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[Page 178]
Y.P.S
Translated by Rabbi Mordecai Goldzweig
Reb Yehuda “Sofer” was a poor man who was born in Rohatyn, a hassid of the Bursztyner (from the Stratyn dynasty) and a father of five daughters, who followed the well known Reb Michel Sofer (scribe) and continued in his path. He was unable to support himself at his profession because many scribes such as he were forced to travel with their holy wares from town to town and were his serious competitors. Then too his customers had became fewer and fewer. As a result his wife, Freia, had to join him in earning a livelihood by baking her special home made bread that certain people liked and he was forced to join her in this task lessening his time in his regular profession. Gradually his hands became heavier and he could no longer continue as a full time sofer about which it is written, “With his soul he brings his bread”. However, he did not drop his profession completely and the townsmen used to invite “Reb Yudel Sofer” to check their tefillin and mezuzot. When his daughters grew up they helped to augment the income of the house. Unfortunately, when the time finally came to have a little satisfaction from them and they got married and bore children, the terrible war came and set an end to everything. He was killed by the German murderers together with his wife Freia, his son-in-law Aaron Gutman and Brunia and Motel their grandchildren, his married daughter Sarah with her two daughters, Tovah and Chava. Two married daughters, Esther and Gitel, are now in our country together with their children - the grandchildren of Reb Yosef Yehuda ben Michel Sofer.
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Y. P. S.
Translated by Rabbi Mordecai Goldzweig
Yerachmiel Schwartz was a maskil (member of the Enlightenment) that is, he spoke accurate Polish and had ties with the town authorities. Nevertheless, he could boast, “I live with the goyim but I keep the Jewish commandments”. He was quite a rich man from his sales of liquor and he had a monopoly on the sale of mead. I still remember when on the Seventh Day of Pesach if there was a lack of liquor at the gatherings by the Rebbe Reb Eliezer'l some of us boys would go to the house of Yerachmiel Schwartz, Of Blessed Memory, to obtain what was missing. He personally would come out into the yard, step into a structure that served as a small winery to the north of the Sokol and draw from whatever came to hand. He would also present a “l'chaim” to the boys smiling all the while his sweet smile that would spread across his Viennese white “kaiser” beard. His home was traditional and he was blessed with refined children who mingled with Jewish scholars and eventually married into their families. Yerachmiel Schwartz, Of Blessed Memory, was not a person who waited for people to come to him. On the contrary, he would take the initiative and joined those who were trying to help the community. He was one of the builders of the Czortkower Kloiz, a member of the town council as well as of the Jewish community council and an honorary member of the official judiciary. He served in these three capacities until the day he died. May his memory be blessed.
One of his descendents, his eldest daughter Ronia, survived and is now living in Israel. Her only son, Dr. Ezra Zohar, is a physician in the Israel Defense Forces.
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Y. P. S.
Translated by Rabbi Mordecai Goldzweig
Is it possible to forget this couple, Yaakov and Sarah “who were beloved and pleasant in their lifetime and in their death were not parted”. They do not allow themselves to be forgotten. A youthful rhythm always beat within them; even in small day-to-day matters. This Jew who lived far from the Main Synagogue, in the neighborhood known as “the new town”, was accustomed to appear early in the morning every day in order to prepare whatever was needed for the worshippers at the Main Synagogue.
Yahrzeit
He remembered and carefully noted every “Yahrzeit” that had to be kept and reminded people of its date. He saw to it that there was liquor and pastries to eat with it on a table in the synagogue and he would always leave something over in the closed section of the Reader's table thus helping out anyone who had a yahrzeit but who might not have been able to prepare for it for any reason. I am not exaggerating when I say that the aroma coming from the Reader's table when Reb Yaakov Leiter, Of Blessed Memory, opened its door, tempted the lovers of liquor to draw closer to the person having a yahrzeit. At that time there was still no printing press in Rohatyn (Reb Chaim Shkolnik, Of-Blessed- Memory, opened his small press next to David Jupiter, Of Blessed Memory, in 1922). And who could print notices and announcements that had to be written? Reb Yaakov Leiter would print them in Assyrian script, the print of Torah scribes. His cleanliness and the cleanliness of his home was exemplary, and was symbolic of his inner self, neat and clean outwardly and inwardly.
He was a man who loved to talk and he spoke rapidly. If anyone made an announcement before kiddush Friday night or before reading the Torah Shabbos morning, only those who stood nearby could hear what was said and they would explain to the others that “mimachenmodia” (we are making an announcement) which sounded like one word but was meant to be the phrase “mir machen modia” etc.
He wore a “Deitsche Kapel” (a modern hat) and his curly silver “peyot” (side-locks) waved in the wind like “little bottles”. His suit of lustrous material was made to order and he wore short boots. You could depend on his watch like the clock in the train station. I remember when we used to take a break on Yom Kippur between the prayers of Mincha and Ne'ila which was the last opportunity to chat on the topics of the day, such as opinions of the various baalei-tefilot (the beginning chazan, the chazan for shacharis and the chazan for musaf) and the latest events. When it started to get dark they used to call out, “Her Leiter, s'iz shpeit?” (Mr Leiter, is it becoming late?) But Mr. Leiter would continue to talk. He would pull out his chain and gold watch and announce with finality: “We still have two minutes”. After one minute, he would walk over in his exact steps to the hall. Everyone knew that it was his watch that would decide and there was no argument about it. If the chazan for ne'ila appeared to be drawing out his melodies too long according to his taste, he would place his watch in front of the chazan and urge him to complete the prayers at the right moment with the saying “L'shona ha-bo-oh b'Yerushalayim” (Next year in Jerusalem).
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There was no happy occasion where he did not take part as one of the officials of the synagogue - the “shames” of the community. He would call out – “so-and-so the son of so-and-so has become engaged to so-and-so the daughter of so-and-so”; and when the time of the wedding came the poles of the chupa (canopy) were waiting in his hands. He encouraged and carefully advised the parents of the bride and groom as to the proper procedures and the fine details to be followed at the chupa. He was the master of ceremonies at the chupa and he called out those who were be honored with making the various blessings. He brought the Ketuba (marriage contract) and accompanied the rabbis home after the ceremony. At a brit (circumcision) he would carefully watch the mohel, and if something seemed to be improper in his opinion he would quote the passage of the Sacrifice of Isaac, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad nor do anything to him”.
I am reminded of a joke (that Leiter told) – Reb Yosef Hakohen Laks, Of-Blessed- Memory, was a well known Ba'al Tefila (non-professional chazan) who was very popular in the community for his pleasant and strong voice and also because he was very learned and “sharp” in his studies. When he studied the Talmud or while he was teaching the Talmud and came to a fine point he more than once stopped to write a commentary in the margins with his particular interpretation of a passage that they were studying.
When he finished the prayers on Yom Kippur, a discussion would ensue in which there were differences of opinion as to who was the better chazan and the “authorities” would express their views. Some would say that Reb Moshe-Zushe, Of Blessed Memory, (a composer and chazan of Rohatyn) was the better chazan. Others would say it was Reb Mordechai-Shmuel Horshofsky, Of Blessed Memory, and still others liked Reb Yonatan Rappoport or someone else. Then Reb Yaakov Leiter would conclude: “As far as I am concerned, Reb Yossel is a difficult ba'al tefilla and why? Because it is difficult to pick him up when he falls to the floor in the “Avoda” (the description of the role of High Priest on Yom Kippur during the Musaf prayers) .
After the High Holidays – no one could replace him at plaiting palm leaves to house the myrtle and willow twigs. He was unequalled in this skill. And who would receive the etrogim from Israel? He did. He would merit his friends with the blessing “upon the taking of a palm branch” when he personally took out the choice etrog
Reb Yaakov and his wife were privileged in their later years to settle in the Land of Israel and to enjoy the fruits of our land. They made a fresh start in Kibbutz Gan Shmuel, where a new task awaited them: Reb Yaakov would print the names of the cows in the barn and his wife Sarah, Of Blessed Memory, would do embroidery and knit.
About such as they it is said: “Beloved and pleasant in their lifetime and in their death they were not parted”. They are buried in the cemetery of Kibbutz Gan Shmuel. May their souls be gathered together in the treasury of life.
“Tall Moshe”
(Moshe Roher, of blessed memory)
By Y.P.S.
A very tall man with a long white beard, dressed in traditional Hasidic clothing, he was pious and honest his entire life. I no longer remember where his wife was. She had probably died years before. But he had children by her, each one living in foreign parts. As soon as he received notice from them, he would share the news with everyone in the Beit Midrash.
Always joyful, his face always radiated goodness. We, the young men of the house of study, knew him when he was already on in years and did not know what his business had been earlier. I remember him as the drummer in the Faust family band. His fingers struck the beat nimbly at weddings and other festive Jewish occasions. His drum was the cause of great joy.
He prayed in the new Beit Midrash where he used to favor all with a good pinch of snuff. As soon as he heard that someone wanted to recite a chapter of Psalms, he immediately made known his readiness to participate in the mitzvah. His hand would rise to his breast pocket from which he would remove his thick glasses with black frames and golden shafts. And he would murmur, “What have I told you, Shieleh? 'Happy is the man that has not walked'…if a man neither comes nor goes, he has no regrets. No?”
“Tall Moshe” never walked the paths of the wicked. He was a good Jew.
Y.P.S.
Translated by Rabbi Mordecai Goldzweig
Reb Yudel Weidhof, Of Blessed Memory was an ordained rabbi who was among those who restored our city in the 1870's. He was a man who excelled in giving donations secretly. His store was well known throughout Galicia as a place that engaged in the import and export of sugar, tea, coffee etc. There was a time when his son Yaakov Weidhof was one of the largest merchants in Rohatyn. Yaakov was killed in the Holocaust together with his youngest son who was 31 years old when he died. His son Yitzchak is an engineer with “Mekorot” (Israel Water Company).
Avramche Horowitz Of Blessed Memory lived on the way down to the monastery. He was a loud and bitter Jew who sold lime. Due to his occupation his face was always pale, shriveled and wrinkled; the hair of his short beard appeared plucked because of it. Only once did I ever see his face light up. Reb Avramche, Of Blessed Memory, was childless and his wife was barren. When they grew older they decided to donate a “Sefer Torah” to the small synagogue in which they prayed and in this way establish an everlasting memorial to themselves. When the writing of the Torah was completed, it was carried in a grand procession through the town to the new synagogue accompanied by a band with dancing and singing of “Give honor to the Torah”. Avramche Horowitz and his wife, Of Blessed Memory, were honored by having him carrying the Torah. For the first time I saw his face light up with joy and become young again. May his memory be blessed.
Reb Ze'ev Steinmetz, Of Blessed Memory, was thick-bearded and heavy. He would hold a box of snuff in one hand and a heavy cane in the other. His concern was to provide the inhabitants of Rohatyn with fish for Shabbat. He had difficulty in supporting his family – lovely sons and daughters most of whom succeeded in reaching the United States while he and two of his daughters were killed. May their souls be gathered together in the treasury of life.
His partner in the fish business, Yehoshua-Falik Shtraulicht, a Jew who was tall and heavyset, not only engaged in selling but also cared for the deceased – he was an engraver of tombstones and was an assistant to Kopel Teich and his son Hirsh in this capacity. This was a profitable business since in the end everyone is in need of a gravestone. We also wish to remember their family: Yaakov and Uri Shtraulicht, Of Blessed Memory.
Akiva Wagschal and Elisha Teichman were very close friends and partners from the beginning, a “gabai” (synagogue manager) - he had all the problems of the synagogue on his shoulders. He was the one who prepared the barrel of beer for Simchas Torah at the rabbi's home and cheered everyone with his pleasant smile. He succeeded in visiting Israel during his lifetime when he went to see his two daughters who had settled there. The older one Mrs. Zuch, who is living here with her husband, is constantly active in the organization of the former inhabitants of Rohatyn. In this she is so like her mother, Tzirel Wagschal, Of Blessed Memory, a capable woman who devoted herself to the Zionistic activities sponsored by WIZO in Rohatyn. The younger daughter Salke recently passed away.
His partner, Elisha, used to finger his mustache while humming the melodies of Reb Moshe-Zushe. He was a ba'al tefila in the main synagogue every Shabbat. They and their families were refined people and they were killed in the Holocaust. May they rest in peace.
Reb Mordechai Kreizler was well to do, knowledgeable in Torah and general subjects, of tall and dignified appearance. He engaged in the sale of tobacco of all kinds. His son Shlomo had a stationery store that had a board on its front door on which the daily newspapers were displayed. Many of the inhabitants of Rohatyn would crowd around the board and its newspapers in order to read the daily news and his shop became a meeting place for those who were involved in communal matters and came up with ideas.
His second son continued his education and his daughter Chayke Kreisler became a doctor in our town. She was a good hearted woman.
Their memories have been kept in the hearts of all the former inhabitants of Rohatyn. May their souls be gathered together in the treasury of life.
Lipa Mandel was a cloth merchant. He was well to do, a General Zionist, and the Reader in the main synagogue. While vocalizing his readings of the Torah he would at times glance up at the ladies' balcony. He was a good parlor speaker, educated, a maskil but traditional in practices. He had a respectable position in the town and he and his family were active in Zionistic fund raising. May their memories forever remain.
Reb Yoel Fisher was a nice Jew, sensitive and active in all public affairs in our town. He was a strong Zionist but was careful to keep Jewish tradition. He was the Reader in the new synagogue and was careful to follow the “Ta'amei Hamikra” (notation) when he read the Torah. He supported himself by selling shoes. He was fair minded and a man of ideals who tried to get along with people. (Incidentally, his son Dr. Ben-Nun lives in Israel and is a member of the Hebrew Language Committee while his sister, Dr. Golda Fisher, visited Israel recently.
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by Y.P. S. as told by his wife Matilda Soferman
Translated by Rabbi Mordecai Goldzweig
The plaques engraved with the names of Raphael and Matilda Soferman still remain in their place. There is quiet all around and the apartment seems to be mourning Soferman the educator who passed away.
I called - and there was Matilda the wife of the deceased – standing before me herself. She invited me in without knowing who I was and without asking what brought me here. Before me stood a woman of about 80 years old. Her face bespoke dignity and she addressed me in a polished Hebrew.
“Yes, what did you want?” I answered, “I am sorry to trouble you. I came with a twofold task – one, to recall the memories of your husband as the first Hebrew teacher in Rohatyn and two, to describe the town itself of those days. We wish to memorialize them in the Yizkor Book of Rohatyn and its Surrounding Areas. We would be very interested to share your memories with the survivors of the town in Israel and the Diaspora. “Gladly, I will try”, Matilda answered and immediately came to the point and this is the essence of what she said:
“We arrived in Rohatyn in 1906 where my deceased husband, Raphael Soferman, became the first Hebrew teacher in the first Hebrew school in Rohatyn. The school opened with only two classes and an enrollment of 100 students in all. My husband taught there 4-1/2 years and I taught about half a year – less. In this school students reached a high level of achievement not only in Hebrew but also in Bible, History, Grammar and Literature as well.
In time it also presented plays that were spoken in Hebrew of nationalistic and Zionistic content. You mustn't forget that the Zionists were already a majority in the community. The members of the Jewish community council were Shalom Meltzer, Sender Margolis, Yerachmiel Schwartz, Alter Weidman, and others. Rohatyn had a Zionist union, “Hatechia” whose outstanding participants included: Chuna Wachman, Pinye Shpiegel, the son of Rudy the Watchmaker (I can't remember his name), Dolar, Drucks, Wagschal, Mandel, Zlateks, Leiter and others.
Most of the people of that generation were very religious but you could already feel the effect of the generation of “maskilim” arising and becoming stronger. The youth went to Polish school in the morning and in the afternoon to the Jewish school maintained by the community that was Zionistically inclined and from whom the Hebrew teacher received his salary. Those who wanted to complete their high school education had to go to Lwów, Stanislawów or Sambor.
Soferman's helper was the teacher Reiter, and when they added another class, they added another teacher, Rochenboim. The teacher Hirsch was once a student in that school (and now lives in the U.S.).
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The deserters from the army who escaped from Russia and crossed the border illegally came to live in our town where they learned Hebrew very well and became teachers. After Rohatyn we went to Brody where we stayed for 1-1/2 years. We came to Israel in 1912. Then my husband founded a Hebrew school in Tzfat where he was the principal for two years. Afterwards the family moved to Jerusalem where my husband become a teacher in the Seminary for Kindergarten Teachers and in a Girls' School. Four years later we moved to Tel Aviv where he became a teacher of History and Tanach in the upper grades of the Herzlia Gymnasium. He taught there until he reached the age of 70.”
His oldest daughter, Dr. Sharona Soferman-Binyamini, is now a teacher of History and Tanach in the Herzlia Gymnasium. His son, Dr. Nadav Soferman, became a well known gynecologist in Tel Aviv. Another son, Amnon Soferman, is a cartographer.
Dr. Gelber commemorated the deceased educator Soferman in his book Mothers of Israel and there you will find his picture. Dr Gelber also commemorated him in his Book of Brody. Soferman passed away of cancer on 13 Iyar 5716 (1956) at the age of 77. May his memory be blessed!
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Rogatin (Rohatyn), Ukraine
Yizkor Book Project
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