Hersh Leib and Chana Baila (Warshauer) Pieniek
Hersh Leib Pieniek (b. Dobrzyn ("Dovzynsky"), Poland 1867, d. 1941)
Chana Baila Warschauer Pieniek (b. Rypin 1868, d. 1940 or 1941)
1891 Marriage in Rypin
1893 Immigrated to New York
1900 Living in Manhattan, New York
1906 U.S. naturalization - Louis and Anna Tobias
1909 Return to Dobrzyn
1941 Holocaust
Hersh Leib and Chana Baila
Hersh Leib was the third child of David Eleazer and Rana Temera.
Hersh Leib migrated to America in 1893, followed by Chana Baila (Warshauer) in 1894. Like many Polish - and indeed, many European - emigrants, they had hoped to find a better life in America.
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Hersh Leib and Chana changed their names to Louis and Anna Tobias (perhaps to honor his brother Toyvia, who sponsored the trip? Or maybe in honor of his grandfather Toyvia?). (The 1900 census records the names Leib and Chana Tobias.) In New York four children were born: Esther, Zelda (Selma), Abraham (Al), Rachel (Ray). The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, there Phillip and Miriam (Minnie) were born. In 1909 the family returned to Dobrzyn. (The date is recorded in Esther Tobias's application for a U.S. passport.) "It turns out, the streets were not paved with gold." Esther Pieniek/Tobias recalled.
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By the time they realized their mistake, Zelda was married with a child and two more daughters were born. The children who were born in America were eligible for U.S. passports and were able to return to America. Israel, Al, Esther, Ray, Phil and Minnie returned in the early 20's. Zelda, her husband and child could not make the trip. The two younger daughters, Goldie and Mollie (Monya), were sickly and did not have U.S. passports, and their parents would not leave them in Poland alone. They were last heard from in Plonsk, 1941. Those who did not get out of Poland all perished in the Holocaust.
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- Uri Ladell
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Hersh Leib and Chana Baila (sitting in middle row) with Bubba Rana sitting on the right.
(standing in back row:) Zelda, Rachel, Esther and Avraham (Al) (?)
(sitting in front row:) Goldie, Mollie (Monya) and Miriam (Minnie).
The photo was taken in Poland c. 1920.
David Pieniek
David Pieniek (b. Dobryzn 1892, d. Warsaw?)
1900 Manhattan, New York
"David, the eldest, was a problem child. He grew up in Dobrzyn and then he lived in Warsaw, Poland. He became ill and passed away in a Warsaw hospital."
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"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
According to "The Pieniek Roots", David Pieniek, their eldest son, was born in Dobrzyn and stayed in Poland. But the 1900 census records him living with the family on 83 Rivington Street in Manhattan. He too adopted the last name Tobias. We do not know what became of him. He probably returned to Dobrzyn with the rest of the family in 1909. Perhaps it was after that that he became ill and passed away in Warsaw.
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- Uri Ladell
Irving (Israel) and Nancy (Krause) Tobias
Irving (Israel) and Mary (Kutok) Tobias
Irving (Israel) (Srul) Pieniek / Tobias (b. Dobrzyn 1893, d. Los Angeles, California 1973)
Nancy Krause Tobias (b. Poland 1902, d. Los Angeles, California 1953)
Mary Kutok Tobias (b. Russia 1906, d. Los Angeles, California 1986)
1900 Manhattan, NY
1909 Return to Dobrzyn
1920 Return to U.S. via Canada
1921 Living in New York
1930 Census - Cleveland, Ohio
1936 Marriage with Nancy
1942 Naturalization
1954 Marriage with Mary
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Irving (Israel) was born in Dobrzyn and apparently came with his mother to New York as an infant. He returned to Poland with the family in 1909 but came back to the U.S. in 1920 via Canada to Detroit, Michigan, by the name of Srul Tobias. In 1921 his brother Abraham arrives in New York and lists his destination as "Brother Isi Tobias, 70 E, 106th St". In 1930 he was living with his aunt Necha Flora and Abraham Skop in Cleveland, Ohio. He later married Nancy Krause, an immigrant who was born in Poland. They were living in the Bronx through 1950. Nancy died in 1953 and a year later Irving married Mary Kutok. Mary was born in Russia and had immigrated to New York. His occupation is listed as "clerk". Irving did not have any children.
