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Descendants of Solomon (Shleimah) Melamed


4. MALKA (MOLLY)3 MELMED (SOLOMON (SHLEIMAH)2 MELAMED, ABRAHAM1) was born 1870 in Ponevez, Lithuania, and died 1955 in Milwaukee, WI, USA. She married BENJAMIN KATZ (COHEN) 1888. He was born 1866 in Lithuania, and died 1918 in Milwalkee, WI, USA.

Notes for MALKA (MOLLY) MELMED:

I. After her husbands death, Malka and David moved in with Celia and family who lived in Ninth Street, Milwaukee and subsequently to 3203 North Eighth Street.

II. Renowned cook, she made her own vishnik, challah, gefilte fish.

III. She catered catered many kosher weddings and bar mitzvahs.

IV. She was extremely pious, and read her Bible every day. She went to a Lubavitch synagogue every Shabbot and Jewish holiday. Throughout every service she would stand and pray. She never sat down. Sometimes she was seen crying while she prayed.

V. She became a most revered and respected member of the synagogue and was supplied with her own key to the shul. Malka became very knowledgeable about Jewish and Judaic affairs and made such a name for herself that no rabbi visiting Milwaukee would pass up the opportunity to meet and consult with her.

VI. She volunteered for the Chevra Kaddisha.

VII. She paid frequent visits to the poor and the sick.

VIII. She was a good friend of Golda Meir.

IX. Her brother, Jacob, visited her in Milwaukee in 1950.

X. When she died, the hearse stopped at several synagogues where the doors where opened and people prayed for her.

XI. Life of Malka Melmed 1870-1955, Written by John Melmed

      Freida and Solomon Melmed's third child was a daughter, named Malka, born in Ponevezh, Lithuania in 1870. At the age of eighteen, Malka married Benjamin Katz, who was twenty eight years old. They changed their surname to Cohen because Cohen was a more fashionable Jewish name. In 1890, their first child was born, and they named her Celia.

      Because of violence and unrest aimed at the Jews, Benjamin and Malka decided to emigrate. The choice of countries lay between South Africa and America. Malka's two older brothers had already left Lithuania. Her eldest brother, Avrom Pinchas, had settled in Cape Town, South Africa, with his family, while Nathan was living in Philadelphia in the United States.

      Huge deposits of gold had recently been discovered in South Africa but a war was brewing between Great Britain and and the two Boer Republics in the region. America was more stable, offered greater opportunities, and the journey there was less dangerous for the family. Their decision was to go to Philadelphia.

      They decided that Benjamin should go first to set himself up in business and to find a home for the family. Malka would stay behind to look after baby Celia and to help her mother, Freida, recently widowed, bring up her other young children, Meyer, Jacob, Louis and Rachel.

      The sequence of events that followed in uncertain. Around the turn of the century, Malka's brothers, Meyer, Jacob and Louis went to South Africa while Malka's mother, Malka's teenage sister, Rachel, and Malka and young Celia left for America.

      After settling in Philadelphia, Malka and Benjamin had one more child, a son, whom they named David.

      Benjamin was working as a glazier but it was not a prosperous career. Letters from South Africa indicated that Malka's brothers were doing well for themselves. The Anglo-Boer War had ended in 1902 and the country was united under the British flag. The economy was booming and the country seemed to have a bright future.

      Malka and Benjamin decided to look into the possibility of emigrating to South Africa. Benjamin undertook the long, arduous journey by boat to South Africa alone. He returned with stories of the family, stories of Africa, and of the six weeks on boat journeys during which he had to tie himself to his bunk lest he be tossed off by the rough seas. For whatever reason, Malka and Benjamin decided to remain in America.

      In 1912, the family was overtaken by tragedy. Upon arrival from Europe, Malka's mother, Freida, had set up her own home in Philadelphia. At first, her youngest daughter, Rachel, lived with her, until Rachel married in the mid 1900's. Freida continued to live alone after Rachel was married. One day in 1912, the old lady knocked over an oil lamp, setting the house on fire. She perished in the blaze.

