Shiah          Continued.....
     Meyer Hoffman, was a Hebrew scholar and teacher in Nikolayev. He had served in the Russian army at age 21 and had attended college in Odessa for two years. After the Revolution and First World War a large amount of money was collected in the United States among the Nikolayev family and friends for the purpose of enabling all the people left there to emigrate, if they chose to leave. Meyer, because of his education, became the travel organizer for the undertaking. He travelled to Lemberg (Lvov), Poland where he lived for over a year obtaining passports, visas and making travel arrangements for the others.

     While Meyer was in Lemberg, it was decided that Ruchel, Shiah's youngest daughter should also emigrate. She left with three other young girls from the village, but with no money. It was in the dead of winter, and they travelled to the border by horse-drawn sleigh, driven by a peasant farmer. This was at a time when numerous Jews were fleeing illegally across the borders and the Russian guards were watching for them. Ruchel described how they were caught and housed overnight in the house of a gentile family. The guards were awaiting word as to what to do with all the captured Jews. Ruchel mentioned that some were being sent to Kiev prisons, which was a very frightening prospect. When Ruchel mentioned to the gentile family that her destination was Belozurka (Bjeloserka), where her aunt Nechah Cwengel, was living with son Shika, it was suggested that she escape and travel the short distance there by foot during the night. Because of the deep snow and additional falling snow, her foot prints would be hidden. (The guards preferred to stay comfortably indoors, drinking, etc.) When she saw a sleigh coming toward her during her flight, she presumed it to be Russian soldiers, but instead, it was another family of Jews fleeing, and they offered her a ride to Belozurka.

     Ruchel was very impressed that her distant cousin, Shika Cwengel, gladly lent her money to board a train for the trip to Lemberg, where her brother Meyer was staying. Meyer repaid Shika the money lent to Ruchel. 		     Ruchel lived in Lemberg about a year, awaiting her visa, etc. for immigration into the U.S. She lowered her age a few years in order to be accepted for immigration as a dependent child (sister of Isaac and Morris already living in the U.S.). Her description of her stay in Lemberg was pretty grim. She shared a house with many others like herself, and had to share a bed with three other girls, one with lice. The food, she remembered, as being indescribably bad.

     During this time, Shiah and Sprinzte also decided to emigrate. They sold their house to their daughter Sarah Malamud, who remained in Nikolayev. When Shiah and Sprintz arrived in Lemberg, they found out that they could not immigrate into the U.S. because of Shiah's health. Shiah had eye problems and a hernia, and would have had to be operated on prior to leaving for the U.S. He chose instead to return to Nikolayev. He moved in with his daughter Sarah, (a very unhappy prospect for everyone.)

    When the immigration authorities advised Meyer that he should leave before it became too late, Meyer sent for Beila in Nikolayev to join him. (Beila was jailed briefly crossing the border.) Meyer and Beila were married in Lemberg before leaving for Canada on the "Caronia" from England on September 10, 1921. They were not accepted for immigration into the U.S. immediately because of the quota, but after 1 1/2 years in Canada, they were allowed entry into the U.S. Daughter Libby was born in Canada; sons Joe and Jake were born in St. Louis, where Meyer worked as a newspaper carrier.

     Ruchel finally obtained her visa and travelled on the "Carmania" from Cherbourg, arriving in N.Y. in January, 1922. She lived in St. Louis, married Sam Ehrlich and they became the parents of one son, Sheldon, and foster parents to others.

     Shiah died in 1932 at age 84, Sprintze at age 79. Their daughter, Sarah and her family (husband Lazar Malamud, their 6 children and 22 grandchildren) were victims of the holocaust. Ruchel believes that there is a possibility that Sarah's daughter, Chika who married and moved to a small mining town in Russia, possibly survived the holocaust.

Joe Hoffman, Gabe & Libby (Hoffman) Meyer, Meyer & Bella Hoffman, Jake Hoffman; Front: Paul and Sandy Meyer (1948)

Seated: Isaac, Chana Fayge, Meyer & Bella Hoffman; Standing: Libby (Hoffman) Meyer, Joe & Joan Hoffman

Sandra (Meyer) & Jonathon Gershovitz and children, Dena, Shabtai & Boaz (1983)

[page 67-70 ]
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