This document provides a history of the Sitz family, beginning with Hadassah and Sender Gerson who lived in Bialystok, Russia in the late 1800s. It details their seven children and the journeys some of them took, including Pia, Basha, Chana, and Masha who immigrated to America through Hamburg, Germany and changed their names to Anne, Bessie, Emma, and Martha. It then focuses on Anne, describing her arrival in 1892, marriage, descendants, and role as "Tanta Woldin." Additional family members like Bessie, Sender Gerson, and Tom Rue are discussed to fill in the family narrative. Oral histories from Pauline B

1. SITZ Family
SITZ Family
by family archivistby family archivist
Barbara BentonBarbara Benton
November 2013November 2013

2. These are all possible spellings.
The root word in Yiddish probably
comes from the word “happy.”

4. SITZ Family History:
Hadassah + Sender Gerson
abt 1860 – 1917
Bialystok, Russia
abt 1856 – 1902
Lomza, Russia ?
Bialystok, Russia

6. Hadassah’s Family’s Journey…
(weaving family stories together)
Maiden name unknown. No known history until after childbirth.
Yiddish name was “Hodess.” In Israel this was changed to Hadassah.
Hadassah had 7 children.
With 3 children (Nacham, Pesha, and Munya) she sailed to America (abt mid 1890’s
to be with husband Sender).
Nacham was blind and had multiple handicaps. He was therefore denied entry.
Hadassah and children sailed back to Bialystok.
Husband Sender, Pia and Bessie came to America in 1892. Dad and Bessie
returned to Bialystok about 1898.
Sender died in 1902 in Bialystok.
Immigration to America: Pia in 1892, Emma in 1903, and Martha in 1906. Bessie
arrived in 1892 with Pia and Dad; returned to Bialystok with Dad in 1898, then came
again to America in 1910.
Hadassah and Nacham, Pesha and Munya ventured to Palestine (Bessie says after
Sender died. Tom says before he died.) They settled in Petah Tiqwa, Palestine.
Her children and grandchildren (Pesha’s children Nechama and Gershon) gave her
much joy.
She was comforted knowing Pia, Emma, Martha, and Bessie and children escaped
Russia to America - before the Russian Revolution (1917).

7. In 1917, during the fight for
the Balfour Declaration …
HADASSAHHADASSAH was in the town of Hadera outside Telwas in the town of Hadera outside Tel
Aviv when she was hit by a British bomb, severing bothAviv when she was hit by a British bomb, severing both
legs. She was struck with such force, that an anklet oflegs. She was struck with such force, that an anklet of
gold coins which she wore on one leg was cut into pieces.gold coins which she wore on one leg was cut into pieces.
When her grandson, Gerson Kirshner, was interviewed atWhen her grandson, Gerson Kirshner, was interviewed at
his home by Tom Rue in August 1977 in Tel Aviv, hehis home by Tom Rue in August 1977 in Tel Aviv, he
remembered as a child holding shattered/burned coin(s) inremembered as a child holding shattered/burned coin(s) in
his hand (saved by family members). In her crippled andhis hand (saved by family members). In her crippled and
weakened condition, Hadassah was discovered by Turkishweakened condition, Hadassah was discovered by Turkish
soldiers who took her to Damascus where she couldsoldiers who took her to Damascus where she could
receive medical attention on friendly ground. She died ofreceive medical attention on friendly ground. She died of
loss of blood and was buried in an unknown Jewishloss of blood and was buried in an unknown Jewish
cemetery in Damascus.cemetery in Damascus.

8. Emma’s death certificate lists Hadassah as “Judith Black”Emma’s death certificate lists Hadassah as “Judith Black”
Daughter Emma’s death certificate filedDaughter Emma’s death certificate filed
by Barnet Hyman in New jersey statesby Barnet Hyman in New jersey states
that Hadassah’s name wasthat Hadassah’s name was
JUDITH BLACK.JUDITH BLACK.
(If she was never in America, how could(If she was never in America, how could
she have an American name?)she have an American name?)

9. Sender Gerson’s journeys
As told by daughter Bessie to her daughter Pauline:
Sender Gerson was a successful business man in Bialystok, Russia.
He had a prosperous textile factory. There was a recession in Europe,
so he left (1892) his wife Hadassah with Emma, Pesha, Martha, Nacham
and Munya, and traveled to the USA with Pia (age 14) and Bessie (age
12). They lived with cousins in New York City on the Lower East Side.
Bessie got a job in a grocery store and Pia got a job sewing in a factory.
After a few years, he received a letter from Bialystok saying business
conditions had improved, so after six years in 1898 Sender returned to
Bialystok to take his textile machinery out of storage. He returned
with Bessie who did not like America because it was irreligious.
By the time the mill was up and running again, and he was doing
well economically, his health was beginning to fail. He passed in 1902 in
Bialystok.
After he died, Hadassah and three children traveled to Palestine.

