Breuer’s wife Edi. Heinrich Grunhut, Chaim’s father was a first cousin of Ma’s mother.
• Paul Breuer?

Following is the transcribed copy of the letter.

London okt 24. 1949

Liebste Cilla עמ"ש

Freute mich sehr mit dienem Briefe und ist Deine sorge wirklich ganz unbegrundet gewese ware hoch zufrieden wenn ich keine argare ruckfarchet hatte. L. Cilla ich Bin so froh dass ich hier bin und du…. Lasten. Du hast keine ldee wie stolz ich bin mit dir. Du hast doch ainem namen ב"ה von A biz Z wie eine heilige ast? Sie? wenn man lehavdil von der heiligen Elizabeth so gesprochen hat. Nur fehlst du allein und besonders mich special Elly’s kinder nur aunti Cilla und Aunty Cilla ich hab wirklich nicht gewust wie weit dainer gutter ruf dringt Rebbtzen Furst, Rab. Baumgarten, Elly, Hani, Eva, Lizzy u.s.w. begrisen. Die חתונה ist zu guten vorbei war wunder wunder schon. Von 5pm bis 11pm und unberufen so viele gute alte bekante und verwandte gosehen Und geseprochen. Alex und Lizzy עמ"ש wirklich ausergewohnlich gut und beschieden ich bin hoch zufreiden wenn Ernst und Rossi auch so werden. Elly mit Ihre 8 kinder unberufin, eine emeste Zedekeste. Kinder sehr betamt und goldig. Onkel Alex und lizzy haben ein Berele ein echte Blea? Sehr siss und goldig.

---

L. Edy עמ"ש unverandert hat bilt lublische? kinder betamte frau halfet der ganze velt, beglagt sich uber geschwister dass sie ihn nicht besuchen sint? Morgen dort? bei die Schever ברכות und werde dort. Ernstl Deutsch treffen Irma und Ignatz Kohn lassen jeder besonder grussen erzahlen wie aufmerksam wir zu lamm’s waren. Erwin wosner sehr brav und betamt seine gattin ruthi die alte et was starker. O. Emil ב"ה unverendert sehr lustig ein echter Stroh. Dovidi sehr tuchtig mein bankier. Salme Breuer ein echter onkel Lajos noble frau Edi Schwigersohn von Adi Schreiber. Chaim Grunhut (Richard) sein schwager das eben bild seines vaters heinrich auch eine sehr nette frau Miri Alex schwageren. Paul Breuer ein sehr gelungener junge --- 24 jahre alt sehr nett es gibt nicht eine sache an die er sich nicht erinert weiss alles. Kann sehr fein lernen ist bei alex im geschaft und wohnt auch bei ihm. Gluck lassen euch alle grussen L. Alex wird hochstwahresehilich bald auf bezuch nach U.S.A. kommen habe Zeimlich uber alles erichtet freue mich Schon auf zu house sein

Edwin

Bnos Purim Performance in Vienna 75 years ago

Following is an ad placed in The Judische Presse for a Program of the Festive Academy of the Bnos Agudas Yisroel in Vienna's 2nd bezirk. The program was performed on Shushan Purim, Monday, March 9th, 1936, 7:30 in the evening.

The girls participating in the program were all part of the tight knit Orthodox Kehillah centered around the Schiffschul.  From the names of the participating girl in the program it is apparent that many of them were close friends and relatives of Ma and Dally. In all probability Ma, Omi (Ma's mother) and Dita (Ma's sister) attended the event.

If anyone can identify any girls partaking in the program or if anyone has memories or anecdotes relating to this event please share it with us.

 א פרייליכען פורים

David Stroh (1834-1905) Part II

David Stroh Part I

Following are copies of pages in the פנקסים of various Chevras in Eisenstadt. As we can see David Stroh and his father Yakov were active in many of them. In some entries they are not referred to by the family name Stroh, rather by the name of their town Mullendorf.


To enlarge the documents, double click on them.

