Yocheved Rozenzumen-Berko Fayvel Goldsztern Family

Our Goldstein family, in recent memory, originates from two locations.  The maternal Rozenzumen side lived before World War I in Terespol, Biala District, Siedlce Province, Russian Empire.  Many related Rozenzumen’s came from Miedzyrzec Podlaski, Lubelskie, Poland.  The paternal Goldsztern side originated in Piszczac, Biala, Siedlce, Russian Empire.   The name in most, if not all, of the Polish and Russian documents was “Goldsztern” rather than “Goldstein.”  When brothers Shimon, Meier and Szojel (Sol) immigrated, their documents all read “Goldstein.”  I have found that searching on “Goldsztern” also generates “Goldstein” and vice versa.  I have no idea why this is so.

These are the parents and siblings of my grandfather, Sol Goldstein.  They are my father Isadore’s and my Aunt Jeanette’s aunts and uncles, who only knew those who immigrated to the US, Shimon and Meijer.

All of these records were sourced from the Polish State Archives via JewishGen.org’s JRI-Poland.  Translations were done by volunteers through JewishGen.org’s ViewMate or by my Russian friend, Catherine Vakhnina (at the time these records were created, all documents were kept in Russian and no longer in Polish; the shift from the use of Polish to Russian in the latter half of the 19th century reflects the Russian Empire’s punishment of the Poles for their uprising in 1863-64).

Sometimes families did not register births of boys, in an effort to evade the draft.  Sometimes the births were only registered when the boys married.  Sometimes the births were registered elsewhere.  Families with more than one boy were known to let another family without sons “adopt” the child, since only and eldest sons were theoretically exempt from the Russian draft.  Hence, records were not kept as fastidiously as we think they should have been.

The documents below (click to enlarge) provide names, dates, ages, occupations and locations.  The father was expected to come with witnesses (perhaps even with the infant) to the secular town clerk to register births, deaths and marriages.  These documents give us a picture of the lives of our relatives:  many pregnancies and births, premature deaths, young adults living with their parents until marriage, familiar officials who appear regularly as witnesses, the official identification of people by religion, the kinds of occupations they engaged in.

I have sometimes used spelling that was used in Europe and sometimes used more familiar spelling:  sz=sh; j=y or i; w=v; aj=ei; oj=oi.

  • Goldsztern=Goldshtern
  • Berko=diminutive of Berl (Yiddish translation of “Dov,” which means “bear” in Hebrew);
  • Yachet and Yetta=diminutives of Yocheved, which is also written “Yachvet;”
  • Frejda Tila=Freida Tila (Tila is from “Tehila” which means “psalm”);
  • Chaja Rywka=Chaya Rivka (Rebecca);
  • Yudel Mosze/Moszko=Yudel Moshe (Moszko/Moshko is a diminutive and the whole name means Judah-Moses);
  • Szimon=Shimon/Simon;
  • Uszer=Usher (Yiddish pronunciation of Asher);
  • Meijer=Meyer (Hebrew meaning “brings light”);
  • Laikeh=diminutive of Leah.

I have not yet located Frejda Tila’s birth registration, but her marriage registration gives her age; similarly with Chaja Rywka’s death registration.

My grandfather Sol gave me Frejda Tila’s name as “Tillie” and Yudel Moszko’s name as Moishe Yiddel (Yudel and Yiddel are diminutives of Yehudah/Judah).  I am confident, however, that the documents below refer to his sister and brother, given the other information they contain and knowing that names get modified.  Chaja Rywka, on the other hand, I am not 100% sure about:  Sol told me that his sister Chaja married a man named Weinstrom and had a daughter or granddaughter Laikeh, who survived the war and went to Israel (before or after the war, I don’t know); the Chaja Rywka in this document died at age 21 a few years after Sol was born, presumably still single as her name is given as “Goldsztern.”  I suppose it’s possible that she was known on a daily basis as “Rywka,” like Frejda Tila was known as Tila or Tillie, and that there was another Chaja known as “Chaja.” But this is a conjecture born of a dearth of information so there is uncertainty.

Sol told me that he was the youngest of 11, three of whom had not survived, leaving eight children.  I’ve identified seven and possibly eight children:  Frejda Tila, Chaja Rywka (of whom I’m unsure), Yudel Moszko, Szimon, Uszer, Meijer, Beyla and Szojel (Sol); however, Beyla died when she was one year old.  So there are likely other Goldsztern children I have not yet found.

TRANSLATIONS (keep in mind that the translators are reading 150-year old handwriting with inconsistent spellings)

Akt 8  Yachet Rozenzumen-Berko Fayvel Goldsztern Marriage , 1870

In Terespol, on 18/30* day of June 1870, at 5:00 pm, it is announced that in presence of witnesses, Jew Finkelstein, 65, and Rubin Herszenson, 55 years old, _____ Shkolnikov, acting as ___ in the city of Terespol, the religious marriage was contracted between the Jew of Posad Piszczac of Belskiy district, Berko Fayvel Goldsztern, single, 21 years old, son of Shamon** and Tema, legal spouses Goldsztern in Posad Piszczac,** their dependent and with living parents, and the Jew, single lady Yachet Rozenzumen, 21 years old, daughter of Berko and Hindy, legal spouses Rozensumen in the town of Terespol, their dependent and with living parents.

*Reflecting the dates in both Julian and Gregorian calendars.  **Pronounced “Pishchats,” which is 23 km south and slightly west of Terespol.  ***Szimon/Simon.