10. Sender Gerson’s journeys
continued…
As recounted by Tom Rue (Pia’s great – grandson)
after interviewing family members:
Sender Sitz is recalled by descendants as
being a devoutly religious and educated Jew in
Bialystok. He reportedly (though not confirmed)
studied at the yeshiva there. Upon becoming
gravely ill, Sender was given the honorary title
“Reb Alter.” This tradition was intended to
encourage him back to health.
In Tom’s recorded history from the 1970’s,
Hadassah and three children were reported to
have already been in Palestine at the time of
Sender’s death.

11. Sender Gerson Sitz
died in 1902
His 5 daughters agreed
to name their first born
(Pia – next born) son after him.
1. Pia named Samuel Irving – 1902
2. Bessie named Samuel Gerson – 1903
3. Emma named Samuel Gerson – 1910
4. Pesha named Gershon Alexander – 1912
5. Martha named Seymour George – 1917

12. SITZ CHILDREN: 5 sisters
Martha
Hyman
Ruttenberg
1892-1955
Pesha
Kirshner
1888-1977
Emma
Hyman
1886-1948
Anne
Woldin
1877-1974
Bessie
Bender
1879-1971
+2 brothers
Nacham and Munya/Shmuel
PIAPIA BASHA FEIGEBASHA FEIGE CHANA TEMACHANA TEMA PESHAPESHA MASHAMASHA
Nacham abt 1892

13. Pia, Basha, Chana & Masha
traveled to America
from Hamburg, Germany
These passenger ship manifests are in German
Many German ship documents were not cared for
properly and are mostly faded and unreadable
Little information was originally collected about
each passenger
Therefore, we know little information about the
circumstances of our ancestors journeys and
arrivals

14. Why did they all travel through
Hamburg, Germany?
• Hamburg had a big Jewish population
• Some immigrant ships out of Hamburg served
kosher food! I learned this when speaking with a
man whose ancestors had the business of
supplying kosher food to the ships.
• Somehow it was known that Jews who were
more religious traveled through Hamburg

15. 4 sisters came to America:
NEW NAMES
When arriving in America, immigrants wanted to be
“Americanized.” They looked ahead and not back. One
of the first things they did was to change their names.
Pia > Anne
Basha > Bessie
Chana > Emma
Masha > Martha

18. Pia / Anne’s Ship manifest:
Hamburg Passenger List
Name: Paje Sitz
Departure Date: March 6, 1892
Arrival Date: (not listed)
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Age Year: 15
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Residence: Bialystok, Russia
Ethnicity/Nationality: (not listed)
Ship Name: S.S. Wieland
Port of Departure: Hamburg, Germany
Port of Arrival: New York, USA
Manifest Page #: 213
Anne was sponsoredAnne was sponsored
by an unknown cousinby an unknown cousin
on the Lower Easton the Lower East
Side, NYCSide, NYC

19. Anne arrived 1st
in 1892
Lived on the lower East side of NY; Had a jobLived on the lower East side of NY; Had a job
sewing.sewing.
Met Barnett Woldin and married him in 1893.Met Barnett Woldin and married him in 1893.
1900 census: Lived in Bridgewater, NJ; 19201900 census: Lived in Bridgewater, NJ; 1920
census: lived at 80 West Cliff Street, Somerville, NJ.census: lived at 80 West Cliff Street, Somerville, NJ.
Husband, Barnett Woldin, sponsored both sistersHusband, Barnett Woldin, sponsored both sisters
Emma (1903) & Martha (1906) when they arrived inEmma (1903) & Martha (1906) when they arrived in
the USA. Emma and Martha lived with them.the USA. Emma and Martha lived with them.
Emma married Barnet Hyman & Martha married hisEmma married Barnet Hyman & Martha married his
brother Harry Hyman. Both were married in this homebrother Harry Hyman. Both were married in this home
on Cliff Street in Somerville, NJ.on Cliff Street in Somerville, NJ.
Pia changed her name to Anne (Annie). But ourPia changed her name to Anne (Annie). But our
generation all knew her asgeneration all knew her as TANTA/AUNT WOLDIN.TANTA/AUNT WOLDIN.
Barnett Woldin owned a shoe store in Somerville,Barnett Woldin owned a shoe store in Somerville,
New JerseyNew Jersey1878 - 19741878 - 1974

21. Anne & Barnett Woldin’sAnne & Barnett Woldin’s
descendantsdescendants
4 CHILDREN4 CHILDREN
SADYESADYE JACOBJACOB SAMSAM GERTGERT

22. Anne & Barnett’s descendantsAnne & Barnett’s descendants
6 GRANDCHILDREN6 GRANDCHILDREN
1 Justine Woldin1 Justine Woldin
2 Edwin Judd Woldin*2 Edwin Judd Woldin*
3 Bernadette Ann Woldin3 Bernadette Ann Woldin
4 William Sander Woldin4 William Sander Woldin
5 Robert Thomas Woldin5 Robert Thomas Woldin
6 Sadye Vivian Woldin6 Sadye Vivian Woldin
* JUDD Woldin wrote the score to “Raisin in the Sun”
Judd
Sadye

