Eliyahu's Branches: The Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family
by Chaim Freedman
Below is part of the family tree of Shlomo Zalmen of Vilna, the father of the Vilna Gaon.
Shown are the first four generations providing just a portion of the information about these individuals that is included in the
book Eliyahu's Branches: The Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family by Chaim Freedman and
published by Avotaynu, Inc.
Major branches include Bardin, Bayuk, Behrman, Bloch,
Chinitz, Chwat, Danzig, Don Yechia, Donchin,
Epstein, Ettinger, Finfer, Friedlander, Ginzberg, Grad, Helman,
Horowitz (Gurewitz), Joffe, Jurbarsky, Kantorovitch,
Klatzki, Komesaroff (Komisaruk), Komisar, Kossowsky, Kremer, Kretchmer,
Landau, Lipshitz, Menkin, Mintz, Neches, Neeman,
Olkenitsky, Penchuk, Pines, Pomerantz, Rabbinowitz, Ragoler, Reezel,
Rom, Sternbuch, Sunstein, Taragin, Volpa, Warszawsky and Ziv.
Eliyahu's Branches: The Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family,
is a 704-page book, hard cover with dust jacket, that provides
biographical information for more than 20,000 descendants of the Vilna
Gaon and his siblings. There are 3,300
different surnames, 13 generations, more than 650 citations that
identify sources of information and a full
name index. The book may be ordered from Avotaynu on the Internet using
a MasterCard or Visa. Cost is $69.50 plus shipping/handling.
(Ordering information) 
(Want to write the author?)
Descendants of Shlomo Zalmen of Vilna
^01^1.
- Shlomo Zalmen of Vilna born c.1695, Vilna, Lithuania,
married Treina of Seltz, born c.1700, Seltz, Byelorussia, daughter of Meir of Seltz.
Shlomo died Kislev 5519, which corresponds to late 1758, Vilna, Lithuania.
Treina: Daughter of Rabbi Meir son of Rabbi Benyamin Wolf of Seltz, near Grodno,
Byelorussia.
^02^1.1.
- Eliyahu Gaon of Vilna born 1720, Seltz, Byelorussia,
married (1) Khana of Keidan, born c.1724, Keidan, Lithuania, daughter of Yehudah
Leib of Keidan, died 1782, Vilna, Lithuania, married (2) after 1782, Gittel Luntz,
born Kelm, Lithuania, daughter of Meir Luntz. Eliyahu died 19 Tishrei 5558 (9
October 1797), Vilna, Lithuania. For details of the biography of the Gaon of Vilna
see the "Introduction" chapter of this book.
Khana: Renowned for her devotion to her husband and family. Khana carried the
burden of looking after all the family's needs, thus relieving her husband, the Gaon,
of the need to take valuable time off from his studies to attend to material
matters.
Gittel: The Gaon's second wife was a widow with children from her first husband,
Nakhum. She bore no children to the Gaon, as explained in the Introduction to this
book.
^03^1.1.1.
- daughter of the Gaon daughter of Eliyahu Gaon of
Vilna and Khana of Keidan, born c.1741, Vilna, Lithuania, died 1756, Vilna,
Lithuania. Her name was not recorded. She appears to have been the Gaon's eldest
child since her engagement was recorded in 1756. The existence of this daughter
is recorded in the register of the charitable fund set up by the Gaon's ancestor
Rabbi Moshe Rivkas.
^03^1.1.2.
- Khiena of Pinsk daughter of Eliyahu Gaon of Vilna and
Khana of Keidan, born 1748, Vilna, Lithuania, married (1) Zalmen Zelig Chinitz,
born 1735, Vilna, Lithuania,son of Aharon Zev Abarbanel and Tova ?, died 1803,
Pinsk, Byelorussia,married (2) Moshe of Pinsk, son of Yehuda Leib of Pinsk and
Nekhama ?, died 1836, Pinsk, Byelorussia. Khiena died 1806, Pinsk,
Byelorussia.
Zalmen Zelig: According to the Chinitz manuscript, Khiena's husband Moshe
assumed the name Zalmen Zelig. However interpretation of the manuscript leads
to the conclusion that they were separate persons, probably Khiena's two
husbands.
