Sunday, October 21, 2012

Memento From the Wedding of Cilla & Edwin Stroh December 1931

A memento from the Wedding of
Miss Cilla Kaufmann
and Mr. Edwin Stroh
Vienna, 29th of December, 1931, י"ט טבת תרצ"ב
Presented by the Frauenhilfe of the Adas Yisroel


In honor of Ma and Dally’s wedding, which took place in Vienna December 29, 1931 י"ט טבת תרצ"ב, the Frauenhilfe [Woman's Aid Society] of the Adas Yisroel, Schiffschull, presented a large card signed by many of the wedding guests.


Among the guests who signed the card were Ma’s two grandfathers, Opi Deutch and Yitzchok Nachman Kauffmann. Dally’s Grandmother Mathilde Breuer who came from Sopron signed as well. Dally’s other grandmother, Chana Stroh, who was in her nineties was probably too frail to travel from Grossvardein in Romania to attend the wedding. The signatures of many uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and members of the Schiffschull are also found on the card.


There are no photographs of the wedding. Ma would relate that the reason they did not have pictures at their wedding was due to the insistence of Dally’s cousin R’ Asher Stroh הי"ד that pictures were not appropriate.

R’ Asher Stroh was a תלמיד חכם and a chavrusah of R’ Mordechai Yafe-Schlesinger the last rav of Eisenstadt.


We have tried to decipher the signatures and identify the signatories, if anyone can help identify the remaining signatures it would be appreciated.



Page 1
  
1)  Stroh Edwin – David Stroh, Dally
2)  Cilla Stroh – Silka Stroh, Ma
3)  Alfred Stroh –  Dally’s first cousin [son of Jacob Stroh]
4)  Malvine Kaufmann – Ma’s Mother
5)  … Rosenbaum - ?
6)  Jolan Richter – Paul Richter’s father?
7) 
8)  Szeren Deutsch – Ma’s aunt wife of # 9.
9)  Erno Deutsch – Ma’s uncle, husband of # 8.
10)  Hermine Breuer
11)  Chimm Breuer
12)  Arnold Breuer

13) 

14)  Renee Stroh

15)  Alice Stroh

16)  Elsa Kraus

17)  Lotto Katz
18)  Maly Schwarcz
19)  Kathe Tauber
20)  Bertha Fried
21)  … Fried
22)  Silverman – Opi Deutch had a sister married to Silverman
23)  Therese Kohn – Ma’s aunt. Irene Richter’s mother. Wife of # 24
24)   ראובן כהןR[udolf] Kohn Ma’s uncle, husband of # 23
25)   שמעון יהודאErnst Stroh – Uncle Ernst, Dally’s brother
26)  Chicago U.S.A. Edith Wexler Schwartz Ma’s cousin from the U.S.A.
27)  Irene Kohn – Ma’s first cousin, Irene Richter [daughter of # 23 & 24]
28)   Ma’s first cousin, Joe Kohn יוסף חייםJ  Kohn – See # 43
29)  … Kohn
30)  … Stroh
31)  Lasar Shischa - Dally's second half cousin
32)  Simon Louis Schwartz – See #26
33) 
34)  Josef Shuck Ma’s cousin
35)  Osias Wohl
36)  Josef Kunstatd
37)  David Fuchs – Opi Deutsch’s mother was a Fuchs
38)  Arthur Spitz
39)  Aron …
40)  Emanuel Lamm – Dally’s first cousin [Mr. Lamm’s mother-in-law, Mina Figdor, was a sister of Dally’s father]. Ma was employed in Emanuel's business.
41)  Adolf Breuer – Abele Breuer, Dally’s uncle
42)   Ma’s grandfatherזאב יהודא דייטש Wilhelm Deutsch –
43)  J Kohn – see #28
44)  Ernestir?
45) Albert Breuer   
46)  Donath Na...



