Goldfoot Genealogy

 Nadene Goldfoot

                          True Love From Telsiai Never Dies

by Nadene Goldfoot                                               

Leia noticed smoke coming from her wooden house.  She ran to help put out the fire, but it grew worse and she backed off.  Others came running.  A house on fire among all the other wooden houses was deadly.  To save theirs, they had to put out this fire.  Luckily, they lived on the shores of Lake Mastis,, so water was nearby.  They didn’t save the house, but saved the others this way.  

The city was Telsiai, one of the oldest towns in Lithuania.  Meier ran to Leia and hugged her, letting her know that her parents and brothers and sisters were all right.  Meir adored Leia, hoping to marry soon.  He was working for the Russians, who were now one of three superpowers in the country, others being the Prussians and Austrians.  Soon, he hoped, to have enough money to build a house for them.    In 1897, the Jewish population numbered 3,088, 51% of the total population. Jews were expelled during World War I, but by 1939, 2800 had returned, out of a general population of 8000. Many were involved in trade which included produce, wood, and crafts.                         

                     Telšiai Yeshiva building

A major source of income was the famous Telšiai Yeshiva, (a school for Talmudic study, sometimes called a rabbinical college). It was the largest and most famous yeshiva in Lithuania between 1875 and 1941, establishing Telšiai as a center of Torah studies (the entire body of religious law and learning, including both sacred literature and oral tradition). There was also an Orthodox Jewish rabbinical seminary and a Jewish day school providing secular and religious instruction for younger children.  

No wonder that citizens were proud of their Litvak heritage.  It was a main center of learning.  Meir spent all his extra hours after work studying here and Dora was proud of him for doing so.  It gave her time to do things she wanted to accomplish.  

Marek Sats, the kosher butcher, father of Meir, tapped Meir on the shoulder, motioning him to follow along the side of the burning house.  There they found a pail and the remains of a can of petrol.  The fire had been started on purpose.  They both understood.  It’s because they were Jews.  2,500 people lived in Telsiai in 1797 and of them,  1,650 were Jews (66%).  They were the majority here in a majority Gentile country.

The Poles held a rebellion in 1830, hoping to overthrow Russia rule,  and the Leia and Meir suffered both from the rebels and from the Cossacks, even though Meir had a friend among them.  Meir’s friend, Menashe Likniker, was even accused of helping the rebels and he also worked for the Russians.  He was hanged by these Russian rulers.

This caused the authorities in Telsiai to arm the population and to enlist men to fight the rebels.  Jews vocalized their thoughts, saying that they shouldn’t conscript Jews into the army, as they had no arms and also didn’t know how to use them.  Instead, they offered to supply the army with the necessary materials, such as steel, leather, gunpowder, etc, to which the authorities agreed, and a document was signed to this effect. Meir worked hard, shlepping hides to the Russians to be made into leather boots for the soldiers.  

Shooting was coming from many of the houses.  Meir ran home to get his gun to defend Leia and their Zalman and Rokhel.  He ran into a spray of bullets and dropped.  Leia screamed and ran to him, holding his head up. Meir’s head turned and Leia felt the life seep out of him. She sighed, picked up his rifle and held it to her eyes, and shot.  Leia had taken his place.  Their children would live.

Sam Gold had just interviewed a Harry Zeitz as a roommate in his big home in Portland, Oregon.  Sam was working for the Health Department of Beaverton, and this fellow was a student at the Law School at Lewis & Clark College.  They would get along fine.

Weeks went by and Harry mentioned that he had a sister back in Norfolk, Connecticut a few years younger than Sam and would it be all right if she wrote to Sam?  

“Of course, bring her on,” smiled Sam.  

The correspondence went well.  They had much in common.  Both loved possums.  Sam sent her a toy one.  Both loved dogs.  Sam had had several growing up.  

Finally came the day when Dora flew out to see her brother, and of course to meet Sam.  They had a glorious time walking through the parks.  Dora quickly learned where all the great spots were for entertainment and the young men enjoyed her visit more than they cared to say.  Then she flew back home.

Before they could imagine, a wedding was planned and the two lovebirds were together again in the same nest, Sam’s family home in Portland.  Time went by and they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.  

After talking to a genealogist on the phone, Dora screamed!  Oy vey!   I can’t believe this!  She couldn’t wait to tell Sam.  

“What happened,” he asked?

Dora caught her breath and gasped. “ I just found out that my Sats relatives came from Telsiai, Lithuania, and so did your Gold relatives!  They must have known each other !  It’s all proven by our DNA and by the genealogist who found both families living there.  How often can such a thing like this happen?  This is amazing!!It must be a one in a million event!  Somehow, two people in love married long ago in Telsiai and today their  descendants got back together for another love story event in Portland, Oregon. 

Sam, the scientist, looked at Dora and replied.  "It could be just a coincidence."

Dora thought a moment,, then had the last word. "There is no such thing as a coincidence.  It is part of the great plan!

"Really," Sam said quietly with a smile on his face. "Is it simply a colloquialism that signifies our faith in God’s Divine Providence, His ability to intervene in earthly affairs to ensure that His is carried out on earth?  Divine Providence and God’s intervention in nature are certainly widely accepted tenets of Jewish faith.  But to say that there is no such thing as a coincidence sounds to me like a stronger claim; it suggests more than the assertion that God has the power to intervene in the natural order or even that He does so whenever He chooses.  It implies necessity. 

"Why not?"  Dora whispered in Sam's ear.  " Well, they do say our city is a weird place !"  

Resource:

Preserving Our Litvak Heritage, a history of 31 Jewish communities in Lithuania by Josef Rosin with Joel Alpert, editor, by Jewishgen.inc.

