Freedom!

Because the size of the document has exceeded the maximum file size in the main document archive, the newest most comprehensive version can be found in, the (Website) Help Files page.) This version remains but it is NOT the latest most inclusive listing of potential family research leads that exists.

With the advent of the Internet, there are a large number of possible research possibilities that enable us to investigate our roots and ancestors, as well as locate family branches that are presently living, but unaware of each other. It is too much for any one person to tackle.

The "Research Hits to Investigate" document lists a large number of search "leads", from Internet searches, that almost certainly includes some of our ancestors and their descendants. Your help in tracking down who these people are and attempting to "connect" them to us would be appreciated!

As contacts are made and "hits" are confirmed as ancestors or relatives (or not), notations are made to this list to minimize the chance of researchers duplicating each other's efforts. OBS 1-14-2009

"Ostroveh", Ostrow-Mazowiecka, Market Scene, 1916

Some of the founders of the "United Workers Cooperative Colony", commonly referred to as "The Coops", about 1926. Frank and Bertha Olenberg are at the upper left.

From an article in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/arts/television/27utop.html&OQ=_rQ3D1&OP=6131a293Q2Fhkw.h97YTl77DQ2BhQ2BQ2FQ2FrhQ2FQ5EhQ2BQ26hQ3ElDThDwZwBQ23TQ237-hQ2BQ26tD7Q7DQ25nDfZ

To view the article, copy and paste the above link into your web browser's address window.

Posted by Olen Soifer, with thanks to Barbara Spector Yeninas for finding this article.

A 1932 PICTURE OF “UNCLE” ALTER (DIRECTOR) IN A PROTEST DEMOSTRATION FOR TOM MOONEY. …Thanks to Ben Director, Alter's nephew, for this picture…

Tom Moony was well known as a militant, a socialist and a union agitator. He and an associate were tried, convicted and sentenced to die for the Preparedness Day bombing, which killed 10 people and injured 40 on July 22, 1916, near the Embarcadero in San Francisco. (Mooney, tipped off to threats, had warned that there might be agitation at the parade in an attempt to blacken the labor movement.)

The trial had possessed a lynch mob atmosphere and some of the witnesses were allegedly coached by the prosecution. After the conviction, worldwide agitation and the intervention of President Woodrow Wilson prompted the 1918 commutation of their sentences to life in prison. Later, a commission set up by Wilson found little evidence of Mooney's guilt.

The prisoners became the most famous political prisoners in America, and Hollywood stars, anarchists, international politicians and others campaigned for their release…as our picture demonstrates. There seems to be a long line of activism in our families from way back!

Mooney was finally pardoned in 1938 and his associate (Warren K. Billings) was pardoned in 1939. Mooney, in poor health, died in 1942 and Billings died in 1972.

Changes to immigration laws in 1924 ended mass immigration to the US as it had been. Ellis Island became less of a reception center because the examinations it had been responsible for were possible at the consulate, etc, in the country of the immigrant's origin.

This picture taken in 1958 upon a visit, to the US, by Simcha. That is the Morris Director place, in the background, just downhill from Frank Olenbergs summer place, in Peekskill, NY. "Peekskill" was a favorite place to visit, every summer, for much of the family for 50 years! (The photo says November, but it may have been taken a bit earlier, and developed in November, because it was usually winterized and locked up by then.)

These are the 3 brothers, children of Mordecai Mendel & Sora Olenberg, who survived ("avoided" may be a better word...) WWII and the Holocaust by leaving Europe before the Holocaust began. From left to right are Bernard and Frank, who had emigrated to the USA in 1910 and 1923, respectively. On the right is Simcha, who emigrated to Israel in 1928, at about age 17. The two brothers in the US had expected Simcha in NY but, as the Zionist in the family, he went to Israel instead through the efforts of an organization helping Jews enter Palestine before WWII. (Organization name???) There was, apparently, some initial confusion, as to where Simcha was, when Simcha did not show up in the US.

Before Simcha's visit to the US, all 3 brothers had not been together in one place since 1910, 48 years before.

Thanks to Gloria Rappaport, daughter of Bernard, for the re-scanned photo.

Hilary Russo, her neices Taylor & Logan Russo, Hilary's mother Beverly Lewis Russo and Beverly's mother Paula (Olenberg).

Paula was the daughter of Frank Olenberg and the granddaughter of Mordechai Mendel Olenberg.

Photo provided by Beverly Lewis Russo

A brief essay by the webmaster describing his mother's journey with her parents and sisters to Russia in the early '30's. Photos of the ships involved coming soon.

Abe and Anna Gilner in between daughter Elaine and son Donald, about 1955.

(Please clarify photo date and place by way of a comment.)

Photo is from Celia Gilners Picasa web photo album, but posted here by Olen Soifer

Well, maybe this needs to be modified to "The only kosher restaurant in Mainland China", because there is a small but active Hong Kong Jewish Community, but it is still a "rare beast" in a country of over a billion people and a long history of Jewish presence (though always fairly small), but no active, full-time resident community for over 150 years: