City Skuodas A view of the cobblestone street where the synagogue was located. (Left) boys pose outside M. Levitan's grocery store. (Left, Lithuanian sign advertising L. Levitan's tea shop which sold 'kvas' and lemonade.)
#lev-19:
Dr. Nachum and Dr. Ada Yeta Levitan
#lev-20:
Sara Levitan,
Purim, 2005
( in the blue dress)
#lev-21:
The wedding of Ilana and Ruben Levitan
#lev-22:
Ilana with ther three sons Daniel, Ed and Arnold – Boston 1963
#lev-23:
Levitan family and the in-law Yechiel Rosenbloom
#lev-24:
Wedding day of Ilana (nee Rosenbloon) Levitan with Famiily
#lev-25:
Ilana with one of her sons
#lev-26:
Ilana and Ruven levitan
#lev-28:
Dr. Ruven Levitan
#lev-35:
Ari Levitan's first hair cut.
#lev-36:
Dr. Ytzhak Levitan was born in Shavli in 1881. He studied Medicine in Berlin and settled in Kovno. He was sent with his wife to Siberia (by the Soviets) for Zionist activities. in 1947 he returned to Lithuania he was sent again to Siberia and died in the 1950s. His son, Dr Moshe Levitan, perished with his wife in Kovno in 1944.
#lev-37:
#lev-39:
#lev-39:
Leviatan family 2005. My wife, Rachel, my daughter Inbal (on the right), my son offir, (on the left) and Lior -- behind his parents. Also in the picture -- Tzur Kraus, Inbal's husband and our grand child Barry, and Pavani -- Offir's wife -- and their son Morrie, on his grandmother's lap.
Prof. Uriel Leviatan
Chair,
Department of Sociology and Anthropology and member,
Institute for Kibbutz Research University of Haifa
#lev-40:
Sanhedria orphanage in late 1947.
The little child in center of the picture (Flanged on both sides by two big boys) is Uriel Levitan, Son of Dr. Misha Levitan and Mira (daughter of Wolf Alperovitz) who perished in 1944 in Ghetto Kovno. His grandfather was the well known community leader and Zionist; Dr. Ytzhak Levitan of Kovno.
#lev-42:
Sarah, Jacob Hanna and Ari, children of Arnie and Janice Levitan
#lev-48:
Dr. Ruven Levitan and Mr. Meidan. Israel, 2006
#lev-49:
Raanana, March 2006 ; the grandaughters of Ariela nee Levitan and Ami Yaakobi (see #lev-51 &52)
#lev-50:
Raanana, March 2006 ; Doron Yaakobi
#lev-51:
Raanana, March 2006 ; Doron Yaakobi with his daughters. Doron is the son of Ariela (nee Levitan) and Ami Yaakobi.
#lev-52:
Raanana, March 2006 ; Doron Yaakobi with his daughters. Doron is the son of Ariela (nee Levitan) and Ami Yaakobi.
#lev-53:
Raanana, March 2006 ; Doron Yaakobi with his daughter.
#lev-54:
Arnold, Ruven, Nava, Yosi and Neta.
#lev-55:
Nava nee Levitan, Yosi, Neta, Uri Tal, Barak Nachsholy.
#lev-56:
( l-R) Rachel Gordin, Arnold Levitan, his father; Ruven Levitan,
Nava, Yosi and Neta.
#lev-57:
Uri Tal with his daughters; Neta and Limor and his son in law; Yosi.
#lev-58:
Sitting in the middle; Neta and her hasband Yosi. Next to Yosi is
his mother in law; Nava (nee Levitan) Tal. Next to her is her first
cousin; Reuven Levitan. all the way on the right ( cut) Newtas'
father; Uri Tal ( nee Rosental)
#lev-59:
Alon Levitan with relatives
#lev-60:
Alon Levitan with friends; Mike and Loui, his grandmother, Rachel
and Barak
#lev-61:
Alon Levitan with his grandmother; Rachel.
#lev-62:
Alon Levitan with his double relative; Nava nee Levitan. Navas'
father; Benzion, was the brother of Alons' great grandfather; Nachum.
Navas' mother; Gita, was the first cousin of Alons' great grandmother;
Lola nee Chait
#lev-63:
Carmel Levitan
#lev-64:
Carmel and Josh
#lev-65:
Carmel and Josh in China
#lev-66:
Carmel and Josh
#lev-67:
Carmel and Talia Levitan, daughters of Eilat Gordin and Daniel Levitan
#lev-76:
Carmel, Talia and their mother; Eilat Gordin Levitan with Tandra
#lev-77:
Carmel, Talia and Eilat Gordin Levitan with Josh Fisher and his
family, at the home of Tandra
#lev-78: Sitting in the middle the elderly rabinocvich from Shavli to the left is their son-in-law Nachum Levitan to the right is the german nanny of Ruven levitan next to her is Nachums sister Dr. Chienna Shereshevsky. Children are Ruven and Zvi, next to Zvi sits his nanny. Zvi Shereshevsky perished in Auzhwitz in 1944
#lev-79:
Gita Levitan nee Kriger and her daughters Ofra, Nava with Levitan relatives
#lev-80:
Dr. Daniel Levitan and Rabbi Yossi Baitelman
#lev-81:
Carmel Levitan PhD
#lev-82:
Alon with friends 2007
#lev-83:
Alon with friends 2007
#lev-84:
Alon with friends 2007
#lev-84a:
Hi Eilat,
I thought you would want these two matzevot photos from a Minsker plot
at
Montefiore Cemetery in NY.
Steven Lasky
www.museumoffamilyhistory.com
steve@museumoffamilyhistory.com
#lev-84b:
Hi Eilat,
I thought you would want these two matzevot photos from a Minsker plot
at
Montefiore Cemetery in NY.
Steven Lasky
www.museumoffamilyhistory.com
steve@museumoffamilyhistory.com
#lev-84c:
My grandmother and her children made a trip from South Africa to visit
the family in Lithuania just before the war.
This photo is of the Levin family (my grandmother's in-laws) taken in
Birzai sometime in 1938 (approx). The two children are my mother
(Lily) and uncle (Robert). My maternal grandmother Rochel is sitting
behind and between them.
The two older individuals are my grandfather's (Chona Levin) parents:
Zorach and Golda. The other individuals are unnamed unfortunately but
would likely include their children: Mina, Ruska, Israel, Mendel and
Rivka.
Mina went to live in the USA (Portland, Maine) – I think the others
stayed behind.
Dr. Wainer
#lev-84d:
Levitan, the principal of an ORT vocational school in Dvinsk
#lev-84e:
Carmel awarded her PhD
#lev-84f:
Carmel awarded her PhD
#lev-84g:
Carmel and Gerry in Bosnia.
for more pictures go to; http://josh.yosh.org/travel/
#lev-84h:
Drs. Joshua B. Fisher and Carmel Levitan in Dubrovnik. http://josh.yosh.org/travel/
#lev-86:
Our granddaughters
We`re happy to announce the birth of our twin
granddaughters, Na`ama and Romi.
Neta , the mother' and her daughters are feeling fine
and healthy.
NAVA ( nee Levitan) & URI Tal
#lev-87:
from;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120801543.html?referrer=emailarticle
Albert Viton was born Azriel Levitan in Tver, Lithuania, on Nov. 13, 1913, and immigrated with his family to the United States when he was in his teens. He grew up in Rock Island, Ill.
He changed his name when he decided in the 1930s to report from Nazi Germany for a Rock Island newspaper. But Mr. Viton was expelled and made his way to the Middle East.
He was in Palestine and other parts of the Middle East for three years, writing dispatches that were picked up by newspapers across the United States and Canada, as well as articles for the Nation, the Christian Century and Asia Magazine.
In 1940, he wrote about the Nazi policy of shipping skilled workers from occupied countries to Germany, liquidating the intelligentsia and consigning thousands to concentration camps. "Why don't the Czechs and Poles rebel?" he asked. "Thousands have asked this question. But this question reveals habits of mind formed under liberal democracy -- and blissful ignorance of the techniques of Fascist rule".....
His wife, Elaine Hofsteede Viton, died in 1993.
Survivors include three children, Philip Viton of Columbus, Ohio, Gail Fischberg of New York and Karen Dunster of Thurgarton, England; two brothers; a sister; and three grandchildren.