      Malka and Benjamin's daughter, Celia, got married at the age of eighteen to Louis Klein who was ten years her senior. He was an intelligent businessman who was in the poultry market selling live fowl and he earned a comfortable living.

      In 1909, their first child, a daughter, whom they named Ethel, was born and in 1912, they had another daughter, Ann. Then their first son, Marvin, was born in 1915.

      Every summer the whole family would go to Atlantic City, New Jersey for a vacation. Malka and Benjamin would also go. In those days when cars were just being invented, Louis and Celia had a cart which was drawn by white horses. This was how they travelled to Atlantic City each year.

      Towards the end of World War I, Celia and Louis left Philadelphia to settle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Louis was reluctant to leave his prospering poultry business but his mother pressured him. She said he was the only one of her children who did not live in Milwaukee. Once in Milwaukee, Louis entered the scrap business. It was hard supporting a large family but he slowly built up the business over the years.

      Malka and Benjamin would not have followed them to Milwaukee but for David, a young teenager by this time. He so desperately wanted to live in the same town as Celia, that Malka and Benjamin relented and moved to Milwaukee too.

      Benjamin died in the winter of 1918. The family blamed his strict observance of Jewish law for his untimely death. He would arise early each morning to davan. On one particular cold morning in Milwaukee when the house had not yet been properly heated, he got up to pray. The result was that he contracted pneumonia and died soon thereafter. After his death, Malka and David moved in with Celia and family who lived on Ninth Street, Milwaukee and subsequently to 3203 North Eighth Street. Malka was to live with the family for the next thirty five years.

      Malka had a tremendous influence on the family and on her five grandchildren's development. She was the dominant woman in the household and this affected Celia's handling of domestic affairs. But Malka's influence was mainly a positive one which even spread beyond the family and into the community. Malka was a serene woman; intelligent, beautiful, well educated, deeply religious, and multi-talented. She was a renown cook. She made her own alcoholic cordial called "vishnik". It was made from whiskey, cherries and her own home made wine, all of which were left to ferment for a full year or two till maturity. Her challah and gefilte fish were delicious. Malka catered at many weddings and barmitzvahs and she saw to it that these were strictly kosher affairs. Malka was an extremely pious woman who read from her Bible every day. She went to a Lubavitch synagogue every Shabbat and Jewish holiday. Throughout every service she would stand and pray. She never sat down. Sometimes she was seen crying while she prayed. Because the synagogue was too far from her home for her to walk, she spent Friday nights at her friend's home near the synagogue. One of her grandchildren would drive her there on Friday afternoon and pick her up on Saturday after sunset. She became a most revered and respected member of the synagogue and was supplied with her own key to the shul. Malka became very knowledgeable about Jewish and Judaic affairs and made such a name for herself that no rabbi visiting Milwaukee would pass up the opportunity to meet and consult with her.

      Malka's work in the Jewish community extended to an organization called the Chevra Kadisha for whom she worked voluntarily in the women's section.

      Malka often sat talking to friends in the kitchen, where her favorite was to drink coffee or tea with a sugar cube in her mouth. Malka had one girl friend who came to visit often. The two of them would sit in the kitchen for hours discussing Jewish and Israeli affairs. This friend eventually immigrated to Israel where she became quite well known. Her name was Golda Meir, one of Israel's Prime Ministers.

      Malka was a very kind women. She paid frequent visits to the poor and the sick, both Jewish and non-Jewish. She always carried a bag packed with with food for these people. Some of this food she took from the family kitchen; some she got from acquaintances. Because of her extensive charitable work in Milwaukee, she became highly respected and revered by the community. Malka's grandchildren were often not introduced to people by their names but as "Malka Cohen's grandchild" or simply "Malka's grandchild".

