The Soul of Solomon Siegel: The Values and Morality That Solomon Strongly Believed in and Give Meaning to His Life and Work.

By Herbert Siegel

This book has no story plot and is about only one person. It is different from other books that may be described as action-packed or "a page turner". It is an inspirational and emotional biographical book that puts you into the life of an orthodox Jew, Solomon Siegel, living in Brooklyn, New York from 1910 until his death in 1951.

Through speeches, poems, songs, parables, jokes and Torah stories he is able to present his moral values and philosophy. Many of his writings are so thought provoking and informative that it may require you to sit and contemplate his meaning. His views on the coming of the State of Israel give us the historical view of the Jewish community when he served as a synagogue president. We see his heartfelt obligation and devotion to the survivors of the Holocaust in his support of The Hachnosas Kallah (Bridal Fund) for the young Jewish immigrants arriving here without funds to marry and start a new life. Many of his writings are a powerful and poignant reminder for today's Jewish community if they are to survive the current secular world we live in. The theme of his writings is the keeping of the Sabbath and the Holidays that will define us as Jews.

My adventure into the literary world is not a creative attempt to become a famous author. Through this book I want my family to have a strong connection to a person that, to my own regret, I never had. I believe I have achieved this goal. When my twin brother, Martin, and I visited Suwalki Poland his home town, and also through my research of the area and time he was there it was reinforced. I now know this inspiring and perceptive person. I also now know "The soul of Solomon Siegel".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503549487

Herbert Siegel

Herbert Siegel, Ph.D., has consulted for a highly select clientele for 25 years, was a CEO for big-board and privately held companies, authored 5 books of contemporary poetry, published numerous essays and articles, hosted “Siegel’s Perch,” a macro-economic weekly radio show, and served as a Corporate Director for a host of banks and commercial entities. He is the recipient of many awards, the latest of which are The Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021, and Senior Poet Laureate of New York State, in 2009. Herb holds degrees in Business and International Law. He is a resident of Long Beach, NY for 60 years.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by HERBERT SIEGEL. 614495

Library of Congress Control Number:   2015903425

ISBN:   Softcover     978-1-5035-4947-0

             Hardcover   978-1-5035-4946-3

             EBook           978-1-5035-4948-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 04/21/2015

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Contents

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PICTURES

FOREWORD

PREFACE

Chapter 1:   THE SIEGEL NAME

SOLOMON & REBECCA SIEGEL

Chapter 2:   HISTORY OF HIS HOMETOWN: SUWALKI (POLAND-RUSSIA)

Chapter 3:   TORAH COMMENTARIES:

The History of the First Patriarch, Abraham

The Binding of Isaac

The Binding of Isaac (2)

The Shofar of Messiah

The Golden Calf

Last three Torah portions of the Book of Exodus

Ki Sisa, Vayakhel, Pekudei

Lag Be’Omer (33rd day of the Omer) in Jewish Life

Noah’s Ark

Chapter 4:   JEWISH HOLIDAYS AND OTHER MITZVAHS

The Afternoon Prayer (Mincha) On Yom Kippur

Passover and the Exodus from Egypt

For Chanukah

Chanukah Song

Chanukah, a Holiday: Yes or No?

An Essay about Chanukah for the Auxiliary

Chanukah in Rhyme

Purim: I Have Called You.

The Last Purim Lecture

Purim Time (To ladies auxiliary)

Purim Megilla

The Megillah’s (Scroll’s) Narration of Purim

A Letter From Haman the Villain to The Jews

Haman’s Warning: A Purim Fantasy

The Happy Widow from Shushan,* Madam Haman’s Letter to America:

Sukkos - 1948

A Thought about Passover Time and Hachnosas Kallah (Bridal Fund)

A Thought about Passover Time and the Auxiliary

A Fantasy of the Old Home

Moshe’le in Pharaoh’s Court:

Shavuos

Of Simchat Torah, A Beautiful Thought

Chapter 5:   FAMILY TIME:

At the Bris of Teddy’s son – Wednesday December 17, 1947

From Teddy’s Son, a Pidyon Haben, Friday, January 9, 1948.

