Remembering the Jewish Community of Klodawa, Poland
Hello. My name is Dean Rotbart and I am a direct descendant of the Jewish Community of Klodawa, Poland. Although I never met them, my paternal grandparents, uncles, aunts, great grandparents and cousins lived for many generations in or around Klodawa. All of them, with only two dear exceptions, perished in the Holocaust.
For many years, I have dreamed of building a tribute to the lost Jewish Community of Klodawa. My dream was/is to write a Yarzeiht book about Klodawa, as so many other lost communities have done. But I have always been constrained in the time I can devote to any such project.
With the advent of the Internet and the blogosphere, I hope this site can come to serve as both a memorial to Klodawa and a "town center" for those of us who are survivors or children of Klodawa survivors.
Please introduce yourself here and share with us the tales of your Klodawa families and/or memories. We'll post photos, audio, video and lots of written text -- whatever it takes to remember a town and a time that is no more.
(Yes, Klodawa still exists and I actually visited there in July 2001. But the Jewish Community of Klodawa is but a memory.)
More soon....
For many years, I have dreamed of building a tribute to the lost Jewish Community of Klodawa. My dream was/is to write a Yarzeiht book about Klodawa, as so many other lost communities have done. But I have always been constrained in the time I can devote to any such project.
With the advent of the Internet and the blogosphere, I hope this site can come to serve as both a memorial to Klodawa and a "town center" for those of us who are survivors or children of Klodawa survivors.
Please introduce yourself here and share with us the tales of your Klodawa families and/or memories. We'll post photos, audio, video and lots of written text -- whatever it takes to remember a town and a time that is no more.
(Yes, Klodawa still exists and I actually visited there in July 2001. But the Jewish Community of Klodawa is but a memory.)
More soon....
Hi Dean,
What a pleasant surprise to know that you've started a website devoted to Klodawa, my father, Rudolph Kronheim's birthplace. He was born in 1903, one of either 8 or 9 children. He was in his 20s when he came to this country in the 20's. My grandfather's name was Abraham Kronheim and my grandmother was Yetta Swentoslawski. According to family lore, my grandfather was a rabbi in Klodawa and my grandmother ran both the family farm and a textile business. I have no way of being sure of any of this since there's really no family left to ask. I do have one first cousin left but he lives in Italy and we have had only one conversation in the last 10 years.
I have only one picture of the family, taken in front of the family home in either 1936 or '37. When I locate it, I will try to figure out a way to send it to you if you would like. It's a picture of my grandparents with several of their grown children and young grandchildren who would be my first cousins. Although several of those aunts and uncles perished in the war, my grandparents and two aunts made it to Palestine where they settled and lived out their lives. Two of my father's brothers settled in the United States.
I wish you well with your website.
Karen Kronheim Louick
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Dear Dean,
I thank you as well for your prompt response. You have my permission to post my e-mail if it might help others in their quest for information or even to locate other members of my family. I believe that the majority perished in the war. I will look for the photo and probably try to speak with my cousin to obtain more family history. He actually was born in Israel but studied medicine in Italy and then eventually married and settled there. I will also send other information to you about Klodawa but it is late now here in NY and I have a full day at work tomorrow (today!).
I greatly appreciate your efforts to investigate your own (and others') Polish roots. When did your father leave Poland?
Best wishes,
Karen Kronheim Louick
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Hello Dean
Like others visiting your site I'm very impressed by what you are doing and grateful for all the work that you and others are doing. I have written to Judy Muratore who has sent me some helpful information. Below is a summary of my emails to her in case you may find the information of interest and can shed light on the people I mention: "My husband’s grandmother was Machla Binkowski whose sister Bluma (b Kolo c 1842) married Szmul Hertz Rzeszewski in Kolo, Poland, in 1865. Bluma’s children included Ajdla, born in Kolo around 1870. I am wondering whether this is the Chana Ajdla who married Israel Hiller Chelminski/Isul Chiller Chelminski in 1893 as Chana Adjel Rzeszewski (according to JRI records). Chana and Israel appear on the passenger list of the George Washington which arrived at New York in October 1939. They are described as ‘in transit to Mexico’. It looks as though they were travelling with daughter Ester Cyrla (?) and her husband Jozef Stempa and their two children Malka and Abraham. The passenger list is marked “Deported” alongside the family’s names. I don’t know whether this meant that they were sent back to Poland or travelled on to Mexico.
Bluma came to London in 1902 with her husband and three children, Bajla, Chana and Falek; they sailed from Hamburg to Grimsby. My next sighting of the family is in 1914 when ‘Bloomah’, widow of ‘Samuel Harris Rzeszewski, a cloth dealer’ died in the St Pancras area of London. The informant of her death was her son ‘A Rzeszewski’ of Battersea. He seems to have emigrated to London some years before, and worked as a barber under the name Adolf Roberts. Bluma was buried at Plashet Cemetery near London. I haven’t been able to visit the grave yet but hope to do so at some point.
