Chaim Yosef Rubin

(divon lan 25/12/2020): Here's something really interesting that strongly indicates that Yitzkhak Rubin, father of Chaim Yosef Rubin, was perhaps one of the leaders of the early Zionist movement in Lithuania during the first Aliya period ("Hovevei Zion"). This blessing reads: "I am blessing with Mazal Tov (acronym) Yitzkhak Rubin for the marriage of his son Aharon Yosef Rubin with (acronym) Rivka Garfonkel, on 8 March, and (acronym) I am donating 50 K (acronym) in the holyland (acronym) 626 '20, signed Yehuda Leib Epel from Vilna". Despite the error the first name of Chaim Yosef Rubin (Aharon instead of Chaim), there is no doubt that this refers to the marriage of Chaim Yosef Rubin to Rivka Garfonkel that occurred on 8/March/1901. The advertiser of this blessing, Yehuda Leib Epel, was one of the leaders of Hovevei Zion movement in Russia and head of the chapter in Vilna, a chapter that was responsible for acquiring a lot of the land around the Hadera area. He immigrated to Palestine, passed away in 1934 and is buried in Tel Aviv (more: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%99%D7%94%D7%95%D7%93%D7%94_%D7%9C...). The fact that he advertised this blessing, in Hebrew(!) and the wedding gift was a donation to the zionist movement, is a strong indication that Yitzkhak Rubin was quite close to him, and shared his ideology.

(divon lan Dec 2020): I have doubts the profile photo is indeed of Chaim Yosef, even though Becky Sacks insists that it is. It is clipped from a ~1918 family photo showing the 5 Rubin siblings, children of Chaim Yosef. The date of the photo cannot be later than 1918, when Chaim Yosef died. However, at the time Chaim Yosef would have been 43 years old, and the man in this photo looks a lot older. Also, the parents Chaim and Rivka died at almost the same time at the end of WW1 - if this is prior to the end of WW1, why is Rivka not in the photo? It is also not Chaim's father Itsko that died in 1910. Perhaps it is Rivka Rubin (Gorfinkel)'s father Itsko Gorfinkel? I don't know when and where he passed away and don't have his photo. Or maybe another older relative?

(divon lan Jan 2013): Found apparent death certificate of Chaim Yosef Rubin from Kaunas, spouse of Rivka, from 24/3/1908, reason of death: "preemie", and age unspecified. Since the family history is that Chaim Yosef died in 1918, and also he had children after 1908, my conclusion is that this is actually for a preemie (premature born) child of Chaim and Rivka

(becky sacks:) Rivka & Chaim Yosel and the children were evacuated to Russia during WW1, and were on the return journey in a train, when they both caught the Flu, and died within two weeks of each other. Barney, at age 13-14 took all of his siblings on the train back to Kovno. Golda went to live with an aunt.

(hymie rubin, July 2010:) One of them (I think Rivka) died on the train back of Cholera, and the other (Chaim?) died three months later. Jack and Louis were put in an orphanage, and were brought up by their uncle(?) Shachna. According to my father's request, I named my son (Wayne) Shachna after him. Later, the brothers moved to South Africa, with the help of Barney and Golda's friend Dov Levy who resided there.

divon:) Found "Family List" dating 1874 from Kaunas on jewishgen.com:

Listing Itsko Rubin(33, shoemaker and retired soldier, father: Ber), his wife Sora Khana(27), and his children Etel(8) and Khaim Iosel(1).

(divon sep 2012) found birth certificate: RUBIN, Khaim Josif Parents: Itska son of Ber and Sora Khana, daugther of Faivush DOB: 8/11/1873 30 Heshvan , Kaunas Comment: Circumcision date 15-Nov -1873, circumcision did Aron Itska DEZIST, Meer GOLDSHTEIN.Father was a retired squaddy. Place of residence - unwritten

(divon:) found an announcement in Hamelitz newspaper announcing the marriage of Rivka Garfunkel to Aharon Yosef Rubin, son of Yitschak, on 8-March-1901. Note that the name is "Aharon" not "Chaim". Everything else matches, so I assume this is an error of the publisher. Link to newspaper: http://www.jnul.huji.ac.il/dl/newspapers/hameliz/html/hameliz-19010... - the ad is on page 4

(divon:) Found birth certificate of son Jack on jewishgen.com:

RUBIN, Iakob

Father, grandfather: Khaim Josel, Itsyk

Mother, grandfather: Revekka, Itsyk GARFUNKEL

Date: 28/11/1914 Kislev 23

Place: Panevezys, Panevezys, registered in Kaunas

(divon, jan 2010:) found marriage certificate on jewishgen.org:

Kaunas 6-aug-1928

LAN, Mordkhai Leive, son of Zundel and Dushe nee KOPMAN, born in Kaunas 1908, resident of Slabada, a worker

RUBIN, Golde, daughter of Khaim Yosif and Rivke nee GORFINKEL, born in Kaunas 1909, resident of Slabada, a seamstress