Vol V No.2 - Benicia California - Winter 1997
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In This Issue
Cousins meet for the first time
The
month of September, 1997 was a milestone for some
descendants
of Bunya Mayoff Gindin and (her brother) Sam Mayoff. To refresh our readers'
memory, Bunya, is the fourth child of Yashua Zelig Mayov and his first wife,
Esther Dina. Sam, is her younger brot-her, Zelig's eighth child - the third
with his second wife, Rivka Leah. When researcher and genealogist Art Mayoff,
began his quest of tracing members of his extended family a decade ago,
he never conceived that a grandson of his would meet and play with cousins
from Russia and Germany. The thrill, a few years ago, of discovering the
existence of family in Russia has paled only by the excitement of watching
Zelig's great-great-great grandchildren sharing fun times in California.
Read the story below.
Third Family Reunion
of the decade begins to take shape.
Committee listens to input -
New location decided.
by
Art Mayoff
The American Dream
Congratulations are in order to Mila and Sasha El'perin. On October 20, 1997, fifteen months after arriving in America, they purchased a beautiful home on Featherwood Drive in St. Louis, Missouri. Mazel Tov!
Wow, it's been difficult. Attempts to find lodging in Las Vegas for a reasonable fee have failed. I won't go into in depth, but a block of 20 to 30 rooms in Vegas seems to fall between the cracks. Too many for simple reservations, but not enough to negotiate. The price quotes are unacceptable. Adding to that is interest for that location has waned. In fact, calls have requested that a western US reunion be held in California.
The Reunion Committee at this time includes Manny Bernstein, Chair; Arleen Bernstein; Cliff Gerstman; Laurie Gerstman, Treasurer; Carole Zinderman; Yehudit Zucker. Others interested in joining the committee should contact Manny at: (818) 705-0540. The group has decided to hold the reunion in the LA area. The two hotels in the running at press time are quite conveniently located just off the Ventura Freeway in the (San Fernando) Valley about 20 or 30 minutes from the LA airport. Banquet facilities are available at the hotels, or at any of the dozens of restaurants up and down Ventura Blvd. Plans are still being worked out. The tentative date is July 31-Aug 2. To those who were looking forward to a trip to Vegas, it's a relatively short drive from LA (about 4 1/2 hours by car or 45 minutes by plane) and we suggest that you extend your vacation a few additional days and take it in.
Within the next 45 days you will receive your reunion registration envelope and ask that you promptly return it so appropriate arrangements can be completed. Your suggestions and input is solicited. Please phone Manny or Art. Additionally, for instant up to date information please check out our Reunion web site on the internet at: www.mayoff.com/reunion98.htm. Additionally this issue of the newsletter, in vivid color is available, along with a number of prior ones at mayoff.com or directly at www.mayoff.com/newsletter.html.
Branch identifiers
To help our readers figure out who's who and from which branch they descend, I am using abbreviated identifiers taken from the first three letters of the name of each of Zelig's children:
Abr=Abraham; Bun=Bunya; Hen=Henya; Isr=Israel; Lei=Leizer; Sam=Sam; Sch=Schloima; Soc=Soche/Socha/Sonia; Ush=Usher.
Some of our financial supporters took a moment to include comments with their donation envelope. Here are some:
From Doreen Perel Kipnis (Abr) of Montreal, Quebec... Thanks for the info on Neil's family name... Enclosed is a donation in honour of our daughter Jill's wedding to Howard Hendin on Sept, 14th, 1997 in Vancouver, BC... Our second grandson, Adam (brother to Shawn) was born to our oldest daughter Terri & husband Andrew Sanders in Oct. of 1996.
From Lee Bergen (Bun) of Wilmette, IL...Thanks for your dedication and hard work. How did we ever get along without you? You have opened up a whole new world for us & initiated unforgettable family bonding experiences.
From David Fradin (Hen) of Skokie, IL... Thanks!!! and Happy New Year.
From Valorie Mayoff (Sam) of Ft. Lee, N.J...Art, what an incredible job you do on the newsletter and the exciting family Web Site. It sure helps maintain family ties worldwide. Keep up the good work.
From Robert Mayoff (Abr) of Cotê St. Luc, Quebec... Thanks for keeping us updated. Your hard work is appreciated.
From Howard & Sandra Fradin (Hen) of Skokie, IL... Happy New Year to all.