Page 2

47)  B. Stroh – Berthold Stroh, Dally’s father
48) יצחק נחמן קויפמאןKaufmann Jzcok , Ma’s paternal grandfather
49)  Jacob Stroh – Dally’s uncle (his father’s oldest brother)
50)  L. Kaufmann   Leopold Kaufman אליעזר קויפמאן Ma’s father.
51)  Sternfeld – Dally worked for Mr. Sternfeld a member of the board of the Schiffschull.
52) 
53)   Dally’s motherשווארצלSabine Stroh – , nee Breuer
54)  Nina Breuer
55)  Mathilde Breuer – Dally’s grandmother
56) 
57)  Nagel
58)  H[ilda] Bondy - nee Stroh, Dally’s first cousin
59)  Sternfeld
60)  Breuer D…
61)  Rosalia Kohn
62)  Serafine Gluck
63)  Lilly Gluck
64) 
65)   Dally’s brother. שלמה שטראהStroh Alex – 
66)  D[itta] Kaufmann – Ma’s sister married Fritz Bauer [Aunty]
67)  Ludwig 
68)  … Deutsch
69)  Rosle Hoenigsber
70) Arthur Deutsch – Ma’s uncle [her mother’s brother, Uncle Adolf from Switzerland]
71)  Ing. Weimer
72)  Cilla Tabak
73) שלמה פריעדמאנן - Rav of the Orthodox community in Baden [Opi had a store in Baden].
74)  Mar… Breuer
75)  Rosa Tisser
76)  Olga Spitz
77)  Eva Stroh
78)  … Breuer
79)  Alexander …
80)  Rechnitz …
81) 
82)  Nagel
83)  Gluck
84)  Elsen Schuck
85)  Malvina Wosner – Nee Breuer, Dally’s aunt [his mother’s sister]
86)  Mizzi Steinhof – Nee Breuer Dally’s aunt [his mother’s sister]
87)  Ruthe Friedmann [The wife of the Rav of Baden?]
88)  Stroh
89) 
90) 
91) 

Page 3
 
Freidrich Breuer

 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Founding of K'hal Adas Yereim Part I

K'hal Adas Yereim
The Kehilah was founded in 1942
Dally and Ma  were members since its inception.

We are posting a very interesting document relating to the founding of the Vienna Kehillah "K'hal Adas Yereim" in Brooklyn, NY. This letter was sent to the refugees who had recently arrived from Vienna with the motive of founding a Chevrah Kadishah and Kehillah on this side of the Atlantic. It is interesting to read the list of signatories. We find Dally's name (Edwin Stroh) and the name of many of his friends and relatives.

Interior of the "Vienner Shul" K'hal Adas Yereim
27 Lee Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y.
 Inaugurated in 1954 
Dally and Ma davened there over fifty years

The Kehillah has changed much over the past seventy years, still many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of its founders are actively involved in the Kehilah.

The spirit of Central European Yiddishkeit - Yiddishkeit in the spirit of the Chasam Sofer Zatza"l - the very essence of the Kehillah, is still alive and vibrant in the descendents of the founders.

Mr. Charles Richter ע"ה in an article written in 1967 for the twenty fifth anniversary of the Kehillah describe the Vienna Jewish way of life as follows:

In Vienna there evolved a Jewish way of life which we can designate as "Wiener Tora Im Derech Eretz". That is not the same as the Frankfuter Tora Im Derech Eretz way of Jewish life, but a unique synthesis. It is a way of life which was influenced, on the one hand by, Hungarian strict adherence to the principles of Yidishkeit and by Eastern Chasidus; on the other hand it was under the strong influence of Rabbi Shamshom Raphael Hirsch and Rabbi Esriel Hildesheimer.

Hundreds of Talmidei Chachomim, Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshivos, and Chosheve Balei Batim, many who are active in their other Kehillahs in all segments of Yiddishkeit can trace their routes to the small group of Balei Batim who founded the "Kahal Adas Yereim".

Adas Yereim in formation January 1942
Dally (Edwin Stroh) is among those signing this letter


English translation:
ADAS YERE'IM in formation
Temporary address
5 Ave. B, New York City
(c/o L. Lederer)

Teves 5702
January 1942

Most honorable Sir,

Due to the disparity between the conditions of the Jewish community here [in the United States] in comparison to those of our old residence [Vienna], we are forced to take up an issue, which did not concern us, as individuals, in the past. In the past we had all belonged to a Kehilah, and consequently to a Chevrah Kadishah. Here [in the United States] there is no Jewish community and hence no communal Chevrah Kadishah which will care for our Jewish duty in the realm of “Chesed Shel Emes”. Each one of us faces this question and must decide whether to join one of the local Chevrahs or societies, or shall we join together and form our own united Chevrah as many other groups who were bound by their places of origin or by common principles have done.

