Meyerowitz Family
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The Meyerowitz family was one of the larger ones in Kupiskis and was made up of a number of different branches emanating from Eliash Meyerowitz from Birziai. He had a number of children: Gershon-Zvi, Naftoli, Efraim, Itsyk "Isaac", Yisroel, Benjamin, Perel and two other females
whose names are not known. Several of the children married women from Kupiskis and that is how they came to the shtetl. Most of the family went to South Africa, but a number left for America.
The following branch comes from Gershon-Zvi ben Eliash Meyerowitz, born 1863, and his wife Rusa-Stirra bat Elchonon Sloventsiski or Slavinsky, born 1866. The couple married in 1886 and had at least ten children: Beniamin-Leizer, Rosa (married Solomon Altman or Elterman), Josel-Mendel, Chaia "Chana"
(married Joseph Moskovitz) , Freda (married Israel Jacobs), Hindel (married Tevya Glass), Musa-Etta (married Elia Kushner), Leah, Elka (married Josel-Shlioma "Yosef" Levinstein), and Elchonon "Arnold".
Gershon-Zvi Meyerowitz, a very religious man, sought out his fortune and left Kupiskis for America when he went to his brothers who had proceeded him in Pennsylvania. He then went to various other places such as Boston, Massachusetts, where he had relatives. He found that America, for him, was not
religious enough, in addition to which his wife Rusa-Stirra refused to move there. She had numerous daughters and family she didn't wish to leave. So Gershon-Zvi returned home to Kupiskis where, later, he and his wife and several children and their families were killed in 1941 during the Holocaust.
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The following photographs depict various family members: |
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Rusa-Stirra Slavinsky Meyerowitz with her children Elchonon "Arnold" and Elka Meyerowitz. Elchonon, the youngest of the family, who changed his name to Arnold Meyers when he came to South Africa and married Rebecca Levine. Elka married Josel-Shlioma "Joseph" Levinstein from Radviliskis. |
| Rusa-Stirra Slavinsky Meyerowitz |
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Elka Meyerowitz and her husband Josel-Shlioma "Yosef" Levinstein from Radvisliskis. |
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Elka Meyerowitz on the left and unknown friend |
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This picture of Hindel Meyerowitz Glass was taken in Kupiskis before she left to go to Cape Town to meet her husband Tevya Glass (Glaz). Her husband purchased a ticket for Hindel to use to come and meet him, but she gave it to his brother, Ezak Glaz, to use it to avoid conscription into the army. Later, Tevya sent her another ticket and she finally made it to South Africa and her new life. Hindel is the mother of David and Mickey Glass and Helen Glass Katz, who donated these photographs. Hindel was very active in the Kupiskis Benevolent Society in Cape Town and assisted in its fundraising activities for many years as well as holding office in the group. |
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Postcard sent to Arnold Meyers (Elchonon Meyerowitz) in Cape Town, South Africa from Kupiskis in 1940. |
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Postcard sent to Arnold Meyers (Elchonon Meyerowitz) in Cape Town, South Africa from Kupiskis in 1941. |
| These photos were contributed by Helen Glass Katz, daughter of Hindel Meyerowitz and Tevya Glass. |
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Chaia "Chana" Meyerowitz married Joseph Moskovitz. The couple had the following children: Alec, Mendel (1923-1971) and Reuben (d. 2002). The family left Kupiskis and came to South Africa and joined other family members there. The following are several photographs which depict
the family in South Africa. |
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| Joseph Moskovitz | Chana Meyerowitz Moskovitz |
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This photo was taken in Cape Town
and the people are left to right: Alec Moskovitz and wife
Sophie, Mendel Moskovitz and wife Miriam London, Alec Jacob and
friend, a first cousin of the Moskovitz brothers.
Contributed by Jenni
Moskovitz Blaser, daughter of Mendel Moskovitz, in memory of her
father and his family.
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