Krzywcza Landsmanshaft in New York:

Created for the mutual benefit of its members and their families, the Krzywcza on San Sick Support Society, Inc. (First Krzywcza Am San Sick & Ben. Ass'n) was incorporated in the State of New York after World War I on 16 March 1920.

The Certificate of Incorporation stated the purposes for which the society was formed:
1) to voluntarily aid and assist members and those of their families while in distress and during sickness
2) to acquire by purchase or otherwise a plot or plots in a duly organized cemetery for the use of deceased members or those of their families; which  cemetery shall not however be sold to any outside person or persons
3) to maintain lectures and discussions on civic topics including the Constitution of the United States, so that the members of this Society may become better acquainted with the National and State Institutions and Governments and thereby to engender a better spirit of fellowship and citizenship.

The following nine individuals were named as founding directors:

• Henry Spitz (1874-1932) 40 Second Street, Manhattan
  
• Morris Kestenbaum (c1871-1950) 980 Prospect Avenue, Bronx
  
• Louis Klugman (1879-1927) 630 Howard Avenue, Brooklyn
  
• David Kestenbaum (1879-1939) 1259 St. Johns Place, Broolyn
  
• Osias (Sam) Kestenbaum (1883-1940) 568 Barby Street, Brooklyn
  
• Benjamin Beck (1873-1947) 36 Columbia Street, Manhattan
  
• Pinkas Rubenfeld (1876-1955) 62 Cannon Street, Manhattan
  
• Abraham Ringel (1889-1961) 417 East 170th Street, Bronx
  
• Sam (Osias) Miller (1894-1935) 50 Columbia Street, Manhattan

Others present for the incorporation of the Society and who signed the certificate were Isidor Rubenfeld, Max Schwarzbarth and Joshua S. Shapiro.

The nine founding directors lived in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn. Henry Spitz had immigrated to New York in 1888. David Kestenbaum, my grandfather, and his brothers Morris and Osias (Sam), were founding directors. Morris was the first in my family to immigrate, c1888-1890. David arrived in New York in 1899 and Osias (Sam) in 1902, Louis Klugman in 1901, Benjamin Beck in 1902, Abraham Ringel in 1906, and Osias (Sam) Miller in 1911. Pinkas arrived as Pinkas Potasznik in 1910 and, after World War I, went back to Krzywcza, returning to New York in 1921; he arrived as Pinchas Rubenfeld, bringing his family with him.

Page from Certificate of Incorporation of the Krzywcza on San Sick Support Society, Inc., Supreme Court of the Sate of New York, 16 March 1920, New York Court Records, Selected Incorporation Papers, 1848-1920, microfilm, American Jewish Historical Society.	From First Krzywcza Am San S.B. Assn's Souvenir Journal: 17th anniversary banquet and ball, 1920-1937 ... Saturday, Feb. 27th, 1937. [New York: s.n.], 1937. Dorot Jewish Division, New York Public Library, microfilm.

According to the Souvenir Journal published in 1937 for the Seventeenth Anniversary Banquet and Ball, David Kestenbaum, my grandfather, and Sam Kestenbaum, the society's first president and my great-uncle, were still active as trustees. Additional trustees at the time were Morris Ringel, Sadie Silverman and Max Stromer. The Ex-President was Isaac Fast, the current President Max Yuni, Vice-Present Joseph Ringel, Financial Secretary


Harry Glicksman, Recording Secretary David Glicksman and the Chairman of the Cemetery was Pinkas Rubinfeld, who was an ex-president. Another ex-president was Max Silberman (c1885-1929). My great-uncle Morris Kestenbaum was a former treasurer.

Deed of Gift beween Erster Krzywcza An San Sick Benevolent Assn and the
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Inc., New York,
signed by Dr. Leo Kestenbaum, president, and Sheyndel Milamed
Courtesy of YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Inc.

© 2007 Joy Kestenbaum, photographer

Erec. 1926 First Krzywcza Am San S.B.A. Fence (Gader) Committee Pinkas Rubenfeld Baruch Beck Moshe Ringel David Itzak Glicksman Itzak Fast David Adler Harry Rosner Aaron Lev Kresh Harry Glicksman Yehoshua Meir Kestenbaum Yehoshua Yuni Fishel Stromer Members Harry Spitz Moshe Kestenbaum David Eli Yuni Yehoshua Miller David Adler Mebel Yuni Lipa Rubenfeld Moshe Adler Yosef Ringel Yechezkel Feivel Ringel Samson Lev Hertz David Kestenbaum Max Herzberg Feivel Goldstein Moshe Rosenberg Efraim Fishel Strommer Leib Berner Chaim Berner Feivel Neiss Shlomo Glicksman Zishe Groman Israel Hirsh Zorn Sam Kessler Ken Ari Rath Yakov Zvi Ringel Avraham Taub Meilech Kalter	Front View © 2004 Joy Kestenbaum, photographer	Org. 1920 Beamte (Officers) Itzak Fast Ex Pres Pinkas Rubenfeld Pres Yehoshua Yuni Vice Pres David Itzak Glicksman Harry Glicksman Baruch Beck Yehoshua Meir Kestenbaum Trustees Shlomo Mayer Yakov Starr Max Levine Members Aaron Lev Kresh Chaim Glicksman Shuah (Samuel) Bohrer Harry Rosner Moshe Ringel Abraham Ringel Asher  Rubenfeld Chaim Hersh Ringel Mordecai Ringel Eliezar Schimerling Eliezar Itzak Klugman Yakov Klugman Eli Shlomo Klugman Shmuel Rubenfeld Moshe Licht Sender Glicksman Yehoshua Miller Moshe Rindler Avraham Shiffman Yehoshua Frey Max Bohrer Moshe Ehrer? Yodel Yuni Mordecai Berner Avraham (Adolph) Krantz Yehuda Wolf Harry Levine Avraham Yehoshah Levine Max Silverman
Yente Klugman Chaya Adler Yente Glicksman Gitshe Yuni Kressel Rosman Hene Hoch Masha Rosman Gitel Rosman Erin Debra Master Val? Chana Felsen Chaya Sara Gitshem bat R' Abraham Yitzak Fani Spitz Chaya Hinde Kestenbaum Sarah Yuni Taube Miller Taube Adler Beile Yuni Rachel Leah Adler Faigel Ringel Ette Hertz Chaya Kestenbaum Golde Hertzberg Hinde Rachel Goldstein Meryl Rosenberg Rivka Stromer Aster Berner Sara Berner Rachel Neiss Ada Glicksman Gitel Groman Leah Pesha Zorn Freida Kessler Esther Etel Ratah Perel Sara Ringel Golde Tov Rivka	Women Names on inner side of posts	Chaya Fast Chaya Rubinfeld Hena Yuni Chana Rachel Glicksman Leah Glicksman Etel Beck Sarah Kestenbaum Yente Meyer Cecil Starr Golde Levine Esther Kresh Sayde Glicksman Raize Bohrer Leah Rosner Golde Hene Ringel Raize Ringel Sara Rubinfeld Tzvetel Ringel Sarah Etel Ringel Rivka Shimerling Reisel Klugman Feige Klugman Perel Rosenblatt Taube Licht Feigel Glicksman Deborah Miller Gele Rindler Leah Schindler Taube Frey Vitel Bohrer Chaya Ehrrich Tserel Yuni Miriam Hene Wolf Leah Levine