#lev-88:
Alon Levitan and his aunt Anat Geffen
#lev-89:
Alon Levitan and his aunt Anat Geffen
#lev-90:
Eran Gordin and Alon Levitan
#lev-91:
Eran Gordin and Alon Levitan
#lev-92:
Alon and Ruven Levitan
#lev-93:
Miri Dick Ph.D with her second cousin once removed: Carmel Levitan Ph.D. Miri is the grandaughter of Hela Hinda Ripshtein nee Herlberg the sister of Ester Rosenblum nee Helberg ( Carmels" Great grandmother)
Hela Hinda and Ester were daughters of Shmuel HELBERG and Sara nee RAKOWER Born in 1870, Krakow
#lev-94:
Melbourne, 2008. middle; Yael Wolfson, grandaughter of Jenia Chait Viniar ,with her second cousin once removed, Carmel Levitan. Carmel is the great granddaughter of Jenia' sister; Lola (nee Chait) Gordin Moher. The guy in the picture is Yael' husband, Moshe Wolfson
#lev-95:
Daniel Levitan and Shimon Kristal, Afikim, 2008
#lev-96:
From left; Eran Gordin, Eilat Gordin Levitan, Daniel Levitan, Carmel Levitan and Shimon Kristal and his wife. Afikim, 2008
#lev-97:
Shimon Kristals' grandson
#lev-98:
Rachel Gordin, Barak Nachsholi, Daniel Levitan, Eilat Gordin Levitan
#lev-99:
Sitting: Daniel Levitan, Eilat Gordin Levitan Standing: Tzafrir Gordin ( Tzafy)
#lev-100a:
From left: Barak Nachsholi, Daniel Levitan, Rachel Gordin, Carmel Levitan, Kathleen Burk ( Gordin)
#lev-100b:
Eran Gordin and Carmel Levitan
#lev-100c:
Naama and Romi: grandaughters of Nava (nee Levitan)
Great grandaughters of Gita ( nee Kriger) and Ben Zion Levitan
Great great grandaughters of Sheina ( nee Levin) and Leib Kriger ( son of Gitl and Zusia Kriger)
#lev-101:
Talia Levitan and her boyfriend Jason Sanchez in Chile, 2008
#lev-111:
Rabbi Betzalel Shur finishes a letter on a restored scroll as members of Wilmette's North Shore Jewish Center-Congregation Or Simcha observe. The restored Torah scroll is the first that belongs to the young congregation ( including the Levitan family of Arnie and Janis, on the left) http://www.pioneerlocal.com/wilmette/news/873492,wi-torah-040308-s1.article
#lev-112:
Bob Levitan, Ben Hecht captain
Historians and Family Remember the SS Ben Hecht
for pictures go to;
http://wymaninstitute.org/special/photoexhibit2.php
by Ezra HaLevi
(IsraelNN.com) Dozens of ships attempted to bring Holocaust survivors
past the British blockade of pre-state Israel in the 1940s, but only a
few - including the S.S. Ben Hecht - managed to become entangled in
controversies on three different continents. The 60th anniversary of
the voyage of the Ben Hecht was recounted by historians and relatives
of the boat's captain at an event near Washington, D.C. earlier this
week.
The commemoration of the voyage was sponsored by The David S. Wyman
Institute for Holocaust Studies, and took place at the Silver Spring
Jewish Center, in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Barbara Randall of Florida, the daughter of Ben Hecht captain Bob
Levitan, was one of the featured speakers. She said her father "simply
recognized that it was his obligation to do what he could to help the
survivors of the Holocaust. It was nothing more complicated than
that."
Captain Levitan's grand-nephew, David Miller of Silver Spring, also
spoke. Miller recalled that as a child, he often heard stories from
relatives about how when the Ben Hecht crew members were arrested and
sent to Acre Prison, Levitan had a camera with him. "Because the crew
were Americans, the British guards didn't think of them as a security
risk, so they didn't carefully search them," Miller said. That camera
was used to make false identification papers that helped facilitate
the May 1947 Acre Prison breakout. "Uncle Bob didn't have to get
involved in this dangerous mission," Miller said. "At the end of the
war, he could have just returned to his normal civilian life. Instead,
he risked himself to try to crash the British blockade - just because
it was the right thing to do."
Levitan's niece, Dr. Carol Rose, came from Pittsburgh to take part in
the event.
The audience viewed a video interview with Captain Levitan, in which
he recalled the voyage. "Many of the crew members were not even
Jewish," he remembered. "Two were Norwegian-Americans. One was black.
Like me, they were just sick of the world kicking the Jews around, and
they wanted to help." ..... for the rest go to;
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/121730
My father's sister, (Sala) was married to a man named Avraham Lewitan. He was
born in Warsaw, Poland.
Avraham's father, named Yeshayahu was born in Siaului, Lithuania (if I'm not
mistaken) and settled in Warsaw. Avraham is the only member of the family,to
have survived(he survived the Warsaw ghetto uprising together with his wife and
daughter, only to be caught in a burning building (Aprill 1943), to be sent to
Treblinka(he survived this camp and several others) this is how we know who and
how they perished. Avraham had a sister who emigrated to Israel(early 1930's),
and they were in the construction business. Avraham settled in Eretz Yisrael
after the war and remarried.
Would Avraham Lewitan be any relation?
He passed away only a couple of years ago. I recently was told this story and
I'm sorry I never met him.
Geri Levine (geri@levinecorp.com)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Arrival Date Estimated Birth Year Gender Port of Departure Place
of Origin Destination Ship Name
H H Levitan 28 Feb 1859 1831 Male Bremen, Germany Germany United
States of America Bremen
S Levitan 12 Nov 1860 1822 Male Bremen, Germany Turkey United
States of America Bremen
Bensel Levitan 7 Dec 1886 1873 Male Hamburg, Germany Russia New
York Polaria
Esther Levitan 15 Jun 1889 1872 Female Hamburg, Germany and Le
Havre, France Russia United States of America Gellert
Lea Levitan 10 Nov 1884 1861 Female Hamburg, Germany and Le Havre,
France Russia United States of America Lessing
Nanny Levitan 11 Sep 1852 1833 Female Hamburg, Germany Germany
United States of America America
A Levitan 21 Jul 1886 1878 Male Glasgow, Scotland and Larne,
Ireland Russia United States of America State of Georgia
F Levitan 21 Jul 1886 1846 Male Glasgow, Scotland and Larne, Ireland
Russia United States of America State of Georgia
F Levitan 21 Jul 1886 1877 Male Glasgow, Scotland and Larne, Ireland
Russia United States of America State of Georgia
S Levitan 21 Jul 1886 1876 Female Glasgow, Scotland and Larne,
Ireland Russia United States of America State of Georgia
Gilel Levitan 6 Jun 1887 1879 Male Glasgow, Scotland and Moville,
Ireland Russia United States of America Ethiopia
Itzig Levitan 6 Jun 1887 1868 Male Glasgow, Scotland and Moville,
Ireland Russia United States of America Ethiopia
Len Levitan 6 Jun 1887 1839 Female Glasgow, Scotland and Moville,
Ireland Russia United States of America Ethiopia
S Levitan 8 Jan 1891 1839 Male Glasgow, Scotland and Moville,
Ireland Russia New York State of Nevada
Sam Levitan 7 Jul 1891 1868 Male Glasgow, Scotland and Moville,
Ireland Russia New York Siberian
Image
Jossel Levitan 20 Jul 1891 1862 Male Liverpool, England and
Queenstown, Ireland Russia New York Alaska
Kate Levitan 11 Oct 1886 1866 Female Liverpool, England and
Queenstown, Ireland Ireland United States of America Arizona
Lara Levitan 31 Aug 1891 1872 Female Liverpool, England and
Queenstown, Ireland Russia New York Arizona
Margt Levitan 19 Sep 1879 1860 Female Liverpool, England and
Queenstown, Ireland Ireland United States of America City of
Chester
Rosa Levitan 20 Jul 1891 1869 Female Liverpool, England and
Queenstown, Ireland Russia New York Alaska
Sore Levitan 12 May 1890 1872 Female Liverpool, England and
Queenstown, Ireland New York Servia
http://www.abcgallery.com/L/levitan/levitan.html
The work of Isaac Ilyich Levitan belongs to the highest achievements of Russian culture. Its significance is compared with the works of such classics as Anton Chekhov, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Konstantin Stanislavsky.
Levitan was born in 1860 into a poor but educated Jewish family. In the late 1860s, the family moved to Moscow, where Isaac studied at the Moscow School of Painting and Sculpture from 1873 till 1883. He lost his mother in 1875 and his father two years later. He was left penniless and homeless in Moscow, sleeping alternately in the homes of relatives and friends, sometimes spending the night in the empty classrooms of the school. A nightwatch took pity on the youth and let him sleep in his cubicle. The School waived his tuition fee “because of extreme poverty and in recognition of his singular success in art”
The greatest role in the forming of Levitan’s creative personality belongs to his favorite teacher Alexey Savrasov, the most lyrical among Russian landscape painters of the 1860s-1870s, who influenced many well-known artists of Levitan’s generation Mikhail Nesterov, Constantin Korovin and others. Of course, Levitan’s passionate love for poetry and music, his persistent studying of pleine-air, the sunny paintings of Vasiliy Polenov, who also taught at the School, the works of the French painters of the Barbizon school, of Camille Corot were of great importance for the young artist. As any great talent did and does, Levitan submitted all the influences to his personality, and even his early works are very individual. Autumn Day. Sokolniki (1879). Levitan’s attitude towards nature and the poetry of his art were in many points akin to the works of Anton Chekhov, who became his friend from the late 1870s.