The undersigned and many of our fellows are of the opinion that this issue can best be resolved by the union of all our old fellows. The society being founded will at first fulfill the functions of a Chevrah Kadishah, but shall not be limited to that function. The exact program of our society will be outlined at the first meeting of all its members.

The undersigned have already looked into the issue of a Chevrah Kadishah, and have ascertained that for the sum of eight to ten dollars annual membership fees, a cemetery and undertaker fees would be available for all our members and their families. In order to set up a complete program it is necessary to obtain the exact number of members with which we will be dealing. We request each of you to fill out and return the enclosed postcard, as the undersigned are convinced that you would be interested in joining our society.

It should be noted that in principle the society shall be 100% Orthodox in the Central European sense of the term. The formation of our society is neither against any established institution or to distance ourselves from those of our friends who are here for a number of years.

Anyone who has any ideas or suggestion in regard to the founding of this society is requested to attach it to the enclosed postcard and send it to the above address.

We kindly request, that you fill out the enclosed postcard, and remit it a soon as possible.

With friendly greetings,

Nathan Adler
Isidore Feldheim
Philip Feldheim
Emanuel Felsenburg
Siegmund Forst
Simon Fuerst
Herman Herzog
Josef Hess
Jacob Landau
Alex Lazar
Leopold Lederer
Marton Neumann
Moritz Pappenheim
Hermann Plagmann
Charles Richter
Ernst Spitzer
Edwin Stroh
Joseph Schick
David Turkel
Markus Weiss
Shlomo Weiss

Transcript of the original German letter:
Sehr geehrter Herr,

Durch die Andersartikeit der hiesigen Verhaeltnisse im Juedischen Gemeinschaftsleben gegenueber unserer alten Heimat, sind wir gezwungen zu fragen Stellung zu nehmen, die uns frueher aks Einzelmenschen nicht betrefen. Wir gehoerten frueher einer Kehilah an nud damit auch gkeichzeitig einer Chewra Kadixvha. Hier gibt es keine juedische gemeinde und damit auch nicht die nit einer solchen verbundene Chewrah Kadisha die uns unsere jeidisvhen Pfkichten auf dam Gebiete des “Chesed Schel Emes” abnimt. Jeder einzelne von uns muss sich hier mit dieser Frage befassen und entweder irgend einer Chevra oder society beitreten, oder wir vereinigen uns zu einer gemeinsamen chewra. So wie viele hunderte Gruppen von Menschen gleicher Herkunft oder gleicher Gesinnung es vor uns taten.


Die unterzeichneten und noch eine Anzahl anderer unserer Freunde sind der Ueberzeugung, dass dieses Problem am zweckmaessigsten duch Zusammensvhkuss akker unserer akten Freunde geloest warden kann und Soll. Die zu gruendende society auf dieses Gebiet allein beschraenken, Sasgenaue Prgramm soll von den Mitgliedern bei ihrer ersten Zusammenkunft festglegt warden.

Die Unterzeichneten haben vor allem die Frage einer Chewra Kadischa untersucht und festgestellt, dass bei einem Jahresbeitrag von acht bis zehm Dollar eine vollkommene Versicherung der Mitglieder und ihrer Familien fuer cemetery und undertaker galiestet warden kann. Um jedoch ein genaues Programm aufstellen zu koennen ist es notwendig die ganaue Zahl der Mitglieder zu Kannen, mit der zr rechnen ist. Sie warden daher gebeten, die anliegende Postkarte sogleich auszufuellen und abzusenden. Die Unterzeichneten sind davon uebereugt, dass Sie zu den Gruendungsmitgliedern unserer society zaehlen warden.

Prinzipiell sei noch darauf hingewissen, dass die society 100% Orthodox – in Sinne der mittal europaeischen orthodoxie – sein wird. Die Schaffung unserer chewra ist weder gegen irgend walche bestahende Institution gerichtet, noch von dem Bestreben geleistet, sich von unseren Freunden, die shon seit frueheren Jahren hier weilen, absondern zu wollen.
Sollten Sie irgend welche Ideen oder Vorschlagen in Bezug auf die Gruendung der society haben, so warden sie gebeten, diese gemeinsam mit anliegenden postkarte an obige adresse schriftlich zu uebersenden.

