בס״ד

Inventory of Landsmanshaft Material Held at the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP)

Avrohom A. Krauss

February 2017

About the Project

In preparation for the 2015 IAJGS conference in Jerusalem, I embarked upon a project to locate landsmanshaftn related material available in Israel. I quickly learned this would be no easy task. Material was not always catalogued, clearly identified or easily accessible. Indexes were sometimes outdated, websites incomplete. Much was to be done onsite. Initial results of this project were presented at the 2015 IAJGS conference in Jerusalem in a talk entitled Landsmanshaften Research In Israel and again in June 2016 at IGRA meeting in Raanana as Landsmanshaft Records. An in depth discussion of Israel repositories and resources, entitled Landsmanshaftn Research in Israel will appear in the Winter 2016 edition of AVOTAYNU, Volume XXXII, Number 4.
One repository that proved to have a large amount of material was the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP). Established in 1939, CAHJP was established to catalogue comprehensive material about the Jewish Diaspora. According to the Archives, they “now hold the most extensive collection of documents, pinkassim (registers) and other records of Jewish history from the Middle Ages to the present day.” I have compiled an Inventory of Landsmanshaft Material Held at the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP) based upon CAHJP Resource Guides and help from their staff. Special thanks to Yochai Ben-Ghedalia and Haddasah Assouline of CAHJP for their assistance and additions. Please note that CAHJP have not completed digitizing their holdings; therefore my list may not be complete. Please note that the files themselves may be perused onsite at CAHJP only.
Below you will find various collections, designated by letter(s) followed by number. Within a collection, files are designated by number, title, a short description and date.
[Note: The “Kehillah of New York cited below in the Private Collection Judah L. Magnes P 3, was an attempt by Magnes to unite New York Jewry under one umbrella organization. Landsmanshaftn were invited to join. Of particular value are lists that include name and address of landsmanshaft delegates to the Kehillah.]

REBECCA GERTRUDE AFFACHINER COLLECTION – P 85 

Rumanian Jews

21 “Hitachdut Olei Rumania” (Society for Rumanian Immigrants) – papers, correspondence, finances, notes and photos Incl.: – letters from Stephen Wise, Jan. 1938 – letter from Abba Hillel Silver, 24.March 1938 – letter from Louis Lipsky, 28. March 1938 – letter to Senator Alben Barkely, 7. March 1938 Engl., Hebr., Rumanian 1937 – 1943 

24 “Hitachdut Olei Rumania” (Society for Rumanian Immigrants) – minutes of committee meetings Rumanian 1949 

25 “Hitachdut Olei Rumania” (Society for Rumanian Immigrants), Jerusalem – papers and correspondence Incl.: Renasterea Noastra (newspaper), 2.3.1950, 31.8.1950 Engl., Hebr., Rumanian 1950 – 1951 

26 “Hitachdut Olei Rumania” (Society for Rumanian Immigrants) – individual cases Engl., Hebr. no date 

27 “Hitachdut Olei Rumania” (Society for Rumanian Immigrants) – varia Incl.: – “Ziele und Grundsätze der Organisation OWDEI JISRAEL” (socialistic colonist labour organization), no date – Propaganda of Hitachdut Olei Germania “המזרח 14, ” לאוגוסט 1941 (שבועון ) -ניו” יארקער וואכנבלאט 22, ” ליוני 1938 – Rumanian anti-Semitic circular [1937] – Letterhead and pamphlet of the “Altneuland Group” sponsor of “The Haifa Zebulun Seafaring Society” Engl., Hebr., Yiddish, Rumanian, German 1937 – 1941 

22 The Rumanian Jewish War Effort Fund – correspondence 1939 – 1942 

23 The Council of Rumanian Jews of America – papers and correspondence Incl.: – Journal of United Rumanian Jews of America – Letterheads of Central Rumanian Committee of America 1938 – 1946 

PRINTED MATTER – UNITED STATES

Brochures and pamphlets

86 “Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel” – Bulletin Feb. 1955 Dec. 1957 “אוצר התישבות היהודים בערבון מוגבל – ” – דין וחשבון, מאזן