23. 11 GREAT - GREAT11 GREAT - GREAT
GRANDCHILDRENGRANDCHILDREN
1 Sara Ann Fisher1 Sara Ann Fisher
2 Jordan Neil Fisher2 Jordan Neil Fisher
3 Hana Woldin3 Hana Woldin
4 Rebecca Woldin4 Rebecca Woldin
5 Sara Woldin5 Sara Woldin
6 Kaitlyn Ann Eyet6 Kaitlyn Ann Eyet
7 Justin Robert Eyet7 Justin Robert Eyet
8 Eduardo Carlos Rue8 Eduardo Carlos Rue
9 Carolina Petrona Rue9 Carolina Petrona Rue
10 Janessa Eugenia Rue10 Janessa Eugenia Rue
11 David Lawrence Rue Jr.11 David Lawrence Rue Jr.
15 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN15 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
1 Joanne Ratner1 Joanne Ratner
2 Abram Mark Ratner2 Abram Mark Ratner
3 Mark Andrew Woldin3 Mark Andrew Woldin
4 John Jacob Woldin4 John Jacob Woldin
5 Donna Woldin5 Donna Woldin
6 Daniel Rakhal Woldin6 Daniel Rakhal Woldin
7 Ella Marie Rue7 Ella Marie Rue
8 Thomas Scott Rue8 Thomas Scott Rue
9 David Lawrence Rue Sr.9 David Lawrence Rue Sr.
10 John Douglas Rue10 John Douglas Rue
11 Raymond Woldin11 Raymond Woldin
12 Lisa Marie Woldin12 Lisa Marie Woldin
13 Mary Beth Woldin13 Mary Beth Woldin
14 Kristen Marie Woldin14 Kristen Marie Woldin
15 Karen Lynn Woldin15 Karen Lynn Woldin
Anne & Barnett’s descendantsAnne & Barnett’s descendants

24. Anne & Barnet Woldin
had 4 children
Their 3rd
child was Samuel Woldin.
His 2nd
marriage to Mary Cruise begat 3 children. But Mary
was not Jewish!
They lived downstairs in Aunt Woldin’s two story house on
Cliff Street.
When Aunt Woldin visited she would bring her own food
and eating utensils (kosher).
Oral history is that many Hyman relatives looked down on
this marriage and would not visit or acknowledge Mary.
As a result, ties were severed with relatives leaving
unfamiliarity and distance in the family.

25. Who is Tom Rue?
Anne’s great grandson, Mary & Sam
Woldin’s grandson, is Tom Rue, pictured
above with his wife Carmen.
Tom began studying genealogy in 1973,
at the age of 14.
He collected info, interviewed family
members, and later posted on the web his
tree and stories.
Some info is new; some different than
familiar stories; and some info confirms
other known family oral history.
See http://tomrue.net, http://choicesmhc.com, and http://carmenrue.com

27. Bessie’s 1st
Ship manifest:
(cannot locate 2nd
arrival manifest)
Bessie 1Bessie 1stst
arrival witharrival with
sister Anne. They weresister Anne. They were
sponsored by ansponsored by an
unidentified cousin onunidentified cousin on
the Lower East Side,the Lower East Side,
NYCNYC
Name:
BASSIE SITZ
Departure Date: November 6, 1892
Arrival Date: (not listed)
Estimated Birth Year: 1880
Age Year: 12
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Residence: Bialystok, Russia
Ethnicity/Nationality: (not listed)
Ship Name: S.S. Rotterdam
Port of Departure: Rotterdam
Port of Arrival: New York, USA
Manifest Page #: 1386

28. Bessie’s story & travels…
Bessie (Basha) arrived the first time at age 12 inBessie (Basha) arrived the first time at age 12 in
18921892
She lived on the Lower East Side with cousins,She lived on the Lower East Side with cousins,
father, and sister Pia. She got a job in a groceryfather, and sister Pia. She got a job in a grocery
storestore
Six years later, when father Sender returned toSix years later, when father Sender returned to
Bialystok, Bessie went with him. She did not likeBialystok, Bessie went with him. She did not like
America because it was irreligious.America because it was irreligious.
Once resettled in Bialystok, Dad brought homeOnce resettled in Bialystok, Dad brought home
from the yeshiva several would-be suitors forfrom the yeshiva several would-be suitors for
Bessie. It was the fourth – Jacob Shia Bender –Bessie. It was the fourth – Jacob Shia Bender –
that she married with her father’s full approval.that she married with her father’s full approval.
After the birth of three children, Jacob went toAfter the birth of three children, Jacob went to
Connecticut, USA in 1907 where he would work withConnecticut, USA in 1907 where he would work with
his brother in a clock factory, make money, and laterhis brother in a clock factory, make money, and later
send for his family.send for his family.
In Bialystok, Bessie baked breads and madeIn Bialystok, Bessie baked breads and made
pickles and sold them to the soldiers to survive.pickles and sold them to the soldiers to survive.
Bessie arrived the secondBessie arrived the second
time in the USA two yearstime in the USA two years
later with 3 children in 1910.later with 3 children in 1910.
Baby Lewis died at ageBaby Lewis died at age
three of pneumonia shortlythree of pneumonia shortly
after arriving.after arriving.
A dressmaker Bessie metA dressmaker Bessie met
on the ship became aon the ship became a
neighbor and friend whoneighbor and friend who
helped.helped.
Bessie made ChallahBessie made Challah
until she was 90.until she was 90.