A Bar Mitzvah Speech for Albert

The Bar Mitzvah of the Dear Talis

A Nice Letter for the New Season: Visit to Son’s Store

Chapter 6:   ABOUT KEEPING THE SABBATH

About Keeping The Sabbath

For Shabbos:

History/Meaning Of Leviathan

Rebbenyu, Oy, Rebbenyu (Song)

The Pleasure of Shabbos

Song for the Friday Night of Sabbath

Song for Sabbath: Last lecture

Havdalah

About Guarding the Shabbat (Rabbi Rabinowycz)

Song for Sabbath Meal

Song for Shabbat Afternoon

The Miracle of Shabbat

Erev Shabbat Song

Song for Sabbath Afternoon Meal

Song for Sabbath Afternoon

Chapter 7:   ISRAEL:

The Time of Our Liberation (A Composition)

Dedicated to the establishment of the State of Israel

Contentment and Joy

The State of Israel-Old and New

Zion’s Daughters

My Own Composition (Melody of Zion’s Daughters)

The Eternal Light

A Praise to Beloved God for the Jewish Kingdom

I See a Prophecy (song)

The Land of Israel is Our Land

Look Down From the Heavens and See Us

From The Time, the Simcha (Celebration) By Us Jews

A Melody for Hachnosas Kallah (Oh God what will be?)

Chapter 8:   HACHNOSAS KALLAH (BRIDAL FUND)

What is Hachnosas kallah?

Banquet for President Siegel

November 11, 1950 Banquet Speech:

Hachnosas Kallah Fund Match

Before the Banquet (Poem) November 11, 1950

Minutes of Ladies Auxiliary, Ohel Moshe Chevra Tehilim* (March 5, 1940)

Hachnosas Kallah Installation Meeting

The New Season-Bridal Fund

The First Meeting of The Season-Bridal Fund

Closing Season-Bridal Fund (June 22)

Auxiliary: Tuesday October 14, 1947

The Contract from Siegel to the Bridal Fund, Zion’s Daughters

To The Charitable Organization (Gemilas Chesed)

Hachnosas Kallah after 26 years

Compliments to the Auxiliary (January 20, 1948)

Chapter 9:   THOUGHTS ON AMERICA:

The Biography of Shlomo, Siegel Himself

Father’s Day June 20, 1948

Respect For The Word Pop

Father’s Day and Mother’s Day in the Month of May and June;

Father’s Day in the Month of June

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day (The Fifth Commandment).

The Summer and the Winter

Whiskey

In the Time of the Beginning of the Prohibition

My reply:

A Discussion Between a Turkey and a Chicken on the Eve of Thanksgiving Day

Nature’s Arguments about Scarcity

Chapter 10:   HUMOR AND PARABLES:

A War between a Person and an Animal

A Battle Between The Jacket and The Pants

The World Says Two-Faced People, and I Say There Are Three-Faced People

Jokes by Siegel

Good anti-Semitic humor

Good Humor

Funny Jokes about Wives

The Eulogy

Father and Son: 1946-1947

Father and Son: 1947- 1948

Father and Son: 1950-1951

The Fate of a Dog

Parables and Jokes

Rebuke from a Storyteller

Three Anecdotes

The Biography of a Fish

A Nice Parable about Anti-Semites Who Make Fun of Jews

Wood against Gold, Goblet against Table:

The Horse’s Victory

Smart Questions and Answers and Jokes:

Parables-One Goat, a Glass of Wine

Chapter 11:   THE SYNAGOGUE:

The Theater Season Begins

Advertisement for Oneself from the Rav and Teacher Rubin

The Congregation’s Talented Cantors (Chazzanim)

Being a Beadle (Shamash) in America

The Eternal Flame

The New Curtain for the Holy Ark: - The Rav’s Speech

A Blessing for a Journey (On June 15, 1927)

The Way of Hazzanut [Cantorship] in America

Yeshiva Room

Chapter 12:   JEWISH PHILOSOPHY AND THOUGHTS

Look Down from the Heavens

Look Down from the Heavens (2nd version)

