1
Presentation (Report) # 303
at the 26 Annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – 2006
th
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Society (IAJGS) Conference at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in
NYC, Aug 13-18, 2006. www.jgsny2006.org
Presentation (report) # 303. August 16, 2006, 8:00 – 9:15, Marriott Marquis Hotel 1535 Broadway (at 45 Str), 5th fl.
(Marked by yellow, dates and text in brackets after names, and so on are not for reading).
Sl = slide in Power Point.
Bella was a real co-author.
A Search of Jewish Roots in the Communist Country
Leonid Leites
Sl-1. A Search of Jewish Roots in the Communist Country
Leonid Leites
August 16, 2006, New York 26th Annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy
IAJGS
Good morning!
Before I begin I would like to express my gratitude to all the people who helped
me in my research. My special thank you goes to my cousin Victor Laties and, needless to say, to my
family, especially my wonderful wife Bella. She is essentially a co-author of this work.
I started my research in genealogy about 40 years ago, when I lived in Moscow. This presentation is
based on my research experience including research conducted in Soviet Union and later in the USA.
Sl-2. Highlights
1. Specifics of the genealogical research in the USSR and Russia
2. My research
3. Books
4. Lessons learned
I will tell you about Specifics of the genealogical research in the USSR and Russia, My genealogical
search, Books I published and plan to publish, and lessons I have learned while conducting my research.
((Section 1.1 and 1.2))
Sl-3. Specifics of the genealogical research in the USSR and Russia
1. Fear
2. Erasing of the past
3. Fabrication of documents
4. Behind ‘Iron Curtain’
In the former Soviet Union people were afraid to talk about their ancestors and relatives, destroyed
family archives and photos. My parents saved photos of the relatives living in the USA, subjected to
repression or those who served in imperial army, but did not make any inscriptions so if asked they could
say: "I do not know who it is". My parents and I wrote in questionnaires, that we do not have relatives
abroad. Therefore till 1990 I had to hide the family tree from colleagues, especially the records about
foreign relatives.
Many people in the USSR considered it necessary not only to avoid search of the roots, but also to
forget that was known. Often fathers changed the name so that in passports of their children there will be
no Jewish patronymics. So, my friends Isaak and Samuil and relative Isaak have changed their names to
Alexander before their sons had to receive passports.
Sometimes employees of the state archives had to give the Jewish funds other names to save them
from destruction.
((Section 1.3))
The Russian and Soviet state documents could contain a lie. For example, let me show you two
different Certificates on death of my uncle Joseph Plisetsky.
Sl-4. Death certificates of Joseph Plisetsky
(copy of 2 documents in Russian)
Issued in 1957
Issued in 1990
Died Dec. 20, 1942
Died Dec. 20, 1937
age 39, diabetes
age 34, execution
He was an engineer. He was arrested in September, 1937. In 1938 the relatives were told the verdict –
"10 years without the right of correspondence". In 1957 his brother has received the document that Joseph
is posthumously rehabilitated, and this first Certificate about Joseph's death from diabetes at the age of 39,
and the place of death it indicated as “unknown”. In 1990 I received another Certificate that is shown
here indicating that Joseph has been executed by firing squad in Leningrad on December 20, 1937 at the
age of 34. Let me remind you, that after execution the relatives were told the verdict – "10 years without
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the right of correspondence". I know a family which has received even 3 different Certificates of death
for one person.
Sl-5. Specifics of the genealogical research in the USSR and Russia. (continue) ….
3.
Fabrication of documents
4.
Behind ‘Iron Curtain’
Sometimes people distorted their data themselves.
For example, approximately in 1923 my distant relative participated in a Zionist study group in
Moscow. After some members of this group were arrested, he ran away from Moscow and changed his
name, birth date and birth place.
In 19th century in order to avoid army draft, sometimes people registered their newborn sons in
families of relative who did not have sons because if there was more then one boy in the family he for
sure would be drafted into the army for 25 years. Sometimes in order to delay an enlistment, people
understated age of the sons who were born after the previous census. Occasionally people would
understate the age of girls as well for the sake of their future marriage.
These examples show that contrary to a popular belief, there is a great value in recording, preserving
and analyzing memories and unofficial data that are passed from generation to generation. And in cases of
discrepancies between official documents and such memories, sometimes memories are more accurate.