FTDNA results

https://www.britannica.com/event/November-Insurrection

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Labels: coincidence?, dna, genealogy, Kaunas, Lithuania, Telsiai

1. Marek Goldfus, son of Itsik, poor, taxpayers-unable to pay in February 1849 in Varniai, Telsiai, Kaunas.

2. Leyb Gershon Goldfus, son of chaim age 72, Rabbi Electors, Laukuva, Telsiai, Kaunas
3. Chaim Goldfus, son of Girsh age 29, Rabbi Electors, on Feb 25, 1914 in Laukuva, Telsiai, Kaunas

4. Khatskel (Charles) Goldfus, son of Iosel, witness, Court files on inheritance in 1874 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
5. Samson Goldfus, son of Iosel, witness, from Telsiai community in 1876-1879 in Kretinga, Telsiai, Kaunas

6. Leyba Goldfus owns wooden house, Box Taxpayers in 1877 in Papile, Siauliai, Kaunas
7. Itsyk Goldfus shoemaker, 2 males, 3 females in family, Box Taxpayers in Jan 31, 1897 in Papile, Siauliai, Kaunas
8. Sheyne Ela Goldfus: money from Africa, 1 male, 4 females in family, Box Taxpayers in 1904 in Papile, Siauliai, Kaunas

9. Sameon Goldfus, son of Iosel, at Plungyanskaya St, at Goldfus's house; has tavern; Business Taxpayers on Feb/March 1894 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
10. Golde Goldfus daughter of Chaim at Rinkovskaya St has shop; business Taxpayers on Feb/March 1894 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
11. Leyb Goldfus, son of Abram age 57, Voters tax on Oct 24, 1880 in Papile Siauliai, Kaunas
12. Leyb Goldfus, son of Abram age 66, has real estate and the right to vote; has never been under investigation; signed in Yiddish with Russian translation; Municipal Electors on June 17, 1885 in Papile, Siauliai, Kaunas
13. Leyba Goldfus Goldorus, son of Abram age 56, registered at Papile Jewish community; has never been under investigation;signed in Yiddish with Russian translation as Goldorus, Municipal Electors on 27 July, 1879 in Papile, Siauliai, Kaunas
14. Shmuel Iosel Goldfus, son of Leyba age 33, has no real estate, but has the right to vote; has never been under.....municipal electors on June 17, 1885 in Papile, Siauliai, Kaunas
15. Shoul Goldfus, son of Mendel age 66, absent; has no real estate, but has the right to vote, municipal electors on June 17, 1885 in Papile, Siauliai, Kaunas

16. Iosel Goldfus, son of Yankel, 3rd guild merchant, 12 kopeks, candle taxpayers on May 23, 1846 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
17. Rasha? Goldfus, Iosel's wife, Candle Taxpayers on May 23, 1846 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
18. yankel goldfus, son of Abram, well to do, 8 kopecks, with family, candle tax, May 23, 1846 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
19. Zelman, son of Yankel, well to do, 8 kopecks, candle tax on May 23, 1846 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
20. Chana Goldfus, Zelman's wife, candle tax on May 23, 1846 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
21. Marek Goldfus, son of Ayzik, exempt from payment, candle tax on May 23, 1846 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
22. Sora Goldfus, Marek's wife, Candle tax on May 23, 1846 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas

23. Leyb Goldfus, son of Itsik Mark, poor, box taxpayers, unable to pay on Feb 1, 1849 in Varniai, Telsiai, Kaunas
24. Zelman Goldfus, son of Yankel age 49, electors on Sept 28, 1860 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
25. Hatskel Goldfus, son of Iosel age 41, Electors on Sept 28, 1860 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
26. Samson goldfus, son of Iosel, well to do, household duties, Box Taxpayers on March 1897 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas

27. Yankel Goldfus, son of Leyba age 26, municipal electors in 1903 in Laukuva, Telsiai, Kaunas
28. Girsha Goldfus, son of Leyba age 43, municipal electors in 1903 in Laukuva, Telsiai, Kaunas

29. Yankel Goldfus, son of Abram, wooden house worth 500 rubles, Real Estate owners 1855 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
30. Iosel Goldfus, son of Yankel, wooden house worth 1,000 rubles, Real estate owners, 1855 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
31. Simkha Goldfus, daughter of Yankel age 51, Electors, on Sept 28, 1860, Telsiai, Telsiai, Kauknas
32. Samson Goldfus, son of Iosel age 54, born 15 Aug 1836, tradesman, 1 ruble, Postal Savings Bank records, on Aug 5, 1890 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
33. Iossel Goldfus, son of Yankel, 3rd guild merchant; 4 men, 3 women in family; from Telsiai com, Telsiai District Merchants in 1851 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas

34. Leyb Goldfus, son of Khaim age 45, Illiterate; Ssrol Movsha Yavshits signed for him on Voters on April 18, 1880 in Laukuva, Telsiai, Kaunas
35. Yankel Goldfus, son of Leyba, signed in Russian, voters tax, on June 14, 1899 in Laukuva, Telsiai, Kaunas

36. Movsha Goldfush, son of Zalman died; box Taxpayers-unable to pay on Jan 12, 1849 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
37. Marek Goldfush, son of Ionta? pauper and decrepit, Box taxpayers-unable to pay on Jan 12, 1849 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas
38. Abfam golodfus, son of Iosel, 1 male, 1 female in family, box taxpayers in 1892 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kakunas
39. Samson Golodfus, son of Iosel, 2 male, 2 females in family, Box taxpayers in 1892 in Telsiai, Telsiai, Kaunas

40 Yankel Goldfus, son of Leyb, age 39 or 39, from Laukuva comm; tradesman, wife Tauba daughter of gutman; 75 rubles, Postatl Savings bank records on June 9, 1908 in silale, Raseiniai, Kaunas.

Labels: Goldfus, Kaunas, Lithuania