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES 

JEWISH CONGREGATIONS

(Note the following order: Rec. no./ Place Name of Institution/ Content/  Lang./Date/  Remarks)

Individual Communities

US/311 New York  Chevra Beth (Bais) David – People of Rakov  Minutes Book Y. 1924-1934 

US/312 New York  Chevra Beth (Bais) David – People of Rakov  Accounting Book, according to members’ name Y. 1911-1933 

US/313 New York  Chevra Beth (Bais) David – People of Rakov Accounting Book – income & outcome, including list of donors in shul Y. 1928-1936 

US/314 New York  Chevra Beth (Bais) David – People of Rakov Accounting Book – 

income & outcome, including list of Dinner participants E. 1936-1946 

US/15 New York  First Hungarian Congregation Ohab Zedek  Special memorial prayer E., Heb. 1916

EDUCATION – GENERAL AND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS

US/39 New York  Mir Yeshiva Activities remembering the late Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Abraham Kalmonowitz E., Y. 1964

US/43 New York  Yeshiva Ohel Jacob, [Baranowicer Committee for Yeshivas Ohel Jacob] 1 circular  Y. 1962 יעקב אראנאוויטשער†קאמיטעט†פאר†ישיבת†”אהל

WELFARE

General

US/166   New York  United Czenstochover Relief and Ladies Auxiliary & Czenstochover Club

1 pamphlet for a Memorial day E., Y. 1953 

US/304 New York  Jewish People’s Relief Committee Correspondence with the Joint Distribution

Committee especially regarding transmissions branches, remittances, war

orphans, schools and “Landsmannschaften”Y., E. 1920 – 1921 Paper falling apart

“LANDSMANNSCHAFTEN” 

(Note: Yiddish titles in Hebrew letters are translated [and appear in brakets] by author).

US/200  New York  United Jewish Organizations. Affiliated independent Jewish Landsmannschaften and Benevolent Societies Circulars Y. 1935, no dates 

US/201  New York  American Federation for Polish Jews News-letter, pamphlet re settlement in Israel E. 1948 

US/202  New York  Burstyner Chevra Linas Ha(z)edek Anshei Galizia 1 circular E., Y. no date 

US/203  New York  Club of Polish Jews Invitations for various events E., Y. 1945 – 2955 

US/204  New York  Committee of Roumanian Jews 1 pamphlet E. 1917 

US/205 New York  Federation of Polish Jews in America Publications E., Y. 1935, no date 

US/206 New York  Ruhamah – Union of Women on Behalf of Polish Jewry empty letter paper 

US/207 New York 

לאנדסמאנשאפטן אידישע פארבאנד פון ווילנער יידן אין די פארייניקטע שטאטן פאראייניגטע גאליציאנער אידען אין אמעריקע [Yiddishe Landsmanshaftn Farband of Jews from Vilna in the United States /United Galitzianer Jews in America] Memorandum, pamphlet Y. 1934, 1947, no date 

US/208 New York  ארגאניזאציעס אידישע פאראייניגטע [United Jewish Organizations] Report of Annual Meeting Y. 1936

ZIONIST ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE JEWS IN ERETZ ISRAEL

US/253 New York  Collel America for Palestine / The American Congregation of Jerusalem כולל אמעריקא תפארת ירושלים  Letter from the members of the New York community to the Jewish community in Jerusalem re collection of funds Heb. 1913 

COLLECTION S. BROCHES – P 4 

(Note the follow order: Rec. no.  Category  Description Date Lang. Remarks)

P4/241 Archival sources Bessarabian Society of Boston: Minute books (Photostats of microfilms) 1927-1935 Yid. 

P4/242 Archival sources Bessarabian Society of Boston: Minute books (Photostats of microfilms) 1928, 1931- 1935 Yid. P4/243a-b 

Archival sources Bessarabian Society of Boston: Minute books (Photostats of microfilms) 1936-1944 Yid. 

P4/244 Archival sources Bessarabian Society of Boston: Minute books (Photostats of microfilms) 1944-1948 Yid. 

