Vol IV, No.3, Benicia, CA, Spring 1997

Esther Mayoff, Centenarian Editor's Corner Readers Comment Lovell Directory - 1915-1923 Two Pages from Bottler Album Article from The Jewish Bulletin Back River Cemetery, Montreal In the Spotlight, Rena Mayoff Zelig Gravestone Mayoff Day Notice Family Events Cousins Communications Center Edison Electric Light Notice Jewish Personal Ads (humor)

The eldest living descendant of Zelig ben Chaim Mayov, Esther Mayoff celebrated her 100 birthday recently. Born on March 25, 1897 near Kostyukovich, Russia, Esther, at about the age of eight moved with her parents Usher and Toba Mayoff to Denmark after fleeing the pogroms of Tzarist Russia. She has spoken of spending some of her teen years there before the family subsequently immigrated to Montreal. After arriving in Montreal, the family joined Usher's brothers and lived at 1315 Ave. de l'hotel de Ville. One of Usher's brothers, Schloima, had a son by the name of Hyman. Already being familiar with Montreal, Hymie took it to be his responsibility to show Esther the in's and out's of her new homeland. Eventually these two cousins fell in love and they married. Four children were born to this marriage, Solly (b) 1918, Moe, (b) 1921, Sydney (b) 1923, (d) 1924 and Anne (b) 1925, (d) 1994. Esther has five grandchildren, Allen Mayoff, son of Solly & Essie Mayoff; Nancy and Joann, daughters of Moe and Sarah Mayoff; Rhona Morantz Pervin and Ian Morantz, daughter and son of Anne and Abe Morantz. Her five great grandchildren are: Jonathan Mayoff (Le-Blanc), Elana Pervin, Leah, Tobi, Nicholas and Joshua Morantz. (Hymie passed away in 1975.) Happy birthday, Esther!

Happy Passover

Spring has sprung, at least here on the left coast. Sue & I have sure been enjoying our grandson. In a recent phone conversation Shirley Cohen (Bun) said "They [grandchildren] sure make your life complete." We agree! Our extended family has received some additional national recognition. An article about us appears in the March 28th edition of the Jewish Times. You can read about it by turning to page six. A good portion of this issue is "fill-in." Unless I receive some articles, it is quite likely that we might not have a summer issue.

The Next Reunion

Manny Bernstein (Abr), who appears to have become our reunion Chairperson, has been doing some review of the reunion survey postcards from last year. Of the 33 responses, we basically had 18 for the catskills, 2 for a cruise, 1 for Israel, 2 for anywhere and 14 for the west coast or Las Vegas. Manny feels that it would be easier for him to coordinate a western US reunion rather than an eastern one. With the 14 western, plus 2 for anywhere responses, he is leaning towards a Las Vegas reunion. Accommodations are quite reasonable and the activities are limitless. If Las Vegas does in fact become the site of the next reunion, I remind the extended family, that when someone steps forward to coordinate a subsequent reunion, we will once again consider any and all proposed sites. Please let me know your thoughts.

Update from St. Petersburg, Russia

Descendants of Bunya Mayoff - Aron Gindin and Anna Gindin Ninburg have received their papers from Germany. This authority gives Anna and Aron & his wife Rimma and their children and grandchildren one year to complete their immigration. Quite possibly they will go in two groups, with Galya & Sasha and their two children in the first group, setting up living arrangements in Germany and Aron, Rimma & Anna in the second group, finishing up the liquidation of their non-transportable assets. Additionally, they have asked me to extend their gratitude to those who have helped them financially. All funds arrived safely without even a penny lost. Shirley Cohen has now also arranged for bank transferring of funds through a friend's son who is a Canadian accountant working in St. Petersburg. Your donations are solicited.

Readers comment

From Betty Drucker Rosen (Hen) of Fremont, CA... Just want to say Thank You for all the work you have done on behalf of this extended family. You're one great person! Thanks, Betty.

This additional little item is also from Betty Rosen. "My grandfather's (Efraim) anglicized name was Frank Simon. During the period of WW2 there was a fairly well-known classical band conductor by that name. My grandfather (Henya's husband) would from time to time get letters from people in Europe asking for help to come to the US. The letters were, of course, meant to go the band leader. We didn't know where to forward them to, and they remained unanswered. Very sad."