In a Jewish Court

Let Us Sing Praise:

In the Jewish Court

Thoughts about the Coming of the Redemption

A Nice Speech on Morals

The Periods of People Who Have Lived Their Life

The Person’s Goal (Do Not Forget Us)

There is No God like Our God

Man’s Foundation Maker

The Flower: Man and His Foundation

The Jew Can Be Poor

Do Not Fear, My Servant Yakov

Yankele Goes to Shul

The Passing of Time

The Blind One

Let Us Not be Dependent on Man

Three Hundred and Ten Worlds

The Hope

Three Times Jewishness (Judaism)

The Dishwasher

A Short Letter That My Dear Mother Wrote To Me:

A Year after My Wedding

Hear My Prayers and My Pleas*

A Question by a Suffering Iyov, and The Answer of a Tzaddik (Righteous Person) Elifaz

The Answer:

I Hope and I Believe:

Selected Verses and Thoughts for a Kiddush on Shabbat:

A Generation Goes, a Generation Comes

Chapter 13:   HISTORY OF YIDDISH*

CONCLUSION

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PICTURES

1.   PHOTO NAMES RECORDED AT AUSCHWITZ

2.   PHOTO FINAL INSCRIPTION AT END OF NAMES

3.   PHOTO SIEGEL NAME PLAQUE

4.   HISTORY OF NAME FROM PLAQUE

5.   PHOTO SOLOMON SIEGEL FAMILY

6.   PHOTO SOLOMON AND REBECCA SIEGEL DANCING

7.   PHOTO WEDDING OF SAUL AND SOPHIE SIEGEL

8.   PHOTO SOLOMON AND REBECCA SIEGEL, LATE 1940

9.   PHOTO OF TOMBSTONE OF SOLOMON AND REBECCA SIEGEL.

10.   PHOTO OF TWINS IN FRONT OF 186 HART STREET.

11.   1920 UNITED STATES CENSUS

12.   PART OF 1920 CENSUS SHOWING TOWN: SUWALKI

13.   MAP PALE OF SETTLEMENT

14.   PHOTO FRONT GATE OF SUWALKI CEMETERY

15.   PHOTO PLAQUE IN SUWALKI CEMETERY

16.   PHOTO TOMBSTONE WALL SUWALKI CEMETERY

17.   PHOTO TOMBSTONE WALL SUWALKI CEMETERY

18.   PHOTO OF MONUMENT IN SUWALKI CEMETERY

19.   PHOTO SUWALKI TOWN SIGN

20.   PHOTO SYNAGOGUE IN SUWALKI

21.   PHOTO OUTSIDE AREA OF SUWALKI SYNAGOGUE

22.   PHOTO OF SUWALKI SYNAGOGUE FRONT AFTER DESECRATION

23.   PHOTO OF SUWALKI SYNAGOGUE INSIDE AFTER DESECRATION

24.   YIDDISH: THE SHOFAR OF THE MESSIAH

25.   YIDDISH: THE AFTERNOON PRAYER ON YOM KIPPUR

26.   YIDDISH: A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT OF SIMCHAT TORAH

27.   YIDDISH: A BAR MITZVAH OF THE DEAR TALIS

28.   PHOTO OF MY FATHER IN HIS STORE.

29.   YIDDISH: ABOUT GUARDING THE SABBATH

30.   YIDDISH: THE LAND OF ISRAEL IS OUR LAND

31.   YIDDISH: BANQUET SPEECH: NOVEMBER 11, 1950

32.   YIDDISH: HACHNOSAS KALLAH AFTER 26 YEARS

33.   YIDDISH: THE BIOGRAPHY OF SHLOMO SIEGEL HIMSELF

34.   YIDDISH: CONTINUED BIOGRAPHY OF SHLOMO SIEGEL

35.   YIDDISH: TWO FACED PEOPLE VERSUS THREE FACED PEOPLE

36.   YIDDISH: BEING A SHAMASH IN AMERICA

37.   YIDDISH: A NICE SPEECH ON MORALS

38.   YIDDISH: A GENERATION GOES, A GENERATION COMES

DEDICATION

TO MY WIFE BETTY OF 44 YEARS WHO ALWAYS GAVE ME THE INSPIRATION TO CONTINUE MY ARMY CAREER DESPITE THE HARDSHIPS AND SEPARATIONS. SHE WAS THE PERFECT ARMY WIFE AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MILITARY SUCCESS I HAD. HER SPIRIT AND FIGHT, IN TRYING TO BEAT CANCER, TAUGHT ME NEVER TO GIVE UP AND KEPT ME WORKING ON THIS BOOK AS I KNOW SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED.

THIS BOOK IS ALSO DEDICATED TO THE SIEGEL GRANDPARENTS I NEVER GOT TO KNOW. WHEN SOLOMON PASSED IN 1951 I WAS A 16 YEAR OLD TEENAGER IN BROOKLYN. AS SUCH I NEVER REALLY HAD MUCH, TO MY REGRET, IN COMMON WITH MY ORTHODOX YIDDISH SPEAKING GRANDFATHER. THIS BOOK HAS GIVEN ME THE SECOND CHANCE TO KNOW HIM. THE GENEALOGY RESEARCH AND THE VISIT TO HIS BIRTH PLACE IN POLAND FURTHER GAVE ME A DEEPER INSIGHT TO HIM AND TO MY JEWISH ROOTS.

FOREWORD

