In Memoriam

Hitler’s goal was to obliterate the Jews. On the website of the Israeli Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem, it says that if we remember those who died in the Holocaust, then Hitler will have failed. The reason that I created this website is to remember and honor, and to learn the amazing story of, our ancestors. This particular page is to remember our ancestors who died because they were Jewish, or because they were fighting oppression. In addition to remembering victims of the Shoah, I am also including our ancestors who died in pogroms or who died fighting the Nazi tyranny.

There is a beautiful quote from a young man named David Berger who died during the Holocaust in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1941. He said, “If something happens, I would want there to be somebody who would remember that someone named David Berger had once lived.” We cannot undo what was done to our ancestors, but we can remember them. And I think it would bring them great joy to know that we remember their names and how they died. May their memory be a blessing.

Pogroms and the Russian Revolution

Shloime (Solomon) Bezbrozh (b: 1875), son of Meyer and Chana Bezbrozh. Killed during the Russian Revolution in 1917.

Abram Bezbrozh (b: 1890), son of Meyer and Chana Bezbrozh. Killed in a program in either 1919 or 1921.

Usher Lyutrovnik (b: 1870), husband of Rivka Bezbrozh. Killed in a pogrom in 1919.

The Soldiers

Zavel Shmorgun (b: 1917), son of Sossie Bezbrozh and Tzudik Shmorgun. Killed in battle while serving in the Soviet Army in 1941.

Israil Sokolov, husband of Elena Shafir (the daughter of Mariasi Bezbrozh and Yechiel Shafir). Israil was a gun commander in the Soviet Army and was killed in the Battle of Moscow in January of 1942.

Chaim Lyutrovnik (b: 1898), son of Rivka Bezbrozh and Usher Lyutrovnik. Father of Boris Lyuotrovnik. Declared missing in action in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942.

Yankel (Yasha) Bezbrozh (b: 1904). Killed in battle while fighting in the Soviet army in 1943.

Victims of the Holocaust

Chana Yastrovsky Bezbrozh (b: 1853), wife of Meyer Bezbrozh, and ancestor of dozens of people living around the world. Killed either by Ukrainians or Nazis in 1941.

Moshe Bezbrozh (b: 1861), son of Yankel and Feige Bezbrozh, my great-grandfather, and ancestor of about thirty people living around the world. Killed by the Nazis in Cherkessk, Russia in 1942.

Chana Bezbrozh (b: 1908), daughter of Moshe and Ruchel Bezbrozh, my great-great aunt. Killed in by the Nazis in Cherkessk, Russia in 1942.

Donia (Dotsie) Bezbrozh Goldenberg (b: 1907), daughter of Moshe and Ruchel Bezbrozh, my great-great aunt. Killed by the Nazis in Cherkessk, Russia in 1942.

Anya Goldenberg (b: 1931), daughter of Donia (Dotsie) Bezbrozh and Petr Goldenberg, my father’s first cousin. Killed in by the Nazis in Cherkessk, Russia in 1942 at the age of 11.

Fania Goldenberg (b: 1936), daughter of Donia (Dotsie) Bezbrozh and Petr Goldenberg, my father’s first cousin. Killed in by the Nazis in Cherkessk, Russia in 1942 at the age of 6.

Ita Beniaminova Bezbrozh, widow of Abram Bezbrozh, mother of Moisey, Klara and an Unknown Daughter. Killed when the Nazis invaded Dnepropetrovsk in 1942.

Ita and Abram’s daughter whose name we don’t know. She was the sister of Moisey and Klara Bezbrozh. Killed when the Nazis invaded Dnepropetrovsk in 1942.

Chana Bezbrozh, wife of Moisey Bezbrozh. Killed when the Nazis invaded Dnepropetrovsk in 1942.

Fima Bezbrozh (b: 1935), son of Moisey and Chana Bezbrozh. Killed in by the Nazis in Cherkessk, Russia in 1942 at the age of 7.

Dmitry Bezbrozh, son of Moisey and Chana Bezbrozh. Killed when the Nazis invaded Dnepropetrovsk in 1942. (This may be the same person as Fima Bezbrozh.)

To all our relatives who died at the hands of the Nazis, who died simply because they were Jewish, or who died defending their country from the Nazis, we remember you. And we honor everyone around the world who has been persecuted, and who has died defending freedom.

“May their memory be a blessing.”