If his earlier works were chiefly of an intimate and lyrical character, his mature art becomes philosophical, expressing the artist’s meditation about man and the world. These pictures were particularly loved by the Russian intellectuals of the time, for they represented the purest specimen of the “mood landscape”, most popular in Russia at the end of the 19th century.
To this period belongs The Vladimirka Road (1892), a rare example of social historical landscape; Levitan painted the tragically famous road, along which convicts were marched to Siberia. In Above the Eternal Peace (1894) the artist’s meditations about the controversies of life, about the transience of human being, gained almost monumental scale and philosophic character.
In 1897, Levitan felt sick, a severe cardiac disease was revealed. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the permanent menace of death, he worked with a particular intensity and inspiration. His latest works are distinguished by a confident mastership, richness of technical methods, and new stylistic trends. One can feel the influence of ancient Russian art, which attracted him at the period, and that of modern style, and the newest searches in French painting, which Levitan always took a lively interest in. Nevertheless, Levitan did not join modern art and remained true to realism, utterly alien to mythologizing and stylization. Most characteristic in the late 1890s were numerous paintings of quiet twilights, moonlit nights, sleeping villages (Haystacks. Twilight. (1899), Sunny Day. (1898) and many others). To the very end of his life Levitan took an active part in artistic life; he taught at the Moscow School of Painting, where he had been educated, took part in organizing the Moscow Club of Literature and Art, showed his pictures at numerous exhibitions of such associations as World of Art and Munich Secession.
Leo Tolstoy once said, “The basis of human happiness is the possibility to be together with nature, to see it and to talk to it.” Levitan was granted this happy feeling as hardly any other human being ever was. He also knew the joy of recognition by his contemporaries and of friendship with the best among them. Levitan ranks among the most appreciated and loved of Russian artists.
Bibliography:
Isaak Levitan. Aurora. Leningrad. 1980
Levitan. by V.Petrov. Russian Painters of the XIX century. Moscow. 1992.
One family's Hanukkah
For the Levitans of Austin, Hanukkah traditions are a blend of ancient and modern
By Michele Chan Santos
American-Statesman Staff
Published: Dec. 13, 1998
Arnie and Janice Levitan started telling the story of Hanukkah to their
children, Jacob, 3, and Sarah, 2, when the youngsters were only a few
months old. They told them about Judah the Maccabee's victory over the
Greek-Syrian tyrant Antiochus, a triumph Jewish people will celebrate
tonight and for the next week. But as they grow up, Jacob and Sarah will
associate Hanukkah with more than its religious and historical meaning.
Their recollections will be enriched with the traditions and stories unique
to their family. Holiday gatherings bring back deep memories. For most
people, this time of year means "what your family did around food,
gifts, celebrations," says Anna Gonzalez-Sorenson, a clinical psychologist
with Austin Counseling and Psychological Services. "Families have
traditions, rituals, special things they do every year.They feel familiar,
bring back warm memories." The memories often span generations. Jacob
and Sarah's grandparents, Ruven and Ilana Levitan, were married during
the fourth night of Hanukkah in Tel Aviv in 1949, a year after they helped
found Israel. It was raining, and the photographer never got a picture
of the bride and groom alone, but it's a treasured moment in family history.
Forty-three years later, Arnie asked Janice to marry him on the third
night of Hanukkah in 1992. "I proposed by giving her a Hanukkah gift,"
Arnie says. "It was a Minnie Mouse watch with a 'Marry me' inscription
on the back." The rest of the inscription says "forever and
forever," a favorite phrase of the couple's, and the year based on
the Hebrew calendar, 5753. The celebrations go beyond the nuptial. Janice's
parents, Art and Bette Anderson, give a big party every year during the
holiday, where up to 150 people gather to eat and hear the story of the
Maccabees' military victory. Every gathering is marked by distinctive
foods, prayers and religious objects. Menorahs are candelabras that symbolize
Hanukkah. The Levitans have two: a delicate silver menorah that was a
wedding gift for Arnie and Janice and a golden menorah purchased in Tel
Aviv. Janice's family has a Hanukkah cookie recipe, passed from one member
to the next, from grandmother to mother to cousin to uncle, changing a
little bit with each retelling. The sugar cookies have just a touch of
orange juice in them, their secret ingredient. Janice has four cookie
cutters for Hanukkah, in the shape of a dreidel (spinning top), a menorah,
a Star of David and a cruse (bottle) of oil. She sprinkles blue and yellow
sugar on the cookies, because blue and gold are traditional Hanukkah colors.
This year, Janice is starting a collection of dreidels for her children,
planning to add a new one every year. So far, they have a Mickey Mouse
dreidel and another decorated with Winnie the Pooh. Mickey and Pooh may
be modern cartoons, but the Hebrew characters on the top have a much older
meaning: They are the initials of the phrase: "A great miracle happened
there." The dreidel game was played by Jews who were not allowed
to study the Torah during Antiochus' reign. During their studies, they
would keep a dreidel nearby, Janice says. When soldiers came by to inspect
them, they pretended to be playing a game. Hanukkah, Janice says, was
"a fight for religious freedom." It was a victory for Jews who
were resisting political and religious domination from Greek-controlled
Syrian society. Celebrating Hanukkah "is part of the whole circle,"
she says. "It's part of who we are and what we are." Still,
Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday for Jews, Janice says, that pales
in significance next to Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover. The Levitans
moved from Kokomo, Ind., to Austin in March, when Arnie took a job as
a diffusion process section manager for Motorola. They attend services
at Chabad House-Lubavitch, an Orthodox synagogue and community center
near the University of Texas. Their children also attend preschool at
Chabad House. The Levitans moved from Kokomo, population less than 50,000,
with a tiny Jewish community, to the Austin metropolitan area, with a
population of more than 1 million and a Jewish community of more than
10,000 (the majority of whom belong to the Reform and Conservative branches
of Judaism). It has been a remarkable change for the family. "There
are three times as many Jewish families in our neighborhood than in Kokomo,"
Janice says of their home in Northwest Austin. The family keeps a kosher
household. This is much easier in Austin than in Kokomo, where they had
to drive four hours to Chicago to buy kosher meat. "Here, the H-E-B
kosher store has everything we need," Janice Levitan says.
Each night, they will light the menorah, a nine-branch candelabra. Using
the helper candle, or shamash, in the center, they will light one candle
tonight, two tomorrow, and so on, until the whole candelabra is lit at
the conclusion of the holiday. The ceremony commemorates the miracle of
the single jar of oil that kept the temple light burning continuously
for eight days after the Maccabees' triumph in 165 B.C. They will pray
during the ceremony: "Praised are you, Adonai (Hebrew for `Lord')
our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has made us holy by mitzvot (Hebrew
for `commandment') and instructed us to light the Hanukkah candles."
The prayers end with thanking God "who has given us life, sustained
us, and helped us to reach this day." Little Jacob is ready. Last
week, he responded quickly when his mother asked him, "Who did the
Maccabees fight, Jacob?"
"Antiochus!" the 3-year-old said. "And they won!"
Using
a generations-old family recipe, Janice Levitan and her children, Jacob,
3, and Sarah, 2, make Hanukkah cookies.
Photo by Rebecca McEntee/AA-S.