From Betty Rosen (Hen) of Fremont, CA... Thanks to all who pitched in for grandson Zeke's share of the mini California reunion expenses.
From Bernie Mayoff (Abr) of Richardson, TX... I read the Fall issue of the Family Descendant today and took a look at the web page. Another great job... Denise and I are feeling like it was our personal newsletter! The great coverage of Mayoff Day, the section on Beth, and the section on Jeff. Jeff hadn't mentioned to us that he had been in touch with you, so this part was a special surprise.
There was another area of the newsletter that we related to. That is thesection about your parents anniversary. Denise and I were married on September 19, too! Just think, if Denise and I had been married 38 years earlier than we were, you might have been our son. [Editor's note: Huh? ;-)]
It looks like it was a lot harder to get married in Montreal in 1937 than itwas in Chicago in 1965. I didn't have to promise to give Denise $15,000. If I did, I might still be putting money in a piggy bank and we might still be courting. On the other hand, she is suggesting that she likes the idea and that we ought to renegotiate!
Another coincidence: My parents marriage is the marriage of a Mayoff to a Katz, just as your parents were a Mayoff and a Katz. [Another editor's note: Wow!!] And of course you and I both became ham radio operators in our teens. And we're both brilliant and handsome. [Still another Editor's note: And both of us have sons named Rob who are Macintosh computer enthusiasts and we both married wonderful ladies too, didn't we!] The coincidences just go on and on!
I think I missed the point of the Mogilev birth index in the Fall Descendant. What is it about? Thanks for another great job. We're hoping that we'll be able to make the 1998 reunion.
[Bernie (and the rest of our readers), the reason for publishing the birth index of fathers of Jewish males from our suspected ancestral region was to allow our readers to see for themselves that the name Mayoff does not appear in these two different sets of records. A number of Mayoff males were born between the subject years (1864-1894) in the subject locations and in my discussions with the researcher Vitaly Charney, we once again conclude that it is quite likely our surname as we currently know it, was not the same in pre-pogrom Russia. In the challenge of genealogical research we often look for small victories when we don't hit the jackpot and just being able to find an accurate list from our ancestral town of male births beginning with the letter M was one such victory. My current effort is to try to locate citizenship papers, if they ever existed or birth certificates, for your grandfather Abraham or any of his brothers and sisters. I will dedicate a future issue of the newsletter to any family member that produces such a document.
In some correspondence from researcher Jeanne Gold, she tells of her search for birth certificates for four relatives in Ukraine and Belarus. First it was $80 to the archivist in Russia, producing a long winded letter and one single page extracted from some sort of a newsletter and a bunch of forms to fill out and a price list. Then it is another $25.00 per person just to determine if a search is feasible, which in turn would be followed by a report of the kind of information available. The cost of a birth certificate could end up costing about $750.00 per person. But the kicker of it all is that the agency in Russia that is doing this research has indicated that no data was available at this time because some person(s) stole the information and an investigation was currently in progress to find out where it is. Gulp! Art ]
From Menno Nykerk, Webmaster @nljewgen.org - Netherlands Society for Jewish Genealogy... I had a look at your site. Most impressive.
From Gerry Bronstein (Soc) of Milton Ontario... Just glanced over the Fall issue of the Family Descendant and just had to write. You are doing a fantastic job in keeping us informed on what is going on in the family. I also caught the Mayoff.com website. It is very impressive, to say the least. I have been meaning to write, but for one reason or another, kept putting it off....
Each edition of the Newsletter brings back memories. I too have fond memories of your Mom and Dad, Rae and Moe. I don't remember the great toys that Teddy talks about, but I do remember the visits to your house in Montreal. I was a bit surprised that Teddy remembered the visits back and forth to each others houses and especially me. There are many names that appear in the newsletter, that I recall quite vividly. Just in the article that Teddy wrote, he mentions Esther and Hymie Mayoff. I can remember visiting them many times when we were kids. (I am including my brothers of course, Allan and David) and my parents Sarah and Abe.
Just to let everyone know, I was in Windsor, [Ontario] this past weekend and visited my mother Sarah, who now resides in a seniors home and is [having assorted health problems typical of someone of her age.] She is now eighty-four years young. It's too bad that I can't visit her more often.
My wife, Sandy, also reads the newsletters and can't believe how great they are. Just showed her the website and she was amazed. My e-mail address is gbrons@istar,ca.
Thanks for keeping the communication channels open.