29. Pauline Bender Meyer
loved to listen to her mother Bessie Sitz tell stories
of the Sitz family. We have two written documents
(1990 and 2004) of recounted memories that played
a vital part in this Sitz family recorded history.

30. Little Gert (Anne’s daughter) visited
Pauline Bender Meyer (Bessie’s daughter) in
Connecticut in 1990 and wrote down this
family history in a letter to Estelle Hyman

31. A Bender Family story as told to Leslie and Tim
by Aunt Pauline (Bender) Meyer on June 22, 2004
at Heritage House in Brighton, MA
Here is an excerpt …
‘Bubbe, Basha Feige Sitz, my grandma, grew up in
Bialystok, Russia. Her parents owned a textile mill and
they lived very prosperously. There was a depression and
Bubbe’s father decided to go to America to see if he could
set himself up there to make a good living. It was difficult
… he went back after six years. … Bubbe’s older sister Pia
… had fallen in love and stayed in America to get married.”

32. Bessie & Jacob Bender’sBessie & Jacob Bender’s
descendantsdescendants
7 CHILDREN7 CHILDREN
Samuel Nathan Lewis Pauline Harry David BernardSamuel Nathan Lewis Pauline Harry David Bernard
BenderBender Bender Bender Bender Bender Bender BenderBender Bender Bender Bender Bender Bender
Meyer (Aaron Isaac)Meyer (Aaron Isaac)

33. Bessie & Jacob descendantsBessie & Jacob descendants
1 Jeffrey Robert Bender1 Jeffrey Robert Bender
2 Karen Amy Bender2 Karen Amy Bender
3 Steven Arthur Meyer3 Steven Arthur Meyer
4 Jonathan D Meyer4 Jonathan D Meyer
5 Barbara Ann Meyer5 Barbara Ann Meyer
6 Harriet Bender6 Harriet Bender
7 June Leatrice Bender7 June Leatrice Bender
8 Leslie Bender8 Leslie Bender
9 Laurie Bender9 Laurie Bender
1010 Paul BenderPaul Bender
1111 Julia BenderJulia Bender
1212 Frances J BenderFrances J Bender
1313 Leon Theodore (Ted) BenderLeon Theodore (Ted) Bender
1414 Joan Marion BenderJoan Marion Bender
JEFF KAREN BARBARAJEFF KAREN BARBARA
LESLIE JOANIE STEVELESLIE JOANIE STEVE
14 GRANDCHILDREN14 GRANDCHILDREN
FranFRAN

34. Bessie & Jacob descendantsBessie & Jacob descendants
20 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN20 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN
1 Rachel Eliza Bender1 Rachel Eliza Bender
2 Aaron Samuel Bender2 Aaron Samuel Bender
3 Joshua Solomon3 Joshua Solomon
4 Toby Meyer4 Toby Meyer
5 Joshua Meyer5 Joshua Meyer
6 Benjamin Meyer6 Benjamin Meyer
77 Rachel MeyerRachel Meyer
88 Sarah MeyerSarah Meyer
99 Emily MeyerEmily Meyer
1010 Julie MeyerJulie Meyer
1111 Elizabeth Shira KilsteinElizabeth Shira Kilstein
1212 Daniel Jay KilsteinDaniel Jay Kilstein
1313 Jeffrey Mark KilsteinJeffrey Mark Kilstein
1414 Jamie Ariel BlumasJamie Ariel Blumas
1515 Justin Michael BlumasJustin Michael Blumas
1616 Hannah MolkHannah Molk
1717 Aaron TreleaseAaron Trelease
1818 Bonnie TreleaseBonnie Trelease
1919 Davene Chaya GrosfeldDavene Chaya Grosfeld
2020 Aliya Robyn GrosfeldAliya Robyn Grosfeld
RACHELRACHEL
BENDERBENDER
JAMIEJAMIE
BLUMASBLUMAS
JOSHUAJOSHUA
MEYERMEYER
JUSTINJUSTIN
BLUMASBLUMAS
AARON
BENDER
HANNAH
MOLK
Bonnie & Aaron
Trelease
JOSHUA
SOLOMON

