[Page 410]

This is the name of the Bransker Landsmanshaft Society in Chicago, the second Jewish center in America.

The Society was founded in 1928, through the initiative of Rebitsn^[1] Feyge Alshvang, sister–in–law of the famous Bransker rabbi, Rabbi Shimon Shkop.

The motto of the Society is “a very noble thing to aid the fallen brothers.” The Society fulfills with all its heart the duties it sets for itself. The founding of the Society is all a result of the years following the war, when Bransk needed to be helped, when its institutions and individuals were in dire need after the First World War.

Chicago was especially fortunate in having their number an individual such as Sholem Dovid Wein, the famous philanthropist who was recognized for the beautiful institution, the Free Interest Loan Society he founded through his largest personal contribution.

The Bransker Relief Society in Chicago became an important Jewish charity institution. They raise funds for various local and national Jewish purposes.

They can reach their goal because they do not have any fraternal responsibilities to the members. Raising money for charity purposes is their main function and it is to this end they dedicate their activity.

It is worth stating the fact that Mr Cohen, the son

[Page 411]

of Meir–Sholem Cohen, whilst in the U.S. army, serving in the American zone in Munich and working to cleanse the area of Nazis, served this purpose with devotion. He sent thousands of them to DP Camps and helped the Jewish refugees there to settle and gave them permission to work. Many, through his personal efforts, received permission to enter America.

The Jews of Munich viewed him as a true friend, turning to him through the central committee for various favours which were always granted.

The young, 22 year old American officer made a special effort to find out if there were any Bransker Jews in any of the DP Camps. He found five and immediately sent their names to his father in Chicago via air mail. At the same time, he received letters from them and sent them to Chicago to his father who immediately sent the information to Julius Cohen in New York.

When I received the information from Chicago through special delivery air mail, I took the letters that very day to Philadelphia to the closest relative of theses of those being sought.

A dramatic scene took place in the store of the landsman to whom I had brought the letters from his relatives. Harry S. Boyten , the prominent philanthropist and activist of the United Jewish Appeal was present at this. He had come for a contribution to the Appeal. Mr Boyten was certainly touched by this scene of personal interest exhibited by landslayt. Mr Boyten invited me to dinner. He even contributed 25 dollars to the Bransker Relief in recognition of my devoted work.

It is unnecessary to say that the relatives are now here in America and benefitting from the freedom of our country.

This is a result of the interest of Mr Cohen, the son of the secretary of the Chicago Bransker Aid

[Page 412]

Society together with the personal interest of Mr Julius Cohen, the secretary of the New York Bransker Relief Committee.

Matesyohu Cohen Meir Sholem's son, and grandson of Bransker Rabbi Meir Sholem Ha'koheyn, obm		Meir Sholem Cohen Secretary of the Bransker Society of Chicago

S. Cohen, 1417 South Central Park Ave.
Chicago 23, Ill.

Is the name of the Bransker Society in Atlanta. Regardless that there are only a few Bransker families, the Club, under the leadership of Sam Baker, Trayne's son, Avrum Ber the beadle's grandchild, together with the wonderful help of Pesakh Tenenbaum and his wife, have managed to raise large amounts of money for Bransker during all times. It is remarkable how quickly the Landsmanshaft can be called together in Atlanta and even how quickly the money can be raised for all purposes to help. They have especially excelled in constructive help for Bransk when it was necessary. We can

[Page 413]

say Atlanta is the spiritual center of the Bransker Landsmanshaft in America. This is because there is a large number of landslayt there who were the culture–carriers as early as 1905. Individuals such as Yosl Libofsky, Shimon Rimer's son, who together with Khaim Baker, may he rest in peace, founded the first library in town. Mr Lowenstein also does his part of the work to benefit his wife's hometown. His wife is Artsye, the Fellers' daughter. The Beeber brothers^[2] are prominent with their significant financial aid.

From afar, we shake the hands of the Bransker landslayt in Atlanta.

Atlanta does its duty now with its full hands, thanks to Sam Baker and his co–workers. Their aid, to a large extent, made it possible to publish this book.

Sam Baker Secretary, Bransker Club in Atlanta		Paul Tenenbaum and wife Important active members

Sam Baker, 801 Washington St., S.W.,
Atlanta Ga

[Page 414]

This is the name of the Bransker Society in Argentina. The number of Bransker landslayt in this South American republic is small in comparison with the huge Landsmanshaft in the large North American cities. Yet, wonderful work is carried out here for Bransk and all the institutions that help Branskers.

Khaim Kestin, Secretary		Avrum Leyzer Zagel, President

Dear friends of the Society Of Former Residents Of Bransk, together with all your members in Buenos Aires, you are greeted from faraway Argentina.

[Page 415]

The address of the President of the Bransker Landslayt Society in Argentina is:

H. Zagiel, Tres Arroyos 771,
Buenos Aires, Argentina

This is the name of the Bransker Society in Africa. The existence of the Society was news to me. At the beginning of 1946, with the help of great material aid they sent to surviving Branskers who were in Bialystok. I found this out through the Joint.