Surname First_name Year Town
Source Comments
LEWITAN Mordechai 1900 Jorburg, Lith. Hamelitz #247
LEWITAN Reuven 1900 Kaunas, Lith. Hamelitz #176 Kloiz Weinshtein
LEWITAN Reuven 1902 Kaunas, Lith. Hamelitz # 238 Kloiz Weinshtein
LEVITAN Shmuel 1899 Keidainiai, Lith. Hamelitz #216
LEWITAN Devorah 1895 Keidainiai, Lith. Hamelitz #230 from Dotnewe
LEWITAN Bentzion 1899 Kelme, Lith. Hamelitz #56
LEWITAN Betzalel 1903 Krekenava, Lith. Hamelitz #120
LEWITAN Yakov 1897 Nemaksciai, Lith. Hamelitz #170
LEWITAN Yakov 1898 Nemaksciai, Lith. Hamelitz # 132
LEWITAN Nisan ben Rabbi Gaon Tzadok 1899 Nodtzigrod, Lith. Hamelitz #204
Rabbi
LEWITAN Yosef 1898 Panemune, Lith. Hamelitz #173
LEWITAN Eliahu husband of Rochel from Propoisk 1893 Panevys, Lith. Hamelitz
# 201 wed
LEWITAN Shmuel 1901 Panevys, Lith. Hamelitz #85
LEPTIN Hiene 1900 Platelai, Lith. Hamelitz #140
LEWITAN A G 1902 Radziviliskis, Lith. Hamelitz #244
LEWITAN Eliezer 1902 Radziviliskis, Lith. Hamelitz #244
LEWITAN Alter 1895 Raseiniai, Lith. Hamelitz #208
LEWITAN Alter 1899 Raseiniai, Lith. Hamelitz #72
LEWITAN Alter 1900 Raseiniai, Lith. Hamelitz #204
LEWITAN Alter husband of Devorah Rosenfeld 1901 Raseiniai, Lith. Hamelitz
#27 wed
LEWITAN Alter husband of Devorah Rosenfeld 1901 Raseiniai, Lith. Hamelitz
#80
LEWITHAN 1900 Riga, Lat. Hamelitz #214 doctor
LEWITAN Shraga son of the rabbi here 1900 Salatai, Lith. Hamelitz #140
LEWIATAN Yeshiahu 1897 Seduva, Lith. Hamelitz #10
LEWITAN Yitzchok Zalman 1902 Shantz (Kaunas), Lith. Hamelitz # 240
LEWITAN Zisel 1902 Shantz (Kaunas), Lith. Hamelitz # 240
LEWITAN A 1895 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #189
LEWITAN Avigdor 1893 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #223
LEWITAN Ch 1895 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #189
LEWITAN Ch A 1895 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #189
LEWITAN Chaim Eliezer 1893 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #204
LEWITAN Chaim Eliezer 1898 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #173
LEWITAN Chaim Leizer 1899 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz # 212
LEWITAN Eliahu ben Miriam 1899 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #214
LEWITAN Miriam d of brother of Zev Wolf Lewitan mother of Eliahu 1899
Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #214
LEWITAN Nachman husband of Friede Shefkind of Shkod 1902 Siauliai, Lith.
Hamelitz #230 wed in Mazeiki 3
Marcheshvan
LEWITAN R 1895 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #189
LEWITAN Sh 1895 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #189
LEWITAN Zev 1901 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz #87 Kloiz Hachayatim (for Bessarabia
fund)
LEWITAN Zev Wolf uncle of Miriam Lewitan 1899 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz
#214
LEWITAN 1899 Siauliai, Lith. Hamelitz # 212
LEWITAN B Y 1903 Siluva, Lith. Hamelitz # 224 Rabbi ABD
LEWITAN Dovid husband of Rochel Hinda 1898 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz #94
wed (anniv?) 3 Adar
LEWITAN Falk 1900 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz #140
LEWITAN Falk father of Shraga 1898 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz # 132
LEWITAN Leib 1900 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz #140
LEWITAN Rochel Hinda wife of Dovid 1898 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz #94 wed
(anniv?) 3 Adar
LEWITAN Shraga ben Falk 1898 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz # 132
LEWITAN Tziril 1900 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz #140
LEWITAN Tzvi 1898 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz #173
LEWITAN Tzvi 1900 Taurage, Lith. Hamelitz #140
LEWITAN Shlomo Yitzchok 1900 Vainuta, Lith. Hamelitz #140
LEWITAN Chaim Meir 1898 Varniai, Lith. Hamelitz #132
LEWITAN Chaim 1898 Zarasai, Lith. Hamelitz #173
LEWITAN Yakov 1899 Zasliai, Lith. Hamelitz #67
-------------------------
LEWITAN Rabbi Moshe Yosef (son of Zvi Hirsh Levitan 1840- 1915) husband
of M Yehudis married;1899
Vilnius, Lith. Hamelitz #6 wed both died in Israel
parents to; Nachum (father of Dr. Ruven Levitan and baby Yonina who was
lost during the war), Dr. Chyena
Shershevski (Her two sons perished in Kovno), Ben-Zion (father to Dr.
Avi, Ariela, Nava and Ofra) and Batia
Shapira (mother to Dr. Yair and Dr. Ami
--------------------- LEWITAN Dov Ber 1872 Kaunas, Lith. Hamaggid #17
LEWITAN Shmuel 1872 Kaunas, Lith. Hamaggid #17
LEWITAN Zundil 1872 Keidainiai, Lith Hamaggid
LEWITAN Abraham 1872 Saukenai, Lith. Hamaggid #18
LEVITAN Yitschak 1872 Seduva, Lith. Hamaggid #9 Hagvir
LEWITAN Leib 1872 Taurage, Lith. Hamaggid #13
LEWITAN Shlomo 1872 Zagare (new) Hamaggid #17
1852
LEVITAN Gershon Leyb Head of Household 46 butcher
LEVITAN Abram Gershon Son 14
1863
LEVITAN Gershon Leyb 57
LEVITAN Abram Gershon 25
LEVITAN Gershel Leyba age 52 in 1858
LEVITAN Girsha Gershel age 27 in December 1868
LEVITAN Abram Gershel 30 in December 1868
LEVITAN Leyba Gershel 13 in 1866
LEVITAN Leyba Gershel
LEVITAN Abram Gershel 30 December 1868
Kedainiai/ Kaunas 1874
LEVITAN Girsh (Zvi Hirsh?) son of Gershen Head of Household 32
LEVITAN Leah Wife 31
LEVITAN Movsha Girsh's Son 4
LEVITAN Shmuel Girsh's Son 2
LEVITAN Freyda Girsh's Daughter 7
LEVITAN Eyga Girsh's Daughter 3 weeks
HaRav Shach was born to Rav Ezriel zt"l and Bat Sheva of the Levitan family, a family of talmidei chachomim who served as rabbonim in important Lithuanian communities. Her brother was HaRav Nisan Levitan zt"l, who became one of the most senior figures in Agudas HaRabbonim of America.
HaRav Shach was born in Vabolnik, Lithuania on erev Rosh Chodesh Shvat 5655 (1895) into a home of yirei Shomayim. HaRav Shach always praised the yiras Shomayim he absorbed in his parents' house.
"I remember how I was educated in my parents' home: when my yarmulke fell off my head, I was taught that you had to cry from distress. They were guided by a concern for the punctilious observance of mitzvos. Once I woke up after the zman Krias Shema according to the Mogen Avrohom and I burst out crying and continued to cry about it all day long."
He was brought up and educated with Torah and immense yiras Shomayim. Throughout his life he was extremely careful about being medakdek bemitzvos.
Although there was a yeshiva ketana in his hometown, he begged his parents to let him go to Ponevezh Yeshiva in order to fulfill the directive, "Exile yourself to a place of Torah." When they saw how persistent he was they agreed to his request, and he set out for Ponevezh Yeshiva. He was never to see his parents again.
He pursued his studies diligently together with the other talmidim. His great rov was HaRav Itzele Blazer zt"l and he also had the merit of sleeping in the Ba'al Hamitzvos' House. Already in his youth those characteristics, which were to make him admired by the whole Jewish world, stood out: his amazing hasmodoh, wonderful talents, a shining mussar personality, respect for his fellow man, and a cheerful countenance.
He acquired his learning during his youth from Slobodka Yeshiva in Lithuania, where he quickly became one of its outstanding students. During the years 5673-74 (1913-14) he absorbed Torah and mussar from his great rov, the Alter of Slobodka, HaRav Nosson Zvi Finkel zt"l, from his son- in-law, HaRav Yitzchok Eisik Sher zt"l and HaRav Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt"l.
Throughout his life HaRav Shach considered himself to be a talmid of Slobodka and he often praised that great institution of Torah and mussar. Once he said that all the Torah in Eretz Yisroel and America today originates from Slobodka, the "mother of Yeshivas," for all the roshei yeshiva of the last generation learned there.
The Slobodka mussar outlook and the Alter's approach to the depths of ma'amorei Chazal guided the Rosh Yeshiva in his avodas Hashem in general and in his mussar shmuessen in particular.
In 5614 (1914) HaRav Shach was forced to leave Slobodka due to the outbreak of war and he returned to his hometown of Vabolnik, where he joined the yeshiva of HaRav Yechezkel Bernstein zt"l, the author of the Divrei Yechezkel, who had opened a yeshiva in the town in which his father- in-law lived.
Rav Shach writes about this period in the introduction to the new Avi Ezri edition published in 5753 (1993): "How can I repay Hashem for all His mercies? Starting from the days of my youth, when I went through periods when I had nothing at all. I cannot adequately describe this period from the beginning of the First World War in 5674 (1914) when all the Jews were exiled from the Lithuanian towns and I did not know where my parents were, for I was alone in Slutsk and I had no contact with them. That was how I spent several years, suffering much."
The Rosh Yeshiva spent these years fleeing the terrors of the First World War. He wandered from town to town, but fulfilled the posuk, "Had Your Torah not been my delight, I should then have perished in my affliction." He learned in shuls and botei medrash, washing his face, hands and feet in the sinks at the entrance of the botei medrash. Every fiber of his being was immersed only in Torah, and he could say about himself, "The Torah which I learned in the period of wrath, endured."
In later years, when bochurim came to him to complain about physical conditions in the yeshiva, he told them that in those days he would take off his shirt, soak it in the sink outside the shul and wait in the cold for it to dry outside. "I never wanted to be dependent on the kindness of others." Thus he remained immersed in the Sea of the Talmud, cleaving to his Creator.
