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Dawid Halbershtam, Rabbi

He was the groom of the Rabbi of Jaslo, see origins of the Rabbi's house

Moshe Haber

He was a quiet and modest man. He was a tailor of ladies coats and prayed at the “kahal shtibel” that was located in the big synagogue. He was happy with his lot and did not have great ambitions. He lived all his life at the Targowica. During WWI, his son was drafted and in 1915 he was taken prisoner by the Russians and all traces of him vanished.

Israel Haber

He was the only Jew in town to work as a builder. He lived in his own house at the Targowica. When the Russians retreated from Jaslo during WWI they took him as a hostage with other Jews but he managed to escape in Lemberg returned home. Shortly thereafter, he took ill and passed away. He left a wife and several small children. When the oldest son matured, he bought a horse and a cart and started to transport people and goods from and to the railway station. The second son Itzhak was the first one in Jaslo to learn to drive and was the first cab driver in the city. He reached Palestine with the Polish Army and later left the country for Holland.

Hersh Chaim Hegel

He was a merchant and lived his entire life in the market square. He observed traditions and worshipped regularly at the big synagogue. He was considered a smart and reasonable person. Every social activity or action that did not receive the support of the community aroused his fury.

He had three sons; Dow, Mordechai or Motik, a student of the municipal high school, Baruch and a daughter named Sheindil.

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The oldest son left Jaslo in the early twenties and following his marriage, they managed to escape the Germans and reached Palestine with the outbreak of WWII. They settled in Jaffa where he worked for the municipality and then opened his business.

Yossef Holoshitzer and his wife Nehema

Yossef Holoshitzer

He really deserved to be called the “Hassid”. He was known as Yossef Holoshitzer of Gorlice or Yossele shtriker for he was a weaver and he represented honesty, piety and integrity. He was an early walker to serve G-d. He would speed to the study center with his large bag under his arm that contained his prayer shawl, his phylacteries, his big prayer book that also included the psalms, the law book of Israel and the book of “Mishnayot”. The routine was the same, winter or summer, he would reach the place and go straight to the mikvah to immerse himself before the morning service. He would then proceed to his regular place along the south side of the bima. Here he would stand and read completely the book “Hokla Israel”. He then wrapped himself in the prayer shawl and placed the phylacteries and devoted himself to praying. He did not indulge in small talk or hearsay but concentrated his energies in devotion to the creator.

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He merely answered “Amen” where he was required by ritual, otherwise he concentrated on his prayers. He was an excellent host and tried to accommodate people. He worked all his life at his trade, especially in preparing silk belts for the synagogue. His work was very precise and he took great pride in these belts and they became famous for their beauty and dedicated work. These silk belts were known as “ Jaslo belts” and those that wore them took great pride in them.

He observed strictly the rules pertaining to Shabbat and did not want to accept any easements of these rules. He was the only one in town that wore white socks on Shabbat and holidays. He had three sons and two daughters. His oldest daughter Matil left for Palestine as a pioneer in the thirties and following her marriage settled in Tel Aviv. Many of the Jaslo Jews that reached Palestine found a place in her home. The second daughter Hannah and a son Yehhezkel left for Palestine and settled in Tel Aviv.

Abba Hollander

He was an old timer in the city and lived in his private one story home at the Targowica. He was far removed from the city noise and considered well to do. He exported eggs and had large warehouse of fertilizers that he sold to the farmers in the area. He was a Rymanower Hassid and met the Rabbi of Rymanow in person. Thus his residence was the place where the famous rabbis would stay on their visit to Jaslo. Some of the Rabbis were well known namely Rabbi Aarale of Krosno, Rabbi Hershele of Rymanow, Rabbi Moshele, the son of the Rabbi of Krosno and the brother in law of the Rabbi of Rozwadow. He prayed at the big synagogue next to the eastern wall. He headed many appeals for various social needs and especially devoted time to the campaign for matzoth for the poor. A fire started in his house on Yom Kippur eve at the beginning of the century. The fire resulted from a lit memorial candle that fell. The people had to run from the synagogue to extinguish the fire before it reached the wooden houses of the neighbors.

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He had four sons that received a traditional and religious education. His oledest son Leibish left Jaslo for Germany and two married daughters lived in Jaslo.