((Section 1.4))
Sl-6. Behind ‘Iron Curtain’
No contacts with a free world
– Endocrinologist Samuil Leites
– Russian Ballet stars – Asaf Messerer, Maya Plisetskaya, Sulamith Messerer
Escaping from Russia – path to the international recognition
– Economist Kussel Leites
– Psychoanalyst Natan Leites
– Sulamith Messerer
Censorship of literature and art
– Poet German Plisetsky
The specific of the USSR was the international isolation.
For decades we lived in the USSR which has been fenced off by "Iron Curtain" from the free world. It
was practically impossible to have personal contacts and to receive personal information.
Many outstanding people remained unknown to the world. For example, many Leiteses have reached
high position and achievements in science, but they were unknown abroad. Endocrinologist Samuil M
Leites (1899-1972, my second cousin) opened the phenomenon which was named after him “the rule of
Leites", but he is disproportionately little known. On other hand economist Kussel (Konstantin) S Leites
(1882-1955, my second cousin once removed up) is known in the world because he left Russia in 1912.
His son, the political scientist and psychoanalyst Natan Leites (1911-87) is well known too.
Verses of talented poet German B Plisetsky (1931-92) were not published for a quarter of a century;
he earned money by translation only.
Outstanding ballet dancer, teacher and methodologist Asaf Messerer (1903-92) was not well-known in
the world.
Sl-7. Asaf Messerer
((2 photos: face; in dance)) with his sister Sulamith
Outstanding and unique ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya (b.1925, my double second cousin) for many
years could not participate in the foreign tours of the Bolshoi theatre. After the “Iron Curtain” was lifted
she has received the highest awards of many countries.
Sl-8. Maya Plisetskaya
Sl-9. Maya Plisetskaya
((1 photo: swan))
((2 photos: long neck; cover of her book))
A remarkable ballet dancer and brilliant teacher Sulamif M Messerer (1908-2004, aunt of Maya) has
obtained the real world recognition after 1979 when she has run away from the USSR at the age of 71. At
the age of 92 she got the highest award of the British Empire. You see her with Prince Charles on a photo
taken that day.
Sl-10. Sulamith Messerer
Sl-11. Sulamith Messerer
((2 photos: face;
with Prince Charles - 2000))
((2 photos: in a jump; with Maya – 1939))
She was always very active and courageous. In terrible 1937 husband of her sister, Mickhail Plisetsky,
the chief of Island Spitsbergen, was arrested as an “enemy of the state”. A little later his wife Rashel was
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arrested too. Sulamif took their daughter Maya to her home, although it was dangerous. So Sulamif has
rescued Maya from orphanage and possible name change, saved her for ballet.
In 1939 Sulamif went to terrible camp of GULAG twice and has saved her sister Rashel MessererPlisetskaya (1902-93) with son Azary (b.1937, my double second cousin) who was 2 years old. They
would have perished there. Later Azary Plisetsky became outstanding ballet dancer, master and teacher.
From the age of 19 to 23 for 4 years Sulamif was a swimming champion of the USSR. She swam till
the end of her life. I want to mention as a side note that the future husband of her brother’s
granddaughter, Peter Patrushev (Peter Peterson, b.1942), was the only person who managed to run away
from the USSR to Turkey by swimming through the Black Sea (1962). The history of his runaway was
included into espionage textbooks all over the world.
((Section 2.1))
Sl-12. My research
1. Beginning
2. My methods
3. Uncle’s Shmaya Leites family
4. Belarusian archive
5. Search in the USA
6. Unexpected discoveries
My interest in a family tree has begun with an accidental meeting. On April 22, 1968 I have got
acquainted with Samuil Leites (1904-74) who knew names of 2 older siblings of my father as his relatives.
Wishing to find out our relationship, he has mentioned, that his father has left him the chart of a family
tree (only men). The chart was saved, although Samuil was arrested in 1944.
Sl-13. The first chart of the Leiteses family tree (1968)
((a copy of the chart in Russian and Yiddish))
He has shown me this chart and I have copied it by hand in Russian only. I could not make a
photocopy; that would be hard to do, perhaps even dangerous.