35. Bessie & Jacob descendantsBessie & Jacob descendants
88 GREAT – GREAT GRANDCHILDRENGREAT – GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
11 Tess MeyerTess Meyer 6 Shalom Kilstein6 Shalom Kilstein
22 Judah MeyerJudah Meyer 7 Yedida Yoel Kilstein7 Yedida Yoel Kilstein
33 Yishai Yehuda KilsteinYishai Yehuda Kilstein 8 Eli Noah Wasser8 Eli Noah Wasser
44 Pesya Atara KilsteinPesya Atara Kilstein 9 ? To be born Wasser9 ? To be born Wasser
55 Yitzchak Yair KilsteinYitzchak Yair Kilstein
JUDAHJUDAH
MEYERMEYER

37. Emma wasEmma was
sponsored bysponsored by
Pia & Barnet WoldinPia & Barnet Woldin
Emma’s Ship manifest:
Hamburg Passenger List
Name: Anna Sitz
Departure Date: September 19, 1903
Arrival Date: (not listed)
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1886
Age Year: 19 (17)
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Residence: Bialystok, Russia
Ethnicity/Nationality: Russian / Hebrew
Ship Name: S.S. August Victoria
Port of Departure: Hamburg, Germany
Port of Arrival: New York, USA
Manifest Page #: 26
Emma’s Ship manifest:
Emma wasEmma was
sponsored bysponsored by
Pia & Barnet WoldinPia & Barnet Woldin
Emma wasEmma was
sponsored bysponsored by
Pia & Barnet WoldinPia & Barnet Woldin
Emma wasEmma was
sponsored bysponsored by
Pia & Barnet WoldinPia & Barnet Woldin
Emma wasEmma was
sponsored bysponsored by
Barnet WoldinBarnet Woldin

38. Emma’s came to America in 1903
At first she lived with sister Pia/ Aunt
Woldin.
She met Barnet Hyman; they married in
Aunt Woldin’s home and they moved to
Bayonne
Barnet was a retailer in a shoe store that
he established in Bayonne.
Emma lived in Bayonne until she died at
the age of 62.
She was the first sister to pass in 1948.
Emma was said to be very close with her
youngest sister Martha.
Barnet owned a
shoe store in
Bayonne, NJ.

39. Emma & Barnet Hyman ’sEmma & Barnet Hyman ’s
descendantsdescendants
4 CHILDREN4 CHILDREN
SAMSAM LILLIL ADELEADELE NORMANNORMAN

40. 8 GRANDCHILDREN8 GRANDCHILDREN
HENRYHENRY
HYMANHYMAN
STEPHENSTEPHEN
HYMANHYMAN
BARRYBARRY
HYMANHYMAN
BARBARABARBARA
HYMANHYMAN
MARTINMARTIN
LEELEE
ELLEN LEEELLEN LEE EMMA LEEEMMA LEE CHARLESCHARLES
GLASSGLASS
Emma & Barnet’s descendantsEmma & Barnet’s descendants

41. Emma & Barnet’sEmma & Barnet’s descendantsdescendants
14 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN14 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN
YOELYOEL HYMANHYMAN SHOSHANASHOSHANA
HYMANHYMAN
RACHELRACHEL KINGKING
MEGERMANMEGERMAN
HARRISHARRIS
KINGKING
JACKJACK
HYMANHYMAN
LIMORELIMORE
BULLOCKBULLOCK
FRANKELFRANKEL
SHANISHANI
BULLOCKBULLOCK
LIEBOWITZLIEBOWITZ
AARONAARON
HOFFERHOFFER
BENJIBENJI
HOFFERHOFFER
MICHELLEMICHELLE LEELEE SHARONSHARON LEELEE
GRIFFINGRIFFIN
MARISSAMARISSA LEELEE
AMANDAAMANDA
HYMANHYMAN
LISALISA
GLASSGLASS
CELLACELLA
MILLERMILLER

42. Emma & Barnet’s descendantsEmma & Barnet’s descendants
1818 GREAT - GREAT GRANDCHILDRENGREAT - GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
KIRA & MAYTAL & TZOFIA HOFFERKIRA & MAYTAL & TZOFIA HOFFER
MARLOWEMARLOWE
HYMANHYMAN
ORLY & DALIA & GABRIELLE HOFFERORLY & DALIA & GABRIELLE HOFFER
HAILEY & BRADLEYHAILEY & BRADLEY
MEGERMANMEGERMAN
JEREMYJEREMY
HYMANHYMAN
KAYLA & ASHA GRIFFINKAYLA & ASHA GRIFFIN
CARRIECARRIE
CELLACELLA
AVIV & AMIR FRANKELAVIV & AMIR FRANKEL
ARIEL & EITAN & YA’ARA LIEBOWITZARIEL & EITAN & YA’ARA LIEBOWITZARIEL & EITAN & YA’ARA LIEBOWITZARIEL & EITAN & YA’ARA LIEBOWITZ

43. Handwritten by Emma on behalf of her 4 grandchildren
who were not invited to Aunt Estelle’s wedding shower.

44. In Loving Memory: Emma’s name is engraved on 4In Loving Memory: Emma’s name is engraved on 4
sconces that were once on the Bima of the Bayonne 20thsconces that were once on the Bima of the Bayonne 20th
Street Synagogue. Now the Lee descendants have them.Street Synagogue. Now the Lee descendants have them.