Yehezkel Hollander

He was the son of Abba Hollander and was very pious. He was a merchant and lately acquired an inn. He was a regular member of the study center of the rabbi and loved to conduct services in spite of his slight speech impediment. He was always given to conduct the afternoon “Minha” service of the Yom Kippur day.

Moshe and Shimon Hollander

They were the younger sons of Abba Hollander. They both studied at the study center. Shimon even studied at the “Tachkamoni” school in Warsaw. He was one of the organizers of the Mizrahi youth wing within the movement and later became the leader of the group.

With the outbreak of WWII, they managed to reach Russia and then left for France where they reside in Paris.

Akiva Hoffman

He was born in Butchac. He was first a teacher in one of Baron Hirsh's schools and then was the official Jewish teacher in the Jaslo school system. He belonged to old guard Zionists in the city. He wore a black beard similar to Hertzel' s beard. He helped establish the ' Yeshuron” club and was also involved in social affairs. He was an effective speaker and was a member of the “Joint Organization “ committee in Jaslo with the establishment of Polish independence. His sons received a high school education and continued their studies. One of his sons joined the Polish legion during WWI and was killed in action. He became depressed due to petty rivalries and left the city for Krakow. But here too he could not find himself and took his life.

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Naphtali Hoffert

Naphtali Hoffert

He was one of Zelig Miller's sons in laws. He came from a well known Hassidic family in Rozwadow. He was knowledgeable in Torah and was also well read. He was one of the first readers of the

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Hebrew press in Jaslo. He also participated in the founding of the Yeshuron club and the Mizrahi branch in the city. He was also involved in the community, and was the beadle of the synagogue for many years.

He owned a factory for bottling mineral and seltzer water. He lived all his life in the house of Mordechai Karp and was his friend.

He had two sons and two daughters. His oldest daughter was Miriam Hoffert a doctor. She was active in the Zionist youth movement and left for Berlin. She then left Germany and reached Palestine. She is presently the head of social services at the ministry of welfare. She is known to devote herself to her work. She was selected by the UN social committee to study in the USA various aspects of social work.

She greatly assisted new immigrants from Jaslo in Palestine.

Awraham Hoffert

Hoffert the older son planned to settle in Palestine as a pioneer in the twenties but there were disturbances and he postponed the trip. Meanwhile he left for Germany where he stayed until 1933 and then reached Palestine.

Awraham Hoffert was the son in law of Moshe Yaakow Yerachmish of Jaslo. He was a pleasant and soft spoken man. Former residents of Jaslo found in him a person ready to listen to their problems. His wife Hawa was an excellent host with a great deal of understanding.

They had two daughters; Chaya and Shulamit. Both played piano. The older one worked as a clerk in the city of Tel Aviv and the second one studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Hawa Hoffert was one of the founders of the Jaslo landesmanschaft in Israel.

Chaim Hoffert

He also came from Rozwadow. He was the son in law of Abba Hollander . He was a yeshiva student and well read. He was a regular member of the Rabbi's minyan at the study center. His children received a religious education.

He had a paint store in M. Karp's house along Kazimierz Street and he made a nice living.

Yoel Horowitz

He was a Talmudic scholar and knew a large part of the material by heart. He constantly devoted himself to the study of the Talmud and was at home in the field. When challenged on halachic points, he would immediately reach the library shelf and select the appropriate text that pointed out the problem, the discussions and solutions to the problem.

He frequently had Talmudic disputations with other students and frequently with my father. The debates raged but in the end the arguments were settled in accordance with the truth of the matter. The fights never became personal, literary fights always resolved themselves in greater understanding of the concerned parties. They remained friends in spite if the disputations.

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He was a Hassid and a very observant Jew. He was a Belzer Hassid and never tried to cut corners when it came to religious matters.

He was a merchant and sold head kerchiefs. He lived in Shmuel Cisser's house. He had one son named Yehoshua in memory of the old Belzer Rabbi. He was a member of the study center group and left Jaslo following his marriage. They also had a daughter named Beila.

Yehoshua Horowicz

He was not related to Yoel Horowitz. I mentioned him in a previous chapter as a scholar in the city.