It was a pleasure working on the translation of Solomon Siegel’s poems, speeches and other papers.

We have managed many Yiddish translation projects of different kinds but this one was unique. Siegel’s was a rare combination of literary talent, broad knowledge and interests, and a deep love of all things Jewish, make his writings a delight to read. As we read them, we often found it difficult to translate his rich turns of phrase in a way that would truly capture their original flavor. We did our best, but sometimes, sadly, some of his meaning was lost in translation.

Solomon Siegel was a man of chessed (loving kindness expressed in acts of giving) and one of many gifts he gave his descendants was a rare legacy of handwritten documents, a treasure by which they could feel they know him and are close to him always.

I’d like to say a big thank you to Yiddish translator Pamela Russ who helped us translate these documents. We’d also like to thank Herbert Siegel, Solomon’s grandson, for entrusting us with this project and letting us share a glimpse of Solomon’s remarkable talent.

Shmuel and Naomi Elbinger

Yiddish-Translation.com

PREFACE

When I was in the Army I carried a camera everywhere I went. My first good camera was given to me by my uncle Max Tall in 1958. After 25 years of visiting Europe, Korea. Laos, Okinawa, Vietnam and many stateside posts and vacations, I had a footlocker full of pictures. Included in this collection were some great family photos. Then 15 years in the Junior ROTC program in Miami added many more pictures and memories. After I packed in the uniform and boots I had 40 years of pictures that filled an entire footlocker and included over 2000 35 mm slides. One day I decided to start a hobby of scrapbooking. After I put all these pictures into albums I remembered that along those pictures I had a folder of writings by my grandfather, Solomon Siegel. How I inherited them I don’t known. Probably from my father but then again I’m not sure. They were wrapped in plastic and were carried with me during many assignments and even were in storage when I was overseas. Some of the papers were dated in the early nineteen forties. Some were very fragile. All were written in Yiddish. People I showed them to who knew Yiddish were amazed at the beauty of the writings, but could not translate them.

A search for a translator who could translate both prose and poetry yielded only 5 names. I chose Naomi Elbinger from Jerusalem Israel. The process took over two years of back and forth e-mails. After receiving her translations I put them into a book format and sorted them by subject and chapters. I have included in many chapters a sample of Solomon’s handwritten Yiddish writings related to the previous translation to give you an idea of his style.

Why am I doing this? My research on ancestry yielded a great grandfather (Julius) and a great great grandfather (Louis) and their wives. No one in the family knew of these relatives or anything about them. They also did not know of the extent of the writings of our grandfather (Solomon). I believe it is important to have a history and pass it on to our children. This is important in light of our Jewish losses during the holocaust. The number of Siegel’s listed (493) in the Auschwitz list of victims make it almost certain that few Siegel’s survived. This book is my way to not just honor my grandfather Solomon, but all the Siegel’s on that list. I thought the end to my searches came after my visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau when I saw the names of Siegel’s killed but it only inspired me to complete this book.

