Lifsha Cohen

GEDCOM Note

Documented Life Ancestors - Troper and Hochstein Genealogies Ancestors of Miles Hochstein (Great Great Grandmother) Lifsa/Lissa (Dayan? Shulman?) Harakh/Charach of Roezeva/Groev Daughter of Mota (Mordechai?) Dayan/the dayan (possibly Shulman, possibly Dayan) Wife of Yeheil Harakh Mother of Sarah (Harakh) Leshansky, Roda Cohen, Channa Cohen, Yosef Cohen, Chaim Cohen, (and perhaps three others?) Dorothy Leshan relates that her mother Sarah was taken once a year by Sarah's mother Lifsa (or Lissa) to see Sarah's grandfather who lived in Shlutzk/Slutsk. The father of Lifsa/Lissa was known either as "Mota Dayan" or Mota, the Dayan (Ha'Dayan). Dorothy does not recall which, but thinks Dayan may have been the actual last name, and not a title (Dayan = Judge). Dorothy Leshan also remembers this grandfather's wife being called "Mother Dayan", suggesting to her that the family name for Lifsa/Lissa was in fact "Dayan." However, DG of Santa Barbara believes that Lifsa/Lissa is clearly from the Shulman family, and has provided evidence to suggest that this too is possible. Dorothy related the story of her mother Sarah's annual ride to Shlutzk/Slutsk in the winter to visit grandfather Mota (the Dayan), in the time before they came to America. As Dorothy Leshan tells it, her mother Sarah was sick the whole way there, and the wagon had to stop constantly as a result. Also, Dorthoy Leshan recalls (laughing with sympathy) about her Mamma (Sarah) that Sarah was always seasick, and carsick. Apparently she had a terrible time coming to America on the ship. All of the other siblings of the Harakh family (two brothers and two sisters) changed their name to Cohen when they arrived in America, reflecting presumably a family tradition to this effect. Sarah, arriving already married to Leizer Leshansky did not ever adopt the Cohen name. Chaim was the youngest brother of the five siblings in America. Dorothy recalls him as very handsome, and quite tall for the time at 5'11". Chaim came first to America, and changed name to Cohen. All of the other siblings (except Sarah) did the same when they arrived. Other siblings of Sarah and Chaim were Roda (became Cohen), Channa (became Cohen) and Yosef (became Cohen). One of the children of the next generation was named "Slava" and there were many others whom Dotty does not recall. Researcher DG confirms four children listed at top and adds three more sons Mendel, Hyman and Sidney. His confirmation of first four lends credence to his identification of Lifsa as being from the Shulman family, but the whole thing is a mystery to me at this moment. In any case Dorothy Leshan specifically names the four children at the top. Another researcher (DG) thinks that Lifsa (Lissa) is from the Shulman family, and based on that, that Sarah is one of the daughters of Yeheil Harakh and Lifsa (Lissa) Shulman Harakh (not "Dayan"). If the Shulman family identification is correct then Sarah was also the sister of Shmuel Harakh, of Shmaryahu Harakh (born 1820 or 1826), and of Malkafia Harakh. (The Harakh name was later changed to Cohen by some male family members, according to both Dorothy and DG) That's two boys and two girls. Thus the sex count of the siblings is consistent also with the number of siblings of Sarah reported by Dotty, but not with the names. Dorothy (Dotty) recalls the siblings as "Sarah, Yosef, Roda, and Chaim" We are left with a puzzle as yet unresolved. In the absence of an answer I prefer to rely on Dorothy's memory of her own in-laws names, but am quite open to alternatives should evidence be found