From Randi & Ian Morantz of Montreal, Quebec (Ush/Sch)...The Mayoff page on the internet is wonderful. The graphics and the music make it quite a special item. We even printed the picture of Bubby Esther from the internet to give to her. I gave my mother in New York the internet address so that she can show my grandmother, age 103 , the picture. Keep up the good work and we will continue to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
by Anna El'perin (Bun)
Our first year in America was great and full of surprises. Almost
everything was new to us and different from what we were used to. It began
on July 2nd 1996. I was very excited and nervous waiting for our flight
from Moscow's Sheremetievo-2 Airport. We were leaving everything we were
used to, our country, our home, our friends. We didn't know what was waiting
for us and what our life would be there, across the ocean. From Moscow we
flew to New York, then to Cincinnati and finally to St. Louis.
Many things impressed us in our new hometown - lots
of trees and flowers along the streets, swimming pools, tennis courts and
no tall buildings in the suburbs where people live. The tall buildings are
downtown only. Another thing that surprised us is that you can't go anywhere
without a car. In Russia there are a lot of buses, trolleybuses and you
can go anywhere you need to. We were amazed by how many choices we had when
we went to the grocery store.
We like St. Louis very much. There are lots of places to visit in St. Louis - The famous St. Louis Arch - when you go to the top of it, you can see a really beautiful view - the river, and the whole town. There are lots of museums here - history museum, St. Louis Art Museum, Science Center, etc. There are also a lot of parks in St. Louis, and huge and beautiful "Forest Park" in downtown. Also there is the St. Louis Zoo - fun for kids and adults. We have great botanical garden. I have never seen such a lovely place before. There are many beautiful flowers and trees there. When we have free time, we always go to visit some places of interest. I invite everyone to visit the many beautiful places in St. Louis.
Two weeks after arriving in
the US, I went to camp at St. Louis JCCA. I couldn't speak very much English
then, and could barely understand, but I met some Russian girls, and they
helped me. Then I went to school. It is very different from the school in
Russia. It was difficult at first, but I soon got used to it. The most difficult
class was "Modern American History." Partly because of my English.
For winter break, Leah Bergen (Bun) was so kind to invite my brother
Eugene and me to visit her in Florida for a week. It was a great vacation!
For the first time in our life we enjoyed swimming in the ocean. We also
went to Lion Country Safari, ate out, etc. Leah spent a lot of time with
us. Wow, did we have fun and we want to thank her once more for this great
vacation and for everything she did for us.
This past summer my brother and I went to camp Sabra. It was our first time at a camp outside of St. Louis and away from our parents. I liked it! We did a lot of interesting things like horseback riding, sailing, canoeing, rafting, swimming, wall climbing, etc. There were two girls there from Russia (besides me) and we had a lot of fun.
In conclusion, I want to thank Art and the whole family for their concern and interest in our progress. We welcome all our relatives to St. Louis.
Wedding
Congratulations to Claire Drucker and Sy Slavin on their
December nuptials. Claire is mother to Karen Rush, Robert Drucker and Carol
Gryziak. (Hen)
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:
Allan & Joey Mayoff (Ush/Sch) desiredeffects@webtv.net
Richard & Rhona Pervin (Ush/Sch) richper@globalserve.net
Bob Rosen (Hen) bobrosen@zipcon.net
Gerry Bronstein (Soc) gbrons@istar.ca
Robert Mayoff (Abr) mayoff@dqd.com
Elizabeth Mayoff (Abr) edmayoff@hewitt.com
Cheryl Mayoff (Abr) cmayoff@dqd.com
Denise Mayoff (Abr) dmayoff@ibm.net
Bernie Mayoff (Abr) bmayoff@ibm.net
Herb Simon (Hen) herb@globalpac.com
If you have a new e-mail address and it is not listed here, please send
me a note so it can be added to our next update. (art@mayoff.com)
Eastern European Provinces and Regions
[World renown writer, researcher and lecturer Warren Blatt provided us with this excellent lesson in Eastern European history/geography. I hope you find it informative, Art]
Definitions:
- Gubernia -- province of the Russian Empire. There were 60 gubernias in 1914, including 15 in the Pale of Settlement and 10 in the Kingdom of Poland. Each gubernia was divided into several uyezds (districts).
- Pale of Settlement (Russian: Cherta osedlosti) = The 15 gubernias on the western edge of the Russian Empire to which Jewish residence was restricted, 1794 to 1917.