      Although she was strictly kosher, Malka would never embarrass her grandchildren by refusing to come to their homes for a meal. However, she would bring her own food, cutlery, crockery and tablecloth which she would lay out on the dining room table and then she would eat with the family. After the meal, she would clean her utensils outside with a garden hose.

      After she left Ponevezh, Malka never saw her brothers Avrom Pinchas, Meyer or Louis again, nor did she see Nathan again after he left Philadelphia for South Africa. Around 1950, brother Jacob, who had a son in Connecticut, journeyed to the USA. He visited his son, then Rachel in Philadelphia and Malka. When he left Milwaukee, it was a sad occasion because everyone knew the two of them would never see each other again.

      Malka kept close ties with her brothers in South Africa through a frequent exchange of letters. When a letter was received by one of her brothers, it was circulated to the others so they could all catch up on her latest news. Every month, her brothers sent her a cheque for five dollars. It was a token amount by today's standards but not insignificant to either Malka or her brothers.

      One day in 1955 her granddaughter-in-law, Hilda, visited her; although the doctor had seen her the same morning declaring her to be in good health for her age, she told Hilda "the sun is setting for me". She showed Hilda that all her belongings were neatly packed for removal and she pointed out where her funeral shroud was. That night, Malka died peacefully in her sleep. As an indication of the high regard in which she was held by the Jewish community, the hearse stopped at several synagogues where the doors were opened and prayers were offered. Malka lies buried in the front row of the Milwaukee Jewish Cemetery - where she belongs.

More About MALKA (MOLLY) MELMED:
Burial: 1955, Front row, Milwaukee Jewish Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Cause of Death: She died peacefully in her sleep.
Organization: Chavra Kadisha

More About BENJAMIN KATZ (COHEN):
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Emigration 1: Bef. 1902, Lithuania
Emigration 2: Aft. 1902, USA
Immigration 1: Bef. 1902, USA
Immigration 2: Aft. 1902, South Africa
Occupation: Abt. 1900, Glazier

More About BENJAMIN (COHEN) and MALKA MELMED:
Marriage: 1888
     
Children of MALKA MELMED and BENJAMIN (COHEN) are:
13. i.   CELIA4 KATZ, b. 1890, Ponevez, Lithuania; d. 1969, Milwalkee, WI, USA.
  ii.   DAVID (E.D. HARRIS) KATZ, b. Aft. 1890, Philadelphia, PA, USA; m. FRAN MART; b. 1905, Marseille, France; d. 1970, Los Angeles, CA, USA.


5. MEYER ITZAK3 MELMED (SOLOMON (SHLEIMAH)2 MELAMED, ABRAHAM1) was born October 20, 1875 in Panevezys, Lithuania, and died December 25, 1916 in Queenstown, SA. He married DVORAH (DORA) KAHANOWITZ 1907, daughter of REVERAND HUSBAND KAHANOWITZ. She was born 1885 in Wilozhen, Lithuania, and died 1953 in Port Elizebeth, SA.

Notes for MEYER ITZAK MELMED:

I. Meyer served in the Russian army for six years during the Russo-Japanese War, serving in Siberia (the Asian Provence). He was a trumpeter in the band. He went in the army to take his brother, AP's place in 1895, who was leaving for SA. He was awarded a medal for bravery.

II. He came to America, as Meyer Itzak Melamed, departing from Rotterdam on July 8, 1902 on the SS Nordam, on the Gold American Lines, at age 25. He was booked to come to Philadelphia, PA, via NY, NY. The ticket purchaser's names were M. Greenbaum and Louis Melamed, residing at 933 S. 7th Street, Phila, PA. (This was found in the HIAS / Blithstein Bank Records, Book #3, Page #3, kept at the Jewish Archive Center at 18 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA, on December, 1990)

III. He left from the USA on December 3, 1904, as Meyer Melmed, age 26, on the SS Philadelphia, on the American Lines, giving his address as 336 League Street, Philadelphia, PA. The booking was from Philadelphia, via NY, NY to London, England. The ticket purchaser's name was M. Greenbaum, 920 Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. (This was found in the HIAS / Blithstein Bank Records, Book #14, Page #200, kept at the Jewish Archive Center at 18 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA, on December, 1990)

IV. In Queenstown, founded the firm "Melmed Bros" with his brother, Louis.

V. President of the "Zionist Society" from 1911 till his death in 1917.

VI. Twice District Councillor of the local Bnei and Bnoth Zion Association (See the picture of the charter members of this Association, from 1910, on our family tree web site).