The Torah teaches us that genealogy and understanding one’s family history is integral to Jewish life. There are over 450 genealogical records in the Torah. The Prophets and other books of the Bible include over 2700 records and this does not include Chronicles which is entirely concerned with genealogy. ¹

In the book The Jerusalem Diamond by Noah Gordon I came across this term Yikhus Avot. He defines this term as the eminence of ancestry. He further states that it is strange that today most people cannot go back to their great-grandparents. If you are Jewish this always brings back thoughts of the Holocaust (Yad Vashem lists 493 Siegel’s victims). I found this most sad but it inspired me to complete this book. Yikhus or lineage is important because we are influenced by the qualities and characteristics of our forefathers, both genetically and by the moral values that are passed on:²

THE BOOK TITLE IS INSPIRED FROM ALL THE WRITINGS IN CHAPTER 13. THEY EXPRESS THE VALUES AND MORALITY THAT SOLOMON STRONGLY BELIEVED IN AND GIVE MEANING TO HIS LIFE AND WORK.

31950.png

I hope you have enjoyed the book. The following organizations have either help me in my research or are working to preserve Jewish heritage and Yiddish writings. I would appreciation it if you could make a donation in memory of Solomon Siegel or for the 493 named Siegel victims. *

Yad Vashem

The Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority

P.O.B. 3477

Jerusalem 91034 Israel

https://secure.yadvashem.org/donation/tribute.asp

Jewish Book Center

http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/who-we-are

Ghetto Fighters House Museum

http://www.gfh.org.il/Eng/

Museum of Jewish Heritage

http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen/Who.html

*Have them send me a confirmation e-mail to [e-mail]

IMAGES%201.tif

PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR AUGUST 2014 AT AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU. NAMES OF SIEGEL VICTIMS KILLED DURING HOLOCAUST. IN A E-MAIL REQUEST TO YAD VASHEM IN ISRAEL THEY REPORTED THAT THERE WAS 493 SIEGEL NAMES IN THE PHOTOS (133 FROM POLAND).

IMAGES%202.tif

PHOTO TAKEN BY AUTHOR AUGUST 2014 AT AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENNAU. FINAL INSCRIPTION AFTER LIST OF 4.2 MILLION NAMES.

CHAPTER ONE:

THE SIEGEL NAME

One of the ways of considering family names of Jews in Eastern Europe is to separate the discussion of personal names (first name) and family names (last names). Personal names are an essential part of Jewish culture. They developed over centuries in a very natural way, inside the community. Their history is closely related to Yiddish. However the family names, with very few exceptions, were invented during a very short period of time during the first part of the nineteen century. This was due to laws forced by state governments, and was marginal for Jewish self-consciousness.

Personal names from the thirteenth through the sixteenth century were basically bore biblical Hebrew names. This was true of Ashkenazi (Eastern Europe Jews) forms of biblical names: Moyshe for Moses, Itskhok for Isaac. These names given to male children were used when they, as men, were called to read the Torah in a synagogue.

There are also many customs in naming practices as part of general and older Ashkenazim traditions. These include naming children after deceased relatives, substitute names to ward off evil spirits. The practice of double names (Solomon Aaron Siegel) was very common in Eastern Europe.

Family name development, as noted above, came about differently. In 1787 the law required that Jews chose hereditary names. They were free to choose any name with approval of government officials. Almost all names were based on German words. Many referred to occupations, and others designated personal qualities or were totally unrelated to any characteristics of their first bearer. Some names had compounded roots developed from example: metals: e.g. Silber (silver) and Stein (stone) becoming Silberstein. The pattern of surnames allowed Jews to construct numerous names from only a few roots with various combinations.³

Based on this quick review of origin of names we now can approach the name of our grandfather Solomon Siegel. The name Siegel (note that I have found at least 7 variants of this spelling) from all of my research comes from the Latin sigillum meaning seal as in Sigillium civitasis… meaning great seal (this is on the seal of the city of New York). The Latin word was translated into German as Siegel with the same meaning. Another variant of the name is Siegelmacher or Maker of Seals: the one who provides the aristocracy with their official seals.⁴

Additional research discovered a family crest with accompanying name history.