Bessarabia -- Region bordered by Black Sea, Dniester, Danube and Prut rivers. In Ottoman Empire until 1812. Russian gubernia after 1873, in Pale. In Russian Empire 1812-1856, 1878-1918; Part of Romania 1856-1878, 1918-1940; In USSR (Moldavian SSR) 1940-1991. Today, mostly in Moldova (northernmost part in Ukraine).
Bohemia (Ger. Bohmen) -- Province of Austrian Empire until WWI. Province of Czechoslovakia 1918-1992. Today, in westernmost Czech Republic. Chief city: Prague.
Bukovina -- Region in foothills of eastern Carpathian mountains. Ruled by Ottoman Turks until 1769, when occupied by Russia. Taken by Austria in 1775, it formed part of Galicia until 1849, when it became a separate province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until the end of WWI. Province of Romania 1917-1944. After WWII, northern area became part of USSR, southern area in Romania Today, northeastern Romania and southwestern Ukraine. Chief city: Chernivtsi (Ger. Czernowitz, Rom. Cernauti).
Chernigov -- Russian gubernia, 1796-1917, in Pale of Settlement. Today, northern Ukraine.
Congress Poland = Kingdom of Poland. Courland (Kurland) -- Russian gubernia, 1795-1917, outside of the Pale. In Latvia 1918-1940, in USSR until 1989. Today, southern Latvia.
Crimea (Krim) -- Peninsula and oblast in southeast Ukraine,southern part of Taurida gubernia. Capital: Simferopol.
Czechoslovakia -- Nation formed in 1918 from parts of Austro-Hungary (Czech-speaking Bohemia and Moravia from Austria, and Slovak-speaking northern counties of Hungary). Split into Slovakia and Czech Republic in 1991.
Dobruja -- Region on the Black Sea south of the Danube. Today, SE Romania and NE Bulgaria.
Ekaterinoslav -- Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. Today, eastern Ukraine.
Estland -- Russian gubernia, 1795-1917, outside of Pale. In Estonia 1918-1940, in USSR until 1989. Today, northern Estonia.
Galicia -- Province of Austro-Hungarian Empire 1772 until 1917; Belonged to Poland between the two world wars (Polish provinces of Krakow, Lvov, Tarnopol and Stanislawow). Last three became part of Ukrainian SSR in 1945. Today, southeastern Poland and western Ukraine.
Grodno -- Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. In Poland between the two world wars (parts of Polish provinces of Wilno, Nowogrodek, Polesie and Bialystok). Eastern 2/3rds became part of Belorussian SSR in 1939, Bialystok area remained in Poland. Today, western Belarus, some northeastern Poland.
Kalisz -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. Today, west-central Poland
Kherson -- Russian gubernia, 1803-1917, in Pale. Today, south-central Ukraine.
Kielce (Keltz) -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. Today, south-central Poland.
Kiev -- Russian gubernia, in Pale. Today, central Ukraine.
Kingdom of Poland (Krolestwa Polska) = Congress Poland = "Russian Poland" = part of Poland occupied by the Russian Empire, 1815-1918. The 10 gubernias (1867-1917):
Suwalki, Lomza, Plock, Warszawa, Siedlce, Lublin, Radom, Kielce, Piotrkow and Kalisz. Today, all in east-central Poland (except north Suwalki).
Kovno -- Russian gubernia, 1842-1917, in Pale. Formed from Vilna gubernia in 1842. Part of independent Lithuania, 1920-1940. Belonged to Lithuanian SSR 1944-1991. Today, northern Lithuania. Chief city: Kaunas.
Livonia (Livland) -- Russian gubernia, 1795-1917, outside Pale. Today, northern Latvia, southern Estonia. Capital: Riga.
Lomza -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. Today, northeastern Poland.
Lublin -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1844-1917. Today, southeastern Poland.
Maramaros -- Province of Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1917. Today, in northwest Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Memel -- Northeasternmost area of East Prussia, on Baltic coast, which became part of Lithuania in 1918.
Minsk -- Russian gubernia, 1795-1917, in Pale. Today, south-central Belarus.
Mogilev -- Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. Today, eastern Belarus.
Moldavia -- Former principality under Turkish domination, which included Bessarabia and Bukovina. Moldavia and Wallachia merged to form Romania in 1859. Republic of USSR 1924-1991. Today, in northeastern Romania and Moldova. Chief city: Kishinev (Chisinau).