Betty, Your articles and input has helped make this project a success. Art

Additional correspondence appears below

Lovell Directories-

continued from last issue.

Thanks to Montreal's Robert N. Wilkins

1908 Ismael Mayov (No information provided) 1915 Hyman Mayoff 1124 St. Lawrence, home at 642 Drolet, a tailor Oscar Mayoff 1280a de la Roche, a pastry chef 1916 A. Mayoff 37 Mt. Royal Ave East, home address 35 Mt. Royal E, a tailor Oscar Mayoff 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor 1917 A. Mayoff 37 Mt. Royal Ave East, home address 35 Mt. Royal E, a tailor Israel Mayoff 46 St. Alexander, home address at 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a manufacturer of Ladies suits Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor 1918 Israel Mayoff 46 St. Alexander, home address at 1357 Cadieux, a manufacturer of Ladies suits Oscar Mayoff 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor 1919 E Mayoff 1315 Cadieux, a tailor Israel Mayoff 1357 Cadieux, a tailor Oscar Mayoff 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor 1920 E Mayoff 1315 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Israel Mayoff 1357 Cadieux, a tailor Oscar Mayoff 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor 1921 E Mayoff 1315 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Hyman Mayoff 1329 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a watchmaker Israel Mayoff 1357 Cadieux, a tailor Oscar Mayoff 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor 1922 Abraham Mayoff 668b Colonial Av, a tailor Hyman Mayoff 1329 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a watchmaker Israel Mayoff 1357 Cadieux, a tailor Oscar Mayoff 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor 1923 Hyman Mayoff 1329 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a watchmaker Israel Mayoff 1357 Cadieux, a tailor Oscar Mayoff 1321 Av de l'Hotel de ville, a tailor Sam Mayoff 1365 Cadieux, a tailor

Left to right: Sol. Bessie, Sarah, & Beatrice in front. Handwritten Yiddish note below appears on back of this photo. (Can someone translate this for me? Art.)

The headline above is the lead for a story published in The Jewish Bulletin dated March 28, 1997 and written by staff writer Leslie Katz. The idea for this article must go to Betty Rosen (Hen). It was also her persistence that brought it to fruition. Here is my report on this article.

To quote from the story:

"In 1988, in the midst of reminiscing with family members while sitting shiva for his mother, Arthur Mayoff found himself picking up a pencil and paper and sketching a family tree. As he drew the tree's many branches, Mayoff felt a burgeoning desire to know more about his family. Almost immediately, he set off on a voyage of discovery. "

Ms. Katz's interview lasted about 45 minutes. Continuing, she writes: "Nine years later, after a genealogical odyssey that has involved letter- writing, thumbing through phone books and poring over historical documents, the 53-year-old Benicia resident has made first-time contact with more than 100 [families] in the United States, Canada, Israel, England, Denmark and Russia."

The article discusses our recent family reunions and the newsletter... "He has scheduled family reunions that brought together dozens of relatives who had never before met. Four times a year, he pens a family newsletter, Family Descendant, which he mails to 175 households around the world. And he regularly updates the family Web page (www.mayoff.com), billed as a 'one stop access' to all things Mayoff. "

"'Family is everything,' says Mayoff. "

In our conversation I mentioned that the extended family has been financially helping our relatives still in Russia. Ms. Katz wrote: "He is not just spouting idle words. In addition to maintaining an intricate network of family correspondence, he regularly sends money to Russian relatives.... Other family members have followed suit, adding their donations to the Russian family's [needs]."

She continues her article, "I'm not a rich man," says Mayoff, who owns an electronics business in Concord, CA. "But I'm doing what I can. It's just so exciting to be able to send them 10 or 20 bucks a week..."

Ms. Katz additionally inter- viewed Betty Rosen and the article continues: "One family member Mayoff discovered during the course of his research is distant cousin Betty Rosen of Fremont. Several years ago, she received a letter with a return address marked Mayoff. Remembering that May- off was her grand- mother's maiden name, she tore the envelope open with excited anticipation." She continues, "I could hardly wait to open it," the 71-year-old Rosen recalls. "I opened it and here was a letter from Art."