46. Pesha married Joseph Kirshner (Kirzner)
Pesha & Joseph had two children: Nechama (1909) and
Gershon (1912)
In 1917 Pesha’s lost her mother Hadassah; brother,
Nacham; and husband, Joseph.
Pesha was a strong woman and a hard worker. She was
very poor and adored her grandchildren.
Pesha’s pleasure was sitting with a cup of coffee and a
piece of herring after the children left for school.
Bayonne relatives remember sending to Pesha a
refrigerator (to rent shelf space to but necessities for the
children) and also sent her coffee.

47. Nechama married Jacob (Michael Ya’akov) Russin and bore three
daughters. When the youngest was 20 months old, she died of a blood clot.
Jacob was raising a child, Rafael (Rafi), from a previous marriage.
The 4 children lived with their father who went to work as an artesian
carpenter.
. Six days a week, except Shabbat, Pesha would buy fresh fruits and
vegetables at the open market and travel by bus to their home by 7:AM. She
would give the children breakfast and get them out for school. During the
day she would sew their new clothing, do laundry with a wash board, clean,
buy supplies, make dinner, and leave for her own home at 7:PM. Pesha did
this for 3 years.
Pesha loved all her grandchildren and treated Rafael as the others. He
did not know Nechama was not his birth mother until she died shortly after
his bar mitzvah.
Jacob Russin married (3rd
marriage) Rifka who did not like Pesha in the
house and was not loving to his children. After this Pesha saw the
grandchildren only once a week.
When the two oldest girls Hadassah and Miriam were old enough for high
school, they went to an agricultural high school via Youth Aliyah sponsored
by USA Hadassah. They came home one weekend a month.
Pesha saw then these grandchildren only once a month.
These children were raised to be very religious.
These grandchildren praise the memory of Pesha.

48. Gershon’s name was “Alexander Gershon.” Joseph Kirshner’s friend
the poet laurieate of Israel said it was an honor to be named after
Russian Alexander the Great, but he was called by his Hebrew Name
Gershon.
Gershon was married to Leah Koreen, the principal of the girl’s
school. One reason they divorced was their difference of political
opinion about the State of Israel.
With Leah he had one child, Michal. She currently does not want
contact with her father’s family.
Gershon remarried Ida Manheimer.
Together they had Ariella Kirshner.
Both Gershon and Ida worked. Pesha was there when Ariella came
home from school from preschool until she entered the army. What
she did for the other grandchildren, she also did for Ariella.
Ariella praises the memory of Pesha.

49. Pesha & Joseph Kirshner’sPesha & Joseph Kirshner’s
descendantsdescendants
2 CHILDREN2 CHILDREN
NECHAMANECHAMA
KirshnerKirshner
GERSHONGERSHON
KirshnerKirshner

50. Pesha & Joseph’s descendantsPesha & Joseph’s descendants
6 GRANDCHILDREN6 GRANDCHILDREN
11 Rafael RussinRafael Russin (1/2 brother by marriage)
22 Hadassah Russin ShapiroHadassah Russin Shapiro
33 Miriam Russin TagaryMiriam Russin Tagary
44 Sarah Russin SternSarah Russin Stern
55 Ariella Kirshner DavidsonAriella Kirshner Davidson
66 Michal Kirshner ZellermeyerMichal Kirshner Zellermeyer

51. Pesha & Joseph’s descendantsPesha & Joseph’s descendants
10 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN10 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN
Name ofName of great-great-grandchildren are being sent to me soongreat-great-grandchildren are being sent to me soon
1.1. Shira DavidsonShira Davidson
2.2. Mira ZellermeyerMira Zellermeyer
3.3. Dalia ZellermeyerDalia Zellermeyer
4.4. Daniella ZellermeyerDaniella Zellermeyer
5.5. Nechamka ShapiroNechamka Shapiro
6.6. Joseph SternJoseph Stern
7. Tsivya Tagary7. Tsivya Tagary
8. Nechama Tagary8. Nechama Tagary
9. Avishg Tagary9. Avishg Tagary
10. Rsaya Tagary10. Rsaya Tagary
11. Tzurit Tagary11. Tzurit Tagary

53. Martha’s Ship manifest:
Martha wasMartha was
sponsored bysponsored by
Barnet WoldinBarnet Woldin
Hamburg Passenger List
Name: Masche Sitz
Departure Date: (not listed)
Arrival Date: July 4, 1906
Estimated Birth Year: about 1891
Age Year: 15
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Residence: Bialystok, Russia
Ethnicity/Nationality: Russian / Hebrew
Ship Name: S.S. Graf Waldersee
Port of Departure: Hamburg, Germany
Port of Arrival: New York, USA
Manifest Page #: 1714