Family Names of Those Buried in the Krzywcza Plot at Beth David Cemetery:

 
Adler, Berner, Bessen, Bohrer, Comander, Fast, Frey, Giwanter, Glicksman, Goldstein, Heilman, Silverman, Groman, Hertzberg, Kalter, Kestenbaum, Klugman, Krantz, Kresh, Kupferberg, Levine, Lubell, Mayer, Miller, Neiss, Rindler, Ringel, Rubinfeld, Schiffman, Schimmerling, Schaps, Schepps, Starr, Stromer, Taub, Wassner, Weiner, Yuni, and Zorn.

According to gravestones in the Beth David plot, the following members were Cohens and Levites:

Cohens: Irving Kalter, Moe Lubell, Chaim Hersch Ringel, Harold Ringel, Joseph Ringel.

Levites: David Kestenbaum, Morris Kestenbaum, Sam Kestenbaum, Morris Rich, Abraham Ringel, Philip Ringel, Harry Spitz

Members came from Krzywcza in the vicinity of Przemysl and its neighboring towns and villages, such as Dynów (now in Rzeszów County) and Bachow,  and Ruszelczyce (now in Gmina Krzywcza, Przemyśl County).

The Souvenir Journal published in 1937 for the 17th anniversary Banquet and Ball listed the following members of the Society who had died by that date and were buried in its cemetery plot.

Men	Women
1927 Leizer Itzak Klugman	1923 Hantshe (Chana Rachel) Glicksman
1929 Max Silverman	1927 Sarah Schepps
1930 Mordecai Glicksman	1928 Yente Klugman
1932 Harry Spitz	1932 Rivka Stromer
1933 Chaim Hersh Ringel	1933 Rachel (Regina) Ringel
1935 Moshe Ehrrich	1933 Chaya Hinde Kestenbaum
1935 Sam Miller	1937 Peshe Glicksman
1936 Jacob Klugman

The Souvenir Journal published in 1937 also included a list of the children of members in memory of those who had died. These children included Louis Hertzberg, Benjamin Glicksman, Jessie Klugman, Albert Zorn, Martin Ringel and babies of the Levine (Mildred), Hoffner (Paul), Ringel and Chenken families. Baby Chenken was probably the first to be buried in the plot of the First Krzywcza Society.

Louis Hertzberg, who died in 1922 at 17 years of age, was one of the first to be buried in the Society's plot at Beth David. His grave is adjacent to that of his parents, Gussie (Golde), nee Kestenbaum, and Max Hertzberg, both who died later.

My great-aunts Gussie (Golde) and Regina (Rivka), both from Krzywcza, standing beside the gravestone of Gussie's son Louis. Gussie and Regina are also buried in the Society's plot at Beth David Cemetery. Photograph after 1928 Courtesy of Susan Ullman	Gravestone of Louis Hertzberg, my first cousin once removed, who died in 1922 at 17 years of age,   It was one of the first burials, if not the first, in the Society's plot. © 2007 Joy Kestenbaum, photographer

First Krzywcza A. S. A. Ben. Ass'n. Secretary, D[avid] Glicksman, [1]114 Simpson St., Bronx. [from Di Idishe landsmanshaften fun Nyu York (The Jewish Landsmanschaften of New York), 1938] (David Glicksman, 1879-1957)

ERSTER KRZYWCZA AN SAN BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, Records, 1908, 1946-1966 (RG 103)
Founded in 1920 by former residents of Krzywcza, Poland. Established as a relief committee after World War I to aid institutions in home town. Affiliated with Krzywczer Society in Israel that provides relief for indigent members. Minutes, 1946-66. From Guide to the YIVO Archives (Donated by Dr. Leo Kestenbaum, last president of the society; see above)

Erster Krzywcza An San Benevolent Society 1946-66 (click on hyperlink for list; then scroll up to read descriptive information at top). Incorrectly identified as the Young Krivichi Benevolent Society (Belarus), actually partial transcription from list of members in English, along with names from the Yiddish, from minutes kept in ledger book of Erster Krzycza An San Society at YIVO.

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