Moshe: Published several of the Gaon's commentaries, principally Shnot
Eliyahu, Lemberg, 1799.
^04^1.1.2.1.
- Shmuel Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz and
Khiena of Pinsk, married (1) Naomi Hakohen, born Pinsk, Byelorussia, daughter
of Yaakov Hakohen, married (2) Khaike Malke ?, born Bialystok,
Poland.
^04^1.1.2.2.
- Tsvi Hersh Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz and
Khiena of Pinsk. Died of spinal meningitis at the age of three.
^04^1.1.2.3.
- Masha Chinitz daughter of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz and
Khiena of Pinsk, married Aharon ?, son of Leib Pinkhas ?.
^04^1.1.2.4.
- Yitskhak Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz and
Khiena of Pinsk, born c.1765, Pinsk, Byelorussia, married Peshe Rabinov,
daughter of Yosef Khaim Rabinov.
^04^1.1.2.5.
- Aharon Tsvi Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz
and Khiena of Pinsk, born c.1770, Pinsk, Byelorussia, married Rukhl ?, daughter
of Khaim ?.
^04^1.1.2.6.
- Moshe Khaim Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz
and Khiena of Pinsk, married Itke ?, daughter of Zalmen ?.
^04^1.1.2.7.
- Gittel Chinitz daughter of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz and
Khiena of Pinsk, married David Levin, son of Shakhne Levin.
^04^1.1.2.8.
- Golda Chinitz daughter of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz and
Khiena of Pinsk, married Zev Rothstein, son of Leibl Rothstein.
^04^1.1.2.9.
- Shraga Feivel Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz
and Khiena of Pinsk, died Pinsk, Byelorussia. Drowned at the age of
twelve.
^04^1.1.2.10.
- Nakhum Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz and
Khiena of Pinsk, married Itke ?, daughter of Meir ?.
^04^1.1.2.11.
- Shlomo David Chinitz son of Zalmen Zelig Chinitz
and Khiena of Pinsk, married Nekhame Geldenberg, born Pinsk, Byelorussia,
daughter of Reuven Geldenberg.
^04^1.1.2.12.
- Avraham of Pinsk son of Moshe of Pinsk and Khiena
of Pinsk, married Feigl Feigelbaum, born Pinsk, Byelorussia, daughter of
Avraham Feigelbaum. The Neches and Zabinovsky families are descended from this branch.
^04^1.1.2.13.
- Son/daughter ? son of Moshe of Pinsk and Khiena
of Pinsk, born c.1790. Theoretical connection with the family of Yekhezkel
(Haskell) Landau which held an oral tradition of descent from the Gaon's
daughter "Khana" (sic), that is Khiena. See explanation of sources in the chapter
"Unconfirmed Connections" of this book.
^04^1.1.2.14.
- Yedidiah Penchuk born c.1780, Pinsk,
Byelorussia, died c.1850. Adopted the surname Penchuk when he settled
in Kobrin. The Penchuk, Palefsky, Bayuk, Pomerantz, Chwat and Mintz
families are descended from this branch.
^03^1.1.3.
- Peisa-Bassia of Disna daughter of Eliyahu Gaon of
Vilna and Khana of Keidan, born c.1750, Vilna, Lithuania, married Tsvi Hersh
Donchin, son of Yitskhak Donchin, ABD Disna, died c.1800, Disna, Byelorussia.
Peisa-Bassia died Disna, Byelorussia.
Tsvi: Descendant of a prominent and ancient rabbinic family which traced its
ancestry to Portugal and Spain and, before that, to the House of King
David.
^04^1.1.3.1.
- Ber Donchin Died in childhood.
^04^1.1.3.2.
^04^1.1.3.3.
- Yitskhak Donchin married Khana Don-Yechia,
daughter of Barukh Don-Yechia.
^04^1.1.3.4.
- daughter Donchin born c.1785, Disna, Byelorussia,
married Zerakh Horowitz, born c.1785, Lachowitz, Byelorussia, son of Elyakim
Getzel Halevy Horowitz, died c.1820, Lachowitz, Byelorussia.
^03^1.1.4.
- daughter of the Gaon daughter of Eliyahu Gaon of
Vilna and Khana of Keidan, born c.1752, Vilna, Lithuania, married Yekhezkel
Halevy, son of Shmuel Halevy. Had no children and so was divorced from her
husband, on the instructions of her father. Her subsequent fate is not
recorded.