Entry in the פנקס הוצאות והכנסות של חברה קדישה וגמילות חסדים
שבט תקצ"ד 1834

מעות סעודה מן יעקב מילנדורף ¼ 38
It seems that the donation was given in connection
with theברית  of David Stroh who was born at that time

Entries in the ledger of the חברה מלביש ערומים
  שנת תרי"ג 1853
חוה"מ פסח ר' יעקב שטראה ½ יעריג באצאהלט 1.30 

חוה"מ פסח בנו ה' דוד דיט דיט 0.30
[Chol Hamoed Pesach R' Yacov Stroh paid for a half a year 1.30 1.15
"   "   his son David Stroh    ditto    ditto .30 1.15]

Entries in the ledger of the חברה מלביש ערומים
שנת תרי"ד 1853

 חוה"מ [סוכות] ר' יעקב עם בנו מיללעדארף געצאלט ½ יעהריגע צאלונג 2.30
[Chol Hamoed Succoth R' Yacov Stroh and his son Mullendorf
paid for a half a year 2.30]

Entry in the ledger of the חברה מלביש ערומים
שנת תרט"ז 1856

פאן הב' דוד שטראה איינע נדבה ח"י פגים 0.54

Pledge to the חברה מלביש ערומים from David Stroh

Entry in the ledger of the חברה מלביש ערומים
שנת תרי"ט 1859

מן ר' דוד שטראה נדבה חיי' צל 0.30

Ledger of the חברה קדישה דביקור חולים
Chanuka תרל"א 1870
David Stroh as a בורר and one of the 11 additional board members of the חברה

Ledger of the חברה קדישה דביקור חולים
Chanuka תרל"ב 1871
David Stroh is voted in as גבאי ראשון of the חברה

David Stroh (1834-1905) Part I

In honor of the yahrzeit ה' אדר שני.

דוד בן יעקב שטראה

תקצ"ד - תרס"ה

Dally's grandfather (דוד בן דוב בן דוד בן יעקב)
painting courtesy of Hertha Kalush

David Stroh, Dally's grandfather and namesake, was born in Mullendorf near Eisenstadt, in 1834. 

He married Hannah Spitzer of Eisenstadt. A few years after their marriage he and his family moved from Mullendorf to Eisenstadt.
  

View Larger Map

The house in Eisenstadt that the family lived in was well known, as it was the house in which R' Akiva Eiger זצ"ל was born. The חתונה of the חתם סופר with the daughter of R' Akiva Eiger also took place in that house.

David was a wine and liquor merchant. He was active in community affairs, and served as a member of the vorstand of the קהלה in Eisentstadt. We also find him acting as גבאי ראשון in the חברא קדישא וביקור חולים and in other capacities.
 
In 1870, when the קהלה hired הרה"ג ר' שלום קוטנא as their Rav, as a board member, David Stroh was a signatory on the כתב רבנות.

David Stroh was niftar מוצש"ק פרשת פקודי ה' אדר ב' תרס"ה in Vienna, and is buried in the new cemetery in Eisenstadt. 

courtesy of Tommy Lamm

Following is the נוסח of his מצבה:

אבן בוכים על מות

איש ירא ד' ונכבד בעדתו

פנת יקרת בקהלתו

כבוד שמו תהלתו

כ"ה דוד

בן כ"ה יעקב שטראה ע"ה

נפ' בש"ט בן שבעים ואחד שנים

במש"ק ה' אדר שני ש' תרס"ה לפ"ק בוויען

ונקבר ז' אדר שני

שלמים ותמימים היו ימי מגוריו

צדקתו יפארו יודעיו ומכיריו

הדריך בניו לתורה וליראת אל

לתמימי דרך ולישרי לב בישראל
עתה יתעדן שם בגבהי שמים
תהי' נפשו צרורה בצרור החיים
ושם אמו ריזל

David Stroh's birth record in the Eisenstadt metrical
 Birth date: Feb. 3, [1834] Name: David [male]
Parents name and occupation: Jacob Stroh ... ...
Therisa uxor [= spouse]

continuation of David Stroh's birth record 
Birth place: Mullendorf
מוהל: M. Englander, Leopold Rosenzwieg
Comments: ... J. Stroh arendor? ... Mullendorf

 David Stroh's death record in the metrical of the Israel. Cultusgemeinde Vienna
Died: 11 March 1905 1/2 of 12 o'clock evening ש"ק ד' ואדר
[His פטירה was actually מוצאי שבת]
[The column for burial was not filled in since he was buried in Eisenstadt]
Name and Character: David Stroh ... ... born in Mullendorf, Eisenstadt, Hungary
Gender: male. Status: married

Continuation of David Stroh's death record 
Age: February 1834
Address where death occurred: Haidgasse 10
[Haidgasse was the home of Dally's father]
Burial place: Eisenstadt
Cause of Death: ?
Comments: ... was transferred to Eisenstadt