Moravia (Ger. Mahren) -- Province of Austrian Empire until WWI. In central Czechoslovakia 1918-1992. Today, in eastern Czech Republic. Chief city: Brno.
Piotrkow -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. Today, south-central Poland.
Plock (Plotsk) -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1844-1917. Today, north-central Poland.
Podolia (Podolsk) -- Russian gubernia, 1796-1917, in Pale. Today, southwestern Ukraine. Capital: Kamenetz-Podolsk.
Polesie -- a large region of southern Belarus, including parts of Minsk, Grodno, Mogilev, Kiev and Volhynia gubernias. A province of Poland between the wars.
Poltava -- Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. Today, eastern Ukraine.
Pomerania (Ger. Pommern) -- Province of Prussia since 1815, on Baltic Sea. Formerly in Germany; since WWII, mostly in northwest Poland.
Posen (Pol. Poznan) -- Region now in western Poland. Ruled by Prussia 1793-1807, and 1815 until WWI. Grand Duchy of Posen (1815-1850), part of Prussia. Polish province of Poznan after 1919.
Prussia -- Former kingdom (1701-1871), largest state in German Empire (1871-1918). After WWI, parts of West Prussia ceded to Poland. After WWII, remainder of West Prussia to Poland; East Prussia divided: northern half to USSR (Kalinigrad oblast, now Russia), southern half to Poland. Radom -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1844-1917. Today, south-central Poland. Russian Polandd = Kingdom of Poland
Ruthenia -- Region south of the Carpathian mountains. Part of Hungary before WWI and 1939-1945; a province of Czechoslovakia 1918-1938. To USSR in 1945. Today, in western Ukraine (Zakarpatska Oblast). Also, Ruthenia is another word for Ukraine.
Siedlce (Shedlitz) -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. Today, east-central Poland.
Silesia (Ger. Schlesien, Pol. Slask) -- Region in valley of the upper Oder bordering on Sudeten mountains. Ruled by Austrian Empire until 1742, when most of it annexed by Prussia. After WWII, ceded to Poland. Today, in southwestern Poland and some in northern Czech Republic (North Moravia).
Suwalki (Suvalk) -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1867-1917. After WWI northern half in Lithuania, southern in Poland. Today, northeastern Poland, southwest Lithuania.
Taurida -- Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. Today, southeastern Ukraine. Capital: Simferopol.
Transylvania -- Region bounded by Carpathians and Transylvanian Alps. Under Austrian rule since 1765, province of Austro-Hungarian Empire 1867-1918. Became part of Romania following WWI. Today, in western Romania. Chief city: Cluj (Klausenburg).
Vilna -- Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale. Polish province of Wilno between the wars. Today, southeastern Lithuania and northwest Belarus.
Vitebsk -- Russian gubernia, 1802-1917, in Pale of Settlement. Today, southeastern Latvia, northeastern Belarus; some northeastern parts now in Russia.
Volhynia -- Russian gubernia, until 1917, in Pale. Polish province of Wolyn between the wars. Today, northwestern Ukraine. Chief city: Zhitomer.
Wallachia -- Region between Transylvanian Alps and the Danube . Former principality under Turkish domination. Wallachia and Moldavia merged to form Romania in 1859. Today, in southern Romania. Chief city: Bucharest.
Warszawa (Warsaw) -- Gubernia of Russian Poland, 1844-1917. Today, central Poland.
White Russia -- another name for Byelorussia = Belarus.
Suggestions, additions and corrections to this document are encouraged. E-mail to
Copyright (C) 1994, 1997 by Warren Blatt. All Rights Reserved.
Thanks to Warren Blatt for his permission to share this history with the Mayoff Family Descendant readers. Periodical updates of this article can be found on-line at:<http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/eefaq.txt>
It's a little early for April fools day, but take a look at the name of the airline in this photo taken in Israel. Is that Mayoff Airlines? Maybe we're more famous than we know?
Bunya's descendants
living in Germany visit family in the US for the first time
by Art Mayoff
Zelig's great-great granddaughter, Margarita (Rita) Gindin Sokolins-kaia, a resident of Munich, Germany arrived in St. Louis, MO on September 10, 1997 for a month long visit with relatives. Accompanied by her year old daughter, Michele, Rita stayed with sister Mila and mother Zina. Rita had an opportunity to spend time visiting some of her cousins on her mother's side, some of whom she hadn't seen in years. While in St. Louis, they were surprised by a visit from Leah Bergen - A reunion of Bunya's descendants almost 100 years in the making. What a wonderful experience.
