HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS FROM BERDICHEV
Alexander Tzederbaum (known as Erez), a Polish journalist, editor of the Hebrew newspaper “Hamelitz” visited Berdichev in order to make a report about the town. In 1870 he published in Warsaw the result of his work, entitled “Die Giheimnise fun Berdichev” (The mysterious of Berdichev). It is written in Yiddish and comprises a treasure of valuable material on the town (The Jewish Theological Seminary of America has a copy).
List of individuals mentioned in the report (Courtesy of Hedy Augenbraun – USA)
| NAME | PAGE Nº | OBSERVATIONS |
| Abraham | 76 | Shojet |
| Abramowitz | 47 | Founder of the Chevrah of Maskilim, which did not survive, disappointed he went to live in Zhitomir. |
| Auerbach | 31 | Gabai in the modern “Choir Shul” |
| Baruch, Ephraim | 78 | – |
| Bilenke, Mordechai | 48 | A leader in a Chevrah for employees of merchants |
| Brodetski, Abraham Zeev | 48 | Also a leader in the Chevrah for merchants employees |
| Chodorover, Moshe Josef | 64,71 | A rich man very much praised as a benefactor, chasid, mechuten von Doividl Talgar |
| Dr. Einhorn | 36 | Physician at the Jewish Hospital |
| Frank, Itsche | 78 | – |
| Gans, Abba | 46 | Treasurer in the Chevrah for merchants employees |
| Dr. Goldenberg | 36 | Physician at the Jewish Hospital |
| Dr. Goldblum | 40 | In Odessa he started a Yahrzeit book and sent reminders to everyone, who in turn sent a donation for the Talmud Torah |
| Goldfarb | 54 | Volunteer teacher at Rabbi H. Pessis’ |
| Hirsch, Eliezer ben Hirsch | 50 | His tombstone is well preserved since 13 Ijar 1739 |
| Hirsch, Israel | 27 | Established a Bet ha Midrash |
| Borowitz, Moshe Yitzhak | 31,53,60,71 | Rich benefactor interested in schools |
| Horwitz, Yeshaya | 37 | Rich, revered octogenarian, helping in the hospital every day |
| Rav Iosef | 79 | – |
| Jospe | 61,73,78 | Teacher |
| Kalisher | 42,53 | Teacher |
| Kaminka, Hirsch | 64,65 | Rich benefactor, not permanently living in Berdichev |
| Kaminka, Josef Leib | 45,46,51 | Rich benefactor, he established a Chavurah for guests, travelers and new parnassa seekers, established a fence around the grave site of cholera victims in 1831 |
| Kluger, Shlomo | 78 | – |
| Kostetski, Zeev | 48 | A leader in a Chevrah for merchants employees |
| Levi Yitzhak | 3,52 | “Der Geheiligte Zadik” |
| Levin | 54 | Teacher in a girl’s school |
| Lichtenstadt. Yossele | 40,41,64 | Highly educated, capable person, Gabai in the Talmud Torah school |
| Lieber | 50 | Tombstone from 1771, the time of a severe plague, Lieber came from Spain, was expulsed from there. A highly respected scholar. He helped to care for the sickof the plague and became a victim himself. His descendents are still around and are respected as a highly educated family. They proudly use “Liebersohn” as a first name |
| Liebersohn | 50 | Descendant of Lieber (see above) |
| Liebersohn, Yechiel | 94 | Teacher at Rabbi Pessis’ Shabbat school |
| Mansohn, Shmuel | 38,41,43 | Gabai at the Talmud Torah School |
| Mefikiv, Rav | 79 | – |
| Maizlish, Berush | 34 | Warshau Gaon, Rav in Krakau, old Chipah minhag |
| Michal | 78 | Shochet |
| Mordechai | 78 | Shochet |
| Nissan | 78 | Shochet |
| Ortenberg, David | 78 | Teacher |
| Perlzweig, Aharon | 54 | Volunteer teacher at Pessis’ Shabbat school |
| Pessis | 42,54 | Rabbiner, established a Shabbat school |
| Poliak, David Hirsch | 54 | Volunteer teacher at Pessis’ Shabbat school |
| Rivka, Leah | 78 | – |
| Dr. Rottenberg | 31,43,53,69 | Physician, Gabai, started a readers’ library, schools |
| Saksh, Michael | 33 | Rav in Berlim |
| Shalom | 63,72 | – |
| Shlomke | 72 | – |
| Shlomo, Baruch | 48 | Family name too complicated, leader in Chevrah for merchants |
| Sechten | 68 | – |
| Silberman, Mordechai | 48 | President in Chevrah for merchant employees |
| Sokolovski, Moshe Meir | 54 | Volunteer teacher at Pessis’ school |
| Spitzberg | 31 | The first cantor |
| Talner, David | 33,64 | Der “geheiligte” (holy) Rav in Odessa. Machuten fun Moshe Josef Chodorover |
| Tarnovski | 54 | Teacher in Pessis’ Shabbat school |
| Trachtenberg, Chaim | 64 | Rich good person |
| Weinstein | 53 | Teacher |
| Wenger, Meir | 78 | – |
| Wolkenstein | 31 | Now in Petersbourg |
| Yerucham | 24 | “Obercantor”, Chief cantor |
| Zahike, Alter | 72,73,74 | Meat tax scandal |