P4/245 Archival sources Bessarabian Society of Boston: Minute books (Photostats of microfilms) 1948-1952 Yid. 

P4/78 Bessarabian Jewry (Boston) – Articles, notes etc. 1945-1947 Eng., Yid. 

P4/83 Grodno Relief Society of Greater Boston: – Letters, – Financial matters – Ephemera of relief projects – Second Annual Banquet and Ball – program (1940) – Third Annual musicale – souvenir program (1947) – 10th Anniversary Banquet – program (1949) 1940-1949 Eng., Yid. 

P4/84 Archival sources Grodno Relief Society of Greater Boston: Minute books 1941, 1946 Yid. 

P4/85 Archival sources Grodno Relief Society of Greater Boston: Minutes, minute books 1946-1949 Eng., Yid. 

P4/92 =HM/364 Archival sources New England Association for the Relief of Ukrainian Jews – פאַרבאַנד אוקראינער “Ukranian Farband” (Boston, Mass.): Minutes 1919-1921 Yid., Eng.

P4/92 =HM/364 Boston – Communities & Organizations: Archival sources New England Association for the Relief of Ukrainian Jews – פאַרבאַנד אוקראינער (Boston, Mass.): Minutes 1919-1921 Yid., Eng.

NEWSPAPERS AND PRINTED MATERIAL

Periodicals in English & Yiddish

P4/214 The Bessarabian Jew – איד בעסאַראַבער דער (2 issues) 1946, 1948 Yid., Eng. 

P4/217 Polish Jews 9th Year Book – יארבוך ניינטער אידן פּוילישע (Published by American Federation for Polish Jews) June 1941 Yid., Eng. 

P4/218 Polish Jews 10th Year Book – יארבוך צענאער אידן פּוילישע (Published by American Federation for Polish Jews) June 1942 Yid., Eng. 

COLLECTION PINCHAS KELLER – P 334 

(Note the following order): Rec. no. Location Title Description Date Language Format Remarks

P334/1 New York Record book of the Society “Aid to Orphans Sochotzow – Sochotzowborn Philanthropists Residing in New York” (‘עזרת יתומים, סאכאטשאב, מנדיבי תושבי נוי-יארק ילידי סאכאטשאב’) Handwritten notebook comprising 56 entries of families with orphaned children supported by the Society, giving the names of the children their age, parent’s name, the details of the support tendered by the Society and its costs No date Yiddish Manuscript

P334/2 New York 1934 Meeting calendar of the “Independent Sochotzower Young Men’s Sick Support Society” Printed calendar, comprising dates of meetings and payment of loans, names of officers of the Society and their addresses, regulations of the Society, and an alphabetical list of the members and their addresses. 1934 English Print

P334/3 New York Mount Zion Cemetery (‘מאנט זיון זעמעטערי’) Handwritten record book, comprising a map of the Mount Zion Cemetery in New York, indicating the plots allocated to the “Landsmanschafts” and various other societies No date Yiddish Manuscript

P334/4 New York Sochotzower Y[oung] M[en]’s Relief Fund book Handwritten record book comprising various eulogies and list of the income and expenditures of the Society 1918 Yiddish Manuscript

P334/5 New York Tombstone formulas (‘נוסח מצבה’) Handwritten notebook comprising various eulogy formulas, and the order of burial proceedings Also includes a mapping of the cemetery indicating plot allocations to “Landsmanschafts” and various other groups, and names of the deceased and dates of their demise Undated Death dated between 1908-1919 Yiddish Manuscript

P334/6 New York Erecting a tombstone (‘הקמת מצבה’) Handwritten notebook comprising formulas for eulogies and burial proceedings Also includes shortened formula for specific cases, names of the deceased and date of death Undated Deaths dated from 1920s Yiddish, Hebrew Manuscript

P334/7 New York Record book pertaining to deaths and burials Handwritten notebook comprising eulogies, names of the decease and various accounts 1933-1934 Yiddish Manuscript