Akt 7 Freyda Tila Goldsztern-Abus Hershel Brand Marriage, 1891 (born ca 1871)

In Terespol, on the 10th of July 1891, at 6:00 pm, it is announced that in presence of witnesses, Jews Haim Yoel Rubinstein, 61 years old, and Shmul Liberman, 35 years old, both acting as ___ in the city of Terespol, the religious marriage was contracted between the city of Terespol native, Abus Hershel Brand, single, 18 years old, son of Mordka and the deceased ___ born as Dorfman, legal spouses Brand in the presence of father in the city of Terespol, and a permanent resident of the city of Terespol, Freyda Tila Goldstern, single lady of 20 years old, daughter of Berko Fayvel and Yahvet, born as Rozenzumen, legal spouses Goldstern, with living parents in the city of Terespol. This marriage should be published in

Akt 30 Chaja Rywka Goldsztern Death, 1895 (born ca 1874)

Translator David Price via JewishGen ViewMate:  “Can only add Haja Rywka died age 21, parents: Berko and Yachet (no maiden name given). Registered Nov 30, 1895.”

Akt 13 Szymon Goldsztern Birth, 1878

In the city of Terespol, on the 28th of December 1878, at 10 am. Jew Berko Fayvel Goldstern, weaver, 30 years old, residing in the city of Terespol, appeared in person, in the presence of witnesses, Jews Kopel Monchik, 58 years old, and Rubin Hershenson, 57 years old, residing in the city of Terespol, and presented a baby boy to us, announcing that he was born on the 21st of December of this year at 3 am, from his legal spouse Yachvet, born Rozenzumen, 29 years old. This baby boy is given a name Shimon at the time of circumcision. This act is announced and read to witnesses, and then signed by witnesses as the father doesn’t know how to write.

Kopel Monchik (signature); Rubin Hershenson  (signature); Civilian registry office clerk: Signature

Translated by Catherine Vakhnina

Akt 7 Uszer Goldsztern Birth, 1881

In the city of Terespol, on the 25th of April 1881, at 2 pm. Jew Berko Fayvel Goldstern, weaver, 32 years old, residing in the city of Terespol, appeared in person, in the presence of witnesses, Jews Kopel Monchik, 61 years old, and Rubin Hershenson, 60 years old, residing in the city of Terespol, and presented a baby boy to us, announcing that he was born on the 18th of April of this year at 5 am, from his legal spouse Yachvet, born Rozenzumen, 32 years old. This baby boy is given a name Usher at the time of circumcision. This act is announced and read to witnesses, and then signed.

Kopel Monchik (signature); Rubin Hershenson  (signature); Civilian registry office clerk: Signature

Translated by Catherine Vakhnina

Akt 1 Meijer Goldsztern Birth, 1883

In the city of Terespol, on the 25th of April 1883, at 3 pm. Jew Berko Fayvel Goldstern, weaver, 34 years old, residing in the city of Terespol, appeared in person, in the presence of witnesses, Jews Kopel Monchik, 63 years old, and Rubin Hershenson, 62 years old, residing in the city of Terespol, and presented a baby boy to us, announcing that he was born on the 18st of April of this year at 3 am, from his legal spouse Yachvet, born Rozenzumen, 34 years old. This baby boy is given a name Meijer at the time of circumcision. This act is announced and read to witnesses, and then signed by witnesses.

Kopel Monchik (signature); Rubin Hershenson (signature); Civilian registry office clerk: Signature

Translated by Catherine Vakhnina

Akt 64 Beyla Goldsztern Birth, 1885

Registered in Terespol on November 28, birth Nov 26, 1885 of Beyla Goldsztern daughter of Berko Fajwel, homeowner, 38 and Yachet nee Rozensumen, 36.

Translated by David Price via ViewMate on JewishGen.org

Akt 27 Beyla Goldsztern Death, 1886

Occurred in Terespol November 23, 1886 2PM.  Came [witnesses’  names] Szkolniks from Terespol and declared that today at 3 AM died female baby Bajla Goldsztern, 1 year old, daughter of Berka-Fajwel and Jachet, survived by her parents.

Translated by Julia Liberman via ViewMate on JewishGen.org

Akt 85 Yudel Moshko Goldsztern Birth, 1897

In the city of Terespol, on the 18th of November 1887, at 10 am. Jew Berko Fayvel Goldstern, weaver, 37 years old, residing in the city of Terespol, appeared in person, in the presence of witnesses, Jews Kopel Monchik, 67 years old, and Haim Yoel Rubinstein, 57 years old, having two retail stores and residing in the city of Terespol, and presented a baby boy to us, announcing that he was born on the 11th of November at 5 am, from his legal spouse Yachvet, born Rozenzumen, 37 years old. This baby boy is given a name Judel Moshko at the time of circumcision. This act is announced and read to witnesses, and then signed.

Berko Fayvel Goldstern (signature); Kopel Monchik; Haim Yoel Rubinstein (signature); Civilian registry office clerk: Martynova (signature)

Translated by Catherine Vakhnina

Akt 8 Szojel Goldsztern Birth, 1891

In the city of Terespol, on the 15th of February 1891, at 10 am. Jew Berko Fayvel Goldstern, weaver, 40 years old, appeared in person in the city of Terespol, in the presence of witnesses, Jews Kopel Monchik, 71 years old, and Haim Yoel Rubinstein, 61 years old, having two retail stores and residing in the city of Terespol, and presented a baby boy to us, announcing that he was born on the 8th of February at 8 am, from his legal spouse Yachvet, born Rozenzumen, 40 years old. This baby boy is given a name Shoel at the time of circumcision. This act is announced and read to the witnesses, and then signed by Berko Fayvel Goldstern.

Kopel Monchik; Haim Yoel Rubinstein (signature); Civilian registry office clerk: Martynova (signature)

Translated by Catherine Vakhnina