Yekhezkel: Since he had no children by his first wife, the Gaon's daughter, his
descendants by his second marriage are not descended from the Gaon.
^03^1.1.5.
- Shlomo-Zalmen Vilner son of Eliyahu Gaon of Vilna
and Khana of Keidan, born 1758, Vilna, Lithuania, married Rakhel Kissin, born
c.1758, Vitebsk, Russia, daughter of Yisrael Kissin, died c.1777, Vilna, Lithuania.
Shlomo-Zalmen died c.1780, Vilna, Lithuania. Since Shlomo Zalmen died young
and had only two daughters, it seems that his death occurred soon after his wife
Rakhel died. She apparently died in childbirth about 1777, as indicated by the
relevant dates of her descendants.
Rakhel: Appears to have died young. Her father Yisrael Kissin had agreed under the
terms of her marriage agreement that he would support the couple during the first
few years of their marriage and then the Gaon would take over. The Gaon was
unable to do so, explaining that his wife, who managed his financial affairs, had
insufficient funds. Perhaps this was the reason that, when the couple died, the Gaon
felt obliged to care for their two daughters. Yisrael Kissin of Vitebsk was confused
in some sources with Yisrael of Shklov.
^04^1.1.5.1.
- Treina Vilner born c.1776, Vilna, Lithuania,
married Tsvi Hersh Lipshitz. The Lipshitz, Grad, Segal, Olkenitsky,
Helman, Gurwicz and Kushilevky families are descended from this branch.
^04^1.1.5.2.
- Rakhel (?) Vilner born c.1777, Vilna, Lithuania, married Yaakov Bardin, born c.1770, son of Yekhezkel
Bardin. Rakhel died c.1816.
Yaakov: The Bardin family is reputed to have originated in France or Italy where
members were engaged in the silk trade.
^03^1.1.6.
- Yehudah Leib Vilner son of Eliyahu Gaon of Vilna and
Khana of Keidan, born 1764, Vilna, Lithuania, married daughter of Avraham of
Serhei and Esther Jaffe, born Alinka, Lithuania, . Yehudah died 1816, Neustadt-
Sugind, Lithuania.
Wife: The name of Yehuda Leib's wife has not been discovered. Her father was
Rabbi of Serhei and prior to that rabbi of Lazdei. He appears as a signatory to
Or Khakhamim (published Grodno 1795). His wife Ester was a
descendent of the families Jaffe and Bachrach.
^04^1.1.6.1.
- Ester Vilner born c.1785, Serhei, Lithuania,
married Zev Velvel (Halevy) Komisar, born c.1785, Kovno, Lithuania,
died c.1834, Kovno, Lithuania. Ester died c.1860, possibly Grafskoy,
Russia. Ester's identity as the daughter of Rabbi Yehuda Leib of Serhei
was established by an inscription in an old book belonging to her
family. Oral tradition conveyed by several of the branches of the
descendants of Zev Komisar claimed descent from the Gaon of Vilna. An
independent source is the memoirs of Marcus Joseph Weinkle who was
personally acquainted with Rabbi Pinkhas Komisaruk (lived 1830-97).
Weinkle records in his memoirs that Rabbi Pinkhas claimed descent from
the Gaon.
Zev: He was the first generation of the Komisar/Komisaruk/ Komesaroff family
to be known by name. Oral tradition held that he came from a prominent family
of scholars and communal leaders in Kovno.
Rabbi Zev and Ester Komisar were the common ancestors of three families:
Komisaruk (Komesaroff), Zhmood and Grinblat.
^04^1.1.6.2.
- Golda Vilner born c.1786, Serhei, Lithuania, married
Yitskhak Friedlander, born c.1783, Virbalin, Lithuania, son of Tsvi Hirsh
Friedlander and a woman who was in some way descended from the Gaon of
Vilna, Analysis of the Friedlander family's oral traditions of descent from the
Gaon of Vilna, vital registration records in Poland and Lithuania and relationships
with other families connected with the Gaon, leads to the conclusion that the most
likely link with the Gaon was that Yitskhak Friedlander's wife Golda was a
daughter of Rabbi Yehuda-Leib of Serhei, the second son of the Gaon.
