Former Căpreşti Residents in America

[Page 402]

Velvel and Sorka Siegelbaum
by Attorney Baruch (Boris) Yanovitch – Mordechai Rishpi (Feierman)
Translated by Susanne Kaplowitz

Edited by Dave Horowitz-Larochette

In connection with the Bar Mitzvah of her grandson, Sorka Siegelbaum (Leibson) came from Venezuela to Israel in order to celebrate together with the parents of the celebrant – the Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel Hamaaravi(Western Wall). When we became aware of Sorka's coming to the country, we – several members of our committee in the Tel Aviv vicinity – met with her at Shifra Schneider's (Burman) house. On this occasion we told Sorka about our activity to publish the “Sefer Capresht” (Book of Capresti) and she told us about herself and her husband's family.

Her father, Berl Leibson – or as he used to be called “Ezriel's Berl” – was born in Carpesht and his wife's name was Hinda. Berl was a well-to-do Jew; he had houses for rent and his “lyadovne” (ice cellar) was among the first and largest in town.

Berl and Hinda had four daughters: Pearl, Sorka, Henia and Chaya.

Pearl married Baruch Wexler from Kobilnia. She died in Herzliya (Israel) in the year 1979.

Henia married in Ecuador. Lives now in Israel (Givatayim). We don't have any details from Chaya. Sorka married Velvel Siegelbaum in 1923, in Lima (Peru).

About her coming to South America, Sorka had a lot to tell.

Not being able to suffer the conditions of the Romanian military and the anti-Semitic attitude toward Jews, Velvel emigrated to Peru, together with his brother, Leibush. A couple of years later Sorka followed him.

The conditions in Lima were very hard. At that time 15 Jewish families lived there in total, unorganized. Velvel was the one who saw to it that a Sefer Torah [Torah Scroll] be brought from Argentina. With time the Jewish settlement in Lima grew and with this Siegelbaum's social and Zionist activity also widened. He was one of the founders of a Jewish afternoon school. Also, he was the initiator in establishing a synagogue in Lima.

After a short time living in Ecuador, they settled in Caracas, Venezuela (in 1934). Here he immediately took an important place in the life of the community. In the year 1946, he, together with others, established the “Herzl-Bialik” school where even now over 2000 children study. In the year 1953 he founded a large synagogue which serves as a cultural center in Caracas.

[Page 403]

In the year 1956, the President of Venezuela granted Velvel Siegelbaum a commendation for his service to Venezuela and for the good conditions that prevailed in his economic ventures.

Velvel and Sorka have seven children who take part in an outstanding economic and social plan.

People from Capresht, wo immigrated to South America, found in Velvel Siegelbaum an important source of care and aid. Also, he helped our organization not just once. His children continue in the [same] way and supported the publishing of our book.

Yitzchok and Miriam Siegelbaum
by Boris Yanovitch – Mordechai Rishpi
Translated by Susanne Kaplowitz

Edited by Dave Horowitz-Larochette

On a beautiful summer day we received a telephone e message from our friend Alexander Meilichson – a great sympathizer of “Sefer Capresht” – that Yitzchok Siegelbaum and his wife from Caracas, are in Israel and expressed their wish to meet with a representative of our organization.

Coming to the Hotel “Hilton”, Tel Aviv we became acquainted with Yitzchok and Miriam and right away had a good impression due to their comfortable and hearty attitude to us. We invited them to a meeting of the committee, at the home of Shifra Schneider (Burman) who is famous for her hospitality.

At the meeting, Yitzchok showed a great interest for publishing “Sefer Capresht”. As a practical community activist he gave us a few pieces of advice on how to solve some not easy problems connected to our activity, for which we are grateful every time we encounter them.

According to the information that we received from our friend Boris Broitman, Yitzchok originates from the family Siegelbaum, his father was Reb Shmuel Siegelbaum's brother. He lived in Pereval-Cornesti and after the Second World War arrived in Caracas together with his wife and two small children.

Disregarding the hard economic conditions that every immigrant goes through, Yitzchok showed immediately his close bond to our people and identified himself with everyone who had an affinity to Judaism. Today, he is one of the most successful merchants and continues the thread of the Bessarabian Jewish opulent men, who didn't just live for themselves but also felt for the needy.

Yitzchok Siegebaum is active in various parts of Jewish social life in Caracas. He is vice-president of the Ashkenazic community and also vice-president of the committee to build the Beth Avot [old-age home].

[Page 403]

Even though he doesn't originate from Capresht, Yitzchok not only contributed warmly to the “Sefer Capresht” but also helped friend Boris Broitman to collect for the fund to publish the book. For all this we are very grateful to him and his wife.

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