He would subsequently say that anyone attached to materialism could never attain ruchniyus, and quoted from Vayeiro, "Sit here with the donkey": "Anyone who does not see the mokom, who does not see Hakodosh Boruch Hu, it is a clear sign that he is attached to chamor, to materialism. Only someone who detaches himself from materialism, attains spirituality."
Then he would relate the spiritual heights he attained during this difficult period, when he had no material goods whatsoever and only experienced suffering.
His unique hasmodoh was conspicuous in all stages of his life. His whole life and his whole being revolved around the holy Torah, in which he toiled and which elevated him at all times.
After a while HaRav Shach joined the HaRav Isser Zalman Meltzer zt"l who had founded a yeshiva in Slutsk in 5657 (1897). He developed a close relationship with HaRav Isser Zalman, whom he considered his rov with respect to everything, and he had the merit of absorbing Torah from HaRav Isser Zalman in his house in Slutsk.
He would recall how when he came to be tested by HaRav Isser Zalman, his clothes were torn because of his intense poverty at the time, after he had been forced to travel from town to town and he only had one set of clothes. By the time he got to see Rav Isser Zalman his clothes were tattered and he was afraid to go in to see the Prince of Torah looking like that. He turned his pants inside-out in order to make them look less torn and shabby.
HaRav Meltzer noticed the state of his clothes and accepted him to the yeshiva straight away, realizing that he was a treasure house, a plastered cistern that does not lose a drop, who was destined to illuminate the skies of Torah-true Judaism with the light of his Torah and greatness. The following day HaRav Isser Zalman bought him new clothes.
In the introduction to his great work Avi Ezri on Haflo'o-Zeroim HaRav Shach writes: "It is my duty to mention my uncle, HaRav Isser Zalman Meltzer ztv"l and my aunt . . . who were like parents to me already in my youth . . . I received much from them, and whatever is mine -- is from them."
The Rosh Yeshiva received semichoh from HaRav Isser Zalman, eventually married his sister's daughter, and was appointed maggid shiur in the Slutsk Yeshiva headed by HaRav Isser Zalman.
Throughout his life HaRav Shach related to his uncle HaRav Isser Zalman like a son to a father and a talmid to his eminent rov. In his shiurim he often cites divrei Torah of Rav Isser Zalman on sugyos of Shas. In a letter on the occasion of the establishment of Even Ho'ezel Yeshiva in Netivot, HaRav Shach wrote, "Rav Isser Zalman disseminated Torah throughout his life, and I, although unworthy of it, had the merit of becoming close to him and he taught me like a father teaches a son."
In a letter of chiddushei Torah to Rav Isser Zalman dated Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 5799 (1938) HaRav Shach (who was then Rosh Yeshivas Karlin in Luninetz) addresses him as follows: "My teacher and master, the great and true Gaon, the Prince of Torah and treasure house of yir'oh, the Glory of the Jewish nation, the master of his nation, my uncle, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer shlita." He concludes the letter: "With this I bow to my master and teacher with the blessing that he may live a lengthy life, remain strong and merit the comfort of Zion. His devoted student . . . ".
Rav Shach recalled that in his youth he wrote for himself a whole composition in a notebook on hilchos na'aroh besuloh and his uncle, Rav Isser Zalman would go up to the closet where the notebook was, look at it and make a few comments. The Rosh Yeshiva said that Rav Isser Zalman told him about his suggestions for a hagohoh on the Rambam (Naaroh Besuloh 3:3 -- see Avi Ezri (ibid.), dibbur hamaschil vesovur hoyisi) that he had arrived at the truth with this hagohoh and that everybody had a part in the Torah.
Rav Isser Zalman also treated HaRav Shach like his son, remaining very attached to him throughout his life and showering him with an abundance of Torah and yir'oh. Rav Isser Zalman praised Rav Shach's chiddushei Torah greatly, and due to his great admiration of them he published some in his book Even Ho'ezel. Rav Isser Zalman also encouraged the Rosh Yeshiva to publish his sefer Avi Ezri. When Rav Shach was about to publish his first sefer in 5708 (1948) there was a shortage of paper because of the war and Rav Isser Zalman took pains to obtain sufficient paper for the printing of the book.
Disseminating Torah
On 16th Av 5683 (1923) HaRav Shach was engaged to Rav Isser Zalman's niece,
Guttel, the daughter of Rav Ben-Zion Gilmovsky z"l, who was a descendant
of the Ponim Meiros. The book Shimusho shel Torah contains her lineage
as recorded by Rav Isser Zalman. They were married between Yom Kippur
and Succos 5684 (1923), Rav Isser Zalman being mesader kiddushin.
Over the years the Rosh Yeshiva would speak about the Rebbetzin's mesirus
nefesh, which allowed him to toil in Torah undisturbed. She took upon
herself the yoke of supporting the family, working as a pharmacist in
the town. "After my marriage too I would travel [to yeshiva to learn]
from Pesach to Succos and from Succos to Pesach to devote myself undisturbed
to my studies, and my whole Torah is to be credited to her."
For five consecutive years he devoted himself to his studies with amazing
hasmodoh acquiring a mastery of all parts of the Torah. His soul yearned
for Torah, and during those years he overwhelmed his inclination and purified
his body, submitting it totally to Torah with his elevated yiras Shomayim.
He did not cease his studies day or night; he did not take leave of his
books or interrupt his studies. He afflicted his body and purified his
soul until he had acquired a vast knowledge of the Talmudic waters.
In 5789 (1929) he was asked by HaRav Aharon Kotler zt"l to assist
him by becoming a maggid shiur in Kletsk Yeshiva. He disseminated Torah
there for five years, leaving his mark on many talmidei chachomim. During
this period he developed a close relationship with HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein
zt"l, the future mashgiach of Ponevezh, who was the mashgiach of
Kletsk at the time.
At this time HaRav Shach was asked by the Brisker Rov to accept the position
of rosh yeshiva of Toras Chaim in Brisk to replace the Imrei Moshe, HaRav
Moshe Soloveitchik, but for various reasons HaRav Shach did not take up
this position.
After the sudden passing of HaRav Meir Shapira zt"l on 7th Cheshvan
5694 (1933), HaRav Shach was asked by Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky zt"l
to become the rosh yeshiva of Lublin and he stayed there for a while.
He then served as maggid shiur in Novardok Yeshiva, where he taught Torah
to young students for two years. In a letter written by HaRav Aharon Kotler
to HaRav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky he asks Rav Chaim Ozer "to use his
influence to support Novardok Yeshiva since my relative, the Gaon Rav
Eliezer Shach shlita joined the yeshiva as a maggid shiur, and I have
it on reliable information from members of that Yeshiva that the learning
is on a superior level especially now that my above relative has been
accepted there, for he is great in Torah and influencing others in Torah
. . . "
In 5696 (1936) the Rosh Yeshiva became a maggid shiur in Karlin Yeshiva
in Luninetz, which was headed by the Rebbe Rav Avrohom Elimelech Perlow
zt"l.
This is how Rav Shach came to serve as maggid shiur in Karlin Yeshiva:
The most important rabbonim of Lithuania and Poland were once in the middle
of a meeting when a young man stormed into the room without noticing any
of the rabbonim present. Some of the participants tried to prevent him
from entering the room but he insisted on proceeding with his mission.
"I must go in," the young man said and turned straight away
to HaRav Chaim Ozer, telling him. "I've got a simple solution to
yesterday's problem."
One of the Rebbes got up and protested, "Yungermanchik, a little
derech eretz!" The avreich apologized to those present and left the
room. HaRav Chaim Ozer smiled and said to the rabbonim: "When this
avreich has a question or an answer, he is not concerned about anything
else, so there is nothing to protest about."
The Karliner Rebbe, who was also present at this meeting turned to HaRav
Chaim Ozer and said, "I am looking for such a personality to serve
as Rosh Yeshiva of my yeshiva."
The Rebbe's wish was fulfilled and HaRav Shach became rosh yeshiva in
his yeshiva, a position he maintained for four years.
During this period Rav Shach was arrested for protesting chilul yom tov.
He protested against Jews who desecrated the sanctity of Shavuos, which
fell on erev Shabbos, by buying fish from non-Jews. In a letter written
to the management of the Vaad Hayeshivos in Vilna dated Monday 9th Sivan
5697 (1937), HaRav Shach wrote the following about these events:
"You must have read in the newspapers reports about what happened
here. I wish to inform you what happened last Friday morning after davening.
The yeshiva had been up all night learning, as is customary, and davened
after alos hashachar. After davening I noticed some Jewish ladies buying
fish from two [non-Jewish] fishermen. I immediately went over to them
and protested this abomination, of yom tov being publicly desecrated.
