(Use buttons on the left-hand side of the map to either get a larger viewing area or a more detailed view.)
(Then click your browser's "Back" button to return here.)
o 98 miles (158 km.) NNE of Minsk
o 21 miles (34 km.) NW of Lepel
o 61 miles (98 km.) W of Vitebsk
o 39 miles (62 km.) ENE of Dokshitz
Other Connections:
It was natural that emigrants from the one shtetl or region would follow each other from those same shtetls and settle together; so that in the first generation of immigration one could find that relatives from Europe would tend to settle together in the same towns. This led to some small towns with Jews from the same towns or regions in Europe. In one such case, we know that many from Ushachi settled at least in the following communities:
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
As we identify other such towns, we will list them.
History:
Many thanks to Harry Leich of the Library of Congress, European Division, for his research and translation. The following information is based upon material from "Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and other Slavic Countries," published by Bronislaw Chlebowski, Volume 12, Warsaw, 1892.
For many years Ushachi was part of Poland and was known as Usazacz, It was both a town and an estate, located on the Uszacza river, in Lepelski county, of the third Polish district. During the 1890's, the town contained 128 houses, 652 inhabitants, parish church, two Jewish prayer houses, district police and community station, bridge, and water powered mill. The estate contained 7400 acres of court land, located in the northwest part of the county. It bordered the Woroniecz, Kublicze (Kublichi), Hutowo, Bielsk, Czerstwiaty districts of Lepelski county, and the Turowla district of Polotsk county.
In 1624, the estates of Uszacz belonged to Jozef Klonowski of Polotsk; in 1672 to Dawid Radziminski Frackiewicz and his wife Elzbieta from Grotkowski. The property was next owned by Kasper Frackiewicz who sold it to Konstanty Szczytt. It passed to Krzysztof Szczytt, castellan of Smolensk, whose wife Anna from Zawlsz left it in 1721 to Jan Zaba, Voyevode of Minsk. Next owned by Lipskie Zaba, from whom Tadeusz Zaba, voyevode of Polotsk, acquired it. Then his daughter, Cecylia Marcinkiewiczowa, turned the estate over to her daughter Alina countess Platerowa, after which it passed to her son Gustaw count Plater.
There were Dominicans [monks?] in Uszacz, founded in 1716 under Hieronim Zaba, under-voyevode of Polotsk, together with his wife Katarzyna from Protaszeciz. Benefactors of the monastery were Jan Zaba, voyevode of Minsk, and his daughter-in-law Cecylia z Lipskich Zabina. There was a county school attached to the monastery. After 1772 Uszacz was the chief town in the remaining part of Polotsk province. In the vicinity of the town are graves dating back to the [stoczonych] wars of 1812.
Population: 807 Jews before World War II (according to "Where Once We Walked" by Gary Mokotoff & Sallyann Amdur Sack, Avotaynu, 1991)
Economy: (under research, looking for help)
Ushachi Factoids:
· Ushachi was the birth place of the late great violinist Jasha Heifitz (according to my mother, ROSALYN (PERLSON) KAUFMAN)
· The Jews of Ushachi spoke and wrote in Yiddish, except for religious services which were conducted in Hebrew. Very few Ushachi Jews spoke Russian.
· In 1919 or 1920, Rosalyn Perlson was kidnapped by a Cossack officer who wanted to marry her. She was ransomed back to safety by her mother Riva (Furman) Perlson who owned a general store. Riva's husband Max and his brothers had already emigrated to the United States, leaving his family behind. · Chaim Zhitlowsky (1865 – 1940) Influential Socialist-Naturalist and author was born in Ushachi. He was educated in Germany and Switzerland where he studied medicine at the University of Zurich. It was there he formed a group of Socialist Revolutionaries. He later went through several phases of political beliefs and activities; at times he was a Sociality, a Territorialist, and active Zionist and an ardent Yiddishist.
· In 1919 or 1920, Rosalyn Perlson was kidnapped by a Cossack officer who wanted to marry her. She was ransomed back to safety by her mother Riva (Furman) Perlson who owned a general store. Riva's husband Max and his brothers had already emigrated to the United States, leaving his family behind.
· Chaim Zhitlowsky (1865 – 1940) Influential Socialist-Naturalist and author was born in Ushachi. He was educated in Germany and Switzerland where he studied medicine at the University of Zurich. It was there he formed a group of Socialist Revolutionaries. He later went through several phases of political beliefs and activities; at times he was a Sociality, a Territorialist, and active Zionist and an ardent Yiddishist.