From the conversations with Samuil and his son Joseph it became clear to me, that I must work on the
chart of a family tree, otherwise the chart will be gone. After death of Samuil my fears have proved to be
true, and only in 1998, already in America, Joseph has found it in his archive and now I can show it to
you.
The chart contained names of 30 men in 8 generations of descendants of Monos Leites from Mstislavl.
My great-grandfather Smugel has been written down as great-grandson of Monos. Bella (the older sister
of my father) has confirmed, that name Monos is familiar to her as of the relative mentioned in the Jewish
encyclopedia.
I have started to ask my father about the family, but he has suddenly died 3 weeks later. I have
understood that the research cannot be postponed.
A quarter of a century later I have learned about a surprising coincidence – in the same 1968 Victor
Leites (Laties, b.1926) in the USA and Grigory Leitis (b.1944) in Germany have independently started to
collect data on the family and a family tree. I know only two more other Leiteses, actively studying family
history – Jimmi Levine who started in 1996 and Jeffry Leites who started in approximately 1997 (both
live in the USA).
((Section 2.2))
Sl-14. My methodology
•
Interviews with relatives
•
Networking
•
Interviews with other Leiteses
•
White Pages
•
Library catalogues
•
Visiting cemeteries – Mstislavl and Gomel
•
Russian Post service and Police Registration offices
For more than 20 years since 1968 I assumed, that Leites is not a common surname and therefore all
or the majority of its carriers are relatives.
I have started to collect any data I could come across on all Leiteses and Plisetskys in the USSR. I
searched for them in telephone directories and catalogues of libraries, asked all friends to inform me on
any Leiteses and Plisetskys they know, wrote to post service and police branches of towns where the
Leiteses lived in the 19th century. My mother and I visited Mstislavl and Gomel, where my parents were
born, but the only thing we were able to learn was that after the war Leiteses and Plisetskys do not live
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there anymore. After the war my mother’s older sister visited Gomel to see her mother’s grave, but she
did not find anything.
I called people I was able to find and asked for a meeting. As a rule, interest to a family tree was
absent, but many agreed to put me in touch with older members of their family. Often they told me they
are busy, sick and so on. Sometimes people would schedule a meeting, then try to postpone it and
eventually completely refuse to meet. Perhaps, people were afraid that as a result of our meeting it will
become known that they have relatives who were subjected to repression or living abroad. Some people
were so frightened, that they asked not call them any more. But sometimes I eventually would get an
interview.
Many could not understand why I was conducting this research, considered me a madman. Once,
when I was interviewing an elderly woman, whose maiden name was Leites, her son-in-law – the colonel
of militia – come home. He began to interrogate me, who I am, what is the purpose of my visit. Having
studied my passport, he very seriously asked: "Who will you sell this information to?"
At the end of a meeting I usually managed to persuade the interviewee to call to his/her relatives and
to introduce me to them by phone. I asked them to write down my phone number and address. One of
these calls 20 years later has helped me find my American cousins.
I have collected the information about approximately 900 people from the several clans not connected
with each other.
Many of the findings were accidental, but those who search will find.
This research has connected several relatives who were not known each other.
With some of the found relatives we became friends.
Two curious facts that I came across in my search:
(1) Males – doctors of sciences (ScD – a
degree, significantly higher than PhD) have shown heightened interest in a family tree.
(2) Women
which have become doctors of sciences, have not change their maiden name Leites even though all of
them were married.
((Section 2.3))
Sl-15. My uncle’s Shmaya family
1922 – emigration to the USA, changing the name to Simon Laties
1937 – breaking-off family contacts
1968 – beginning of the family search
1990 – search from both sides and reunion of Russian and American relatives
For me a very impressive event was a reunion with the family of descendants of my uncle Shmaya
Leites (1896-1971).
He has immigrated to the USA and took a name Simon Laties in 1922. In 1937 because of Stalin’s
terror all contacts to him have been interrupted, I knew nothing about the name change. Sons of Simon
became very successful in Science (3 of 4 sons became full professors, well-known experts).
One of them (my first cousin Victor, b.1926) in 1968 has written down on the tape recorder and later
has transferred on a paper detailed (45 p.) memoirs of his father on his life and relatives.
In January, 1990 Victor and his brother Alan (b.1931) have decided that after the fall of the USSR the
presence of relatives in America is no longer dangerous for the Russian part of the family, which may
need help.
