Quick notes on the Levins
For those of you who are descended from Avram Moshe Olej, but not from Yosef, you are not likely related to the Levins. However, you may still find this chapter interesting as it describes Jewish life in these small towns where the Olej’s lived.
For those of you with sharp vision, you will note that the chart above seems to replicate itself That is because Yosef Moshe Levin married his first cousin Masza Levin.
Mendel Levin in Szadek
On the 10th of October 1815, in Russian controlled Szadek, your author’s 4th great-grandparents, Mendel Levin[1] and Mindela (Mindel) bat Rappaport[i] were married.[ii] [iii] Mindela was a widow, and her surname at the time of marriage was Goldblum (Goldblumowna). Mindla was born in Działoszyn Poland, which lies 76km to the south of Szadek. It is not known how she got to Szadek, but it may have been with her first husband.
Mendel was born in Żarki around 1786 to Lewek Levin and Giela Granek. It is also not known how Mendel got to Szadek from Żarki, which lies 185km to its south. Knowledge of the lives of Lewek Levin and Giela Granek have been lost to time.
Szadek, which was, and remains 16 kilometers northwest of Łask, was an unlikely location for Mendel and Mindla to settle. This is because, in 1624, Szadek was granted the king’s privilege prohibiting Jewish residences, “privilegia de non tolerandis Judaeis”. Because of this, in 1793 there were only 38 Jews in Szadek. In 1802, when Szadek, came under Prussian rule, the law forbidding Jewish settlement was canceled. Within 25 years the Jewish population grew to 208 individuals, nearly 15% of the town’s population.[iv]
While living in Szadek, Mendel and Mindla had at least 4 children. They were Maier, Salomon, Jakub and the author’s 3rd great-grandfather, Ludwik (aka Leon) Levin. To support his family, Mendel earned a living as a merchant.[v] [vi] Sometime after 1822, when their son Maier Levin was born, Mendel and his family left Szadek for Zgierz, which lies just north of the city of Łódź.[vii] They did not stay there for long.
Settling in Pabianice
Shortly before 1835, Ludwik Levin married Estera Siennicka and moved to Pabianice. This was the start of a long presence for the Levins and Olejs in this city until the Holocaust.
Pabianice sits just to the southwest of Łódź and like most cities in this region, its main industry was textiles. Jewish settlement did not begin in Pabianice until after Napoleon drove the Prussians out of Poland in 1807. Jewish participation in the textile industry took off in the 1820s and by 1835 there were 18 Jewish owned factories.[viii]
Ludwik and Estera had at least seven children in Pabianice between 1835 and 1851. They were Frajda, Karolina, Aron, Salamon, Abram, Mindla, and the author’s 2nd great-grandfather, Josek Mosiek (“Yosef Moshe”).[ix] [x]
To support this large family, Ludwik worked as a “stallkeeper”.[xi] This job typically provided a meager wage in return for hard work. Ludwik would also have had to deal with anti-Jewish propaganda by competing merchants, mostly of German descent who resented their new competition.[xii]
For Ludwick and his extended family things got much more difficult in 1840. Due to overproduction from the textile factories, this area suffered a severe economic downturn. As usual, blame for their ills fell on the Jews. Despite these complaints, Jewish participation in the Textile industry continued to grow thanks in part to their fiscal responsibility before and during this crisis.[xiii]
1840 also provided the family with a much more personal loss when Ludwik’s mother, Mindla Levin passed away on the 7th of September.[xiv] In her honor many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were named after her.
On the 2nd of September 1852, Ludwick passed away, just months after the birth of his daughter Mindla. He was 37 years old and was survived by his wife Estera and their seven children. [xv]
Moshe Yosef Levin
On the 31st of January 1871, your author’s 2nd great-grandfather, Moshe Yosef Levin married his first cousin Masza Levin. Masza was Jakow Levin’s daughter and Jakow was Ludwick’s brother.[xvi] Incidentally, Ludwick and Jakow’s parents were Mendle Levin and Mindla Rapaport.