Straight away two policemen came over and arrested me, having gathered
testimony from some non-Jews that I had incited Jews not to buy produce
from non-Jews. Boruch Hashem after people interceded with the procurator
in Pinsk I was released after having been imprisoned for two days. At
the moment I do not know whether there will be a trial about this. The
report in the newspaper is therefore a lie, and tomorrow a report will
iy"H appear in the newspaper by the IATA giving a correct version
of what happened, and this will atone for the great fear we felt in the
town, especially following the events in Brisk."
In 5700 (1940) the Rosh Yeshiva reached Vilna, where he spent some time
with Rav Chaim Ozer with whom he held a lot of Torah discussions, at the
same time learning a lot from him about Jewish leadership. Rav Shach admired
Rav Chaim Ozer greatly for his greatness in Torah and for the way he bore
the yoke of leading the nation.
While he was in Vilna in 5700 the Rosh Yeshiva's daughter, Miriam Reizel,
passed away. He recalled that following her petiroh, whenever Rav Chaim
Ozer met him he would comfort him, saying, "Rebbi Shach, `Had Your
Torah not been my delight.' Rav Shach added that Rav Chaim Ozer also had
a daughter, an only child, who died young.
During the levaya, which took place in the Vilna cemetery, HaRav Shach's
son Efraim, yibodel lechaim aruchim remained with Rav Chaim Ozer, who
held him on his lap, playing with him and making him feel relaxed.
A Lion has Come Up from Bovel
In 5700 (1940) HaRav Shach immigrated to Eretz Yisroel. He said that he
came without enough money to support himself for even one day and without
even the most minimal possessions, because all his possessions, including
his personal effects, had been confiscated at the border. He went straight
away to the home of his uncle, HaRav Isser Zalman Meltzer.
At that time a maggid shiur from a yeshiva in Tel Aviv came to see Rav
Shach offering him the position of rosh yeshiva. HaRav Shach recalled:
"His yeshiva at that time was still without secular studies. It was
an ordinary yeshiva with proper bochurim. (At that time I still was not
so much aware of the Chazon Ish, since he was not yet so well-known. The
Brisker Rov had also not yet come to Eretz Yisroel. [So he did not and
could not ask their advice - Ed.]) I asked my uncle HaRav Isser Zalman
what to do. He thought about it for a day and then told me to accept the
position, which I did. The maggid shiur in that yeshiva gave me an advance
of 13 lirot, which was a lot of money at the time, with which I also bought
some furniture -- what I have now is what I bought then -- and I rented
an apartment in the middle of Baalei Melacha neighborhood in Tel Aviv.
I was relaxed there and successful. The management of the yeshiva was
happy with me.
"As I said, the yeshiva at that time was run like an ordinary yeshiva
without any secular studies, and that maggid shiur never spoke anything
about such things. Once, when I was in my room in the yeshiva building,
Rav Avrohom Farbstein zt"l, subsequently rosh yeshiva of Chevron
Yeshiva, who was a young man at the time (and was a regular visitor to
my uncle's house, Rav Isser Zalman, from where I knew him) found me immersed
in my thoughts. He asked me what was troubling me. I told him that I had
the feeling that people around me were surprised that I had this position
here and that I did not understand why. He told me that the Chazon Ish
was in Bnei Brak and I should seek his advice.
"I went straight from the yeshiva to the Chazon Ish and asked him
what to do. He told me that I certainly had to leave my position. He added
that from what he heard about me already in chutz lo'oretz from Rav Chaim
Ozer and from the divrei Torah he had seen which were published in Knesses
Yisroel in Vilna in 5792 (1932), it was surprising that I had accepted
a position there. He then made some severe criticisms of the head of the
yeshiva -- not against the yeshiva but against him personally. He added
that if in the next world they will say that hadn't they signed for you
for a parnossoh for the year and how could you dare to abandon that parnossoh,
I should reply that I did not want to make a parnossoh that way and I
will be left alone. I told him: Shouldn't I go to my wife first to prepare
her for this step? But he told me (in these words), `If a mitzvah comes
by your way, do not let it sour!' (Mitzvah habo'oh leyodecho al tachmitzenoh.)
And he said no more.
"I therefore went straight from the house of the Chazon Ish to the
head of the yeshiva in Tel Aviv without going home first, and told him
that I was resigning. He was surprised. At first he thought that I wanted
a higher salary and he offered to double it, but I resigned without any
further ado and left the yeshiva that same day. Afterwards I went home
to tell my family that I had resigned. When I told Rav Isser Zalman what
had happened he was full of praise for what I had done."
In 5741 (1941), at the instruction of the Chazon Ish, HaRav Shach was
called by HaRav Ben-Zion Bruk zt"l to serve as maggid shiur in his
Yeshiva Beis Yosef in Yerushalayim, where HaRav Shach remained until 5704
(1944).
In 5744 he went to serve as a ram in the Kletsk yeshiva in Rechovot that
was founded by the son of HaRav Isser Zalman. Later he returned to this
yeshiva to say shiurim in 5710 and 5711 (1950-51).
In 5745 the Rosh Yeshiva was asked to become for the rest....
http://www.shemayisrael.com/chareidi/archives5762/chayesara/CS62aravshachbio.htm
Opinion & Comment
Talking About Maran HaRav Shach ztvk"l
Virtually the entire chareidi world is now learning, for the first time
ever, what it is like to live in a world without Maran HaRav Shach, zt"l.
For over ninety years he was part of the yeshiva world, and for most of
them he was at or near its summit.And what a height he scaled! He was
truly one who lived, even in our day, on the Har Hashem. He was one who
could stand in His holy place.As HaRav Shach said in his hesped of the
Brisker Rov, "No matter what words of eulogy or appreciation we use,
they will only serve to detract from the stature of the niftar, for we
are not capable of grasping what he really was."HaRav Shach's suggestion
then was just to "talk about the event." Everyone, he said,
can contribute something to such a discussion. We can only tell of what
we have seen in our small corner of the world.As is well-known, HaRav
Shach started Yated Ne'eman together with the Steipler, and the English
edition of Yated Ne'eman on his own .....
http://www.shemayisrael.com/chareidi/archives5762/chayesara/orshachm.htm
Jonina Levitan was born in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1942 to Nakhum and Ada Yeta nee Rabinovitz. During the war was in Kaunas. Jonina died? in July of 1944 in Kaunas, Lithuania. This information is based on a Page of Testimony submitted on 20/11/1956 by her father, a Shoah survivor
Source Pages of Testimony
Last Name LEVITAN
Last Name LEVIATAN
First Name JONINA
First Name* YANINA
Father's First Name NAKHUM
Mother's First Name ADA
Mother's First Name* YETA
Gender FEMALE
Date of Birth 1942
Place of Birth KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Place of Permanent Residence KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Place During Wartime KAUNAS,GHETTO
Place of Death KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Date of Death July of 1944
Type of Material Page of Testimony
Submitter's Last Name LEVIATAN
Submitter's First Name NAKHUM
Relationship to victim FATHER
Date of Registration 20/11/1956
Is the Submitter a Survivor? YES
Pages of Testimony by the same submitter ( Levitan Nachum, grandson of Nakhum and Rivka Gerstein)
Icchak Gerstein was born in Kowno, Lithuania in 1882 to Nakhum and Rivka. He was a merchant and married to Khana nee Gutman. Prior to WWII he lived in Kowno, Lithuania. During the war was in Vilkomir, Lithuania. Icchak died in 1941 in Vilkomir, Lithuania. This information is based on a Page of Testimony submitted on 20/11/1956 by his nephew .