Wir bitte sie, die anliegende postkarte sogleich zu uvterfertigen und abzusenden und verbleiben mit freundschaftlichen Grussen.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Opi Deutsch Part III

Opi Deutsch
Ma's grandfather
נפטר ר"ח אדר תרח"ץ לפ"ק

The March 11, 1938 edition of the Jüdische Presse, the Jewish orthodox weekly of Pressburg and Vienna, carried an article about the passing of Ma's grandfather Opi Deutsch on ר"ח אדר תרח"ץ. The brief description is very telling of his character and the high esteem with which he was regarded by his family and Kehilah.

When reading this piece, one can not help but notice how Opi Deutch's wonderful personality was emulated by Ma, her sister Aunty, and her cousins Big Irene and her brothers (those of Opi's grandchildren that we knew).
   
An article in the Orthodox Jewish Press
of Vienna and Pressburg
about the passing Opi Deutsch
On the first day of Rosh Chodesh [Adar 1938] Wilhelm Deutsch was laid to rest. About him we can truly say, תָּבוֹא בְכֶלַח אֱלֵי קָבֶר, כְּעֲלוֹת גָּדִישׁ בְּעִתּוֹ, You will go to the grave in ripe old age, just as a sheaf is brought in, in its season (איוב ה' כ"ו). 
He lived for close to ninety years באשיידן, modestly, in the spirit of one brought up in a truly religious Yiddishe home in a Yiddishe קהלה. He never felt the need to impress, quietly and without fanfare he fulfilled his duty as a Mench and as a Yid. He was dedicated and concerned for the well being of his family. As an extremely religious בן תורה he conducted his home in the old authentic Yiddishe spirit. His warm friendly personality and his pleasant demeanor towards each individual earned him the respect of all. 

He had the unusual מזל to reap and enjoy the rewards of his rich inner life. The commitment to Yiddishkeit exemplified by his children and sons-in-law in their homes is a wonderful example for all. His was surrounded by the love and tenderness of his children grandchildren and great-grandchildren till his last breath. 

In consideration of ר"ח we had to take leave of the נפטר without a הספר. The many people attending the Levaya sensed that a truly rich and full life had come to an end.

Sefer Yesh Nochlin
Amsterdam 1701
It may have belonged to Opi Deutsch
notice the signatures
top left and lower left.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

"להגות בו וזרע זרעי אחרי עד עולם" (R. Ephraim G. Halevi, כ' ניסן קע"ג ,1413)

An Illuminated Mishnah Torah
manuscript
France 1296
on which our ancestor
copied the הגהות מיימוני
in the year 1413
"to be studied by me
and my descendents forever"



In the times of the Rishonim a prominent family of   לויים - ancestors of the Strohs - settled in the Rhine Valley, Germany. Early members of the family were among the גדולי חכמי אשכנז who copied and edited ספרים and סידורי תפלה. A number of ancient manuscripts written by them have survived and are preserved in libraries around the world.

Another page of the manuscript
detailing the Halochos of the Menorah

A member of this family, and an ancestor of ours, who lived six hundred years ago was Rabbi Ephraim Gumprecht Halevi from the town of Koln, Germany. Dally was a seventeenth generation descendant of this Rabbi Ephraim Gumprecht.

The הגהות מיימוני
on the margins of the manuscript
copied by our ancestor
R. Ephraim Gumpricht Halevi
in 1413, six hundred years ago

Rabbi Ephraim Gumpricht copied the הגהות מיימוני onto the margins of a beautifully illuminated manuscript of the Rambam’s משנה תורה

The תשובות מיימוני
At the end of the manuscript
copied by our ancestor
R. Ephraim Gumpricht HaLevi

At the end of the manuscript he added many pages of the תשובות מיימוני. His handwriting is extremely elegant; he also did some very artistic work in the margins. 

The final page of the manuscript
with the colophon
he writes that it was completed

 כ' ניסן קע"ג לפרט קטן
March 23, 1413


He finished copying it in Koln, Germany on כ' ניסן קע"ג לפרט קטן, (March 23, 1413).