Ms. Katz's article continues, "The letter stated that Mayoff and Rosen had a common great-grandfather, Zelig Mayov, who emigrated from [Russia] to Montreal in the early part of this century. Rosen, who was born and raised in Chicago and has no relatives in the Bay Area other than her husband, Irwin, children and grandchildren, was thrilled to learn she had kin nearby. "

Referring to our first and subsequent get-togethers the story continues: "She invited Mayoff and his wife, Sue, for a glass of

wine. The couple reciprocated, and now the cousins speak, exchange e-mail and share such family simchahs as weddings and anniversaries. "

Discussing the reunions and the newsletter we quote from the story: "Now an active part of the Mayoff family network, Rosen has attended the two family reunions set up by Mayoff - one in Skokie, Ill., in 1994, the other in Montreal in 1995. And she always looks forward to receiving the family newsletter, to which she and her husband have contributed. It means a great deal to me," she says of the family publication. "I'm reading about relatives I never knew I had. It's just a thrill to have these threads with all these people."

I sent Ms. Katz some sample copies of the Family Descendant and she writes: "The newsletters, which are up to 16 pages in length, include everything from family photos and stories on family members' accomplishments to nostalgia pieces and announcements of such life-cycle events as births, b'nai mitzvah and deaths."

Referring to our family's special holiday she writes, "One recent article by contributor Bernie Mayoff reminds readers about the annual family holiday, Mayoff Day. The celebration falls on June 1, since that is the day people take "may off" the calendar. On this tongue-in-cheek holiday, Mayoffs are encouraged to revel in being part of their newly reunited extended family. 'For some, the celebration will be modest with a few close friends and family,' the author of the newsletter article writes. 'For others, the invitation list is long and the preparation extensive. In every case, this light-hearted holiday is fun for Mayoffs, ex-Mayoffs, future Mayoffs, wannabe Mayoffs and friends, neighbors and co-workers of Mayoffs'."

The story concludes with an interesting comment. Ms. Katz writes, "Of course, for Art Mayoff, who spends nearly all his free time working to keep the lines of his family intersecting, every day is Mayoff Day."

Some history on Montreal's Back River Cemetery

See Update from March, 2010, below

Most Jewish Montrealers are familiar with the old cemetery located at the corner of Berri and Sauve Streets in Montreal's north-east end. Some out of towners attending the last family reunion recall our memorial and rededication at Zelig's gravesite in the pouring rain. With ankle deep ruts filled with water, we really didn't take too much time to look much beyond the next puddle. In the months since, there has been a number of articles about this cemetery forwarded to me. This is what I've gleaned from Montreal's The Canadian Jewish News and The Suburban.

The cemetery, known officially as Back River Memorial Gardens Cemetery, was started in 1883 but not under the best circumstances. The land was bought by Temple Emanu-El congregation, then in downtown Montreal. Congregation members were not pleased with the land, arguing it was too damp and watery and too far from the downtown synagogue. After having secured better burial land on Mount Royal, the Back River Cemetery was donated and sold to other downtown and east end congregations including Chevra Kadisha, B'nai Jacob, Sons of Israel and Temple Solomon. It was once the Jewish community's main burial ground, with about 5000 gravesites.

A century ago, this part of Montreal was where most common, hard-working Jews were buried. The Back River cemetery was not the first Jewish cemetery in Montreal. The Spanish and Portugese Congregation had established a gravesite on St. Janvier St. near Dominion Square in 1797. But cholera and other plagues made downtown Montrealers wary of gravesites too close to them. In 1854, the plots were unearthed and relocated to the Mount Royal Cemetery.

Now, over a century later, the ravages of time, as well as simple neglect and the impoverished state of some of the cemetery's ten congregations and burial societies, have taken an obvious toll in an area covering about 15 percent of the total grounds.

The cemetery really consists of two separate plots which are "kitty corner" from each other with a very busy intersection and metro (subway) station between them. The older "north" section, which appears to no longer have active burials, is on the north east corner of the intersection of Berri and Sauve. In one of my recent visits there, I noticed that the layout of the graves was quite disorganized. Even though there appears to have been some plan with discernible rows and aisles, many graves are in pathways, some appear at right angles to others for no apparent reason and others look like they were afterthoughts and just squeezed in. Pathways are overgrown with weeds and grass. Century old headstones, weathered by the harsh Montreal climates have toppled off their eroding bases and remain there because of the either the high cost of repair or the lack of attention by the descendants/relatives of the deceased. Many walkways are in disrepair and there are no proper toilet facilities or a fresh source of water for visitors, many of them elderly. Interesting though, a walk amongst the gravestones, one can see and feel the history of immigrant Jews who struggled with a new country called Canada, a city called Montreal and their own hopes for themselves and for their children. It also showed how hard life was. Several graves revealed death at young ages.