Victor has made “a list of the holders of the names Leites and Malev, mostly from the pages of
Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index” (Malev is a maiden surname of our
grandmother). He has found there all brothers of his father, but could not find addresses of their families.
They published nothing abroad, and in the USSR addresses of authors were not published. One of Leites
on the list – a mathematician Dmitry (b.1951) – worked in Stockholm and his address has been specified.
Alan has written to him. Dmitry has sent the letter to his father Alexander (1927-92) to Moscow.
Alexander has recollected, that 20 years prior to that, someone named Leonid collected data about the
Leiteses and spoke with his cousin. Alexander has overcame a lot of difficulties and found me. It has
happened at the end of April, 1990, exactly at the same time when my son Gregory (b.1959) has finished
the four-monthly journey to the USA through Austria and Italy, as a refugee. Before his departure I had
given him a copy of the family tree and asked to search for the American relatives. My reciprocal letter
has reached Victor Gregory Laties on May 14, and he spoke with my son by phone.
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Both of them have been named in honor of the same ancestor – my and Victor’s grandfather Gershen.
In order to verify the relation Victor has sent me 6 photos dated in 1920th with words: "Nyoma is in at
least one of these old photographs" (Nyoma is my father). Five of these photos were well-known for me.
Who was in the 6th, Victor did not know too.
In June, 1990 almost all Simon’s descendants has gathered in New Haven and my son at once has
gotten acquainted with the American part of the family.
In the same summer Victor and Alan with his daughter have visited Moscow to get acquainted with
the Russian relatives.
After that till 1994 Victor annually came to us accompanied by his wife, brothers, or children and
their spouses to acquaint them with Russian Leiteses and their friends. In 1992, the hard year for Russians,
he has sent about 80 grocery parcels to relatives and friends in Russia. They helped emigrants. In 1994
they have invited me and my wife to visit them.
No one of brothers of Simon had a doctor degree, although all of them deserved this degree. It was
very difficult to receive a doctor degree for a Jew in Moscow in those days. For example, my father has
successfully defended doctor degree thesis twice, but he has not received the degree. Other brother has
prepared the thesis, but then withdrew it. To my question why, he has answered: "It is better to be an alive
candidate of science, than a dead doctor of science". Their sister Bella in order to receive a doctor degree
had to move for some years to Ordzhonikidze (Dzaudzhikau, Ossetia in Northern Caucasus).
So, owing to desire of Simon’s sons to help the relatives in Russia on one hand and to my search of
the family tree – on the other, we have found each other. Shmaya’s branch was added to our extended
family.
The meeting became possible only because of the active search from both sides.
Sometimes I think about a question: – How different would their life and lives of their children and
grandchildren be if Smaya has not left Russia? I do not find the answer. I see – they are different from us,
who have grown in the USSR, they are free, independent, unchained.
((Section 2.4))
In 1993 and 1995 my wife Bella and I have visited National historical archive of Belarussia in Minsk.
We have found there population census of Mstislavl district 1834, 1850 and 1858.
Sl-16. Census 1858 Mstislavl Jewish Community ((copy of pages 214-back and 215, in Russian))
This slide shows you the largest record of Leiteses from that census. It consists of the families of my
great-great-grandfather Movsha (1778 or 1784 – 1854) and great-grandfather Smugil (1819-1906).
The census contains lists of members of each family and additional comments made later up to 1878.
Sl-17. Census 1858 (males,
age at 1850
Movsha Sholomov Leites
72 died 1854
Movsha’s son 1st Sholom
32
Sholom’s son 1st Nota
5
Sholom’s son 2nd Bentsien
3
Sholom’s son 3rd Symon Movsha
19 (in 1875)
Movsha’s son 2nd Smugil
31
Smugil’s son
Shlioma
4 month
Smugil Movshov Leites
31
Smugil’s son 1st Shlioma
2 month
2nd son Movsha
Sl-18. Census 1858 (females, …,
Sholom’s second marriage wife Khaya
Sholom’s daughters: 1st Rokhlya
2nd Merim
3rd Itka
Smugil’s wife Bela Gershanova
Smugil’s daughters: 1st Merka
2nd Masya
1858)
40
13
11
.
