Building a family in Zdunska Wola and Łask Avram Moshe moved to Zdunska Wola after the death of his wife, Baila Horowicz in 1871. He was joined by his younger sons, Isaac and Berek. Avram Moshe’s two eldest sons, Aharon … Continue reading Chapter Ten: Escaping Antisemitism in Zdunska-Wola & Łask

Shlomo Saltz, Ruchla Chana Dvora Olej, Baila Saltz, Hershel Saltz, Chaia Saltz, Pinchas Saltz, Echeil Saltz, Machel Saltz, Sarah Saltz, Benjamin Saltz, Abraham Morris Saltz, Berish Dov Saltz After Avram Moshe Olej’s wife, Baila Horowicz passed away in 1871, he moved to Zdunska Wola where he met the widow Chana Glevitsky Saltz. In 1872 they were married, bringing together the Olej and Saltz families. Shlomo Saltz and Chana Dvora Olej, who probably met through their parents, were married on the 21st of January 1880. They lived in Pabianice where Shlomo had already opened a Bakery. [i] Shlomo and Chana Dvora … Continue reading Part IV: Chapter 9: The Saltz Leave Poland

Introduction: “The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his … Continue reading Part IV: The Last Diaspora

Chapter Seven: Besser and Popaver in Warsaw & Otwock The Polish archives have been especially stingy in providing information on the Popavers and Bessers. Because of this we only see back into the mid to late 1800s. Even worse, we do not know the birth surname of many of your author’s 2nd great-grandparents. As a result, we are not able to look directly at our ancestors before the birth of Kalman Besser and Frayda Popaver. Fortunately, many members of my family took the time to interview their parents and grandparents. Add to this the documented history of the area, and … Continue reading Part III: Besser & Popaver in Warsaw

Chapter Three: Life in Europe We, Boleslaw, by the grace of God the Duke of Wielkopolska, hereby make it known to both those of the present and of the future, to whose notice the present write shall come, that to our Jews living all across the lands of our Dominion, We have resolved to declare word-for-word the statutes and privileges that they have obtained from us. The Statute of Kalisz, 9 September 1264 The Ashkenazi Though we don’t know exactly when our ancestors came into Europe, it is very likely that it happened prior to 1000 CE. Starting in the … Continue reading Part 1: Beyond Our Family Tree

Chapter Two: Diaspora (תְּפוּצָה) Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty – The King of Assyria and all his glory; He will go up over all his channels And go … Continue reading Part 1: Beyond Our Family Tree

Chapter One: From Nomads to the Jewish KingdomAdam & Eve, approximately 200,000 years ago in modern day Botswana At an unknown date, an unnamed tribe of ancient Humans lived in the Makgadikgadi Basin. Within this tribe was the mother of all living humans. This woman, our ~8,000th great grandmother[1] is known as the “Mitochondrial Eve”. Strictly speaking “Eve” is not a single or a specific woman but a group of closely related women who have given all who live today, our mitochondrial DNA.[i] Around this time[2], in an unknown location in Africa lived the father of all living men, the … Continue reading Part 1: Beyond Our Family Tree