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Chasia with her husband Ruben
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This manuscript of Chasia Dranow was discovered by Steve Dranow, her grandson.
Chasya Leshner was born in Rakitno, Ukraine on September 15, 1892 and died on April 04, 1972 in USA. This set of stories has been translated into English, though some of the text is not exact in places where the original English text was not clear. |
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The library was an exciting new pursuit for the youth of our town Rakitno, and soon there
was news that the Pieker family opened a photography studio. This was another special pleasure to stir young minds. And there is a little picture of me; looking at it gives me great pleasure since there was no ability to take photographs when I was a child. This is why I have no childhood pictures. |
Parents
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My father's mistake
Our family had 7 girls and one boy, my brother Boruch. After my mother's tragic death,
my father became depressed. One day, he called in Boruch and decided to give him his land in the back of the house. as Boruch had a wife Basy and 5 children. He thought Boruch could build himself a nice home with a garden in that location, and he [my father] would have a chance to be closer to his children and 5 grandchildren. The concept was good, but Basy became a very mean dictator and bossed us around. This resulted in all my sisters marrying as quickly as possible, so they could get away from her. I had my wedding with Ruben Dranow at this palace house that Boruch built. Sonia's mandolin
Next door to us in Rakitno, there lived a family which included parents, children and a few grandchildren. The youngest of the three was a lovely, talented and beautiful girl named Sonia. In Russia, our people had a very strict rule that a younger child could not marry before an older child does, especially for girls. Sonia had a boyfriend named Abe Bendersky; Abe was an only son and his parents were rich. They wanted him to get married and have grandchildren so they told him: 'get married or he won't inherit our wealth!'. He got scared, went to another town, met a nice girl, called her parents, and married her, leaving Sonia alone. She couldn't find a place in the house to cry out her heart's pain, so she took a mandolin, sat in the front yard which faced our living room, and played. For months she played that mandolin and poured her pain into it. After the summer, she went to Kiev to study and received a license to be a midwife (Akusherka). It's like a baby doctor. One time when she was crying and playing the mandolin, she sang a few words with such a beautiful voice. Her condition, the beautiful melody and the sound of the mandolin touched me deeply. I didn't have patience as a young girl, nor did I have a mandolin - instruments were for sale only in Kiev.
So I went to the front yard and said to Sonia: "Sonia, I love your playing. I would like to play too but I have no mandolin. You woke up in me feelings that I'll never forget unless I play too." She looked at me, smiled and said: "Well, let's see". Then she explained the strings to me, which are higher and lower, and gave me her mandolin to play. And I did play it, to her great surprise. She soon left for Kiev, and that was the end of my playing. But it left a desire in me to play the instrument, which never went away. Here are the words she sang, in Ukrainian: Луче було б, луче було б не ходыты, Луче було б, луче було б не любыты, Луче було б, луче було б таi не знаты, Чем тепер, чем тепер забуваты!... It means: It should have been better not to know you It should have been better not to love you It should have been better not to know you As now, as now to forget you!... I too, can't forget Sonia, and her music. Till this day I remember it, and can't hear it again... |
14 years old
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Our town had a welfare organization for the needy, run by 15 townspeople. As a young girl, times were good, so I didn't pay too much attention to it. Once the war started, it did not take long until I saw boys coming home crippled, and without any government support. Other boys I knew didn't come home at all. By then, of course, I was very worried and understood the injustice... I was afraid of these boys who were not taken on account of sickness. So I decided to wait and see; after the war, with a little luck, maybe I would have a chance to get a healthy boy. It was as if my heart predicted the future - it told me: "Wait, young girl, you'll have enough sickness after you'll be married". The war ended in 1918.