P334/8 New York Record book pertaining to deaths and burials Handwritten notebook includes eulogies, a mapping of the cemetery indicating plots allocated to the “Landsmanschafts” and various other societies, names of decease and dates of death 1917-1920 Yiddish Manuscript

P334/9 New York Record book pertaining to deaths and burials Handwritten notebook comprising names of deceased (including ‘war victims’), tombstone inscriptions (including guidelines), a mapping of the cemetery indicating plots allocated to the “Landsmanschafts” and various other societies, a list of those invited to “Chaike’s wedding (?), accounts connected with the wedding, a list of invited guest and their addresses, and other matters No date Yiddish, English, Hebrew Manuscript

P334/10 New York American citizenship tests Questions and answers of citizenship tests for immigrants, in English (printed) and in Yiddish (handwritten) English, [1929-1933] Yiddish Manuscript Administration period of President Herbert Hoover

P334/11 New York Receipts Receipts of payments by Pinchas Keller to the Independent Sochotzower Young Men’s Loan Fund and Sick Support Society, including an envelope Jan.-July 1935 English

P334/12 New York Weekly records of Pinchas Keller’s expenditures Weekly records of Pinchas Keller’s expenditures, including many charitable outlays [1933] Yiddish Written on the backs of advertisement for Loew’s State Theater, Broadway. Dating is based on notations on the backs of the advertisements

P334/13 New York Receipts for medical treatments Dozens of receipts for medical treatment received by Pinchas Keller at the Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn 1934 English

P334/14 Details of someone who came to the United States twice, in 1889 and 1890 Information about someone who came to the United State twice, in 1889 and in 1890 as well as the names of the ships No date Yiddish

P334/15 Family correspondence Letter written on the back of a receipt: addressed to “father”, apparently hospitalized, who needs to be taken home No date Yiddish

P334/16 Letter from Pinchas Keller to his son Yisrael Keller writing to his son Yisrael, about the unveiling of his mother’s tombstone, that he should remember her “yahrzeit” even if he will not be present at the ceremony. He is aware that this is an expensive undertaking. No date Yiddish Conclusion (of letter) is missing

P334/17 Letter from Pinchas Keller to his son Yisrael A letter to (his) son Yisrael, asking him to meet with Rubenstein and to ask him whether he had received the book about his sister’s tombstone. He fears that he did not write the complete address, so perhaps he did not receive the book. 1934 Yiddish, English Written on the backs of advertisement for Loew’s State Theater, Broadway

P334/18 Various accounts – Various Accounts – Dispatch of $10 to Lajzer Hajman in Warsaw 1933-1935 Yiddish, English

P334/19 Invitation to a meeting of the Ind. Sochotzover Young Men’s S.S.S. to choose a treasurer Invitation to a meeting of the Ind. Sochotzover Young Men’s S.S.S. to choose a Treasurer (the letter includes a list of the committee members of the society) 1936 English

P334/20 “Ketubah” form Ketuvah form, in Aramaic and English, for a wedding in “North “America” 20th century Aramaic, English P334/21 New York Envelopes Used envelopes recycled to hold documents 1935-1936 Yiddish

PRIVATE COLLECTION JUDAH L. MAGNES – P 3

Philanthropic work in Palestine

517 A report on the condition of “Kollel America”, listing members

intus: An endorsement by Chaim Nachman Bialik of a needy student 1912

523 Correspondence with Oscar Straus on the citizenship of “Kollel” members 1913

528 An appeal for funds by “Kollel America” 1914

Joint Distribution Committee of the American Fund for Jewish War Sufferers (JDC)

974 The Committee on Landsmannschaften: reports and minutes 1920

“KEHILLAH” (NEW YORK)

Conventions

1468  Lists of Convention delegates and of members of Kehillahbodies 1913

1469-1471 Correspondence on participation in the Convention with:

– Rabbi David Twersky, regarding “Chassidim”

– Sol. M. Stroock, regarding “Bnai Jeshurun” Synagogue, Jacob Wertheim 1914

1475-1476  Correspondence on Convention attendance with: The Federation of Galician and Bucovinian Jews of America, The Order “Bnei Zion” 1915