Photo above Left to right: Zina Gindina,
Leah Bergen, Mila El'perin, Rita Sokolinskaia holding Michele and Ann
El'perin.
The dog's name is Voucher and he barks in Russian.
On the 24th of September, Zina, Rita and Michele arrived in San Francisco for a week-long visit with Sue & Art Mayoff. Their visit was very educational for them, and for us. I had the opportunity to learn a tremendous amount from Zina about her professional and personal life, in both pre and post Glastnos. Zina is quite a stalwart woman. She has overcome tremendous challenges, including losing her husband, and raised two most loving and "bubbly" daughters. In broken English, with the help of an electronic dictionary and by often comical vote between mother and daughter for the proper English word, we had a most memorable week. On their first day, they got to see the bay from a very unique perspective - a trip by boat to San Francisco from Benicia. On a separate trip, this time by touring van, we visited the many popular San Francisco attractions.
Rita Sokolinskaia in San Francisco
(Above photo) Fifth generation descendants of Zelig, 1 year old cousins Matthew Kaplan and Michele Sokolinskaia play together for the first time.
Among other week-long fun things, often joined by our daughter Debbie and grandson Matthew, we went splashing in the surf of the Pacific ocean, watched toddler cousins play in the sand at Ocean Beach, visited some early Californian historic missions, attended a wine festival in Napa, held a California Barbecue, etc. But more than anything, we watched the 1 year old cousins play together for the first time and we spent hours sharing, talking, learning and enjoying each other's company. It was a very heartwarming week.
Photo above: Cousins Debbie Mayoff Kaplan & Rita Sokolinskaia.
Zina and Michele in Benicia California
(Above) Anna Ninburg, Sasha & dau Ira Grachov, Aron Gindin, Galya & son Yevgeniy Sokolinskaia, Rimma Gindin, in Munich.
Sasha Sokolinskaia (Rita's husband) at work in Munich
L to R, Anna Ninburg, Aron & Rimma Gindin - in Munich.
Zelig Mayoff's descendants hold another party
Chicago cousins "club" a close knit group
submitted by Marty Nickow
Sunday, September 14, 1997, Allgauer's Restaurant, Northbook, IL.
"May I help you?"
"Yes, the Mayoff Party"
"This way please."
And there they were Esther and Irv Kogan, Lee Bergen, Harriet and Ben Rosen, Sandra and Howard Fradin, Sarah and Stuart Simon, Nita and Marty Nickow, Doreen and Lee Israel, Arleen and Manny Bernstein.
The reason for this grand affair was that Manny was attending a high school reunion and wanted to see all of the Chicago cousins. Mayoff's really don't need a reason to get together but this was a good excuse for a mini reunion. Unfortunately Adrienne and Hy Nickow couldn't attend this occasion as Hy is recovering from recent heart surgery. We toasted his recovery and good health. (He is doing very well.) Manny told us that another cousin would be joining us and we could not figure out who it could be. We were all pleased to meet Doreen and Lee Israel, cousins that moved to the Chicago area from California. We spoke of many things, memories of times past and talk of a future reunion.
Lee and Doreen
Israel at their first Chicago area mini-reunion. Doreen's lineage: Sandra
Alotta, Ann Mayoff Sabran, Usher Mayoff, Zelig Mayoff, Chaim Mayoff. Lee
and Doreen live in Highland Park, IL. and have three daughters: Danielle,
Samantha and Kimberly.
We even sang the Mayoff song. The Chicago cousins are promising to write a Mayoff anthem before the next Mayoff day. Manny gave us his ideas for a future reunion and the Chicago Mayoff cousins gave him thirteen other ideas. Manny is working on finding a suitable location for the next Mayoff reunion. You will be hearing from him soon. "Waiter can you take a picture of this rowdy group?" "You bet." The only ones to remember a camera were Arleen and Manny. Hopefully, they will forward a copy to Art to include in the next newsletter.
Sitting, L to R: Marty Nickow & Nita Nickow (Hen), Harriet [Simon-]Rosen (Hen), Leah (Levitt-) Bergen (Bun), Arleen Bernstein (Abr). Standing, L to R: Irving & Esther [Levitt-] Kogan (Bun), Howard & Sandra [Simon-] Fradin (Hen), Lee & Doreen [Scanlon-] Israel, Ben Rosen (Hen), Manny Bernstein (Abr), Stuart & Sarah Simon (Hen).