Yitskhak: His father is referred to by the title "Morenu HaRav" in a
prenumeranten list for the town of Verbelov (sic) published in Ratzon
Yireim (Vilna 1859).
^04^1.1.6.3.
- Gittel Vilner born c.1787, married Yitskhak Danzig,
born c.1785, Vilna, Lithuania, son of Avraham "Khaye Adam" Danzig and Sarah
Segal, died 1853, Vilna, Lithuania. Gittel died 1857, Vilna, Lithuania.
Yitskhak: Son of Rabbi Avraham Danzig, one of the prominent students of the
Gaon of Vilna. His father left his native Danzig to settle in Vilna. There he
supported himself in trade whilst dedicating every spare moment to study.
Avraham Danzig wrote various scholarly books, including Khayei
Adam and Khokhmat Adam which were practical commentaries
on the Shulkhan Arukh.
^04^1.1.6.4.
- Yosef Yekhezkel Vilner born 1788, Serhei,
Lithuania, married Beila Shachor, daughter of Yisrael Isser Shachor. Yosef died
1849, Serhei, Lithuania. Most sources refer to him as Yekhezkel. His tombstone
records his full name, Yosef Yekhezkel. He adopted the surname Vilner/Wilner.
He lived in Serhei where few of his activities are recorded. He inherited several
of the manuscripts of his grandfather, the Gaon of Vilna. Of these he was
responsible for the publication of the Gaon's commentary on Shir
Hashirim (Song of Songs-Warsaw 1847).
^04^1.1.6.5.
- Tuviah Jurbarsky born c.1789, Serhei, Lithuania,
married Ryszla ?, born 1788, daughter of Shepsel ? and Gruny ?, stallholder in
market, died 1848, Jurburg, Lithuania. Tuviah died 1867, Jerusalem, Israel,
buried: Har Hazeitim, Jerusalem.
Ryszla: Her parents' names are recorded on the registration of her death. Their
surname is recorded as Jurborskij which may have been the source of the
surname adopted by her husband Tuviah or the name may have indicated her
parents' place of residence.
^04^1.1.6.6.
- Yissakhar Ber Vilner born c.1791, Serhei, Lithuania,
merchant, married Golda ?, daughter of Reuven ? and Taube ?, died 1867,
Warsaw, Poland. Yissakhar died 1845, Warsaw, Poland.
^04^1.1.6.7.
- Freidel Vilner born c.1791, Serhei, Lithuania,
married Yitskhak Warszawsky, born 1791, Virbalin, Lithuania, stallholder,
peddlar, Freidel died Virbalin, Lithuania.
The dates of birth of Freidel and her brother Yissakhar Ber, as calculated from the
vital records of some of their children, shows the same year for the two siblings.
It is known that ages in such records were not accurate, therefore the correct
birth dates for them may have varied by a few years from 1791.
Yitskhak: Son of Hersh Warszawsky of Virbalin. Incorrectly recorded by Rivlin
as Zeev.
^04^1.1.6.8.
- Refael Vilner born c.1793, Identity uncertain.
Appears in donor lists in the newspaper Hamaggid in 1871 from the
town Vistenitz. Descendants have not been traced. Despite the claim that he may
have been confused with a namesake, the son of his brother Yosef Yekhezkel,
proof of his existence is found in a story told by Noakh Yashinovsky whose
grandmother Sarah related how she and her husband Avraham went to Vistenitz
to make peace between Refael (son of my brother-in-law Reb Leib, son of the
Gaon) and his wife.
^04^1.1.6.9.
- Menka Vilner born Serhei, Lithuania, married
Sholem (Friedman) Menkin, born Zager, Lithuania, son of Moshe Friedman, died
c.1841, Zager, Lithuania, Whilst the name of this daughter of Rabbi Yehuda-
Leib of Serhei is not recorded it has been assumed to be Menka, thus providing
the source of her descendants surname, Menkin (the "in" suffix typically indicates
a metronymic origin of a surname).
Sholem: Ancestor of the Menkin family of Zager. Diverse surnames were used by
his descendants: Friedman, derived from Sholem; Monfried which is Friedman
reversed; Menkin after Sholem's wife; Zagorsky after the town where most of the
family lived; Solomon as used in England. These variations were used to evade
conscription.
