Last modified July 2007
This is the story of my
grandmother, Esther Feigel Leibowitz,
During the summer of 2000 I visited Israel after an absence
of 14 years. I went with a relative up to Mt. of Olives in East Jerusalem
and visited my grandmother's grave. I visited Yeshiva Meah Shearim,
the Yeshiva that she helped to build up and expand in Meah Shearim,
Jerusalem. My relatives gave me
a letter that my grandmother's grandfather wrote about her when
she first got married. This journey inspired me to take the next
step in developing her story - Baba's Story.
Ari Kelman of NYU's Center for Advanced Technology is interested in having Baba's Story as part of the website on Yiddish Radio. This was the next impetus in my work on this site. Although he didn't follow through after showing initial interest, I am thankful that he planted a seed that spurred me on to expand her story to what it is today.
I find that as I write the story it is expanding in its own right - and I am remembering and including more details than I originally thought. All of Baba's generation is gone, and all of Baba's 6 children are dead and I am struck by the fact that this whole generation is gone, as a source of information on the past. My Uncle Label died in January, 2000 from the ravages of Alzheimers and strokes.
I will do my best to get any other information I need from other relatives and cousins who can fill in some spaces and holes. Two of my cousins have made tapes interviewing Esther Feigel and I look forward to receiving copies. My aunt has lots of photos and memorabilia from Baba's family and her organization, The Zion Dov Ber Torah Fund, and I will spend a day visiting her and going through things. All this will enrich Baba's Story.
Last modified July 2007