39
12
8
age at 1858)
35
16
12
5
38
7
5
A comment made in 1851 reclassifies Smugil as a separate family. I think this means that he got
married.
We have found 28 Leites families containing approximately 300 people. After examination I was able
to determine that they represent 10 separate families.
We have found in censuses that mentioned Monos Leites is not my direct ancestor, he is not the greatgrandfather of my great-grandfather Smugel, but he is Smugel’s uncle (b.1794).
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We were very glad, when in census we have met ancestors of my wife Bella down to her greatgreat-great-great-great-grandfather Jankel Drukarev who was born approximately in 1720.
((Section 2.5))
In 1995 we have immigrated to the USA and continued the search. Announcements of search in
Russian-speaking radio, TV and newspapers have not given results, people who responded were already
known to me.
I met few interesting families by dispatching letters to e-mail addresses containing our surname, but
no families related to me was found.
I have learned that one Russian spelling of surname Leites has a few dozen versions of Latin spelling.
My attempt to call all Leiteses in the USA turned out to be unproductive, because my conversational
English is not very fluent. Also a lot of Leiteses turned out to be Spanish speaking, so the dialog with
them was impossible. Therefore I have stopped to search for new Leiteses and have decided to publish
available data. However, when I started this work, I’ve realized that it will be very time-consuming. In
1998 I have temporarily put on hold my work on the book about the Leiteses and have started to prepare
the smaller book about the Plisetskys.
((Section 2.6))
Two best discoveries in the recent years were accidental. They are illustrated on this slide.
Sl-19. Unexpected findings in the USA
1. Branch of Masya Leites – my grandfather’s sister – about 20 relatives added Oct.20, 1998
2. Branch of Isai Plisetsky – my mother’s first cousin – about 30 relatives added April 2, 2004
Very few people know a maiden name of the great-grandmother. But Evgeny Vaisberg living in
California, knew, that his great-grandmother was Leites. On October 20, 1998 at a meeting with my
distant relative Lev Leites, Evgeny has asked Lev about possible relationship. That very day Lev has
given me the phone number of Evgeny’s mother Mirra in California. She and I have discovered quickly,
that her grandmother Masha Ratner is Masya Leites – the daughter of my great-grandfather Smugel. She
has appeared in census of 1858 when she was 5 years old – see the bottom record on this slide.
Sl-20. Census 1858 Mstislavl Jewish Community (pages 214-back and 215)
Sl-21. Census 1858 (females, …,
age at 1858)
Smugil’s wife Bela Gershanova
38
Smugil’s daughters: 1st Merka
7
2nd Masya
5
……
Therefore Mirra is my second cousin.
As a result of this conversation a big branch of Masya’s descendants was added to our family tree.
Masya had 13 children. She was known as Masha Ratner in the family. In 1968 my aunt Galya mentioned
Masha as her cousin, the daughter of Sholom – brother of my grandfather Gershen. That turn out to be
incorrect, actually Masha was Galya’s aunt. Mirra remembers that once she visited my parents in Kratovo,
but she did not know what the actual relationship with my father was.
Sl-22. Unexpected findings in the USA
(continue) …….
3. Branch of Isai Plisetsky – my mother’s first cousin – about 30 relatives added April 2, 2004
In March, 2004 Michael Livshits (b.1945) from Seattle, went on vacation to Hawaii. He has got
acquainted with a Russian-speaking pair that was from Seattle as well. In their conversation the great
ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya was mentioned, as a cousin of Erika Plisetskaya (b.1929) – a friend of this
pair. Michael told them that Maya is his relative and asked to introduce him to Erika. On April 2, 2004
the couple gave Michael’s phone number to my cousin Erika. That very day she has given that phone
number to me and I called Michael. We discovered that he is a son of my second cousin Zhenya
Plisetskaya (1917-93). I did not have any information about her family. Communication of Moscow
relatives known to me with descendants of Zhenya’s father Shaya has been lost 30 years prior. Michael
has given me the phone number of his brother Mark Livshits (b.1938) from Latvia, who was interested in
family history. The next day I have called Mark. Accidentally on that same day he has received from a
binding shop just finished book "The Family chronicle” (94 p., in Russian, contains 32 p. of the text, 97
photos and 3 schemes) about family and relatives. So in Plisetsky's family tree a big branch and a lot of
data were added.