Siegel according to archives.com is the 1,704 most popular name in the U.S. World War II records show that 1,376 served in the military. Immigration records have 815 Siegel’s.

IMAGES%203.tif

PLAQUE DESIGN BY: SEARCH FOR ROOTS LTD, DUBLIN IRELAND. FEBRUARY 6, 1987

IMAGES%204.tif

HISTORY OF THE SIEGEL NAME ASSOCIATED WITH PLAQUE NOTED IN IMAGE 3. FEBRUARY 6, 1987

SOLOMON & REBECCA SIEGEL

SOLOMON:

DOB: ABOUT 1872-4 PER CENSUS (AUG 5,1874-ON TOMBSTONE)

PLACE OF BIRTH (1920 CENSUS: (SUVALK= SUWALKI, RUSSIA)

DOD: MAR 31, 1951   PLACE: 186 HART ST, BROOKLYN, NY

TOMB STONE: RABBI (MR.) SHLOMO AARON SON OF LEV TUVYE

PARENTS: JULIUS SIEGEL & ANNA CHESLER

MARRIED: 1892

IMMIGRATION YEAR (SOLOMON & REBECCA): 1892/1893 (1910 CENSUS)

CITIZENSHIP 1900: (PER 1920 CENSUS)

SPOUSE: REBECCA (ISRAELWITZ) (1900 CENSUS: DOB 1873)

DOB: 1876 (1920, 25, 40 CENSUS & DEATH CERTIFICATE)

DOD: JUN 5, 1956   PLACE: 2936 WEST 32nd ST, BROOKLYN

TOMB STONE: DAUGHTER OF RABBI (MR.) ISRAEL

CHILDREN:   (ALL BORN IN US)

MORRIS: SEPT 3, 1893 - SEPT 1965

(LILLIAN ESTHER KIRSHENBAUM: 1901-UNK)

HARRY IRWIN: SEPT 30, 1895 - MAR 1982

(CATHERINE [CASS]: 1900-1979)

ABE LOUIS: SEPT 15 1898 – FEB 1953

(GERTRUDE SCHNEIDER- OCT 1901-NOV 1981)

SAMUEL:SEPT 21 1900- DEC 1966

(MARY: 1902- UNK)

DAVID: 1903-1976

(BEATRICE DREYFUS-SEPT 1908-JUL 1945)

SONIA: NOV 8 1905

(PAUL KLEIN: ABOUT 1906)

SAUL: JUL 11,1909- JUN 20, 1987

(SOPHIE DONNERSTEIN-JUL 1913-MAR 1965)

ADDRESS PLACES: SOLOMON & REBECCA

1900: 171 JOHNSON ST, CHICAGO

      603 CLINTON ST, MANHATTAN, NY

1910: 127 HUMBOLT ST, BROOKLYN, NY

1915: 17 HUMBOLT ST, BROOKLYN NY

1920-1951:186 HART ST, BROOKLYN, NY

DATA SOURCES: 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 FEDERAL CENSUS

1915, 1925 NEW YORK CENSUS

DEATH CERTIFICATES

IMAGES%205.tif

PHOTO OF ENTIRE SIEGEL FAMILY TAKEN ABOUT 1913. FRONT ROW L-R: SAUL (MY FATHER), SOLOMON, SONIA (ONLY GIRL IN FAMILY), SECOND ROW L-R: DAVID, SAM, REBECCA(GRANDMOTHER), MORRIS, HARRY, AND ABE. AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

IMAGES%206.tif

SOLOMON AND REBECCA DANCING AT WEDDING OF SOLOMON’S GRANDSON THEODORE (TEDDY), SON OF MORRIS SIEGEL. TAKEN ABOUT EARLY 1940’s. AUTHOR UNKNOWN