1518  Minutes, revised resolutions and a list of delegates who pledged to enlist new members to the “Kehillah” 1918

Press clippings and printed matter

1647 “The Jewish Communal Register” 1916

PUBLIC ACTIVITY (PALESTINE)

General Correspondence

1986-1988 Photographs 1930-1942

1989-1991 Varia 1933-1947

Aid to institutions and contributions to public funds

2276 Reports on the financial operations of the Weingarten and Blumenthal orphanages and of “Kollel America” 1923

A. FANO – IRGUN OLE’ ITALIA – P 192 (1939-1966)

1 Appunti per una storia dell’ Irgun Ole’ Italia

2 Statuto dell’ Irgun Ole’ Italia e proposta di statuto rettificato (1948 ?) 1939

3 Comunicazioni ai socie relazione del Consiglio (31.5.1939 – 31.5.1940) 1939 – 1941

4 Libro di cassa (1939-1942), e bilanci (1947 – 1967) 1939 – 1967

5 Verbali delle sedute di Consiglio (29.7.1942 – 2.5.1944) (retro: contabilità: 1950 – 1962)

1942 – 1944 (1950 – 1962)

6 Relazione del Consiglio fino al 31.3.1942 Commissione provvisoria dell’Irgun O.I., IV-VI/1942

Proposte per un programma di attività (lettere in arrivo) Assemblea (26.7.1942):

relazione e proposte della commissione provvisoria.-Verbale dell’assemblea

– Comunicazioni agli Ole’Italia

– Messaggio agli ebrei d’Italia sparsi per il mondo (I)

– Elenco ebrei d’Italia sparsi per il mondo 1942

7 Comunicazioni agli Ole’Italia:

i.a.: Relazione annuale del Consiglio per il 1943

– Sunto dei lavori e deliberazioni della Assemblea annuale

– Messaggio agli ebrei d’Italia sparsi per il mondo (II) 1943

8 Comunicazioni agli Ole’Italia:

i.a.: – Relazione annuale del Consiglio per il 1944

– Sunto dei lavori e deliberazioni della Assemblea annuale (1944)

– Messaggio agli ebrei d’Italia sparsi per il mondo (III)

– “Gli Ebrei d’Italia in Erez Israel ai loro fratelli”,

(Organizzazione Sionistica Mondiale, Gerusalemme, 1944) Bollettino della Società Mazzini di Quito, Equador,connotizie riguardanti l’andamento della guerra in Italia 1944

9 Comunicazioni agli Ole’Italia:

i.a.: – Relazione annuale del Consiglio per il 1945

– Sunto dei lavori e deliberazioni della Assemblea annuale.

– Messaggio agli ebrei d’Italia sparsi per il mondo (IV)

  • La Fiamma, Bollettino della Società Mazzini di Quito, connotizie riguardanti l’andamento della guerra in Italia 1945

Listings not found in finding aids:

US/O/GLY Gliniany (Glinianer Young Men’s Benevolent Association) – (New York) 1900-1987

PL/489 Indura  – (New York)

PL/479 Pinsk Records of Pinsk-Karlin, Yanova (Ivanava) and vicinity- (Israel)

PL/899 Pinsk Records of Pinsk-Karlin, Yanova (Ivanava) and vicinity- (Israel)

China: Inv. 7946 the archive of the Russian community in China


Avrohom A. Krauss, ordained by New Israel Rabbinical College, Baltimore, MD and M.S. Johns Hopkins University, is a veteran educator and genealogist specializing in uniquely Jewish resources. He has served as an instructor for JewishGen’s Online Education Course, is a frequent contributor to AVOTAYNU in print and is featured on Avotaynu Online. Krauss is a member of Gesher Galicia, Litvak SIG and Belaus SIG and belongs to JGS Inc, New York City and the Israel Genealogical Research Association (IGRA). Krauss has presented talks at IGRA in Jerusalem and at IAJGS conferences in L.A., Paris, Boston, Salt Lake City, Jerusalem and Seattle. A native of Elizabeth, NJ, Avrohom and family reside in Telz-Stone, Israel.