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- Uri Ladell
Mitchel (Yechiel Michael) and Esther (Tobias) Zev
Mitchel (Yechiel Michael) Zev (b. Jerusalem, Palestine 1903, d. Jerusalem 1973)
Esther Pieniek / Tobias Zev (b. New York 1898, d. Spring Valley, New York 1971)
1909 Tobias Family migrates to Dobrzyn
1921 Return to U.S.A.
1926 Marriage
Brooklyn, New York
Raleigh, North Carolina
1950 Brooklyn New York
Spring Valley, New York
Mitchel and Esther Zev
"Esther, the second child (of Hersh Leib and Chana Bayla Pieniek), married Mitchel Zev, a sabra. After living in New York for some time they moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. When their children were grown they came to New York. Professionally, he was a rabbi and a mohel. Our narrator recalls that "Mitchell Zev was one of the finest, most compassionate men I have ever met. In about 1950, he was one of the first orthodox rabbis to settle in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, an area which is now the seat of the Lubavitch orthodox sect, the most orthodox Jewish sect in the world. He and Esther, who was equally as wonderful a person, raised their three children, Beatrice, Eliezer and Jacob in a traditionally orthodox environment. Whenever my family and I spent Sabbaths or holidays such as Succoth and Pesach, they always made us feel at home and those days will never be forgotten. When Esther passed away, she was taken to Israel for burial. Soon thereafter, Mitchel moved to Israel and retired in Netanya. At the time, his son Jacob was a rabbi in Jerusalem. One weekend, while visiting his son, Mitchel died of a heart attack. Mitchel and Esther are both laid to rest in the Mt. Olive cemetery near Jerusalem. Our cousin Archie Skop was visiting Jerusalem at the time of his death and attended the funeral."
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"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
Cantor Michael Zev c. 1920
On December 28, 1921, 23 year old Esther Tobias walked into the U.S. Consulate in Warsaw and requested an American passport. She writes that she was born in New York but has been in Dobrzyn since 1909. She signed the document which states her intention to travel to the U.S. as soon as the passport is issued, which we can assume was in 1922.
I was fortunate to know my grandparents well. My earliest memories - I must have been 3 or 4 years old - are of spending the Pessach Seder with the whole family in their home at 548 Crown Street in Brooklyn, My grandmother (Esther) preparing gefilte fish or stuffed cabbage and my grandfather (Michael) at the head of the table in his white holiday "kitel". I still remember the smell of the "schach" - the wooden slats that I helped to put on the sukkah.
- Uri Ladell
? and Zelda (Selma) (Tobias) Flatner
Selma (Zelda) Pieniek / Tobias Flatner (b. New York 1900, d. ? 1943? )
1909 Family migrates to Dobrzyn
"Zelda, the fifth child of Hersh Leib and Chana Baila, lived in Dobrzyn with her parents. She vanished in the Holocaust sometime in 1943 and that's all the information we have about her."
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"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
Zelda (Selma) was born in New York. (This according to Hersh Leib's Petition for Naturalization.) She probably migrated with the rest of the family in 1909 to Dobrzyn. Al Tobias said that she was last heard from in Plonsk, Poland, Jan 1941. She and her husband and two children were apparently killed in the Holocaust.
- Uri Ladell
Abraham (Al) and Helen (Levy) Tobias
Abraham (Al) Pieniek / Tobias (b. 1902 New York, d. Los Angeles 1980)
Helen Levy Tobias (b. Austria 1902, d. Los Angeles 2001)
1909 Family migrates to Dobrzyn
1927 Emigration to U.S.
1930 Bronx, New York
1932 Marriage in Bronx, NY
1940 Bronx, New York
1950 Los Angeles, California
"Abe Tobias, also known as Al, the fourth child, married Helen Levi and lived in Seal Beach, California. Al passed away on October 22, 1980 at age 77. They have a son, Stanley, a renowned rheumatologist, who lives and practices in Southern California. Stanley married Judy, a former nurse who comes from an orthodox family in Canada. They have three children: Sheryl, Jeremy and David."
"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
Al and Helen Tobias with grandchildren
Abraham (Al) was born in New York. He migrated with the rest of the family in 1909 to Dobrzyn. In 1921 he returned to New York, to his brother Irving. The 1930 census shows Al, Ray (mistakenly listed as his wife) and Phil living in Bronx New York. Al was intrumental in helping his brothers and sisters emigrate from Poland. Al married Helen Levy in 1932 in New York and they are listed in the 1940 census as living with their 4 year old son, Stanley, on Tiffaney Street in the Bronx. (Al's brother Phil is listed as living with them.) By 1950 Al, Helen and Stanley had moved to California.
- Uri Ladell
Max and Ray (Rachel) (Tobias) Lerner
Max Lerner (b. 1907 Manhattan, d. New York 1976)
Rachel (Ray) Pieniek / Tobias Lerner (b. New York 1904, d. Suffern 1997)
1909 Family migrates to Dobrzyn
1927 Emigration to U.S. with brother Phil
1930 Bronx, New York
1939 Marriage Bronx, New York
1940 Brooklyn, New York
1950 Bronx, New York
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"Rachel, the sixth child of Hersh Leib and Chana Baila. She married Max Lerner. About Mr. Lerner our narrator recalls that: "He was a very intelligent man. He was active in political and progressive groups and was employed by the subway system of New York City. He was an ardent chess player and did many good things for many people." Max Lerner passed away in 1978. Rachel Lerner now lives in Suffern, New York. The Lerners had one son, Abe, who with his wife Harriet and three children, Jason (11), Scott (9) and Marcy (4), live in Rockaway New Jersey."