54. Martha (Masha) followed Emma to
America (3 years later). Emma & Martha
were said to be close.
Sponsored by Barnet, the husband of Aunt
Woldin, she lived in their home for a while.
She met her sister Emma’s brother-in-law
Harry Hyman and they married in Aunt
Woldin’s house on Cliff Street.
For a while Martha & Harry lived in
Bayonne.
But story has it that Harry was bootlegging
during prohibition and was asked to leave
Bayonne, Hudson County and never return.
This is why they moved to southern New
Jersey.
Harry opened a dry goods store in Camden
and later moved it to Vineland.
Martha and daughter Elaine would take day
trips to NYC and stop in Bayonne to visit
relatives.

55. Martha & Harry’s descendantsMartha & Harry’s descendants
2 CHILDREN2 CHILDREN
SEYMOURSEYMOUR ELAINEELAINE
HYMANHYMAN HYMANHYMAN
Martha & Harry Hyman’sMartha & Harry Hyman’s
descendantsdescendants

56. Martha & Harry’s descendantsMartha & Harry’s descendants
5 GRANDCHILDREN5 GRANDCHILDREN
HARRIET HYMANHARRIET HYMAN JEFFREY HYMANJEFFREY HYMAN AARON HYMANAARON HYMAN
ANDREA LEEANDREA LEE MITCHELL LEEMITCHELL LEE
Martha & Harry’s descendantsMartha & Harry’s descendants

57. Martha & Harry’s descendantsMartha & Harry’s descendants
5 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN5 GREAT - GRANDCHILDREN
JULIA HYMANJULIA HYMAN
HOWELLSHOWELLS
AVISHAIAVISHAI
FINDYSZFINDYSZ
NOA FINDYSZNOA FINDYSZ
HORENSTEINHORENSTEIN
LIA FINDYSZLIA FINDYSZ
ROSENBERGROSENBERG
Martha & Harry’s descendantsMartha & Harry’s descendants
JULIANJULIAN
LEELEE

58. Martha & Harry’s generationsMartha & Harry’s generations
7 GREAT - GREAT GRANDCHILDREN7 GREAT - GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
JACOBJACOB
HOWELLSHOWELLS
ELLAELLA
ROSENBERGROSENBERG
ROTEMROTEM
FINDYSZFINDYSZ
DORONDORON
FINDYSZFINDYSZ
YUVALYUVAL
HORENSTEINHORENSTEIN
BARBAR
HORENSTEINHORENSTEIN
AMITAMIT
HORENSTEINHORENSTEIN
Martha & Harry’s descendantsMartha & Harry’s descendants

59. Relocations…
1. ANNE settled in Somerville, NJ
2. BESSIE settled in New Haven, CT
3. EMMA settled in Bayonne, NJ
4. MARTHA moved from Bayonne to
Camden before settling in Vineland, NJ
5. NACHAM settled in Israel
6. PESHA settled in Israel
7. Shmuel eventually settled in Israel

61. Barnet & Emma Sitz HymanBarnet & Emma Sitz Hyman
Harry Hyman &Harry Hyman &
Martha Sitz Hyman RuttenbergMartha Sitz Hyman Ruttenberg
Barnett & Anne Sitz WoldinBarnett & Anne Sitz Woldin
Jacob Shia Bender – buried in Connecticut
& Bessie Sitz Bender – buried in Israel
Pesha &
Joseph
are buried
in Israel

63. Story has it that when Nacham was a baby aStory has it that when Nacham was a baby a
nurse dropped him on his head, leaving himnurse dropped him on his head, leaving him
permanently blind.permanently blind.
Other stories indicate he was paralyzed fromOther stories indicate he was paralyzed from
the waist down, OR had Cerebral Palsy, Or hadthe waist down, OR had Cerebral Palsy, Or had
additional disabilities.additional disabilities.
Because of these disabilities, Nacham wasBecause of these disabilities, Nacham was
denied entrance to the USA. Hadassah was notdenied entrance to the USA. Hadassah was not
going to leave her children Pesha and Munya, sogoing to leave her children Pesha and Munya, so
they all returned on the ship.they all returned on the ship.
Nacham went to Palestine with his family.Nacham went to Palestine with his family.
Hadassah cared for him. We believe that veryHadassah cared for him. We believe that very
soon after her death in 1917, he passed.soon after her death in 1917, he passed.
No more is known about Nacham.No more is known about Nacham.

65. Bessie Sitz referred to a younger brother as
MUNYA.
Hadassah Russin believe that Munya (Yiddish)
changed his name to Shmuel (Hebrew). (Born
abt 1894).
Shmuel was married and had two children in
Bialystok, Russia (Why did he return to Russia?)
Later he moved back to Israel.
So far we’ve been unable to make contact with
this part of the family.