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((Section 3))
Sl-23. Books
1. The Plisetskys, Markovskys & Messerers: A Genealogy. NY: 2001. 256 p. English and Russian. 451 persons mentioned.
2. S.I. Rabinovitch and E.A. Mankin.
The life work of two outstanding transformer engineers. Essays, memoirs, and documents. Commemorating
the centenary of their births. NY: 2005. Russian. 374 p.
.
3. The Leiteses family trees. English and Russian. (In progress). About 800 - 900 pages.
About 1200 persons
Let me tell you a little about the books I’ve published. The book about Plisetskys and related to them
was published in 2001 and consists of 256 pages – few times more than I assumed when I begun working
on it. There are many outstanding actors, poets, artists, scientists among the Plisetskys and Messerers.
The book is bilingual and you can now find it in major libraries of the USA, UK, Israel and Russia. I
have put together additions to this book that is not published yet that contains another 70 members of the
family.
Book contains information about 3 different clans of Plisetskys, that are probably related, but there are
no exact data confirming that.
Sl-24. Genealogy book structure
•
Introduction (transliteration, notation, maps…)
•
Family tree outline lists (basics)
•
Documents
•
Publications about the tree members
•
Photos
•
Lists of persecuted, perished, veterans, awarded, authors etc.
•
Index (alphabetical list of names)
•
Essays about families and persons, Family Tree charts, etc. (Enclosures)
As I was working on this book I developed suggested contents rules that I recommend for any
genealogy book. The book contains the following: introduction (including transliteration rules, notations,
and maps), main part containing Family tree outline lists, documents, additional information and short
essays about some members of the family, photos, lists of family members who were persecuted by Stalin,
perished in Holocaust, war veterans, award recipients, those having various scientific degrees, authors,
index containing alphabetical list of names, essays about families and people mentioned in the book, and
family tree charts (as illustrations).
In 2005 I published a book about two exceptional people, outstanding engineers from the first
generation of soviet transformer industry, my friends and mentors – Emanuel Mankin (1905-68) and
Samuel Rabinovich (1905-82).
Both of them managed to advance their career despite being Jewish and without joining communist
party.
This book will be interesting not only for their descendants, friends and colleagues, but for any reader
who is interested in history of technological developments and in lives of soviet people in 1920s -1970s.
Mankin was not only my mentor and friend; he is also related to me in 2 ways: his wife is related to
my grandmother’s family and his son-in-law is my 3rd cousin Joseph Leites.
The book is published in Russian; only table of contents and brief summary are included in English.
Book has 374 pages, and includes a lot of documents and pictures. The book was sent to major libraries of
the USA, UK, Israel and Russia.
I am planning to continue my work on a bilingual book about Leites Family Tree. The plan of this
book is similar to the plan of the book about Plisetsky’s, but this book will have around 800 to 900 pages,
will consist of 2 volumes and will have more additional information, essays submitted by various authors,
and family charts will be added as an appendix. The book will have information about 1200 members of
the family trees, including 430 members of clan of my great-great-great- grandfather Sholom Leites that
lived in Mstislavl’ (going back to 1750). It will also include more then 100 members of the clan of my
great-grandfather Abram Hilel Malev from Gomel (born in 1852). Connection between other Leiteses and
Sholom’s clan is unknown. Short list of those families is attached to the summary of this report that is
included with the conference handouts.
There are a lot of famous scientists and engineers among Leiteses.
Sl-25. Leiteses – the distant relatives ((4 child photos))
Lev
Dina
Gregory Phillip
Lev and Gregory are fourth cousins. Dina and Phillip are fifth cousins.
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Take a look at these pictures. You can see amazing family resemblance in these 4 kids, even though
they are not that closely related. Lev and Gregory are fourth cousins; Dina and Phillip are fifth cousins.
Dina is Lev’s daughter; Gregory and Phillip are my son and grandson.
((Section 4))
S-26. Recommendations for large tree
•
Software: Family Tree Maker (FTM)
•
Transliteration by A.Beider with few adjustments
•
Present basic information for each member of the family tree in outline list
•
Draw family connections on the left side of outline list to make it more readable
•
Use descendant tree format for illustration
Now let’s discuss some of my techniques and recommendations.