"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
Ray Lerner (right) with sister Minnie
Rachel (Ray) was born in New York. She migrated with the rest of the family in 1909 to Dobrzyn. In 1927 she returned to New York with her brother Phil on the S.S. Belgenland. The 1930 census shows Al, Ray (mistakenly listed as Al's wife) and Phil living in Bronx New York. In 1939 Ray and Max Lerner were married. The 1950 census records Max, Ray and son, Abe, living in the Bronx. (Max's sister Rose is listed as living with them.) By 1970 they were living in Spring Valley. We used to go to Lake George together, Ray always preparing cut fruit and, of course, cookies. Ray's sugar cookies were without a doubt, the best sugar cookies ever. Max worked in the New York Transit Authority. When they moved to the suburbs Max worked as a house painter. We used to visit often. I remember the family had a minyan for the High Holidays in their apartment, with Mitchel Zev serving as Rabbi and Chazan (Cantor).
- Uri Ladell
Philip and Shirley (Lieberman) Tobias
Philip and Esther (Karch) Tobias
Philip and Fanny (Stoller) Tobias
Philip (Phil) Pieniek / Tobias (b. 1906 Cleveland, Ohio, d. Brooklyn, New York 1986)
Shirley Lieberman Tobias (b. Poland 1905, d. Brooklyn, 1946)
Esther Karch Tobias (b. Krakow, Poland 1903, d. Brooklyn, 1963)
Fanny Stoller Tobias (b. Poland?, d. Brooklyn, 1994)
1909 Tobias family migrates to Dobrzyn
1927 Emigration to U.S. with sister Rachel
1930-1940 Lived in Brooklyn with siblings
1941 Marriage with Shirley Lieberman
1946 Marriage with Esther Karch
1964 Marriage with Fanny Stoller
"Philip Tobias, the seventh child of Hersh Leib and Chana Baila Pieniek, now makes his home in Brooklyn, New York. He is married to Fanny, his third wife. Phil has two sons; Jerry Tobias who is a radio announcer at station CKOC (1150 AM) in Toronto, Canada, and the other Martin, who lives in Los Angeles, California."
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"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
Phil and his second wife, Esther, c. 1946
Philip (Phil) was born in Cleveland Ohio. He migrated with the rest of the family in 1909 to Dobrzyn. In 1927 he returned to New York with his older sister Esther. The 1930 census shows Phil living with Al and Ray in Bronx New York. He is staying with Al's family on Tiffaney Street in the Bronx according to the 1940 census. His occupation there is listed as "Real Estate". Apparently he married Shirley Lieberman in 1941. Five years and one son later Shirley passed away. A few months later Phil married Esther (in the Pinsker Shul in Montreal), and had another son. (Interestingly, Esther's mother's maiden name was Lieberman. Were Esther and Shirley related?) Philip was a butcher according to the 1950 census, living at 550 Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn. Esther passed away in 1963 and Phil remarried a few months later. Fanny Stoller was Phil's third wife. I remember him as an easy-going guy, always smiling.
- Uri Ladell
Sigmund and Minnie (Miriam) (Tobias) Aber
Sigmund Aber (b. 1902, d. Edison, New Jersey 1983)
Minnie (Miriam) Pieniek / Tobias Aber (b. Cleveland, Ohio 1907, d. Edison, New Jersey 2002)
1909 Tobias family migrates to Dobrzyn
1936 Emigration to U.S.
1941 Bronx, New York
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"Minnie, the eighth child of Hersh Leib and Chana Baila, is married to Sigmund Aber. They reside in Edison New Jersey. The Abers have one daughter Annette. Her husband is Barry Biegelson. Our narrator writes that: "Barry Biegelson is one fine man. He and Annette look after the comforts of the father and mother and it is not possible to describe how they carry out their kindness; it is really an example of the 5th Commandment so fulfilled by them. May G-d bless them and may their children be as good to them as they are to their parents. Barry is a well established manufacturer of ladies sportswear. They have two children, namely, Larry, whose Bar Mitzvah I attended, and Karen, who is about 12 years old."
"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
Minnie Aber (left) with sister Rachel
Minnie (Miriam) was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She migrated with the rest of the family in 1909 to Dobrzyn. In 1936 she retuned to New York on the S.S. Manhattan, specifically to 1911 University Avenue in Bronx, New York. (Why didn't she return earlier with her sister and brother? Possibly she stayed at home to help with her young sisters, Goldie and Mollie). She married Sigmund Aber in 1941 in Bronx, New York.
- Uri Ladell
Goldie Pieniek and Mollie (Monia) Pieniek
"Goldie Pieniek and Mollie Pieniek, the 9th and 10th children respectively, of Hersh Leib and Chana Baila, we can only say, vanished in the Holocaust."
"The Pieniek Roots" by David Joshua Pieniek and David Leon Skop, written in 1982.
​According to Al Tobias, Goldie and Mollie were born in Poland and therefore could not get out of Poland as did the rest of the family. They were last heard from in Plonsk, Poland, January 1941.
- Uri Ladell