^04^1.1.6.10.
- Hinda Vilner born Serhei, Lithuania, married Yosef
Cohen. Identified as a daughter of Yehudah Leib of Serhei in the
oral tradition of descent from the Gaon, conveyed by the Kossowsky family.
Yosef: He was reputed to be a rabbi and scholar.
^03^1.1.7.
- Avraham Vilner son of Eliyahu Gaon of Vilna and
Khana of Keidan, born 1765, Vilna, Lithuania, married Sarah Mindes-Lipshitz,
daughter of Noakh "Mindes" Lipshitz and Minda Pesseles. Avraham died 1808,
Vilna, Lithuania.
^04^1.1.7.1.
- Yaakov Moshe Landau born 1779, Vilna, Lithuania,
married Hinde Landau, daughter of Khaim "Yehoshua" Landau. Yaakov died
1849, Slonim, Byelorussia. The Laundau and Sunstein families are descended from this branch.
Hinde: Daughter of the nobleman Khaim son of Yehoshua of Slonim.
^04^1.1.7.2.
- daughter Vilner born c.1782, married Unknown
Kantorovitch. Existence presumed from the tradition that the Kantorowitz family was
descended from Avraham, the son of the Gaon.
^04^1.1.7.3.
- Khana Vilner born c.1783, married Refael
Sharlot, born Chitowitz, Byelorussia, son of Shmuel Sharlot. The
Ettinger, Pines and Sternbuch families are descended from this branch.
^03^1.1.8.
- Tauba of Dubrovno daughter of Eliyahu Gaon of Vilna
and Khana of Keidan, born c.1768, Vilna, Lithuania, married Uri Shraga Feibush
of Dubrovno, son of Shlomo ?, ABD Dubrovno. Tauba died c.1812, Dubrovno,
Byelorussia. Apparently died young, since her husband was known to have
remarried, and few of her descendants are recorded. See the introduction to this
book for a full explanation of the placement of Tauba as the youngest daughter of
the Gaon.
Uri: Remarried after the death of first wife, Tauba. Other wives
were Sarah Khaya, daughter of David, son of Pinkhas ben Azriel, author of
Nakhalat Azriel and Feiga, the sister-in-law of Yitskhak Khalavitzer.
Addressed rabbinic enquiry to Khaim of Volozhin (Binyan Shel
Simkha).
^04^1.1.8.1.
- Dov-Ber Bloch born c.1787, Dubrovno, Byelorussia,
married Batsheva ?. Assumed connection.
^04^1.1.8.2.
- Perl ? born c.1790, Dubrovno, Byelorussia, married
Shabtai Perels, son of Barukh Bendet of Haslawitz.
Shabtai: Son of Barukh Bendit of Haslawitz, brother of Rabbi Menkhem-Mendel
of Shklov.
^04^1.1.8.3.
- Eliyahu Reezel born c.1797, Dubrovno, Byelorussia,
shokhet, died 1837, Safed, Israel. Ran away from Russia to evade military
service and settled in Kretchelov, Rumania. Gave up work as a shokhet due to
a dream which predicted he would be compelled to pass as kosher meat which he
disapproved of. Settled in Safed in 1836. Legend relates that the Gaon of Vilna
saved him from the earthquake of 1837 which left him with a limp. Grave in
Safed believed to record his descent from the Gaon. His wife and several children
perished in the earthquake. Survived by two sons who returned to
Europe.
^04^1.1.8.4.
- Khaim Naftali (Hyam Bloch) Phillips born 1812,
Dubrovno, Byelorussia, cigar manufacturer, hotelier, married 1850, in London,
England, Julia Meyer, born 1816, London, England, daughter of Jacob Meyer
and Hannah Solomon, died 1913, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, buried:
Haslem's Creek (Rockwood), New South Wales, Australia. Khaim died 1877,
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, buried at Haslem's Creek (Rockwood),
NSW.Australia.
Julia: Daughter of Jacob Meyer and Hannah Solomon.
^03^1.1.9.
- Unknown Connection to Gaon of Vilna married Tsvi
Hersh Friedlander, born c.1755, Virbalin, Lithuania. This theoretical link between
Tsvi Hersh Friedlander and the Gaon of Vilna is based on oral traditions related by
members of his family who are descended from Tsvi's children, (other than his son
Yitskhak).