"להגות בו וזרע זרעי אחרי עד עולם"
"I and my descendents after me forever,
may study them with Hashem’s help"


The colophon reads:
בריך רחמנא דסייען פה קלניא ההגהו' והתשובות להגות בו וזרע זרעי אחרי עד עולם אי"ה נאום אפרים ב"ר אורי הלוי זצ"ל גומפרכט הלוי יום א' כ' ניסן קע"ג לפרט קטן לאלף החמישי.
Blessed is Hashem who assisted me, here in the city of Koln, to write the notes and responsa so that I and my descendents after me forever may study them with Hashem’s help; Signed Ephraim the son of Uri Halevi, Gumprecht Halevi today Sunday the twentieth of Nisan 173 of the fifth millennium (March 23, 1413).
In 1424 the Jews were expelled from Koln; at that time R' Ephraim Gumpricht’s son R' Yosef Halevi moved to Frankfurt am Main, where he served as a Dayan.

The family remained in Frankfurt for over 200 years.

An eighth generation descendant of R’ Yosef Halevi married Rabbi Shimon Wolf Oppenhiem of Worms. R. Shimon Wolf’s daughter Sara married R’ Yitzchok Itzik Brillin the rov of Hamelberg and Mannheim. R’ Yitzchok Itzik’s son Ezriel joined his uncle the famous Shtadlan R’ Shmuel Oppenheim and moved to Vienna.

Dally’s grandmother Chana, was a great-great-grand daughter of Ezriel Brillin.

Hopefully we will be posting more on this family in the future.


א)  ר' דוד שטראה מוויען – ניו יורק תשל"ח (1907-1977)

ב)  בן ר' דוב שטראה הי"ד וויען תש"ד (1877-1944)

ג)   בן ר' דוד שטראה – וזוגתו מרת חנה שפיצער – אייזנשטאט תרצ"ג (1844-1933)

ד)  בת ר' אשר לעמיל שפיצער הלוי – וזוגתו מרת גיטל וואלף אויסטרליץ אייזנשטאט תר"ב (- 1841)

ה) בת ר' חיים וואלף הלוי אויסטרליץ – וזוגתו מרת פרומיט ברילין אייזנשטאט תר"ט (- 1849)

ו)   בת ר' שמואל זנוויל ברילין – פרעשבורג תקס"ב (1722- 1802)

ז)  בן ר' עזריאל ברילין – וויען תק"ד (- 1744)

ח) בן הרה"ג ר' יצחק ברילין אבדק"ק האמעלבערג ומאנהיים – וזוגתו מרת שרה אופנהיים – מנהיים תל"ג (- 1673)

ט) בת ר' שמעון וואלף אופנהיים – וזוגתו מרת עדיל בכרך ווירמייזא תכ"ט (- 1669)

י)   בת ר' שמואל בכרך – פ"פ דמיין שפ"ח (1628)

יא) בן ר' מנחם מענדל בכרך – וזוגתו מרת עדיל מווייסענבורג – פ"פ דמיין ש"ס (-1600)

יב)  בת ר' משה מווייסענבורג – וזוגתו מרת גוטלין מבופרט – פ"פ דמיין בערך רצ"א (- 1531)

יג)   בת ר' שמעון הכהן מבופרט – וזוגתו מרת בלום – פ"פ ד"ש (- 1544)

יד)  בת ר' יוסף סג"ל צום שווארצן רינג – פ"פ דמיין בערך רצ"ו (- 1536)

טו)  בן ר' אפרים גומפריכט סג"ל צום שווארצן רינג – פ"פ דמיין רע"ו ( 1516)

טז) בן ר' נתן סג"ל עפשטיין – פ"פ דמיין רע"ד (- 1514)

יז)   בן הדיין הישיש ר' יוסף סג"ל עפשטיין – קולן פ"פ דמיין רס"ב (-1502)

יח)  בן ר' אפרים גומפרכט סג"ל מקולן העתיק ההגהות מיימונית קע"ג (1413)

יט)  בן ר' אורי פייויש הלוי מקולן – דורטמאנט בערך קס"ה (1337-1405)

כ)    בן ר' אליעזר ליפמאן הלוי הי"ד מאונסבראק – בערך ק"ט (- 1349)

כא) בן רבינו אשר הלוי מאונסבראק העתיק ספר הערוך הקטן בשנת נ' (1290)

כב) בן רבינו יעקב הלוי

Note the jug on the margin
it is the signature of R. Ephraim HaLevi
for it is the symbol of the
לוויים

Another jug on the margin