I use Family Tree Maker program that offers a lot of interesting types of charts. After detailed analysis
I’ve selected only 2 types that I use in my books, as they are the most compact and stable. Sometimes I
use other types, but only for very small groups of people.
The main content of my books is a family tree outline list. On the left side of this list I draw family
connection lines. All my references in the index are to this list.
S-27. Descendant Tree Format
•
Descendant tree should be cut across at the widest part of the chart into page wide sections
•
All ancestors up to the patriarchs should be repeated on each page of the chart
•
All siblings that are shown on the other pages should be listed next to the break of each interrupted line
•
Only brief information about a member of the tree should be shown in chart boxes
Illustration of ties is better shown in the form of descendant tree chart. This chart should be cut across
at the widest part of the chart into page wide sections. All ancestors up to the patriarchs should be
repeated on each page of the chart. All siblings that are shown on the other pages should be listed next to
the break of each interrupted line. Only brief information about a member of the tree should be shown in
chart boxes.
S-28. Sample page of Descendant Tree ((copy of one page from Plisetsky book and enlarged fragment of it)) Fragment of third generation:
Here is a sample page of Descendant Tree chart.
((Conclusion))
Sl-29. Remember your roots!
•
History of Jewish Nation illustrated through history of individual families
•
The strength of the family is in its roots
Significant number of the descendants from the families I researched is spread all over the world and
unfortunately assimilated.
History of Jewish people that lived in Russia and Soviet Union in 19th and 20th centuries is well
illustrated in the history of these families.
This is a history of people who lived thru difficult times. Some of them died in wars and pogroms,
some were wiped out by Stalin repressions and Holocaust. But a lot of those who survived became very
successful in science and art, and made a significant contribution to the treasury of the world
achievements.
And if at least few branches of this tree of live will turn back to its roots, if new generations will
remember more about their ancestors, then I’ve achieved my goal.
Thank you.
9
((Excluded: (many pieces more were excluded before translationfrom Russian).
(About Boris Summ – my friend and not only)
One funny episode comes to mind. At the summer residence (dacha) of our cousin Lev I spoke with Victor Laties that
many of the Leiteses excelled academically, have reached high position and were respected in science. All brothers of Simon
had PhD degree (in Russian – candidates of sciences), but no one of them had a doctor degree, because to the Jew it was very
difficult to receive a doctor degree in Moscow in those days. For example, my father has successfully defended doctor degree
thesis twice, but he has not received the degree. Other brother has prepared the dissertation, but then withdrew it. To my
question why, he has answered: "It is better to be an alive candidate of science alive, than a dead doctor of science ".
Their sister Bella in order to receive a doctor degree had to move for some years in Ordzhonikidze (Dzaudzhikau, Ossetia,
and Northern Caucasus).
Right after this conversation our close friend has come. I introduced him: – Our friend, Boris Sums (1933-2005). He was
always an honor student, doctor of sciences, professor, head of the chair in the Moscow State University, the visible scientist,
the chess player...
Victor: – So he is Leites?
I: - No, he is not. He is mine and Lev’s friend since school times, Lev’s neighbor....
Victor: – But he is an honors student, scientist – he should be related to the Leiteses?
Suddenly I have started laughing and for few minutes could not stop. I have explained: – I had to wait for arrival of the
American cousin with this question in order to realize after third of a century, that Boris is indeed mine and Lev’s distant
relative. His daughter is the great-granddaughter of our aunt Bela.
(About census in archive)
For each man the following is written: a full name and relationship; the age specified in the previous census; when and
where has decreased (if it has occurred); age at the moment of census. For women – the name, relationship and age at the time
of census was recorded. The helpful information can be found in other files as well. Nowadays in archive it is possible to order
search and copies. I have ordered a number of copies from censuses and have received them within 2 months after payment.
(Recommendations about genealogy book)
The book contains the following: introduction (including transliteration rules, notations and maps), main part containing
Family tree outline lists and family tree charts (including 5 clans, total of 429 people), documents, additional information and
short essays about some members of the family, photos, lists of family members who were persecuted by Stalin, perished in
Holocaust, war veterans, award recipients, those having various scientific degrees, authors, index containing alphabetical list
of names, and essays about families and people mentioned in the book (this part of the book was written by my cousin Boris
Pevsner and was published in Russian only. I am planning to follow this layout in my future books.