Moshe Yosef and Masza had six children: Mindel Levin (1871), Zysa Rajzla Levin (1874), Lajb Levin (1876), Fajga “Hia” Levin (1878), Benyaman Levin (1880), and Shlomo Mendel Levin (1882).[xvii] To support his family Moshe Yosef was a weaver and later in 1882 a Trader.
On the 22nd of June 1886 Masza Levin passed away for unknown reasons.[xviii] She was only 39. Moshe Yosef remarried on the 14th of November 1888. He and his new wife, Sura Rucchla Baum had Jakow Levin.[xix] The date of their marriage is clouded in mystery. The official record states 1899, but they may have married in the local synagogue prior to the birth of Jakow, their only child.[xx]
Starting on the 23rd of January 1890, their children started getting married. First was your Author’s great-grandmother, Mindel Levin who married Yosef Olej in Pabianice.[xxi] Nine years later, Lajb Levin would marry Pessa Boas in Łask. In 1901.[xxii] In 1901, Fajga Levin married Mendel Heliszkowski in Pabianice.[xxiii] Before there could be more unions the family experienced a loss when on the 29th of July1903, Moshe Yosef’s mother Estera passed away at the age of 95![xxiv]
The children of Moshe Yosef continued to get married. His son Mendel married Djdla Jaja Djacz in 1905.[xxv] Benyamin Levin married another Heliszkowski, this time Chaja Sura.[xxvi] Jakow, the son of Moshe Yosef and Sura Ruchla, married Pessa Cycanowicz in 1919.[xxvii] They would all have many children who will be discussed in later chapters.
Open questions
- Where were Mendel’s parents born?
- How did Mendel get from Żarki to Szadek?
[1] In Polish there is no “V”. Therefore, all the records spell Levin as “Lewi” or Lewin”. As my great-grandmother spelled it “Levin” when she lived in Israel, that is the spelling I will use in this book.
[i] Rapoport name comes from the death of Szlama Lewin, son of Mendel Lewin and Mindla Rapoport, Death record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278433,155), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 154, Name: Szlama Lewin, Died 5 Jun 1882, location – Pabianice.
[ii] Record for her marriage, states “Mindel Goldblumowa” she is a widow, her spouse is “Mendel Lewi”, born abt. 1779, Parish Records, 1808-1825, Marriage record, https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&ar=3&zs=1691d&se=&sy=1814&kt=1&plik=072-073.jpg&x=2007&y=1143&zoom=1.25), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 72, Name: Mindla Goldblumowa, spouse – Mendel Lewi, Record date, 1815.
[iii] Record for his marriage, states “Mendel Lewi” he is single, his spouse is “Mindel Goldblumowa”, born abt. 1786, Parish Records, 1808-1825, Marriage record, https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&ar=3&zs=1691d&se=&sy=1814&kt=1&plik=072-073.jpg&x=2007&y=1143&zoom=1.25), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 72, Name: Mendel Lewi, spouse – Mindla Goldblumowa, Record date, 1815.
[iv] https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/pinkas_poland/pol1_00262a.html
[v] Book of permanent Residents listing “Mendel Lewin and family”, born in Zarki, translated by Petje, Original source, Books of permanent Residents, Pabianice, Vol 3296, Mortgage No 2, Page 2, Stored on Spreadsheet, link in WordPress, Name: Mendel Lewin, wife Mendla, 3 children, profession merchant, location – Pabianice.
[vi] Death record for Mindla Lewin voto Goldblum, Ludwik Levin (reads ben Mendel) was a witness, he is 25 and a stallkeeper, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278422,17), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. No image 16, Name: Mindla Lewin voto Goldblum, date 7 Sep 18402, location – Pabianice.
[vii] Book of permanent Residents listing “Mendel Lewin and family”, coming from Zgierz, translated by Petje, Original source, Books of permanent Residents, Pabianice, Vol 3296, Mortgage No 2, Page 2, Stored on Spreadsheet, link in WordPress, Name: Mendel Lewin, wife Mendla, 3 children, profession merchant, location – Pabianice.
