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e' Ohrenstein, Dworkin, Koch Have Interesting Roots
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By BETTY PROVIZER STARKMAN
Some Jewish family names
were combinations of old Jewish
first names with German/Yiddish
endings. Orenstein/Ohrenstein, is
one such name, derived from Aaron,
plus a German ending. Another
source believes that this name was
taken from the Bavarian city of
Arnstein. The Jewish Encyclopedia,
N.Y. (1901-1906), has biographies
from 19th century England, Russia,
Austria and Poland.
The family bearing the name
Dworkin, took the name of a female
ancestor - Dworje or Deborah.
Lemberg or Lemberger as a
surname denotes geographic origin.
It was adapted from the German
name of the city of Lvov, now
Russia, once Galicia. The Jewish
Encyclopedia has an article about
S
Judah Lemberger, a 17th century
author.
Koch is a most interesting
family name. In the records of the
old Jewish community of Frankfurt,
Germany, we find Seligmann the
son of David of Friedberg the first to
use the occupational name of Koch.
Koch was a "specialist in Jewish
cookery." This was in the year 1507.
He was the son-in-law of Nathan
Kolon and lived at the house
bearing the signs Rotes Horn, from
1511 to 1531. This name appeared
in the Frankfurt records through the
year 1766.
Ochs is another surname with
origins in the Frankfurt Ghetto. This
was a Levite family whose origins
were the city of Landau. In Frankfurt
they resided at the home that bore
the sign, Ochs, meaning "ox." From
this sign they took their surname.
Starting Holidays
With Passover
This week's Torah reading
begins with a description of the
types of animals that were to be
brought to the temple for the korban
todah, (sacrifice of gratitude). It
continues with a reminder to keep -
all of Hashem's commandments.
The Torah then teaches that
Hashem commanded all the Jewish
people to observe special holidays
in relation to specific times of the
year. Beginning with Pesach
followed by Shavuot, followed by
Rosh Hashanah, followed by Yom
Kippur, followed by Sukkot.
Regarding Sukkot, the Torah
teaches that the first and last days
of the holiday are to be special holy
days similar in observance to the
Shabbat. The days in between are
to be days of feasting and rejoicing.
We are also commanded to take the
lulov (palm branches), the etrog
(citron), haddasim (myrtle branches)
and erovot (Willow branches). We
are then commanded to sit in
booths (sukkot) for seven days.
1. Why does the listing of the
holidays begin with Pesach?
2. What is the difference
between a holy day and an
intermediate day (yom tov and chol
hamoed)?
3. What is represented by the
four species we are commanded to
use on Sukkot?
4. What is the significance of
sitting in a booth (sukkah) for seven
days?
The maftir reminds us that on
the 15th day of Tishrei we are to
observe a holiday (sukkot), the first
days of which are to bring special
korbanot (sacrifices) to the temple.
They are to consist of bullocks,
rams, lambs, a goat and a meal
offering (korban mincha).
1.What are the reasons for the
various types of sacrifices?
2. Since the destruction of the
temple in Jerusalem, how do we
show our devotion to Hashem?
3. How is our celebration of
sukkot different from the one
described in the Torah?
-Submitted by
Rabbi Mark Cohn,
Director, Central East Region
National Conference of
Synagogue Youth
L 8
-
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1989
The Archives of the Leo Baeck
Institute of New York has a family
tree dating from 1728.
Pomis is a very old Italian
family name supposedly adopted
from the name Pomeria. The
Pomeria family was one of the four
Jewish families brought to Rome by
Titus after the destruction of the
Temple of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. The
family Pomis can be found in Rome
until the yeara 1100, when they
scattered throughout Italy. They also
claim descent from King David.
More information is available in the
Jewish Encyclopedia.
Saperstein is a surname that
was adopted from an ancestor who
was a jeweler. The name is a
combination of sapir "sapphire," in
Hebrew and stein "stone" in
German.
In use as early as the 13th
century is the name Bachrach,
which is of georgraphic origin. It
was used by former residents of the
city of Bacharach, Germany, as a
means of identification. The family
relationships to other prominent
Jewish families is illustrated in the
book, R. Jair Chaim Bacharach,
Da'at Kedoshim, by Israel
Eisenstadt.
Betty Provizer Starkman is the
past president and founder of the
genealogical branch of the Jewish
Historical Society of Michigan.
Sukkot Sums Answers
(from Page L-2)
1. 3
2. Sukkot, Chag Ha'assif, z'man
simchateinu
3. 8
4. 9
5. 4
6. 5
7. On Yom Tove, there is a stricter
work prohibition and we have
candles and kiddush.
8. 2
9. Living in the sukkah and arba
minim (4 species)
10. 21/2
11. Between 32 and 38 inches (ten
handbreaths)
12. About 31 feet (20 Amot)
13. 4
14. Lulav, etrog, hadassim (myrtle
branch), aravot (willow branches)
15. one lulav, one etrog, three hadas
branches, two arvah branches.
16. 3
17.about 13 inches
18. 6
19. once
20. 7
Sukkot, Simchat Torah
Puzzle Answers
(from Page L-5)
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1. Citrus fruit that looks like a lemon.
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2.'Eighth day of Sukkot. Shanini
3. Decorative "hat" placed on the top of the Torah.
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4. Plant used on Sukkot utich has no smell and no taste. W I L_ L_ C)
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5. You point the lulav and etrog north, S Q U =4, east, west, up,'and down.
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6. The Five Books of Moses. .; ()
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7. Rosh Hashanah, Yam Kippur, and SukkOt are in .the Hebrew month of
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8. He led the Jewish People out of Egypt.
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9. One of the plants that make up the lulav, in Hebrew it's called hadas. (Y) Y R T L._
22. Grown in Israel, this fruit is found on the palm tree. I) A T
23. We pray for this on Shemini Atzeret. R
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24. Pointer used for reading the Torah, in English it means hand. Y A E)
25. Sukkot is also called the Holiday of
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26. In the beginning. . . begins the first book of the Torah. ja E r4
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27. American holiday based on the holiday of Sukkot.
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16. City of the Holy Temple. J
17. Children wave these on Simhat Torah.
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18. The Jewish People wandered here for forty years.
19. Singer in the Synagogue or Temple. C.,4
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20. Palm, myrtle and willow branches placed together are called the I..- U L- R V.
21. Temporary but built for a special Jewish holiday.
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