(About Mankin and Rabinovich)
According to their documents they were born only view days apart – May 28 and 31 1905.
Main essays in the book were submitted by their children, 6 essays were submitted by other relatives, 27 by colleagues.))
Thank you very much for your attention!
(End)
Your questions, please!))
Addition
Last names in my (Leonid Leites) archive and books
(from Thesis #303 for IAJGS-2006 Conference – Syllabus, p.417-419)
The book about the Plisetskys. In 2001 I published a book The Plisetskys, Markovskys, & Messerers: A
Genealogy. Texts (except enclosure) are repeated in English and in Russian. The book contains: rule for
transliteration, genesis of the surnames, maps; family tree charts and outline lists for 6 clans; additional information
and citations from publications about some members of the clans; documents; photos (233 pictures with 511 faces)
and lists of them; features (lists) of persons persecuted and perished in Holocaust, participants of wars, persons
who have honor awards, art and science degrees, and titles, authors; index (alphabet lists); Boris Pevzner’s
memories about the Plisetsky family is in Enclosure named The Family Portrait.
10
The trees contain data of 250 members of clan of Meer Plisetsky from Chernigov, 19 – Aleksandr Plisetsky
from Pliski, 35 – Falik Plisetsky from Chernigov, 163 – Izsrail’ Markovsky from Novozybkov (139 of them are
members of mentioned Meer clan), 112 – Berk Messerer from Vilno, in total 429.
Last names Ank, Azarin, Berger, Bigel, Billiard, Charchchiyan, Dawe, Denisov, Dulaney, Elfont, Evdolyuk,
Ezersky, Fleisher, Fox, Gektin, Genin, Goldberg, Grinshpun, Gurarij, Kislyonkova, Kritzer, Lapkin, Leites, Levin,
Levitsky, Loga, Lomize, Lyakishev, Mayzel, Mordovicz, Morss, Mumford, Patrishev, Perelman, Pevzner, Plesent,
Polnyakov, Rikhter, Rosner, Rossa, Shafran, Skakov, Sokolov, Tsirelson, Ulitsky, Volkovich, Wittenberg,
Zlobinsky, Zonina, and others are in the book.
This book could be found in the main libraries of Great Britain, Israel, Russia, and the USA.
Now I am finishing an addition to this book. It contains about 70 members of the clans mentioned. There are
Gohman, Livshits, Nudelman, Tabakin, Weiss among the last names.
The book about two engineers. In 2005 I published a book S.I. Rabinovitch and E.A. Mankin: The life work of
two outstanding transformer engineers. Essays, memoirs, and documents. Commemorating the centenary of their
births / Ed. by L.V. Leites (NY, 374 p., in Russian).
The book about the Leiteses. I am looking forward to continue preparing for publication the bilingual book
The Leiteses genealogy. The trees contain data of about: 430 members of Sholom Leites (born about 1750) clan
from Mstislavl, 140 – Yakov Leites (b.abt.1830) from Tolochin, 120 – Solomon Leites from Smolyany, 110 –
Bunya Leites from Smolyany (Jimmy Levine data), and a dozen of clans of smaller size and Leites families from
Khislavichi, Veselye Terny, Petrovichi, Mstislavl, Kiev, Gomel and others; 100 – Gregorius Leitis (mentioned in
1157 !!!) from upper Dvina (Gregorij von Leitis data); 190 – Abram-Gilel Malev (my great-grandfather, b.1852)
from Gomel (85 of them are members of mentioned Sholom clan); in total abt.1200. I welcome additions about the
Leiteses into this book.
Last names Alpert, Belenson, Chechik, Davis, Finn, Fokin, Glek, Ginzburg, Glushanok, Kagan, Kapnik,
Manukyan, Margolin, Mayzel, Mirov, Osherov, Osterman, Polyak, Postmann, Rapoport, Rubchinsky, Samoilovich,
Summ, Volf, Yurovsky, and others are there.
Leites Leonid
8319 116 Str. Apt.6J
Richmond Hill, NY 11418
USA
Tel. 1 718 847 0380
E-mail: LeitesL@hotmail.com