Nachum Gerstein was born in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1909 to Icchak/Yitzkhak and Khana. He was a merchant and married to Ester nee Mishkovski. Prior to WWII he lived in Kaunas, Lithuania. During the war was in Kaunas, Lithuania. Nachum died in 1941 in Kaunas, Lithuania. This information is based on a Page of Testimony submitted on 20/11/1956 by his cousin, a Shoah survivor
Source Pages of Testimony
Last Name GERSTEIN
Last Name GERSHTEIN
First Name NACHUM
First Name NAKHUM MEIR
Father's First Name YITZKHAK
Mother's First Name KHANA ESTER
Gender MALE
Date of Birth 1909
Place of Birth KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Marital Status MARRIED
Spouse's First Name ESTER
Spouse's Maiden Name MISHKOVSKI
Age of 1st Child 4
Age of 2nd Child 2
Place of Permanent Residence KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Profession MERCHANT
Place During Wartime KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Place of Death KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Date of Death 09/1941
Type of Material Page of Testimony
Submitter's Last Name LEVIATAN
Submitter's First Name NAKHUM
Relationship to victim COUSIN
Date of Registration 20/11/1956
Is the Submitter a Survivor? YES all pages;
Name Town District Region Country Birth Date Source
Rakhel Mankevic was born in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1877 to Tzvi and Rivka. She was a housewife and a widow. Prior to WWII she lived in Kaunas, Lithuania. During the war was in Kaunas, Lithuania. Rakhel died in 1941 in Kaunas. This information is based on a Page of Testimony submitted on 20/11/1956 by her nephew
Pages of Testimony by the same submitter ( Levitan Nachum, grandson of Tzvi Eliezer and Rivka Levitan)
Source Pages of Testimony
Last Name MANKEVIC
First Name RAKHEL
Father's First Name TZVI ELIEZER
Mother's First Name RIVKA
Gender FEMALE
Date of Birth 1877
Place of Birth KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Marital Status WIDOW
Place of Permanent Residence KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Profession HOUSEWIFE
Place During Wartime KAUNAS,KAUNAS,LITHUANIA
Place of Death KAUNAS,GHETTO
Date of Death 08/1941
Type of Material Page of Testimony
Submitter's Last Name LEVIATAN
Submitter's First Name NAKHUM
Relationship to victim NEPHEW
Date of Registration 20/11/1956
Dr. Rachmiel Ligum was born in Zagare, Lithuania in 1906 to Yitzkhak. He was a physician and married to Sara. Prior to WWII he lived in Vilkomir, Lithuania. During the war was in Vilkomir, Lithuania. Rachmiel died in 1941 in Vilkomir, Lithuania. This information is based on a Page of Testimony submitted on 20/11/1956 by his cousin Source Pages of Testimony
Last Name LIGUM
First Name RACHMIEL
First Name YERAKHMIEL
Title DR.
Father's First Name YITZKHAK
Mother's First Name* FREIDA
Gender MALE
Date of Birth 1906
Place of Birth ZAGARE,SIAULIAI,LITHUANIA
Marital Status MARRIED
Spouse's First Name SARA HINDA born in 1916
Spouse's Maiden Name* GERSHTEIN She is the cousin of Nachum
Name of 1st Child DOV
Age of 1st Child 1
Name of 2nd Child YISRAEL
Age of 2nd Child 3
Place of Permanent Residence VILKOMIR,UKMERGE,LITHUANIA
Profession PHYSICIAN
Place During Wartime VILKOMIR,UKMERGE,LITHUANIA
Place of Death VILKOMIR,UKMERGE,LITHUANIA
Date of Death 08/1941
Type of Material Page of Testimony
Submitter's Last Name LEVIATAN
Submitter's First Name NAKHUM
Relationship to victim COUSIN
Date of Registration 20/11/1956
Dr. Lieb Arie Gerstein was born in Vilna, Poland in 1891 to Gershon and Miriam/ Mera. He was a physician and married to Miriam nee Blumental. Prior to WWII he lived in Kovna. During the war was in Kovna Lieb died in 1944 in Kremnic,camp . This information is based on a Page of Testimony submitted on 20/11/1956 by his cousin. More Details...
Source Pages of Testimony
Last Name GERSTEIN
Last Name GERSHTEIN
First Name LEON
First Name LEIB
First Name ARIE
Title DR.
Father's First Name GERSHON
Mother's First Name MIRIAM
Mother's First Name MERA
Gender MALE
Date of Birth 1891
Place of Birth VILNA,WILNO,WILNO,POLAND
Marital Status MARRIED
Spouse's First Name MIRIAM
Spouse's Maiden Name BLUMENTAL
Name of 1st Child* PEREL
Age of 1st Child 15
Date of Death 1944
Type of Material Page of Testimony
Submitter's Last Name LEVIATAN
Submitter's First Name NAKHUM
Relationship to victim COUSIN
Date of Registration 20/11/1956
Rachel Liba Menkevitz nee Levitan was born in Slobodke in 1870 to
Rabbi Eliezer Zvi Levitan
and Ryvka. She was a housewife and married to Avigdor ( widow). Prior
to WWII she lived in Kowna, Lithuania. During the war was in Kowna,
Lithuania she had five children (Chaia married Dzikanski lived in the
U.S, Rivka married Goldsmith lived in London,
Chana Teybe married Yisrael Shapiro lived in Israel, Moshe Eliezer
lived in Jerusalem
and Simcha Zisel born 1899 married Mina nee Zwik children; Hinda
Krashe perished at age 14, Avigdor perished at age 3 and Lea Barski
born in Kovno in 1932 now lives in New York.Rachel died in the Shoah
at the age of 71. This information is based on a Page of
Testimony submitted on 11/03/1962 by her son Moshe Eliezer Menkevitzin
Givaat Shaul, Jerusalem
Menkewic Symcha Zisl
Rabbi Symcha Menkewic was born in Slobodka, Lithuania in 1899 to
Avigdor and Rachel liba nee Levitan. He was a manager of yeshiva and
married. Prior to WWII he lived in Kowna, Lithuania with wife Mina
Zwik and 3 children, daughter Lea who survived and lives in New York,
Avigdor who perished at age 3 and Hilda Krashe who perished in the
small Kovno Ghetto at age 14. Symcha died in the Shoah. This
information is based on a Page of Testimony submitted on 14/03/1962 by
his brother Moshe Eliezer Menkevitz in Givaat Shaul, Jerusalem
Menkewic Myna
Myna Menkewic nee Zvik was born in Telsiai, Lithuania in 1908 to
Szmuel. She was a housewife and married to Simcha Zisl. Prior to WWII
she lived in Rowne, Poland. During the war was in Rowne, Poland. Myna
died in the Shoah at the age of 33. This information is based on a
Page of Testimony submitted on 11/03/1962 by her brother-in-law Moshe
Eliezer Menkevitz in Givaat Shaul, Jerusalem
Robert Levitan
1. Robert Levitan, CEO, Pando: Pando Networks is Robert Levitan's fourth start-up. Prior to founding Pando, Robert was the cofounder of iVillage, the largest community Website for women; Flooz.com, an online gift currency and corporate rewards company; and YearLook Enterprises, a publisher of video yearbooks for high schools and colleges. In between starting companies from scratch and some adventures in world travel, Robert has also been a marketing advisor and executive coach with several companies. Levitan was a strategic marketing advisor for Oddpost, an innovative Web-mail service company acquired by Yahoo. He has helped Pearson LLC launch a television series in China and AT&T Wireless set up its Internet operating division. Robert serves on the Board of Directors of Mobius Management Systems, a leading provider of software that supports content intensive e-business applications, the Executive Council of New York, a trade association and industry catalyst representing senior executives, and New York Cares, a service organization that coordinates volunteers who work with children, the homeless and the elderly. Robert also enjoys mountain climbing with his two brothers.
2.
4. Strategic Ventures & Research, Inc. | Robert Levitan
...
Robert Levitan A successful media and technology entrepreneur, Robert Levitan has founded and operated successful business ventures. Mr. Levitan offers clients marketing expertise and operational know-how to help build and grow companies. He has created companies, generated revenue and enterprise value quickly, as well as, launched new divisions and branches. He is a sought-after expert on online practices, especially e-commerce, and has been quoted in such publications and electronic media as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, CNN, and CBS.
Mr. Levitan was Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Operating Officer of Flooz.com, an online gift currency accepted as payment at a variety of online stores such as ToysRUs.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Godiva, Tower Records, the Sports Authority, Gymboree, Starbucks, J Crew and Sketchers. He raised more than $50 million in venture capital financing, directed the opening of more than 100 online retailers to accept Flooz and 1.2 million consumer accounts, developed a network of 25,000 affiliate sites, and negotiated the agreement with Whoopi Goldberg to be the company's spokesperson. The company increased brand awareness from 7% in October 1999 to 64% in January 2001 and recorded $25 million in gross sales for calendar year 2000.
Prior to Flooz.com, Mr. Levitan was a Co-founder of iVillage.com, the leading online community for women with more than 12 million monthly visitors, and the company's senior vice president. He developed the company's innovative sponsorship sales strategy that featured long-term relationships; created integrated online marketing programs for companies such as Kimberly Clark, MGM, Toyota, Starbucks, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, and Glaxo Wellcome; formed a strategic relationship with Intel to develop new interactive health applications such as the Personal Health Report; and created a new online publishing model with Intuit and Charles Schwab to launch a financial planning site for iVillage called the Armchair Millionaire.
Most recently, Mr. Levitan was a Consultant to Pearson PLC for launching new media programs in China. He spearheaded the sales and marketing partnership for Pearson and developed a revenue stream for the business by identifying the top prospects for sponsors of the programs, making presentations, establishing the pricing, and negotiating contracts. He led the team that signed Kodak as the premiere sponsor for the TV program entitled "Beijing to London Taxi"; Other consulting work includes his project with America Online for whom he evaluated business models and developed non-subscription based revenue streams including commerce integration, affinity programs, and database extensions.
From 1985 to 1994, Mr. Levitan was the Founder and President of YearLook Enterprises, the world's first video yearbook publishing company with 300+ clients including high schools, universities and the United States Navy, and was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce in 1988.