I have a Tribal Pages site which you are welcome to see if you wish.
Many thanks again for your valuable work.
Mary
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Hello again, Mary
This was a great idea to post on klodawa.org. I will also post on klodawatribure.com, with your permission. That way the information is out there for all to see.
Best.
Judy
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I am researching my husband's family and just found this wonderful site. I have pieced the following information together from things my mother-in-law told me and from the California death index. Morris Swentoslawski and Pearl Kolsky were both from Klodawa, Poland. Their thirteen children were born there. Their oldest child was a girl born about 1875 who did not leave Poland. She married had had one child named Toby. Toby was born on April 1, 1899 in Poland. Dora Morrison Zagel was born on December 15, 1876. She married Jacob Zagel in Poland about 1904. Theodore S. Morrison was born on January 27, 1877. Simon S. Morrison was born on March 10, 1881. Mollie Morrison Weinfield was born about 1885. She married about 1908 in Poland. Her husband Adolph Winefield was born on February 20, 1874 in Poland. Isidore S.Morrison was born May 15, 1885. Jacob S. Morrison was born on February 15, 1889. Jack Morrison was born about 1900 I don't have birth dates for Getzel Morrison, Lou Morrison, Laura Morrison, Rose Morrison, and one other child whose name is not known. Most of the Morrisons were involved in clothing manufacturing and retired in California. Morris and Pearl remained in Klodawa. I think that it would be a pretty good guess that your Yetta is related to my Morris.
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Hi Roberta,
It was exciting to see your post. In all of my research over the years, this is the first time I have learned of anyone named Swentoslawski from Klodawa. I think it is quite likely that your Morris is related to my grandmother Yetta. How is your husband related to the Swentoslawskis and what is the connection to the Morrisons? Have you learned of other Swentoslawskis? I look forward to hearing more. Thanks for writing!
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I'm excited too. I have been searching for years with slightly different spellings. I'm going to put in the link for my RootsWeb file. If it doesn't work search for Moishe Swientoslawski. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=robertat&id=I00236
I only found the site because I found Isidore's passport application with yet another spelling. I only know the Swientoslawskis who became Morrisons. My husband's mother's father, Simon, was Moishe's son. I think they are related too. Look for my second posting, it has a little more information.
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I believe we are related (cousins)>My Grandfather was Elias Morrison born in Klodowa, Poland. He has 12 brothers and sisters only 3 including him survived the war. My Grandfather spelled his original surname differently but on the 1920 Census a record exists of him having lived in Chicago. He in fact did live in Chicago when he first came over to the U.S.A. and was drafted into the U.S. Army during WWI. We had cousins in California who I believe were Pearl and Morris however never meet them. My Grandfather's father was Moishe.
My Grandfather was in the textile business manufacturing ties in New York City.
Please let me know what the relationship was between your Grandfather and mine. This e-mail can be posted on the Klodowa Web site.
Stan Nusenko
Stan Nusenko
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Hi Stan, It's great to hear from you. Your grandfather was my husband's grandfather, Simons's brother. I don't know much about Elias, but I have a short page on him on my website. The link to the Morrison table of contents is http://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/Morrison%20Family/MorrisonMorrisPearl.html. If the link doesn't work the website is anamericanfamilyhistory.com. Thanks so much for getting in touch. I'd love to compare notes.
Roberta
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Hi Karen:
I just wanted to introduce myself to you as Elias Morrison's grandson. Your Father was best friends with my Grandfather (both having come from Klodowa)and the last time i saw your Father was at my Grandfather's funeral in 2001. Your Father at that time was sick having suffered from some heart attacks if memory serves me correctly. I drove both your Mother and Father back home from the Shiva house.
I have been in touch with Judy Muratore it seems as though we have a few things in common.
Stan Nusenko
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which grandfather died in 2001? did you mean 1971?
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Hi Stan,
NIce to hear from you. So sorry for not writing back more promptly. My parents were good friends with the Morrisons but my dad passed away in 1972. Did you mean a date in the '70's rather than 2001? I was a young child when they were actively involved with the Morrisons so I don't really recall anything about them. From reading your conversations with Roberta, there must have been two Elias Morrisons and that they were not Swentoslawkis. You mentioned that you've spoken with Judy (a very nice person, I might add). I'd be interested in knowing what you've discovered that we have in common. Thanks so much for contacting me. Best regards, Karen
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I am from the Marczak family mentioned in the list. There are a bunch of us living down here in Sydney Australia. Do you know anything else about this family? I admire and thank you for what you are doing. Regards. Evelyn
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There is a marriage in Dabie, between Gerszon Alije "Klinbejl" and Mila (Maria Bayla?) Marczak. I requested the certificate to Poznan State Archives and it should arrive soon.