I would like to acquaint the reader with some aspects of this scholarly student as I remember them;

He was the son of the head of judicial l council of Frysztak that was received by that community during WWI and following his marriage of the daughter of Shmuel Mendel Ross he settled in Jaslo.

He was an exceptional student with a fine mind that grasped every nuance of a debate. He was fluent in the Talmud and its commentaries. He was master of all four books of the “Shulchan Aruch codex” - or Jewish rule books. He knew his Hebrew grammar and was fluent in modern Hebrew, bible, and the latest literary Hebrew works. The best part of his study was the fact that he remembered everything that he studied and knew where to look for it in case of doubt. His intellectual ability to grasp ideas and knowledge soon introduced him to the intellectual Talmudic elite in the city.
He was totally immersed in his studies and in books. He read the latest Talmudic books and was familiar with the great halacha questions and answers. He wrapped his talit about himself and sat in the study center to the side and faced the front. You never saw his face except when he was called to the torah.
Many communities wanted him as Rabbi but the family and his wife objected. He eventually left for the USA where he became a Rabbi of a congregation in Brooklyn.

Elisha Hazelnuss

The people of Jaslo did not know his name. He was always called the Linsker shoemaker since he came from Lesko. He barely made a living for he was a poor craftsman. He was also a sick person that

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was tended by his small children. He was a non-talker and lived in the house of Elimelech Goldstein.

Menachem Mendel Hilperin, Rabbi
(Hassidic Rabbi of Dukla, see previous chapter)

Yoel Hilperin

The son in law of the Rabbi, see chapter dealing with the history of the rabbi's house

Shulem Hiller

He was known in the city as Shulem Tupoliner since he came from the village of Tupolina near Sczenica where he had a large farm and an inn.

He was a kind person that continued to follow the old tradition. He had a well kept long beard that gave him a patriarchal appearance. He was well acquainted with the rabbinical world and dressed like one of them. By tradition he conducted the prayers on “Yom Kippur Katan” before the holy arc on the eve of the new month of Elul and also the “shachrit” service or morning service of the high holidays in the great study center. On reaching a ripe old age he became ill and passed away on Passover in 1928. Due to the big distance from the city only the strong young fellows that were about to be drafted went to the home of the death party and carried him in the direction of the city. When they reached the city limits near May 3^rd Street, the Hevra Kadisha members were waiting to take the body. The initial porters refused to hand over the body and stated that they started a mitzvah and will finish it. Indeed they continued to carry the body to the entrance of the cemetery and then let the burial party take over.

He left four married daughters and a son. One daughter that was married to Feiwil Ris of Dembowce left for Palestine in the early thirties and settled in Haifa. Four grandchildren from two older daughters are in Israel. One grand son, the son of Shmuel Wolker fell in the indedepence war of Israel

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Kalman Hirsch

He came to Siwionow from Mielec in the twenties and was a clerk in the spirit distillery of Rubel. He was a well mannered person and versed in the Torah. He also knew Hebrew grammar. Each Saturday he came from Siwionow to the study center to pray with the community. He enjoyed immensely conducting religious conversations and interpretations of various religious texts. He frequently stayed long after the services were finished to conduct his torah discussions.

He had two daughters that were members of the youth Zionist group. They received a high school education. One of them Riwka left for Palestine as a pioneer in the thirties and eventually settled in Rehovot. Her husband worked at the Weitzman institute where he was instantly killed by an explosion. His wife continued to work at the institute.

Yaakow Hirshfeld

He came from Sandz and was immediately insntalled as the beadle in the synagogue of Jaslo. He was known in the city as Yekil the beadle. He was not the usual small town beadle that feared every strong voice in the community. On the contrary, he had a knack for navigating his ship and soon gained tremendous strength in the community and his position became impregnable. He lorded over the synagogue and gained the respect of the worshippers.

M.Kipnis who wrote for the Yiddish paper “Haint” in Warsaw traveled extensively throughout the cities of Poland and visited once Jaslo. He of course went to visit the Jewish Street namely Chajnochy Street to get the feel of the place. When he reached the gate of the synagogue the place was locked. He sent someone to ask the beadle to open the synagogue. Soon enough he heard the noise of keys and indeed the beadle was here and opened the gate. The beadle gave the

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visitor a guided tour of the place and answered all the questions as well as various pertinent comments.