VII. He was called the Hertzl of the Eastern Province.

VIII. He was a Freemason.

IX. The following is from Jos Aronson's "Melmed Annuls", published June, 1988

"THE LATE MEYER MELMED" (Reproduction from S.A. Zionist Record, January, 1917)

      "it is with deep regret that we announce the great loss which South Africa has sustained by the death of the ardent Zionist and communal worker, Mr. Meyer Melmed.

      Born in Poneviez, Russia, on 20th October, 1875, he was brought up and educated there, and at the age of 20 was called up for military service and served for six years in the Asian provinces. He was on active duty during the Russo-Japanese War, and was awarded a medal for bravery at its termination. Mr. Melmed then left for USA and sometime after (1904), arrived in South Africa, where he established himself in Queenstown, and in co-operation with his brother, Mr. Louis Melmed, founded the firm Melmed Brothers.

      The deceased married Dora, eldest daughter of Rev. Kahanowitz, of Malmesbury, in 1907. He was most active in communal life and held several offices in the congregation and Zionist societies during his lifetime, including the chairmanship of both bodies. Mr. Melmed thoroughly re-organized the Zionist Society, was elected President in 1911 and was re-elected every year up to his death.

      The late Mr. Melmed represented the local Bnei and Bnoth Zion Association at the Kimberley and Bloemfontein Conferences respectively, and was twice elected District Councillor, holding this office at the time of his death. He made most important propaganda on behalf of the Zionist cause, and brought many new subscribers and advertisers to the Zionist Record. Mr. Melmed was ailing for some time, but during that period he was always in the best of spirits, and consequently his death was totally unexpected. On 20th December, 1916 he fell ill, and as the result of an operation for appendicitis he succumbed on 25th instant being conscious to the last moment.

      The final scene was heartbreaking, when the deceased, having expressed his last wishes to his wife and children, bade farewell to his friends in touching words. "My dear friends" he said, "I beseech you after you have put around me the talith, place over me the Zionist flag, and after my burial sing Hatikvah at my grave side and make a collection for the National Fund, and then I will rest in piece in my grave. I thank you all for coming to Yezia Neshoma, and I beg you to offer up Mincha in the next room."

      Everything was done according to his wish, and a collection made at the grave side. In his will the deceased left 100 pounds to the National Fund, besides other bequests to charitable institutions. Mr. Melmed leaves a widow and six children to mourn his loss, to whom our heartfelt sympathy is extended.


X. The following is also from Jos Aronson's "Melmed Annuls", published June, 1988

A Reminiscence
--------------------------

      The toll exacted by the merciless reaper from our community of Queenstown in taking on the 25th inst. one of our best, Mr. Meyer Melmed, that well known figure to the readers of your valuable Record, in the prime of his life, at the age of 42, and in the midst of his valuable activities, has pierced the heart of the Jewish community of Queenstown and neighborhood. The calamity that has overtaken the community of Queenstown will be felt by a large circle of S.A. Jewry, and Zionists in particular. Queenstown has been a beehive of Jewish life and activity, and the moving spirit was Meyer Melmed. Like his name, which signifies "tutor", he was a model of that rare Jewish type and spirit which has sustained us and kept us alive all these long years in the Diaspora. Although no orator in the full sense of the word, his influence was great among the people he led. When addressing his people or presiding over their deliberations, it was his heart that spoke, and beside this the sharpest tongue became blunt. His sincerity of purpose, his Zionistic aspirations were so pure, honest and true that one only needed to know him to acknowledge him as a genius and a symbol of the Jewish resurrection. Only four days ago he was amongst us, with not a word of complaint from his lips about his own state of health. His heart was too big and too overfilled with the tragedy of his race, that there was no room for personal or, as he called it, trifling physical pain. The greater is the shock to us, as he departed without any warning.