I was even more surprised by their warm interest in the work of the book “Bransk.” that they named They begged me not to stop the work of the book that I will either write or rewrite/edit.

Now, in the Societies associated with the Bransker Relief, there is often correspondence sent to me, most especially from the active members, especially from Khane Smurzjik and Hinde Lees.

The work of all Bransker landslayt and members of the organization consists of raising funds to substantially help all Bransker in DP Camps, Cyprus, Eretz Yisroel and other needs.

The first transport of clothing and food arrived in Bialystok for the Branskers there from the Johannesburg organization. The president is Mr M. Peck,^[3] Khonele^[4] the dyer's grandchild. The New York Landsmanshaft had the pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with the President of the Society when he was a guest in New York and visited our meeting. His fine speech, his warm interest in Bransk, entranced us, especially with his charming English with the Oxford accent^[5] that pleased all American

[Page 416]

who attended this meeting. It is worthwhile mentioning that at this meeting to greet Mr Peck, there were 200 attendees.

At this same gathering, there were also present Berl Sassen^[6] and his wife. He is Mordekhay Furman's son. They are among the more important activists in the Bransker Society in Johannesburg. Hinde Lees, the secretary of the Society is a daughter of this Berl Sassen. In this way they connected the Bransker landslayt in Africa with the New York members and together decided to continue their connection which will surely bring good results.

The 21 Bransk families in Africa maintain their relationship, especially in the interest in all Bransker activities which is very important to them.

We greet you all, landslayt, from Johannesburg, South Africa, Branskers in the entire world reach out to you, dear friends, a long, hearty sholem aleykhemm.^[7]

The address of the Secretary of the Bransker Society in Johannesburg is:

H. Lees, 561 Jules Street, Marvern, (Malvern)
Johannesburg, South Africa

[Page 417]

Bransker Society in Johannesburg, South Africa[8]

First row from the right: Motl Peck Chairman, Lyna Shames, Artchik Peck, Khaye Milner and Shirley Sassen Second row from the right: Jospa Skornik, Mikhye Adesnik, Rivke Sassen, Bobke Peck, Sorah Weiner, Reizl Albiter and Khane Rypke Third row from the right: Khlavne Cobb, Zaydl Adesnik, Berl Sassen, Shaulke Pribut, Itche Meir Peck, Khaim Pribut, Velvel Albiter and Khaim Rypke Top row from the right: Harry Harris, Vice Chairman, Malkhe Levin, Avrum– Itskhak Sassen, Gitl Birger –Sassen, Brakha Harris–Weiner, Avrum Lees, and Hinde Sassen–Lees Secretary

1. A rabbi's wife. Return
2. First cousins of Rubin Roy Cobb's father, Henry (Khlawne) Cobb (Kobylanski) through their mothers who were sisters and whose father was Shimeon Rubin the tavern keeper who owned one of the few brick structures in Bransk. See Map 3, Item #31 (‘Moyer – hotel [brick]’). Return
3. Motl (Morris) Peck (Piekucki in Bransk) was the first cousin of Rubin Roy Cobb's mother, Jospa Skornik–Cobb (Kobylanski) through their father, Itche–Meir Peck and Henye Rivka (Anni) Piekucki respectively. Return
4. Their grandfather was Khone Piekucki the dyer after whom the brother of is named Return
5. Knew him well and he certainly did not speak with an ‘Oxford’ accent Return
6. He lived to 104, and nearly up to the very end was given the honour of blowing the shofar during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at the Orthodox Pine Street Shul in Johannesburg where the families of 's wife, Renee Davidoff, and her brother Brian's wife Sharon, the daughter of Anne Barber and grandparents, Reizl and Velvl Alberts from Bransk, attended. The older brother of Berl Sassen (whom it is said outlived 6 wives) was the first Bransker to immigrate to Johannesburg, sometime in the early 1900s. As was required, he guaranteed the livelihood of immigrants coming to South Africa, as was then necessary by South African law, by loaning such immigrant breadwinner the sum of 75 pounds sterling (then equivalent to about US$375.00). This was paid back to him via a ‘sweat shop’ labour by the new immigrant. In 1929 when the United States, the British Mandate of Palestine and everywhere else was closed, because the Pecks, uncle and cousins of 's mother, were already settled in the Union of South Africa (as it was then known as), they were able to enter. Some few months after their entry, the South African gates were also shut tight to Eastern European (i.e. Jewish) immigrants – and in 1936 to Central European (i.e. Jewish) immigrants. Return
7. Yiddish (from Hebrew) for Welcome. Return
8. Rubin Roy Cobb clearly remembers when this photo was taken at his then home at 17 Orlando Road, Kensington, Johannesburg in 1947 when he was 11 years old. Return

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