Unfortunately, time passes quickly when you are having a good time. As we said our good-byes, we look forward to our next get together.
Attention all Mayoff cousins!!! Coming to the Chicago area? Let one of us know and presto you can become the next reason for a mini reunion.
Regards from all the Chicago Mayoff Cousins.
From Betty Drucker Rosen's Photo Album
(Above) Louie & Sophie Simon Drucker and Betty Drucker age 4, circa 1929
(Photo above) Marty Nickow & Betty Drucker, circa 1935?
(Above) Betty, age 14, circa 1939
(Above) Herbert Simon, age 4, circa 1925
(Above) Gene Drucker age 1, Betty Drucker, age 10, circa 1935
(Above) Becky and William Simon, date unknown
(Above) Issie, Mollie Mayoff Bernstein and Manny Bernstein, age 1, circa 1926
(Above) Edith Simon (Policuk), circa 1922
....As promised, here is the translation of last quarter's Yiddish story (Thanks to Mel Oshins.)
Once upon a time there were 3 Indians - the father, Geronowitz, the mother, Pocayenta, and the daughter, Minnie Horowitz. One day Minnie comes home and says, "Momma I want to get married."
"Good it's time, you're already 16 years old, you are an old maid."
"Who is your boyfriend?"
"Oh momma did I get a guy. He is handsome and strong."
"What is his name?"
"His name is Sitting Bullvon."
"And what kind of a future does he have?"
"Oh, he has a great future. His father is Crazy Horse, (Mishuggene Ferd) the chief of the Blackfoot tribe. (Shvartz-fuss)"
"Good, we'll have a big wedding." "OH! MY GOD!"
"What's the matter?"
"I have trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"The Teepee is not big enough to hold all the relatives & guests at the wedding."
Pocayenta yells to Geronowitz, "Get off your ass and bring me a Buffalo."
"Why do you need a Buffalo?"
"With the meat from the Buffalo I can make a Buffalo stew and with the skin I can make the Teepee larger and I can invite the whole world to the wedding."
Geronowitz leaves and one day passes, two days pass, three days and there is no Geronowitz. After a week, Geronowitz comes home with nothing in his hands.
"Idiot! Where is my buffalo?"
"You and your Buffalo Stew! I have both of you in hot water!"
"Why? What is the matter?"
"The first day I saw a Buffalo, not good enough for the stew and not big enough for the tent. The second day I saw another Buffalo, big enough but with a mangy skin. Such an ugly Buffalo I have never seen before. One more day, I found a Buffalo. Beautiful, Fat enough. Big. A perfect Buffalo!"
"So? What happened?"
"What Happened? I went to carve up the Buffalo, I looked in my bag and you know what? What a numbskull I am! I had taken with me the Dairy (Milichidik) Tomahawk."
[Sounds much better in Yiddish.]
I'd like to thank those who have sent in donations to help offset some of the expenses I incur with this project. The September mail response envelopes pleasantly brought donations from some first timers in addition to the regulars. To all donors I am extremely grateful. Support was up 33 percent for (the calendar year) 1997 when compared to 1996. In 1996 I received $825 and in 1997 you donated $1105.
The cost of printing each issue is about $200.00. The cost of postage is about $165.00. The cost of envelopes, toner, computer supplies and phone calls is about $245 a quarter. The cost of the web site is $75.00 a quarter. My approximate annual cost - if I publish four issues is about $2700 and about $2100 for three issues. These costs do not include special mailers, additional research expenses (which can be very high) or the cost of coordinating a reunion, which in the past has eventually paid it's own way (actually it made a slight profit both times). The profits forwarded to me from the reunions have helped offset some of these costs. If you haven't helped with expenses regularly and enjoy receiving these newsletters, would you be so kind as to think about it's value to you and your family and send in a little something (preferably in US funds). If you care to, add a little note of encouragement to share with all - or even an article about your family. Send a family photo from your last gathering and I'll make you famous.
Thanks and best wishes in 1998.
This newsletter's goals are to: · Maintain an archive of family history and photos · Analyze and report on research · Yearn for knowledge of our heritage and to educate · Organize genealogical information and publish quarterly · Foster family friendship & interest in family research · Furnish Family Tree on request |