On leaving the synagogue M. Kipnis stated that he has visited many places, has spoken to many important people like presidents, directors, managers, community leaders, beadles that wore top hats, bowlers, shtreimels, hats of various kinds, cantorial hats, no hats, but has never had such a fine tour as the one that Yekil the beadle gave him in the synagogue of Jaslo. Indeed Kipnis did no exaggerate. I still remember him standing on the bima glancing across the faces of the worshippers and checking every corner of the place, On occasion he would strike the table and ask for silence.

What silence reigned at the synagogue on Saturday and Holiday nights when Yekil took the Kiddush cup to recite the blessing over the wine. He decided who should get an alyah to the torah this Saturday or next Saturday, He would also give instructions to his two assistants that usually agreed with his decisions. I still hear his voice intoning, Mr. so and so is called to the torah… and later… will make the following contribution … Amen.

His voice had a special intonation when announcing special events relating to the community. Who could at those moments compare himself to his eloquence.

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He also used to appear at the study center and announce special announcements. His appearance usually indicated that an important matter was about to be discussed. He would enter the study center at a slow peace, his hands behind his back, the golden chain on is chest, the lips ready to speak and at the same time a bit of a smile.

The audience started to whisper, Yekil the shames is here, it must be important. He headed to he bima, took a deep breath, pounds the table for silence and begins to announce his statement. Of course, the audience demands explanations and begins to discuss the implications of the statement.

He was highly respected in the city by the entire community, those that were close to him even permitted themselves to call him reb Yekil and the more modern elements in the city called him Mister Hirschfeld.

He even influenced the behavior of the youngsters at the synagogue. His look told the youngsters to behave and stay close to their father.

He was well off especially in later years when he started to deal with money exchanges and discount notes. He was also connected to the authorities and helped people that needed assistance.

He had three sons and two daughters. The two younger ones Zelka and Yehoshua were modern in outlook and left Jaslo for Germany and later reached the USA. Zelka became very active in the Jaslo landesmanscheft in New York. The older daughter married Yehoshua Chop of Dukla and the second daughter married Zelig Shpirer.

Chaim Hirschfeld

He was the oldest son of Yekil Hirschfeld and was the son in law of Dawid Lipcer. He was a yeshiva student and very pious and observant. He was an outspoken Hassid of Bobowa. He had a grocery in the house of Dawid Elias. He once traveled to see the rabbi of Bobow and felt ill at ease. He became ill and passed away within the day of Rosh Hashana. He left a wife and several small children. The latter grew up and learned trades. They followed their father's footsteps and were also Bobower Hassidim. Two of his sons are in Melbourne Australia.

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Ben Tzion Hirshkowicz

He was the son in law of Asher shames and was known as one of the most dedicated students of the study group. Following his marriage, he taught youngsters Talmud and commentaries but later left everything for the business world.

He was a true Hassidic Jew with a large wavy yellow beard and two long side curls that practically covered his face. He was a close follower of the rabbis, especially reb. Baruch of Gorlice and Rabbi Yossele of Rymanow. His Hassidic manners and behavior were worthy of a deeply religious person.
Following Polish Independence, he took his brother in law's advice and left for Germany. His brother in law was Dawid Shindler who lived in Germany. He had three daughters and a son. One of the daughters lives in Jerusalem.

Dawid Helman

He was a short person and owned an inn for many years on Florianska Street. He was a sick person and suffered for a long time until he passed away prior to WWI. His wife, (the sister of Zeelig Korzenk) continued the business.

They had two children that received a general education and continued their studies that led them to high positions on graduating from their studies.

Mordechai and Yaakow Heller

They were brothers and traded horses. One of them lived on Korlowski Street and one behind the municipal building. They died one after the other following illness and left wives and small children

They are today in the US

A Heller

He settled in Jaslo in the twenties. He had a hat store and lived with his brother that also came to the city to help him with the business.

Dawid Hemm

He was a typical enlightened person of the old school. With age he became more observant and began to attend Saturday services at the study center he usually told the

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listeners his youthful stories mixed with the sayings of the sages and even boasted a bit that he studied with Rabbi Naphtali Pessah and Rabbi Moshele of Tarnow, two well known giants of the Talmud who headed yeshivas.