66. 22 CHILDRENCHILDREN
Alexander Gershon
33 GREAT CHILDRENGREAT CHILDREN
TaliaShmuel Yael
Mina

68. Putting the pieces together

69. Here is Bialystok, Poland
(was Russia)

70. According to the US Census
Place of
Residence
Pia Bessie Emma Martha
Arrival 1892 1892 &
1910
1903 1906
1910 Bridgewater,
NJ
X Bayonne,
NJ
Bridgewater,
NJ
1920 Somerville,
NJ
X Bayonne,
NJ
Camden,
NJ
1930 Somerville,
NJ
New Haven,
CT
Bayonne,
NJ
Vineland,
NJ
1940 Somerville,
NJ
New Haven,
CT
Bayonne,
NJ
X

72. Left to Right:Left to Right:
MOTHER:MOTHER:
Hadassah SitzHadassah Sitz
SON: Nacham SitzSON: Nacham Sitz
GRANDSON:GRANDSON:
Gershon KirshnerGershon Kirshner
DAUGHTER:DAUGHTER:
Pesha Sitz KirshnerPesha Sitz Kirshner
GRANDDAUGHTER:GRANDDAUGHTER:
Nechama KirshnerNechama Kirshner
circa 1914circa 1914

73. Aunt WoldinAunt Woldin Aunt MarthaAunt Martha Aunt PeshaAunt Pesha
Aunt Pesha was in the USA twice: in 1955 and once about 10 years earlier.Aunt Pesha was in the USA twice: in 1955 and once about 10 years earlier.
By age and dress, this photo was probably taken in the 1940’s.By age and dress, this photo was probably taken in the 1940’s.

74. Two SITZ sisters,
Emma and Martha,
married two Hyman brothers,
Barnet and Harry.

75. Bessie married Jacob Shia Bender: 1953.
This is the marriage of their son Bernard to Evelyn.
Bessie is in the middle.

77. Bar Mitzvah
Norman – 1934Norman – 1934
w/ cousin Gertw/ cousin Gert
WoldinWoldin
Check out theCheck out the
knickers!knickers!
Standing on theStanding on the
corner ofcorner of
2121stst
Street & AvenueStreet & Avenue
C, BayonneC, Bayonne

78. Emma’s son Norman Hyman –
Norman & Estelle’s wedding: 1946
Norman & Estelle Hyman, Sam & Mildred Hyman, Barnet & Emma
Hyman , Charlie Glass with Izzy & Lil Glass, Herman & Adele Lee

79. Emma’s grandson Henry Hyman–
Henry’s Bar Mitzvah: 1962
Back row: Barry, Norman, Sam, Stephen, Henry, Herman,
Marty, Charlie, Izzy. Front row: Emmy, Barbara, Estelle,
Mildred, Adele, Ellen, Lil

80. Emma’s grandson Charles Glass –
Charles & Susan Glass’ wedding: 1964

81. Emma’s grandson Stephen Hyman –
Stephen & Susan Hyman’s wedding: 1969

82. Emma’s grandson Barry Hyman –
Barry & Charlene Hyman’s wedding: 1975

83. Emma’s great-grandson Aaron Hoffer –
Aaron Hoffer’s Bar Mitzvah: 1991

84. Emma’s great-grandchildren @
Aunt Adele’s funeral: 2010
Sharon, Michelle, Lisa, Morit, Benji, Shana, and Rachel

85. Bullocks & Lees in Israel
sitting Shiva for Marty

87. TOTAL DIRECT DESCENDANTS
(not adopted) by generation =
Sender & Hadassah = 2
Children = 7
Grandchildren = 19
Great Grandchildren = 39
Great-Great Grandchildren = 64
Great-Great-Great Grandchildren = 44
and growing!

88. ANNE EMMA BESSIE PESHA MARTHA
Children 4 4 7 2 2
Grandchildren 6 8 14 6 5
Great
Grandchildren 15 14 20 10 5
Great-Great
Grandchildren 11 18 8 ? 7
totals 36 44 49 18 19

89. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 CA S GS GGS GGS GGS GGS
1 S B N GN GGN 2GGN 3GGN
2 GS N IC 1C, 2R 1C, 2R 1C, 3R 1C, 4R
3 GGS GN IC, IR 2C 2C, 1R 2C, 2R 2C, 3R
4 GGS GGN IC, 2R 2C, 1R 3C 3C, 1R 3C, 2R
5 GGS 2 GGN 1C, 3R 2C, 2R 3, 1R 4C 4C, 1R
6 GGS 3 GGN 1C, 4R 2C, 3R 3C, 2R 4C, 1R 5C
Relationship Key:Relationship Key:
CA: Common ancestorCA: Common ancestor S: son / daughterS: son / daughter C: cousinC: cousin
B: Brother or sisterB: Brother or sister N: nephew / nieceN: nephew / niece R: times removedR: times removed
GS: grandson / granddaughterGS: grandson / granddaughter GN: great-grandson / great-granddaughterGN: great-grandson / great-granddaughter

90. QUESTIONS?