IMAGES%207.tif

WEDDING OF SAUL (SOL) SIEGEL AND SOPHIE DONNERSTEIN (MY PARENTS) NOVEMBER 11, 1933. FRONT ROW L-R: BETSY DONNERSTEIN, REBECCA SIEGEL. BACK ROW L-R: CHARLES DONNERSTEIN, SOPHIE SIEGEL, SAUL SIEGEL, SOLOMON SIEGEL. AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

IMAGES%208%20.tif

SOLOMON AND REBECCA SIEGEL. LOCATION AND TIME UNKNOWN. FROM APPEARANCES COULD BE IN LATE 1940’s. AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

IMAGES%209.tif

TOMBSTONE OF SOLOMON ANDREBECCA SIEGEL . DATE DEATH FOR SOLOMON WAS MARCH 30, 1951. REBECCA PAST AWAY JUNE 5, 1956. BURIAL IS IN MOUNT ZION CEMETERY LOCATED IN MASPETH, NEW YORK.

IMAGES%2010.tif

(L-R) MARTIN AND HERBERT (TWINS) IN FRONT OF 186 HART STREET. AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

JULIUS & ANNA SIEGEL (GREAT GRANDPARENTS)

JULIUS:

DOB: SPT 1849 (KOVNO, RUSSIA) [NOW IN LITHUANIA, KAUNAS]

DOD: APR 21, 1925 (CLEVLAND, OHIO)

JULIUS PARENTS: LOUIS SIEGEL & ASSNY CLINTOVICH (STOKOSOK, STOK, RUSSIA)

SPOUSE: ANNA LEAH: PARENTS: MANUEL & TISCHA CHESTLER

DOB: JUL 12, 1846 (KOVNO, RUSSIA) [NOW IN LITHUSNIA, KAUNAS]

DOD: MAR 28, 1926 (CLEVELAND, OHIO)

MARRIED: 1870 IMMIGRATION YEAR: 1893 NO RECORD OF CITIZENSHIP.

CHILDREN: (ALL BORN IN RUSSIA)

SOLOMON: DOB: APR 1873 DOD: APR 1, 1951

MOLLIE: JUL 1878 ALSO NAMED IDA, (MARRIED LOUIS LANGMAN: 1883-1960

SARAH: APR 1881 (MARRIED: HYMAN LEWIS: DOB (1879)

1935-40 (10609 EVERTON AV, CLEVELAND, OHIO)

FRANK: OCT 1882

IKE: OCT 1884

ISIDOR: JAN 1, 1888 - JUN 1972

ADDRESS PLACES: JULIUS & ANNA

1900: 171 JOHNSON ST, CHICAGO

1910: 235 E. 34th ST, CLEVELAND, OHIO (LIVING WITH SON IN LAW, HYMAN LEWIS, WHO MARRIED TO SARAH)

1920: 4902 WELLESLEY ST, CLEVELAND, OHIO

1925 10826 GRENTWOOD AV, CLEVELAND, OHIO (JULIUS DEATH)

1926: 3401 EAST 128th ST, CLEVELAND, OHIO (ANNA DEATH)

DATA SOURCES: 1900, 1910, 1920 FEDERAL CENSUS

DEATH CERTIFICATES: CLEVELAND, VITAL STATISTICS.

FAMILYSEARCH.ORG

CHAPTER TWO

HISTORY OF HIS HOMETOWN: SUWALKI (POLAND-RUSSIA)

How were we able to discover Solomon’s home town? It happened when in the 1920 census the person taking the information wrote the town name instead of the area (Russia or Poland). At this time the family was living at 186 Hart Street in Brooklyn. The children at home at this time were: Samuel, David, Sonia, and Saul (The youngest of the 7 children, my father). The record also indicates that Solomon arrived in the U.S in 1892 and Rebecca in 1983. This is also confirmed by immigration and ship records. Solomon was sent over here first, as the oldest son of Julius and Anna, to set up the homestead for the rest of the family. Their first home was in Chicago (see outline of the family history of Solomon