Tsvi: Referred to as Morenu Harav in a prenumeranten list published in Retzon
Yireiim (Vilna, 1859), which records Tsvi's son Shlomo Friedlander.
^04^1.1.9.1.
- Yitskhak Friedlander born c.1783, Virbalin,
Lithuania, married Golda Vilner, born c.1786, Serhei, Lithuania, daughter of
Yehudah Leib Vilner and Wife of Serhei.
Golda: Analysis of the Friedlander family's oral traditions of descent from the
Gaon of Vilna, vital registration records in Poland and Lithuania, and
relationships with other families connected with the Gaon, leads to the conclusion
that the most likely link with the Gaon was that Yitskhak Friedlander's wife
Golda was a daughter of Rabbi Yehuda-Leib of Serhei, the second son of the
Gaon.
^04^1.1.9.2.
^04^1.1.9.3
- Sarah Friedlander born c. 1790, married Mordekhai
Winstock, born c. 1790.
^04^1.1.9.4.
- Hessel Friedlander born c.1797. Ancestor of the
Kurland Friedlanders.
^04^1.1.9.5.
- Shlomo Friedlander born c.1799, married Sheina ?.
Ancestor of the Suwalki Friedlander branch. Appears in a Prenumeranten list in
Ratzon Yireiim (Vilna 1859).
^04^1.1.9.6.
- unknown connections Friedlander born
c.1800.
^04^1.1.9.7.
- Khaim Friedlander born before 1800. Married Peshe
Leah ?.
^02^1.2.
- Yissakhar Ber Klatzki born c.1721, married Malka
Ginzberg, daughter of Asher Ginzberg and Yuta Klatzes. Yissakhar died 1807, Vilna,
Lithuania.
^03^1.2.1.
- Kalonymus Kalman Klatzki married Leah ?, daughter
of Tsvi Yaakov ?, died 1823, Vilna, Lithuania. Kalonymus died 1821, Vilna,
Lithuania.
^04^1.2.1.1.
- Asher Hertz Klatzki born 1797, Vilna, Lithuania,
dayan in Vilna, died 1866.
^04^1.2.1.2.
- Yehoshua Heshel Klatzki married Guta Miriam
Rozenfeld, born Amdur, Lithuania, daughter of Tuviah Rozenfeld.
^04^1.2.1.3.
^04^1.2.1.4.
- Ita Klatzki married Moshe Aharon Zonenberg, son
of Zundel Zonenberg.
^03^1.2.2.
- Mordekhai Klatzki married Rakhel ?, daughter of Yitskhak
?. Mordekhai died 1839, Vilna, Lithuania. A renowned scholar in Vilna.
^04^1.2.2.1.
- Asher Klatzki married Hene ?, born Vasilishok,
Lithuania, daughter of Yaakov Koppel. Asher died 1831, Vilna,
Lithuania.
Hene: Known as "Hene Rakhel Malka's" after her mother-in-law and the latter's
mother-in-law.
^04^1.2.2.2.
- Khana Reizel Klatzki married (1) Aharon Natanson,
1810, Grodno, Russia, died 1851, Vilna, Lithuania, Khana died Vilna,
Lithuania.
Khaim: Khana was his third wife.
^03^1.2.3.
- Miriam Mirel Klatzki married, spouse's name
unknown. Miriam died 1835, Vilna, Lithuania.
^04^1.2.3.1.
^03^1.2.4.
- Rivele Klatzki married Benyamin Wolf (Ginzberg)
Klatzki, born 1788, Vilna, Lithuania, son of Shimon Ginzberg, died 1877, Vilna,
Lithuania. Rivele died 1856, Vilna, Lithuania.
Benyamin: One of the famous leaders of the Jewish community in Vilna.
^04^1.2.4.1.
- Zalmen Eliyahu Klatzki married Lieba Gittel
Bereshuls, born Brod, Poland. He possessed manuscripts written by his
grandfather Rabbi Yissakhar Ber. Zalmen was the only son who survived to
adulthood.
^04^1.2.4.2.