A cum laude graduate of Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Public Policy Studies, he serves on the Board of Directors of Mobius Management Systems (Nasdaq: MOBI), a leading provider of software that supports content intensive e-business applications; the New York E Commerce Association, a trade association and industry catalyst representing senior executives in New York; and New York Cares, a service organization that coordinates volunteers who work with children, the homeless and the elderly in New York. In 1997, Levitan and his two brothers climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and visited CARE project sites in Africa as part of a fundraiser for international relief organization CARE.
3.
Robert Levitan. Board Secretary, Friends of Calakmul. CEO & Founder. Flooz.com. Robert Levitan is co-founder and CEO of Flooz.com, the creator of the world's first on-line gift currency for consumers and businesses, sent by e-mail and accepted as a branded form of payment at the Web's best stores. Prior to founding Flooz.com, Levitan was a co-founder of iVillage.com and a consultant to America Online. At iVillage, Levitan was responsible for developing the company's innovative sponsorship sales strategies. Levitan created integrated online marketing programs for companies such as Kimberly Clark, MGM, Toyota, Starbucks, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, and Glaxo Wellcome. Levitan also created a new online publishing model with Intuit and Charles Schwab to launch a financial planning site for iVillage called the Armchair Millionaire. In recognition of his accomplishments in developing new online sponsorship models, Advertising Age proclaimed Levitan a "digital media master." Levitan served as President of iVillage's Better Health web where he formed a strategic relationship with Intel to develop new interactive health applications such as the Personal Health Report.
Levitan serves on the Board of Directors of New York Cares, a service organization that coordinates volunteers who work with children, the homeless and the elderly in New York City. In 1997, Levitan and his two brothers climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and visited CARE project sites in Africa as part of a fundraiser for CARE, the international relief organization. He is also a board member of HEAVEN, a non-profit organization providing youth with the technology training and tools they need to succeed and lead. Levitan graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in history and public policy studies. Levitan lives in New York City.
merchant, banker, state treasurer, b. Tauroggen ( today Taurag?, Lithuania). He studied in rabbinical schools, and as a young man went to the Crimea. In 1880 an anti-Semitic pogrom was instituted in the area, and according to his own story, Levitan was rewarded with a ticket to the U.S. for saving the life of his employer. Arriving in this country the same year, he worked as a peddler among the German-language groups in the East. In 1881 he moved to Wisconsin and worked as a peddler in the area around New Glarus. By 1887 he had accumulated enough money to open a store in New Glarus and later opened stores in Belleville and Blanchardville. In 1905 he moved to Madison and opened a dry-goods store. He was one of the organizers of the Commercial National Bank of Madison (1908), was vice-president (1909-1914), president (1914-1927), and chairman of the board (1927-1940). In 1933, the bank was reorganized as the Commercial State Bank. Soon after coming to Wisconsin, Levitan met Robert M. La Follette, Sr. (q.v.), and formed an unswerving attachment for progressivism and for La Follette as its embodiment. Twice an unsuccessful candidate for state treasurer, he was elected to that office in 1922, serving from 1923 to 1933 and from 1937 to 1939. Although his tenure as state treasurer was marked by economy, honesty, and efficiency, Levitan's popularity was based largely on personality. He loved the spotlight of political prominence, was his own best publicity agent, and never bypassed the opportunity to speak to an audience. Successfully blending a warm interest and sympathy for his fellow man with the folksy and humorous aspects of his Jewish accent and heritage, "Uncle Sol" built a personal popularity in the state that was second only to that of La Follette. A. R. Schumann, No Peddlers Allowed (Appleton, 1948); J. T. Salter, ed., Amer. Politician (Chapel Hill, 1938); M. M. Quaife, Wis. (4 vols., Chicago, 1924); N.Y. Times, Jan. 16, 1927; Milwaukee Journal, Jan. 1, 1933; Madison Capital Times, Feb. 27, 1940; Who's Who in Amer., 20 (1938).
The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Solomon Levitan Papers for details.
View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.
Jewish Survivor
Question Answer
Name of Interviewee Bronia Levitan
Bronia Kunevna Levitan (release name)
Bronia Kunevna Levitan (current name)
Brukha (Hebrew name)
Pres (maiden name)
Galina Lobachevskaia (false name)
Pres (release maiden name)
Gender Female
Date of Birth 11/17/1924
City of Birth Andrushevka (Ukraine, USSR)
Country of Birth USSR
Religious Identity (Prewar) traditional Judaism
Religious Identity (Postwar)
Religious Identity (Time Period Unknown)
Ghetto(s)
Camp(s)
Went into Hiding Yes
Member of Underground, Resistance or Partisan Group(s) Yes
Hiding or living under false identity (Location) Liasovka (Ukraine, USSR)
Type of hiding place
Resistance Group(s) Suvorov Brigade
Liberated by armed forces, Soviet
Location of liberation Novoshepelichi (Ukraine, USSR)
Fled from Nazi controlled territory Yes
Forced (death) Marches No
Aid Giver, Liberator, or War Crimes Trials Participant
Other Experiences concealment of Jewish identity
kolkhoz
escapes from mass shootings
Sovkhoz
State of Interview NY
Country of Interview U.S.A.
Language(s) of Interview Russian
Length of Interview 1:30
Interview Code 18243
Levitan, Marie
Jewish Survivor
Question Answer
Name of Interviewee Marie Levitan
Marie Levitan (release name)
Levitan (current name)
Rywka Litvak (name at birth)
several names (last name during war)
Rywcha (nickname)
Marisha Chodowska (false name)
Litvak (release maiden name)
Gender Female
Date of Birth 9/12/1923
City of Birth Radom (Poland)(generic)
Country of Birth Poland
Religious Identity (Prewar) Judaism
orthodox Judaism
Religious Identity (Postwar)
Religious Identity (Time Period Unknown)
Ghetto(s) Radom (Poland : Ghetto)
Camp(s) Ravensbrück (Germany : Concentration Camp)
Auschwitz I (Poland : Concentration Camp)
Gross Masselwitz (Germany : Concentration Camp)
Went into Hiding Yes
Member of Underground, Resistance or Partisan Group(s) No
Hiding or living under false identity (Location)
Type of hiding place
Resistance Group(s)
Liberated by
Location of liberation
Fled from Nazi controlled territory No
Forced (death) Marches No
Aid Giver, Liberator, or War Crimes Trials Participant
Other Experiences
State of Interview CA
Country of Interview U.S.A.
Language(s) of Interview English
Length of Interview 2:30
Interview Code 33515
Levitan, Ruven
Jewish Survivor
Question Answer
Name of Interviewee Ruven Levitan
Ruven Levitan (release name)
Levitanas (name at birth)
Ruven (Hebrew name)
Gender Male
Date of Birth 3/12/1928
City of Birth Kaunas (Lithuania)
Country of Birth Lithuania
Religious Identity (Prewar) Judaism
Religious Identity (Postwar)
Religious Identity (Time Period Unknown)
Ghetto(s) Kaunas (Lithuania : Ghetto)
Camp(s)
Went into Hiding Yes
Member of Underground, Resistance or Partisan Group(s) No
Hiding or living under false identity (Location) Linkuva (Lithuania)
Lithuania
Kaunas (Lithuania)
Type of hiding place apartments
convents and monasteries
Resistance Group(s)
Liberated by armed forces, Soviet
Location of liberation Lithuania
Fled from Nazi controlled territory
Forced (death) Marches
Aid Giver, Liberator, or War Crimes Trials Participant
Other Experiences escapes from the ghettos
concealment of Jewish identity
State of Interview IL
Country of Interview U.S.A.
Language(s) of Interview English
Length of Interview 2:06
Interview Code 4933
Leṿitan, Bat Shev`a
Jewish Survivor
Question Answer
Name of Interviewee Bat Shev`a Leṿitan
Bat Shev`a Leṿitan (release name)
Ḳarabelniḳ (name at birth)
Maria* Tamotite* (false name)
Karabelnik (other name)
Bat Sheva Levitan (other name)
(release maiden name)
Gender Female
Date of Birth 10/29/1927
City of Birth Kelme (Lithuania)
Country of Birth Lithuania
Religious Identity (Prewar) traditional Judaism
Religious Identity (Postwar)
Religious Identity (Time Period Unknown)
Ghetto(s)
Camp(s)
Went into Hiding Yes
Member of Underground, Resistance or Partisan Group(s) No
Hiding or living under false identity (Location) Raseiniu (Lithuania : District)
Rossienie (Lithuania)
Kelme (Lithuania)
Krakes (Kedainiai, Lithuania)
Type of hiding place barns
houses
Resistance Group(s)
Liberated by
Location of liberation
Fled from Nazi controlled territory Yes
Forced (death) Marches No
Aid Giver, Liberator, or War Crimes Trials Participant
Other Experiences concealment of Jewish identity
State of Interview Tel Aviv
Country of Interview Israel
Language(s) of Interview Hebrew
Length of Interview 2:30
Interview Code 31986