Periodic appeals to the community, particularly at Passover, have managed to raise desperately needed dollars to cover expensive work, such as repair and replacement of exterior fencing, gates and walls.

But with time marching on, the sense of urgency has only increased. Seymour Frank is the president of the Memorial Gardens Foundation, Inc., which represents ten Montreal congregations. Since their amalgamation over forty years ago, almost half of the cemetery grounds has been the responsibility of Chevra Kadisha and B'nai Jacob. The other half is comprised of synagogues such as Shomrim Laboker and Shaare Zion (which now mainly use other cemeteries for burials), as well as other burial societies. Some of those, such as Sons of Israel and Temple Solomon, can no longer contribute towards the memorial foundation's maintenance fund because their members are dying off. Although the Foundation helps coordinate cemetery maintenance, it can do little for individual gravesites. It is up to family members to look after graves.

It appears that there are only about 50 burials a year at the "southern" cemetery grounds since about 1960. (This is where Zelig and other Mayov's and Mayoff's are buried. See photograph on next page)

Some of the other Jewish cemeteries in Montreal are: Shaare Hashomayin, Spanish and Portugese (on Mount Royal), Eternal Gardens (in Beaconsfield) and the Baron de Hirsch (on De La Savane St.)

Credit for this article goes to Stephen McDougal, The Suburban; David Lazarus, The Montreal Jewish News; Allan Raymond, historian; Art Mayoff, The Family Descendant

Update added March 2010:

A map of the Back River Cemetery can be found at: http://iajgs.org/cemetery/quebec-qc/montreal.html . Click on the map thumbnail.

Link to Google view the cemeteries centered on the corner of Sauve and Berri. Double click near the #1 'balloon' for the street view. (If the link doesn't get you there, go to maps.google.com and search for 9782 Rue Berri, Montreal. )

An additional closeup view of the graves on the West side at the curve where Port Royal meets St. Denis is here.

The Official website of the Back River Cemetery is http://www.backrivermemorial.org/

During the past few years many readers have made contact with cousins they recall from their childhood. Some, at the reunion, hadn't had contact for 30 or 40 years. Here's a letter I received from one of my first cousins, whom I haven't seen in almost 35 years. The fact that I send these newsletters to so many from whom I have had no response, it's nice to receive a letter like this. I would love to hear from others who might care to share a bit of their history. A.S.M.

Dear Art,

I'm taking the opportunity to write to you via my son's internet link. I'm your cousin Rena, Jack Mayoff's (Sam) eldest daughter (the one who lives in England). This letter is to let you know my new address and to tell you a little about us.

(Personal info has been omitted from the on-line edition)

Writing this letter has brought back memories of cousins. I remember your brother Teddy well, but [can't recall] your sister (I came to England in 1964, so maybe that's why. I also have fond memories of your Dad playing the saxophone at family events. And of course our grandmother, Bauba Lilly. I have very happy memories of going to her house. She was such a warm, lovely and lively lady. I'm sure you remember her.

I find the Mayoff Family Descendant fascinating. It's only in the last 10 years that I've felt the need to "acknowledge my roots". Until then I probably never even thought about it. I think I realised that although I hold Canadian and British nationality, I can never be really accepted as British (you know how traditionalist the British are) and I really no longer feel Canadian. So that leaves me floating about somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. You may understand what I mean with your interest in genealogy leading to you starting the newsletter. If that's not about finding your roots, I don't know what is.

Anyway I think it's an amazing undertaking. I'm full of admiration for you. My very good wishes to you and your family. Maybe one day we'll meet again.

Rena

Mayoff Day - 1997 This year Mayoff Day Parties will be held on Saturday May 31st. Send us your photos and a short story. Have fun!

Family Events

Congratulations to David and Lorrie Black on the birth of their daughter, Montana Sage Black. Proud grandmother is Donna Mayoff Black and proud great grandparents are Sol and Zelda Mayoff.

Congratulations to Richard Mayoff (Abr) of Montreal, Quebec and his fiancee, Bettina. Richard is the son of Sol and Zelda Mayoff. A small wedding is planned for May 10th, 1997.

