B'nai Komyater Society & Miscellaneous

B'nai Simon Komjater Society

In New York City, on August 12th, 1929, eight former residents of Komjat, signed the certificate of incorporation for the B'nai Simon Komjater Society Inc. This landsmanshaften was named in honor of Benjamin Simon Rottenstein, rabbi of Komjat. Samuel Schwartz, Leopold Rottenstein, Martin Berger, George Weinberger, Joseph Greenstein, Bernard Berger, Sadie Sobel and Sam Blubstein were the directors. The fee for the incorporation was $6.00. The application was approved on October 10, 1929.

Certificate of Incorporation: (Click to enlarge)

Komjater society meetings were held monthly in a synagogue in Brooklyn. Most members lived there. One of the banquets was held in the synagogue where Rabbi Balaban, a Komjater, officiated. Steve Lawrence’s father was a Komyater and a troubador named Mendel Liebowitz. Steve, only 16 at that time, performed. Mendel made up rhymes and songs and entertained the group. The ladies of the society catered the parties and brought foods that they had prepared.

Inscription: Presented by B'nai Simon Komjater Society to Mr. & Mrs. L. Rothstein, Dec. 31, 1933

Spread sheet of Komjater Society, Winter 1939-40
Translation Komyat, with the help of G_d; Accounts of Winter 5700 (1939)for the Sons of Shimon Komyater Society in New York. (The first 7 names in left column- Teachers salary in arrears from that period). Heading for column on right- Incoming monies. Words below stamp- Abraham for Krayzman, Accountant. Chaim Tzvi Yakubovitz  $240.00 Chaim Leib Kaufman ?  $16.40 Mordechai Shmulovitz  $300.00 Yosef Klein  $25.00 David Neufeld  $85.00 Yuda Alblovitz ?  $42.00 Avraham Chaim Weiss  $70.00 Bedding for guests to sleep  $20.00 Shmuel Chaim Leibovitz  $110.00 Yitzchak Klein  $6.00 Mordechai Maier Grossman  $5.00 Aharon Neufeld  $4.00 Raphael Shub Weiss (Shub indicates Shochet)  $170.00 Moshe Yaakov Berger  $8.00 For cheder of …   Chaim Tzvi  $10.00 Aharon Yakubovitz  $4.00 Chaim ? Krosmatz ? Chaya?  $30.80 Yaakov Greenspan  $7.00 Sarah Krosmatz "  $20.00 Shalmon Borkovitz  $4.00 Shifra Greenfeld for wedding ….orphan girl  $40.00 Yechiel Grossman  $5.00 Michael Weissman  $49.00 Ebir  ? Son of Yaakov Krosmatz ?  $6.00 Mordechai Shmulovitz  $14.90 Yaakov Krosmatz  $3.00 Shaindel Miavetky ?  $19.00 Menachem Leibovitz  $4.00 Sarah Leibovitz  $34.90 Esther Schwartz  $8.00 Rivka Leibovitz  $21.60 Shmelke Kleinman  $18.00 Paga ….?  $39.00 Yosef Michel Tzalka  $5.00 Sholem Feiga Leah Engel...with clothes to...  $12.00 Shmuel son of Yaakov Leibovitz  $10.00 Yitzchak Lebbovitz  $17.90 Shmuel Chaim Leibovitz  $5.00 Alexander Berger  $20.00 Shpegin ?  $19.70 Mordechai Leibovitz  $18.00 Tsitsis  $4.00 Bringing in Bride  $3.00 cash balance  $43.60 4 pair teflilin  $105.00 Contributions  $5.20 Total of all contributions-  $1,708.00 Total this column  $1,440.30

Postcard sent to Berger family in Komjat, 1941

Leopold (Rottenstein) Rothstein, Secretary-Treasurer of the B’nai Simon Komyater Society in NY, sent this postcard to his brother-in-law Szender Berger, in Komjat in December 1941. It is stamped - Return to sender, service suspended. The cancellation date is Sept 12, 1945. The war had ended.

Translation- Dear sister and brother-in-law, I received your letter and read with joy that on the 24th you received Eszter Rifke’s letter. I sent away and received an answer, she is fine. 15 to the teachers, 2 for you 2 to aunt Cilli 2 to Ele Mendel Racelsznek 50 to Chavelinek 50 to Binamin Leizernek 50 to Ruchel mose Rozesnek - Onik 50 to Ruchel Blobstein 50 to Yechiel Grossman 50 to Nute Blobsten – Szolos We thank G_d are fine. Write just postcards, hope they’ll arrive. How are the children? Do they go to school? Where is Mayer? Send my kisses and regards. Your brother Zalman Leib

Details of message sent to Berger family in Komjat. Describes the distribution of money that was sent to Komjat from the B’nai Simon Komjater Society in N.Y. Leopold’s nephew, Moishe Berger, was the head of the society in later years.

The Tragic Story of David Berger

In late January, 1937, David Berger, a young man born in Komjat (Velikiye Komyaty) and living in Antwerp, boarded a ship bound for the U.S. as a stowaway. He hid under a pile of coal which slipped and trapped him. He tapped until he was finally heard by the crew, who shoveled for many hours to finally rescue him. Unfortunately, he died from injuries sustained, and was buried at sea. David Berger was the grandson of Rav Shimon Benjamin Rottenstein of Komjat. (see photo in Rottenstein recollections).