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Sister Bas Sheva
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That year, I visited my sister Bas-Sheva in Steblow. When I visited three years ago, I was introduced to a boy named Ruben Dranow, who was walking on crutches with his foot banded. Now, 3 years later, he looked good, and was in business with my nephew Hershel Zaslavsky. He worked with Hershel every day, and was in the same crowd of girls as I was. I pitied him, as he made it through the war and was wounded three times. But I also respected him. He had a cute sister named Polya, who along with her husband Shae and her two little brothers were in Steblow. Ruben stood by his sister and her family while his parents were stuck in a section of Russia cut off by the Germans
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15 years old
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The lectures
The home required from me work like from a woman, but even I done everything, still I knew I want to go everywhere to absorb any education, I only could. I was invited to many organizations, and this was no exception. This invitation was to participate in a group of lectures of Mr. Turkenich. He was a Hebrew educator lecturing Zionism.
He was a delegate to Conventions, wherever they were held about Zionism. Then when he came home, he invited a group and gave them a report: Who were there where he was, and then discussions all about, He mentioned names of Chaim Weitzmann, our first president of Israel, Chaim-Nachman Byalick, the Hebrew poet of Israel, Theodore Herzel, who predicted that in 50 years later, Israel will be again a Jewish country. And it so happened true. It was interesting to hear such report, and after the discussions all about. The next Saturday came to me two cousins, a sister Fany and the brother Schmuel Pelach. Schmuel was a Hebrew and Russian teacher, and arithmetic of course. He too liked these lectures. He liked very much to discuss with me about, because he said: You are a good listener, and you understand, where he talks. So he came to me again to discuss it. I respected him as an educated boy, and as my cousin. But I couldn’t think different, because I knew that he was the younger of his two of older sisters. My father would have been happy to see me married, before he dies. And to wait till two older sisters will be married? I knew my father wouldn’t want to wait. So when Schmuel proposed to me, I couldn’t give him an answer to his satisfaction. I told him, you know that you have Fany and Golda, the two sisters, and my father wants to see me married… So when he heard my answer, he left for the army, and I did not hear from him anymore. I heard from my friends and his sister, that he became a general in the army. A Jewish teacher lived a very poor life there…. He was a teacher… The Youth Society
When the war broke out, boundaries closed between countries. From America didn’t come any money from the husbands to their wives and children. They started to starve, the wifes and children of elder soldiers too starved, and they went to the town’s Rabbi David Medvedew, asking him to do something about, otherwise they all will die of starvation. That is Russia…
Before was a town’s Society, which gave out some help to poor. Now these men were at war. Rabbi David Medvedew talked it over with elder men about. They decided to call the youths of the rich parents, and to give over to Society from the elders, and with trust, the Youth will work hard, and will do good. So the Rabbi called by mail the cream youth, and me too, boys and girls. When I received that invitation for youth gathering to a home, to a Mr. M. Yanoedsky’s house, I was wondering: The Rabbi should invite me? But I knew very well his girl, Busy and his boy Harren-Yidel. So I went. When I came up, I saw who there were, I turned to Busy, and asked her: What’s all about? And soon it was opened the meeting, and it soon it was organized The Youth Welfare Society. I too had an office and brought in there plenty; due of members and donations, of visitors, outsiders, and I gave a lot more then, just duties. It lasted two and a half years, till the war over. Then elder men again took it over. I’m still satisfied of my youthful, fruitful work, of my education, of my charitable work, and the honorable life I lived. I am proud of my youth. I try to go on, even with hardship on my part…. |
Father Moyshe
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With great joy we accepted the welcome peace at the end of the war. I made up my mind to marry in Rakitno, since it was too late to go to America to study. But even if I marry here, and will have children, I will go to America for their sake, the first chance I get. I will leave Russia to the Russians... My children should be given what I was not.... Education to make a living by themselves, the ability to not be dependent on parents, and the right to be honorable citizens, not Jews in a Ghetto.
