Subject: Meeting Bernie and Hannah Pickholz Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 05:43:44 +0200 Although I am on military reserve duty, I managed some time between the shift that ended at 2:15 PM and the one than started at 9 PM, to go to town and meet with Bernie and Hannah Pickholtz, who are visiting from Brooklyn. They are the parents of Sheldon (who is a participant in our group) and Miriam (who is not). I am sending this summary mainly to those to whom it is specifically relevant. Bernie and Hannah just were tired from a long day touring, bet it was the best we could do. We met about an hour and it reinforced the premise that there is much to be gained from face to face meetings. This is definitely the family that knew the Epsteins in Williamsburg. Bernie's father Moses wrote on his SS-5 (application for a Social Security card) that his parents were Berl Pickholz and Berta Fox. But recently we received notice of a Viennese marriage record from 2 October 1924 for this same Moses Pickholz to Dora Schlachavoj, and there it says that his parents were Berl FUCHS and Laila Pickholz. Bernie confirmed that his grandfather was in fact a Fuchs and that they were Pickholz from the mother, as a result of a Rabbinic marriage which was not registered with the civil authorities. This explains their being Leviim. In fact since this Viennese marriage record was only two weeks before Bernie (actually Bertold) was born, it is clear that this pattern repeated itself in the next generation. Had they not had this last minute civil record, Bernie (and Sheldon) would undoubtedly have been Schlachavoj. Bernie does not remember his grandmother's first name, but this may be from tiredness. I hope that Sheldon will follow that up later, since that is the ancestor we are interested in. A birth certificate for Moses would help, and it is on our archives list. Moses had at least one brother, who remained in Galicia, while moses and family fled Vienna. Here too, I hope that sheldon will be able to prompt names later. Bernie and Hannah were married by Rabbi Moishe Pickholz - "some kind of cousin." Rabbi, can you help us with this one?? Bernie also knows that he is related to the late Pinchas Pickholz of New Utrecht Street in Brooklyn. (Monica and Michael - this was the brother of your great-grandfather Zusia.) This is something I'd like to know more about, but I suppose it will only show up in the archives. Bernie has no recollection of connections with any of the other Pickholz families in Vienna. Israel P. -- End --