Danielle Israel, (Ush) daughter of Doreen & Lee Israel, granddaughter of Sandra Alotta, will be called to the Torah as Bat Mitzvah on Saturday April 12, 1997. Danielle is planning to be called to the Torah with a "twin." This twin will be her gesture to be symbolically Bat Mitzvah with someone who currently is living under the religious restrictions of the former Soviet Union. At press time plans were to find a Mayoff descendant in Russia to be her twin.

Mayoff domain E-mail addresses available for free.

What's a Mayoff domain e-mail address? yourname@mayoff.com There are about 10 e-mail addresses available to family members. To be able to use these addresses you will need to have your own direct ISP (Internet Service Provider). (AOL or Compuserve, etc. probably won't work.) Those using Netscape or Explorer are most able to take advantage of this service. If you are interested, please send me an e-mail. Limit one per household.

Look who's on-line....

The following members of our extended family have new e-mail addresses:

Brahm Wiseman (Abr):

brahm@pmaint.com

Doreen Israel (Ush)

doreen345@aol.com

Robin Mayoff (Sam)

robin@mayoff.com

Teddy Mayoff (Sam)

teddy@mayoff.com

Humor. [From the internet. These are supposedly real ads] Thanks go to Mel Oshins.

Jewish Princess, 28, seeks successful businessman of any major Jewish denomination: hundreds, fifties, twenties. POB 27.

I was reform as an embryo, conservative as a fetus, orthodox from birth. Seeking same. POB 46.

Your place or mine? Divorced man, 42, with fleishig dishes only. Seeking woman with nice milchig set. Object macaroni. POB 77.

Orthodox woman with get, seeks man who got get, or can get get. Get it? I'll show you mine if you show me yours. POB 72.

Desperately seeking shmoozing! Retired senior citizen desires female companion 70+ for kvetching, kvelling, krechtzing. Under 30 is also OK. POB 64.

Successful orthodox diamond cutter. Both Shea and Yankee Stadium. No Shabbos games. Will not mow lawn during s'firah. Seeking wife. POB 312.

Matzo supplier, 53, seeks cloth bag manufacturer. Let's play "Hide the Afikomen." POB 67

Conservative rabbi, 45, I count women for the minyan and call them up to the Torah. Seeking female to make aliyah. POB 50.

Sincere rabbinical student, 27. Enjoys Yom Kippur, Tisha B'av, Taanis Esther, Tzom Gedaliah, Asarah B'Teves, Shiva Asar B'Tammuz. Seeks companion for living life in the "fast" lane.

Shul gabbai, 36. I take out the Torah Saturday morning. Would like to take you out Saturday night. Please write. POB 81.

Attractive Jewish woman, 35, college graduate, seeks successful Jewish Prince Charming to get me out of my parents' house. POB 843.

Worried about in-law meddling? I'm an orphan! Write. POB 74.

I've had it all: herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and four of the ten plagues. Now I'm ready to settle down. So where are all the nice Jewish men hiding? POB 68.

Nice Jewish guy, 38. No skeletons. No baggage. No personality. POB 78.

Jewish man, watches TV on Friday night with time clock, eats fish at non-kosher restaurants, doesn't wear yarmulke at work. Modern Orthodox. POB 98.

Shochet, 54, owns successful butcher shop in Midwest. Doesn't believe women should be treated like a piece of meat. Seeks glatt kosher maydl for marriage. POB 99.

Divorced Jewish man, seeks partner to attend shule with, light Shabbos candles, celebrate holidays, build Sukkah together, attend brisses, bar mitzvahs. Religion not important. POB 658.

Jewish businessman, 49, manufactures Sabbath candles, Chanukah candles, havdallah candles, Yahrzeit candles. Seeks non-smoker. POB 787.

Couch potato latke, in search of the right applesauce. Let's try it for eight days. Who knows? POB 43.

80-year-old bubby, no assets, seeks handsome, virile Jewish male, under 35. Object matrimony. I can dream, can't I? POB 545.

Jewish male, 34, very successful, smart, independent, self-made. Looking for girl whose father will hire me. POB 53.

All my friends are doing it, and quite frankly, I feel left out. Jewish woman, 37, never married. Seeks divorce. POB 655.