- Khaya Leah Klatzki married Arye Yehuda Leib
Danzig, born 1816, Vilna, Lithuania, son of Eliyahu Danzig and Fruma Treves,
died 1880, Vilna, Lithuania. Khaya died 1860, Vilna, Lithuania.
Arye: The date of birth noted in Ir Vilna corresponding to the civil year 1814 must be in error since
his great-grandfather Yehuda Leib of Serhei died in 1816 and he could not have
had a descendant bearing the same name during his lifetime.
^04^1.2.4.3.
^04^1.2.4.4.
^03^1.2.5.
- daughter Klatzki married Yaakov Kahana, born 1764,
Amsterdam, Holland, son of Avraham Kahana and daughter Loewenstam, died
1826, Vilna, Lithuania.
Yaakov: Brought up by his maternal grandfather Rabbi Shaul ABD Amsterdam.
^04^1.2.5.1.
- Eliyahu Kahana died 1821, Vilna, Lithuania.
^04^1.2.5.2.
- Freida Kahana died 1816, Vilna, Lithuania.
^03^1.2.6.
- Reizel Klatzki married Azriel Ziv, born c.1760, son of
Gershon Mendel Ziv, ABD Birz. Reizel died 1833, Vilna, Lithuania. Reizel was
the most probable link with the Ziv (Sieff) and Grad families, based on the tradition
related to Lord Israel Sieff by his great-grandfather that he was descended from a
brother of the Gaon of Vilna. Sieff recalled the name of the Gaon's brother as
Joshua, which was probably a distortion of Yissakhar Ber.
Azriel: the most likely connection between the family of Lord Israel Sieff and
Gershon Mendel Ziv of Rassein. There is a conflict in the sources with regard to
the identity of Azriel's father.
^04^1.2.6.1.
- Efraim Ziv born c.1782. Appears in three
Prenumeranten entries in Ateret Shaul (S. Luria, Vilna, 1841) as the
father of Yosef, David and Matityahu Ziv of Kroz.
^04^1.2.6.2.
- Shlomo Zalmen Leib Ziv born c.1800. Name appears
on the tombstone of his daughter Peena Grad. A Prenumeranten list in
Lekorot Hair Rassein Urabaneha (M. Markovitch, Warsaw 1913)
includes a Zalmen Ziv who may have been identical with Shlomo Zalmen Leib
Ziv.
^02^1.3.
- Avraham Ragoler born 1722, Vilna, Lithuania, married
Hinda ?. Avraham died 1804, Neustadt-Schirwindt, Lithuania.
^03^1.3.1.
- Gershon Ragoler died 1831, Shadova.
^04^1.3.1.1.
^04^1.3.1.2.
^04^1.3.1.3.
^03^1.3.2.
- Eliyahu Ragoler born c.1745, married Gita Pesseles,
daughter of Mikhal Pesseles. Eliyahu died Neustadt-Sugunt, Lithuania. His wife was
either Gita (or Gisha), the daughter of Mikhal Pesseles of Vilna, or a daughter of
Eizik ben Leib of Kretinga .
Gita: Widow of Shlomo Zalmen, the brother of Khaim of Volozhin.
^04^1.3.2.1.
- Shlomo Zalmen Ragoler married Khaya Sarah
Lasdiner, daughter of Yehoshua Reb Yankel Lasdiner. Shlomo died Neustadt-
Sugunt, Lithuania.
Khaya: Her father's name appears in Rivlin's Reb Moshe Rivkas as
"Reb Yaakov-Yankele Lasdiner." The handwritten notes in the Rivlin archive
refer to him as "the Gvir Yehoshua Reb Yankele Lasdiner." The surname
Lasdiner may indicate that he came from Lazdei.
^04^1.3.2.2.
^04^1.3.2.3.
- Meir Ragoler married Nekha ?, died 1868,
Jerusalem, Israel. Meir died 1842, Jerusalem, Israel. Author of Derekh
Avot, Nakhalat Avot, and commentaries on Pirkei
Avot based on the commentaries of the Gaon of Vilna.
^04^1.3.2.4.
- unknown connection ? born c.1770, Neustadt-
Sugunt, Lithuania.
^04^1.3.2.5.
- Mikhal Ragoler born 1796, Neustadt-Sugunt,
Lithuania, died 1878, Jerusalem, Israel, buried: Har Hazeitim, Jerusalem.