      Truly was he called the Herzl of the Eastern Province. Before breathing his last, he bequeathed one hundred guineas to the National Fund, and requested that the flag that he cherished so dearly, should go with him to the grave. In his own words, "I find I am not worthy to march under the banner to the gates of Zion, but desert it no! I shall not let even death come between us."

      He implored of his family not to be carried away by lamentations at his funeral and not to forget Zion even in these awful moments. He asked that a collection be made in aid of the Zionist Fund at his grave at the funeral. But it was not in the Zionist atmosphere only that Meyer Melmed proved such a unique and exalted figure. His house was at all times open to the wondering foot and weary breast: it was an asylum to the homeless. He gave bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty. With his death is created a gap which will be difficult to fill. He has left a sorrowful wife to mourn a faithful husband. His children have lost a true and devoted father. The House of Israel is the poorer for a noble son.

J, Shur


XI. The following is also from Jos Aronson's "Melmed Annuls", published June, 1988

MEYER MELMED
(1874 - 1916)

      The two obituaries on the previous page provide poignant description of an exceptional man. It would be inept and superfluous to elaborate on the precise yet most comprehensive reports on Meyer who, at the age of 42, was already a legend in his own time

      There are other matters of a more personal nature, known to the family, which would add colour and balance to this patriotic and benevolent human being.

      In 1895, Meyer's eldest brother, Avram Pinchas, was called up for military service. To say the least, A.P. was certainly not army material and in fact, was just about to embark on his emigration to South Africa. Meyer in a magnanimous self denying act, volunteered to take his place. How can one possibly describe this selfless deed, knowing the fear that all young Jews felt in having to enter the dreaded world of the Czarist army.

      Anybody serving six years, part of which in Siberia during the Russo-Japanese War, could have been expected to have returned dispirited and disillusioned. Not so Meyer, as after a short period in America, he arrived in 1904 at Queenstown, South Africa where he lost no time in becoming involved. [Louis Melmed brought Meyer Itzek Melamed, age 25, to the USA on 22 April 1902. Meyer lived at 336 League Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Meyer brought over Raitze Melmed. Meyer Melmed left Philadelphia, PA, USA for London, England on 28 Nov 1904.] I quote from "The Story of South African Zionism" by Marcai Gitlin:

"Queenstown in the Eastern Province formed a Zionist society a few months after the Boer War. It was however only in 1904 when Louis Melmed, followed by his brothers, J, Melmed and Meyer Melmed came to the town that the organization was placed on a firm footing."

      In his horse and cart, Meyer would regularly visit the district to preach Zionism and to collect money for Palestine. Whenever he came across a game of cards being played he would say, "Brothers, I want a percentage from you for the Box." As his daughter, Freda, relates, "He was utterly and completely obsessed with the idea of a Jewish Homeland."

      His humanitarian approach to life is illustrated by just two instances. It was his habit erev Shabbot and Yom tov to cycle to the hotels, boarding houses and the railway station to see if there were any Jewish itinerants, so as to invite them home.

      He must have been a man with a magnetism that affected not only Jews but others as well. After his funeral, an enormous crowd of Blacks had gathered at the Melmed home with their heads bowed, waiting to receive the family returning from the grave side. They burst into the singing of hymns and African praises. For years after his passing some of these selfsame people would bring gifts to Dora Melmed, saying they owed it to her late husband. David, Meyer's oldest son, tells of the love and reverence felt by the Africans for the man they called their prophet. Meyer had been instrumental in advising and assisting them on some of their tribal problems.