[viii] Pabianice, Poland [Pages 9-36]
[ix] Book of permanent Residents listing “Ludwik Lewin and family”, born in Szadek, translated by Petje, Original source, Books of permanent Residents, Pabianice, Vol 3297, Mortgage No 160, Page 309, Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress, Name: Ludwik Lewin, wife Estera, 6 children, profession stallkeeper, location – Pabianice.
[x] Birth record for “Mindla Lewin”, dated 21 Feb 1851, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278432,18), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 17, Name: Mindla Lewin, location – Pabianice.
[xi] Book of permanent Residents listing “Ludwik Lewin and family”, Occupation – Stallkeeper, born in Szadek, translated by Petje, Original source, Books of permanent Residents, Pabianice, Vol 3297, Mortgage No 160, Page 309, Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress, Name: Ludwik Lewin, wife Estera, 6 children, profession stallkeeper, location – Pabianice.
[xii] Pabianice, Poland [Pages 9-36]
[xiii]IBID
[xiv] Death record for “Mindla Lewin voto Goldblum” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Death record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278422,175), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 16, Name: Mindla Lewin voto Goldblum, spouse – Mendel Lewin, Record date, 1840.
[xv] Death record for “Ludwik Lewin” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Death record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278420,31), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 30, Name: Ludwik Lewin, spouse – Estera (announced death), Record date, 1852.
[xvi] Marriage record for “Josif Moszek Lewin” and “Masza Lewin” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278415,22), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 20, Names: “Josif Moszek Lewin” and “Masza Lewin”, Record date, 1871.
[xvii] Birth records for “Josif Moszek Lewin” and “Masza Lewin” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Birth record, translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Images 143,192, 231, 118, 156, 198; Names: Mindel Levin, Zysa Rajzla Levin, Lajb Levin, Fajga Levin, Beniaman Levin, and Mendel Levin; Record date, 1871, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1880, and 1882.
[xviii] Death record for “Masza Lewin” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Death record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278436,17), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 16, Name: Masza Lewin, spouse – Moszek Josek Lewin, Record date, 1888.
[xix] Birth records for “Josif Moszek Lewin” and “Masza Lewin” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Birth record, translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Images 155, Names: Jakow Levin; Record date, 1888.
[xx] Marriage record for “Josif Moszek Lewin” and “Sura Ruchla Baum” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278425,114), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 107, Names: Josif Moszek Lewin and Sura Ruchla Baum, Record date, 1899.
[xxi] Marriage record for “Mindla Lewin” and “Josek Lajzer Olej” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278415,174), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 172, Names: Mindla Lewin and Josek Lajzer Olej, record date, 1890.
[xxii] Marriage record for “Lajb Lewin” and “Pessa Boas” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278658,47), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 46, Names: Lajb Lewin and Pessa Boas, record date, 1899.
[xxiii] Marriage record for “Fajga Lewin” and “Mendel Heliszkowski” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278425,145), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 138, Names: Fajga Lewin and Mendel Heliszkowski, record date, 1901.
[xxiv] Death record for “Estera Lewin nee Szenik” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Death record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278429,97), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 95, Name: Estera Lewin, Widow, Record date, 1903.
[xxv] Marriage record for “Mendel Lewin” and “Ajdla Laja Dajcz” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,278425,221), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 214, Names: Mendel Lewin and Ajdla Laja Dajcz, record date, 1905.
[xxvi] Marriage record for “Beniamin Lewin” and “Chaja Sura Heliszkowski” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,279157,167), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 138, Names: Beniamoin Lewin and Chaja Sura Heliszkowski, record date, 1907.
[xxvii] Marriage record for “Jakob Lewin” and “Pessa Cycanowicz” Vital Records, AP Lodz, Pabianice, Marriage record, (https://metryki.genbaza.pl/genbaza,detail,314078,97), translated by Petje, Original source, State Archives of Lodz. Stored on Spreadsheet housed in WordPress. Image 96, Names Jakob Lewin and Pessa Cycanowicz, record date, 1919.
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