He took a great deal of liberties with his religion at the time namely he shaved his beard and curled his side curls. He was called at the study center the one that lost a bit his way, in other words a lost sheep.

He owned a big house on Kosciuszko Street near the municipal court house. He belonged to the Yeshuron club and later joined the mizrahi movement. The Ludowy Bank had their office in his house until they moved to the new place in Lipa Tzimet's house. He had no sons but only daughters that received a good education

Dawid Hemel

He was a very pious Jew that was familiar with torah literature. He was clever and sharp, aware of all things that were happening in the city. He was familiar with the religious and general population. He always had a comment and always expressed his opinion.

He lived in Pozdamcze where he had a grocery store. With the outbreak of WWI he left Jaslo.

Israel Hendler

He was the owner of an inn at the end of Floriasnka Street near the municipal building. There was an artistic poster of a cluster of grapes at the entrance to the inn. He was modest and moderate, followed with the prevailing mood of the population. His daughters received a high school education.

Leibish Hess

He was an old timer in the city of Jaslo and had a large timber business. Yom Tov Leibish Hess was a tall man and wore a long beard as he walked at a leisurely peace in town.

Until 1914 he worshipped at the great study center near the eastern wall. He was even the beadle for several years but avoided publicity and public attention.

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He had four sons that lived in Jaslo and were all influenced by the new Zionist winds for they were all members of the Zionist movements. They lived in a house on Florianska Street.

Shlomo Zalman Hess

He was the oldest son of Leibish Hess. He was educated and a member of the Mizrahi movement and the head of the local branch for many years.

His three story house on Florianska Street he acquired in 1914 with the outbreak of WWI. He also had there a large warehouse of construction materials and metals.

Eli Hess

He was the brother of Leibish Hess and was also a businessman. He was a quiet and fair person. He had business relations with timber importers of foreign countries.

He married off his daughters with educated husbands that were members of the mizrahi movement. One of them was Lauffer and the other one was Rapoport. Both worshipped at the mizrahi study center.

His young son Itzhak, a high school student, drooped from school and began to learn a trade. He also devoted himself to the Pioneer Zionist movement in Jaslo and headed the group for many years. He left Jaslo in the thirties for Palestine. He lives and works presently as a locksmith in Kiriat Borochow

Israel Hefner

He was from the area of Tarnowci. He was a coachman and hauled merchandise to and from the railway station. On Saturdays and Holidays he used to dress as a very pious Hassid and listened to all pulpit preachers. He loved to fulfill good deeds. Gave charity and was a good host. He traveled to holy rabbis and was particularly attached to the Rabbi Shlomo Libli of Tyczin.

He lived all his live in Hiclowka. He had three sons and two daughters. The oldest Awraham left Jaslo in the early twenties and settled in Argentina.

With the end of WWII the younger son reached Palestine and settled in Tel Aviv. According to rumors he later left for Canada.

Israel Hefner had a brother that lived in Tarnowci and was involved in business.

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Hannah Herbst

With the death of her husband who was a cattle dealer, she left the village near Jaslo and settled in the city. She sold fish in the corner of the market.

She was left with two sons, three daughters and life was difficult. The boys learned tailoring as they grew up and the girls learned to be seamstresses. They boys excelled in their studies and had excellent relations with their clients.

The youngest son reached Palestine with the Polish Army in the forties. He works today in the municipality of Tel Aviv.

Manes Hertz

He was a refined and culteredd man. He suffered frequently from a sore throat and one could barely hear what he had to say. It was a pleasure to speak to him on various topics. He was familiar with international as well as local politics. He also expressed himself on matters that he felt were incorrect.
He sold wines and spirits in the house of Stillman in the market square, in the court yard. He lived in Kornfeld's house on Kazimerz Street. He had only daughters.

Israel Hertz

He was a shoemaker and had a bit of a strange appearance. He was short, pudgy and limped. He spoke Yiddish with a German accent. He lived in Israel Haber's house in the Targowica

Yaakow Hertzig, attorney

He settled in Jaslo in the twenties after he married the granddaughter of Itchi Yehuda Rubel. He was one of the best attorneys in town. He was a Zionist and very respected. He managed to escape the Germans and lives presently with his family in Paris.

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