The dance Mazurka
Another boy and another story. Moshe Elex was born in my town Rakitno, and owned a fruit and vegetable store in Kiev. He had workers who worked for him. Twice a year he would come home for two days to visit his parents for the Jewish holidays. How much money it cost him, I can only imagine. He used to wear the richest clothes and American shoes, and gave donations left and right. I knew who he was, but it never crossed my mind to talk to him. During one of his visits, he and I were at the same girl's wedding.
An other boy
Here I want to show what kind of reputation I had in Rakitno.
My brother Boruch met a friend of his, Fishel Kniazansky, who was a Hebrew-Russian teacher; Fishel invited Boruch to come over his house because he had guests. Then Boruch invited Fishel and his guest to Boruch's house. My sister Celia was there as well, and she entertained Fishel and his cousin Abraham. Our brother liked Abraham, and in short, both sides decided that Abraham and Celia should be engaged a week later. He was a manager from a big business, and he couldn't stay here because his business was in another other, Kamenka. Everything was settled. At that time I was visiting my sister Bas-Sheva in Steblow. While Fishel and Abraham were heading back to Fishel's home, a woman in town met them and started talking to them. Fishel told her the story of Abraham and Celia, and then she asked 'With which one will you be engaged? The younger or the older?' Fishel said it was the older, while Abraham said 'I didn't know there was a younger sister!' Then that woman have a whole speech about me: 'They hide the younger, she's too beautiful too, and educated, and respectable. If you see the other one, your engagement would be over right now!' So Abraham went to his town, and sent a postcard saying he's sorry to break the engagement to Celia, but he'll wait so he can be engaged to the younger daughter. A few days later, I came home and Celia gave me the postcard to read. I felt very bad about it, but I asker her: 'Is it my fault?! You know the truth about the whole thing, and I have nothing to say because I was in Steblow with the older sister.' Shortly afterwards, Celia's girlfriend introduced her cousin Asher Chepow to Celia, and they got engaged and married, and a week later went to America. They had two children, Bob Chepow and Eva Wishnya. It hurts to talk about, as Celia died days after Bob's Bar-Mitzvah was supposed to be, when Eva was 11 and a half years old. Turning back to the story, things were happening so quick in the short weeks after Celia's marriage. Fishel called Abraham quickly, telling him the older sister married and went off to America, and that the younger sister is all free. He took his father and mother, and came to be married right away. He arrived on Friday, and I was baking challah for the Saturday meal. Boruch came in and said: 'Chasy, dress yourself, Fishel's cousin and his parents are here, and we'll make a marriage between you and Abtaham.' When I heard this, I was scathing mad! I said 'I'm not a cow, to be sold!' Boruch said, 'He'll take you as you are now, not fancily dressed.' I said 'I'll close the door'. He said 'I could open it.' And finally, I said 'Then I'll go away from the house, and you wouldn't find me. I still want to go to America to learn, and if it's too late for me to learn, so my children will learn and be educated. What I lost they will gain, and not live here as pigs, just to eat and do other duties... I'll still need Celia, and I can't ask Celia to take me in with my husband, who has done such things to her!' And so Boruch told Fishel the story, and they left without seeing me. This proves the reputation I had in Rakitno. |
Dranows
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As you know, I was a busy young lady, to care for my father's home, shop, cook and keep the house in order. I belonged to societies, associated with boys and girls, and had friends with whom I could play the role of a girl. My sister Bas-Sheva, as you know, lived in Steblow in Kiev State. Before my older sister Celia was married, she took care of the house, so I would go visit Bas-Sheva in Steblow every year for three weeks. But when Celia got married, I took over the burden of the house, so I couldn't go anymore. But Bas-Sheva asked my father, so he bowed his head, and gave me permission. There in Steblow I often heard talk about a boy named Ruben Dranow, a relative wounded in the war
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Sister Celia
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One year later, my nephew Hershel wrote to me that now he and Ruben want to come to Rakitno to visit us, and I answered him that they are welcome. They came and went, and the next time when Ruben came, we were engaged, as you already know. Ruben didn't know that his mother died during the war. Two of his brothers, Moshe and Schmuel went to Israel, along with a sister who changed her name from Creny to Atara. The father, sister Polya and her husband, and their little girl Zenka also went to Israel. After a while I started to write to my sister Celia in New York, asking her to send me papers and money so that we too should be able to go to America. Celia was good to us, and took us out of here. Thanks for her, we are here, out of Russia... God Bless America!