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My family was from klodowa. their last name was stychenski and americanized into morrison. My aunt helena married sigmund marczak shortly after thw war.
uncle sigmund died around 1992 in israel.
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Evelyn: I'm so glad that you wrote. Please tell us what you know about the Marczak family and it will help us research it further.
My father, who was born in Klodawa and survived Auchwitz, used to write regularly to friends in Australia. I will have to look through my files to see who it was he wrote.
Meanwhile, please do let all your family member know that they are invited and welcome to post memories, questions or thoughts about Klodawa here. This IS a community site.
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hello, it's a very good website..i used to live in Klodawa but moved to USA couple of years ago and its good to see some pictures of the lovely town..keep up the good work
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Iowana-
Very interesting that you just arrived from modern-day Klodawa. Can you share any other thoughts, impressions of living in the town in modern times?
Where do you live now, and if you don't mind me asking, what brought you to the States? Perhaps, if we have questions about street names, or locales described by some of the old-times residents, you could help us out?
Thank you for writing in.
Judy
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I live in kłodawa.I find this site in internet, because I am looking for information about my family house, in wchich was my father born-Warszawska 60. Owner of this house was Moszek Taube before war. I dont know, why my family was living in this house, and why they have to leave this house in 1958. I interested history, and I know, that in Przedecz, Kłodawa comunity of Judish Organization have property. Please, if you know anything about my family Korczak or Taube Moszek, photos of people, home-bakery? send. I can tell You about Kłodawa today...
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I am performing Genealogy research and was able to connect my family to the town of Klodawa, Kolo, Lodz(Kalish province) via testimonials from Yad Vashem's internet site. JRI Poland still hasn't indexed all the records for Klodawa and I was wondering if anyone has done any research for the pre 1865 records via the microfilm at the family history library? If someone has or is interested in doing so and would like advice on how to do this, please let me know.
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Steven,
If anybody has knowledge of the records and may be of help in indexing is Madeleine Okladek. We did the indexing for the last set of records received (I believe that was the 1885-1904 era) and Madeleine was instrumental in leading the effort. I would certainly be interested in the data from pre-1865. Please let me know if you have made any progress in the meantime. Thanks.
Ron
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Roberta,
I am second cousin to Stan and I visited your website (which is very nice!) but I am fairly certain that we are not related through Morrison lineage. The original name was Szczecinski not Swientoslawski. Moses Szczecinski was married to Itta Kolska. They had 11 or 12 children (3 boys and 8 or 9 girls), including Elias, Abram, Halina, Helena, Rosalia, Rega and Hirschel, to name a few. The first child was born in 1882 and the last in 1904. 2 came to the USA before the war. Only 1 survived the Holocaust.
Ron
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Hi Ron,
I agree they are not related. I got too excited by two Elias Morrisons from Klodawa.
Roberta
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Ron:
I agree with you that we are not related to Roberta Tuller.What I think that may have happened when my grandfather(your Uncle)Elias originally came over to the US and went to Chicago he may have been sponsored by Swientoslawski. What had me a bit confused was that my Grandfather picked up on the American name used by Roberta's Grandfather that being Morrison. I realized that Roberta was wrong when she said we were related however I have not had the opportunity to contact her. It just seemed strange that my grandfather went to Chicago when he first came to America.
Stan Nusenko
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My family name FERSHT the last remaining sibling of nine born in London UK to Davis & Rebecca Fersht. Grandparent Abraham &Caroline Fersht immigrated from Poland Klodawa to London East End approx 1887. Repeatedly as a child I would hear the name KLODAWA where my dad was born 1879-1935. Anyone out there making the connection. Love to hear from you.
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Hallo! My name is Ela. I live in Kłodawa,Poland. my granfather was living in home, property of Moszek Taube-i think,owner before war. I interested about everything, what connected with family Taube and Korczak- my family.My adress elka555@op.pl
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Hi. My great grandfather woolf weigveizer's sister Adelaide was married to abraham fersht's son. I would like to find out more about this side of the family.
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Hello. I am historian born in Klodawa. I would like to post names of members of Jewish community who served as firemen in Klodawa before II WW:
Haim Riwen -baker; Moisze Brudowski shoemaker; Aron Brudowski tradesman and glazier, Abram Bosak tradesman; Dawid Rzeszewski tradesman; Mordke Tygier tailor; Dawid Lajzerowicz fish seller; Ajzyk Lewin owner of coal storehouse; Aron Lewin.
Thank you.
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My husband's mother's family were Swientoslawskas. I'm sure they are all related somehow, but I haven't heard anything about Michael. Everything I know about them is on my website. Maybe something will ring a bell. Below is a link to the Swientoslawska page. http://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/Morrison%20Family/MorrisonMorrisPearl.html
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My great grandfather, Mark Harry Rogers, was born in Klodowa in 1873 and emigrated to NYC in 1878-1880. I'd love to find other Rogers family or find out what their name might have been in Poland.
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