^04^1.3.2.6.
- Treina Ragoler married Yitskhak Eizik Levinson, son
of Arye Leib Levinson, ABD Kretinga. Was the second wife of Yitskhak
Levinson.
^04^1.3.2.7.
- Yissakhar Ber Ragoler. The Romm family is descended from this branch.
^04^1.3.2.8.
- Khana Gisha Ragoler married Shraga Feivel Shach,
Title: Rabbi.
^04^1.3.2.9.
- Reizel Ragoler
married Arye-Leib ?.
^04^1.3.2.10.
- Tsvi Hersh
Tzinas M"M, Polangen, died
Polangen, Lithuania.
^04^1.3.2.11.
- Khaya Sarah
Ragoler married Mark, Title:
Rabbi. The Behrman and Levy families are descneded from this branch.
^04^1.3.2.12.
- Arye Leib
Hamburger born 1796, Neustadt-
Sugunt, Lithuania, died 1889, Jerusalem,
Israel, buried: Har Hazeitim, Jerusalem. Also
known as "Leib Halberstadt."
^03^1.3.3.
- Moshe ("Khassid")
Hindas married Rivka Riva ?.
^04^1.3.3.1.
- Eliyahu Abeles died 1880, Keidan, Lithuania. Known
as "Reb Eliya Reb Abbale's."
^04^1.3.3.2.
^04^1.3.3.3.
^04^1.3.3.4.
- unknown connection ? married son Volpa.
^04^1.3.3.5.
^03^1.3.4.
- Shmuel ("Hakatan") Ragoler
^04^1.3.4.1.
- Shalom Rabinowitz married Khava (Eva) ?, daughter
of David ?.
^04^1.3.4.2.
- Keila Treina Ragoler married, spouse's name
unknown.
^03^1.3.5.
- Yehuda Leib Ragoler died 1808, Shklov, Russia.
Mistaken to be a brother of the Gaon.
^03^1.3.6.
- unknown connection ? born c.1750.
^04^1.3.6.1.
- Yaakov Yisrael Heilprin ABD Khmelnik.
^04^1.3.6.2.
^04^1.3.6.3.
- unknown connection Feinstein born c.1775.
^04^1.3.6.4.
- Avraham Shmuel Gringort born c.1780, His son's
tombstone on the Mount of Olives states that he was a grandson of Rabbi
Avraham Ragoler, brother of the Gaon of Vilna.
^04^1.3.6.5.
- unknown connection ? born c.1785.
^02^1.4.
- Meir of Yanishok
born c.1724,
^02^1.5.
- Moshe of Podzelva
born c.1725. It is possible that various Kremer
families claiming a relationship with the Gaon
descend from Moshe of Podzelva.
^03^1.5.1.
- son ? born c.1750, Podzelva, Lithuania.
^04^1.5.1.1.
- son ? born c.1775, Podzelva, Lithuania.
^04^1.5.1.2.
- Eliyahu Kremer. The Neeman family is descended from this branch.
^02^1.6.
- daughter of Shlomo-Zalmen born c.1730, married
Manush ?. Not referred to by most sources, except for those connected with the
Volpa, Epstein and Finfer families.
Manush: Identity yet to be established. Appears in the biography of Rabbi Pesakh
Finfer and introductions to his books and those of his brother Yitskhak Finfer as their
ancestor.
^03^1.6.1.
- Riva ? born c.1750, married, spouse's name unknown.
Riva's name is preserved in the oral traditions of her descendants as "the First
Muma Riva." The significance of "first" is unclear, as is "Muma" which means
"aunt" in Yiddish.
^04^1.6.1.1.
- Gershon ? born c.1775. Claimed by his
descendants to be a "great-nephew" of the Gaon of Vilna through the
Gaon's sister. The Epstein family is descended from this branch.
^03^1.6.2.
- Shlomo Zalman born c.1760, married Pera ?.
^04^1.6.2.1.
- Yosef Benyamin Kretchmer born c.1785, married
Etel Shkemer, daughter of Avraham Shkemer. The Volpa and Finfer
families are descended from this branch.
Copyright © 1997 by Avotaynu, Inc.
Send comments to: info@avotaynu.com