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Brother Burukh
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Ruben's visit
Ruben Dranow from Steblow came to Rakitno with my sister's boy, Hershel Zaslavsky. Hershel came to visit us, while Ruben came to visit his cousin, Sonia Morro, and her family. They arrived on Thursday and planned to stay over the weekend. Hershel and Ruben wound up taking the same taxi to visit us and Sonia. She was happy to see him, but warned him to go to a hotel to get a better rest, because her husband's brother came from England and was seriously sick. In fact, he was about to die, which he did. Sonia told Ruben: 'you made it through the war, and through your wounds, so you don't want to catch any sickness now'. So Ruben came to us to tell us this little story, and my brother Baruch invited him to stay with us this weekend. So Ruben was with me and Hershel all weekend. Of course he was very happy to have a place to stay, and thanked us very kindly. Basy (my brother's wife) and I prepared food for the two boys. Baruch built on our grounds a beautiful modern home, and it was very close to our home. It happened to rain these three days without stopping. As the hostess, or Balebuste, of the house, I had to cook, clean, and still have time to spend with my guests. We couldn't go anywhere on account of the rain. Ruben sat in a chair in the kitchen and watched me, while talking; he saw how I do my work with experience and what kind of home I keep, as compared to what kind of home Baruch keeps. In a spare moment I showed Ruben a book of Russian poems that I wrote, which really surprised him. Ruben fell in love with me and my surroundings. He went to his cousin Sonia's house, called her out into the street, and asked her advice about me and my family. She lived here, so she knew the people, and especially my reputation. Ruben told her he wanted to propose to me. She answered him curtly: 'If she says yes, you have a golden opportunity, to have the finest. I have two boys, and God should give me such a daughter-in-law. I couldn't want a better one. Good luck to you, if she says yes!' Ruben came back happy, didn't say anything to me, but asked my sister Ethel to keep Hershel out of the way as he wanted to talk to me alone. Hershel is a cousin and a partner and he didn't want him to be angry. Ethel arranged a date for Hershel with our cousin Anna Leshner; he knew her so was glad to go on the date. With luck, the rain has stopped this last night, so we were free of Hershel. Ruben and I took a walk, to be alone.
Ruben's proposal
Ruben came out with his proposal very quickly, and I was surprised. So I told him, let's discuss it first, before I say Yes or No. 'How about your two little brothers and your sister Polya brought to Steblow from your parents' place? You support them, so will they be there, or here?' He responded: 'The children will stay with Polya until they can be brought back to our parents, and I'll continue to support them until then.' Ruben asked me to accept his proposal and said he would do anything to make a living. 'How about your wounds?', I asked. 'Oh, that's forgotten!', he said. He didn't take no for an answer and continued to woo me with sweet words. I thought 'I've had such well-off boys propose - cousin Schmuel Pelach was a teacher, Moshe Elex was a storekeeper, and Abraham was a big businessman. I would have to take Ruben to my father's home and ask my father to help him earn a living...' But I admit I respected him; he talked very gently, is from a fine family, loved me and respected me. I forgot about riches and the other boys, and said Yes. My father always said: 'any boy you like, if he needs my help, I'll be glad to do it for him, because it's for you, my daughter.' So we gave each other our hands, kissed each other, and thus began a new story. That was in October 1918.
Ruben and Hershel went home to Steblow the next day, and a week later, my sister and her husband Israel Zaslavsky came with Ruben for the engagement. My father gave Rueben a 3000 ruble dowry. The engagement had about 300 guests; it was held in our two biggest rooms and there was still room for more people. |
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