      One can readily visualize the circumstances surrounding another incident which David recalls. Apparently, at a fund raising meeting Meyer was extremely disappointed with the poor response. In order to bring the amount raised to acceptable proportions, he auctioned his gold watch and chain. Years later, the man who purchased the watch returned it to David, and told him the story.

      On his deathbed he spoke to David, aged 9, telling him what he expected from him as "the son of the house". He also gave Dave a little bag of soil from Palestine which he requested should be placed in his coffin.

      Apart from his inspirational life, he left very little of any material consequence. What remained was simply tangible evidence of his lofty ideals - his regalia from the Freemasonry movement where he and his brothers Jacob and Louis played prominent parts. His daughter Freda has in her possession 7 share certificates of the Anglo-Palestine Bank Limited (the financial instrument of the Herzlian Zionist movement). These shares are registered in the name of his wife and children, never having had any financial value, merely recording his support for the establishment of the bank.

      Meyer Melmed has been referred to as "the Herzl of the Eastern Province" - in the world of Zionism surely the highest possible praise. In the space of 12 years, in a new country, to have achieved such recognition is remarkable. Like Herzl, he too must have carried with him visionary thoughts that propelled him unswervingly in his passion for Zion.

      Meyer's brilliant record has always been the lodestar by which his children practiced their Zionism. Their contributions to the cause as dedicated workers and leaders is well known. The satisfaction that parents and children might have experienced together as committed Zionists unfortunately was not to be, owing to Meyer's untimely death.

      Dora Melmed, when Meyer died, was only 31 years of age. She had been married for 10 years, and was left alone with her 6 children. (Actually, a seventh child, a daughter Ethel, died in infancy.)

      You will recall that Meyer had left 100 pounds to the Jewish National Fund, and to honour this bequest, Dora sold jewelry. This action succinctly describes her financial position and moreover her strength of character.

      Her home was ever open. This in itself was not in any way exceptional but what was, was the manner in which visitors were turned into "instant" members of the family. As was her custom, Dora would say, "The frig and the pantry are open - help yourself whenever you wish", and she meant just that. There was no special treatment - you did your own thing, no questions asked. It was this selfsame attitude that Dora adopted with her children. Each child was an individual in his or her own right and she had the utmost confidence in them. She participated in their activities, in their fun and all their antics as a friend, but was sufficiently discerning to withdraw discreetly if the need arose. She demanded very little from life for herself. Her chosen lot was to encourage and support her children, her reward being their success and their pleasure.

      How she was able, with such limited resources, to rear such a united, well balanced and successful family is a tribute to her calm disposition, her warmth and affection and above all, her loyalty.

      It is good to see the guide lines firmly laid by Meyer and Dora still being actively perpetuated by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

More About MEYER ITZAK MELMED:
Cause of Death: appendix operation
Emigration 1: 1902, to Philadelphia, from SA
Emigration 2: 1904, From Philadelphia to South Africa
Medical Information: was ailing for some time prior to his death.
Military service: 1895, Six years in the Asian Provence

More About MEYER MELMED and DVORAH KAHANOWITZ:
Marriage: 1907
     
Children of MEYER MELMED and DVORAH KAHANOWITZ are:
14. i.   DAVID4 MELMED, b. 1907, Queenstown, SA; d. 1991, Jerusalem, Israel.
15. ii.   SOLOMON MELMED, b. 1908, Queenstown, SA; d. 1968, Capetown, SA.
  iii.   ETHEL MELMED, b. 1910, Queenstown, SA; d. 1911, Malmesbury, SA.
16. iv.   MAX MELMED, b. 1911, Queenstown, SA; d. 1967, Port Elizebeth, SA.
17. v.   NATHAN (NATIE) MELMED, b. 1913, Queenstown, SA; d. 1971, Port Elizebeth, SA.
18. vi.   FREDA MELMED, b. 1915, Queenstown, SA.
  vii.   PERCY MELMED, b. 1916, Queenstown, SA; d. 1968, Port Elizebeth, SA.

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