· The following appears in “World War II Plus 55” by David H. Lippman : January 13, 1942... The rising tide of Nazi atrocities provokes an Allied response in London. The representatives of nine occupied countries there sign a declaration that all those guilty of "war crimes" will be punished after the war. General Sikorski signs for Poland and General Charles De Gaulle for France. Among their "principal war aims" is "the punishment, through the channels of organized justice, of those guilty of, or responsible for, these crimes, whether they have ordered them, perpetrated them, or participated in them." January 14, 1942...Nazi forces react to the Allied war crimes declaration the day before by leading 807 Byelorussian Jews to a pit near the village of Ushachi, and shooting them. As the Jews lie dying, local peasants who have witnessed the massacre climb down into the pit to pull what gold they can from the teeth of the dead and dying. At nearby Kublichi, 925 Jews are murdered, and local peasants again loot the dead. The following link takes you to a “yahadmap” interview with a Ushachi resident who was a child at the time of the slaughter and witnessed the event. Be prepared to be disturbed by the indifference of the witness. http://www.yahadmap.org/#village/ushachi-vitebsk-belarus.477 In the late 1950s the local Jews Khona Futerman and Ruvim Asman initiated the erection of a one-meter-high monument at the murder site in Ushachi. The Russian inscription said:"Comrades! Bow your heads in memory of those who were killed. On January 6, 1942 the fascist executioners shot to death 925 residents of the urban settlement of Ushachi and the village of Kublichi." In 1975 the local authorities renovated the monument, to which they affixed the following Russian inscription: "In this place on January 14, 1942 925 Soviet civilians, residents of the urban settlement of Ushachi and the village of Kublichi, were brutally shot to death." Once again there was no reference to the Jewish identity of the victims. The monument was renovated again in the early 2000s. · Jews of Ushachi are known to have immigrated to Sheboygan and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
· The following appears in “World War II Plus 55” by David H. Lippman :
January 13, 1942... The rising tide of Nazi atrocities provokes an Allied response in London. The representatives of nine occupied countries there sign a declaration that all those guilty of "war crimes" will be punished after the war. General Sikorski signs for Poland and General Charles De Gaulle for France. Among their "principal war aims" is "the punishment, through the channels of organized justice, of those guilty of, or responsible for, these crimes, whether they have ordered them, perpetrated them, or participated in them."
January 14, 1942...Nazi forces react to the Allied war crimes declaration the day before by leading 807 Byelorussian Jews to a pit near the village of Ushachi, and shooting them. As the Jews lie dying, local peasants who have witnessed the massacre climb down into the pit to pull what gold they can from the teeth of the dead and dying. At nearby Kublichi, 925 Jews are murdered, and local peasants again loot the dead.
The following link takes you to a “yahadmap” interview with a Ushachi resident who was a child at the time of the slaughter and witnessed the event. Be prepared to be disturbed by the indifference of the witness.
http://www.yahadmap.org/#village/ushachi-vitebsk-belarus.477
In the late 1950s the local Jews Khona Futerman and Ruvim Asman initiated the erection of a one-meter-high monument at the murder site in Ushachi. The Russian inscription said:"Comrades! Bow your heads in memory of those who were killed. On January 6, 1942 the fascist executioners shot to death 925 residents of the urban settlement of Ushachi and the village of Kublichi." In 1975 the local authorities renovated the monument, to which they affixed the following Russian inscription: "In this place on January 14, 1942 925 Soviet civilians, residents of the urban settlement of Ushachi and the village of Kublichi, were brutally shot to death." Once again there was no reference to the Jewish identity of the victims.
The monument was renovated again in the early 2000s.
· Jews of Ushachi are known to have immigrated to Sheboygan and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
David Finko (Finkelstein) is the eldest grandson of Zalmon Furman. A naval architect in the Soviet Union, who emigrated to the USA to pursue his true calling as a composer, Finko wrote the following in his memoirs: “My maternal grandparents lived in Byelorussia (White Russia) in the small town of Ushatchy, which was in the Lepel district of the Vitebsk province. My maternal grandfather was Zalman Furman. He was born in 1886 in Ushatchy, and he owned a small one-story house where he also had a photographic studio….My grandfather was also a cantor in the local synagogue; he was not salaried, but was modestly paid for singing on holidays. I remember his very expressive sobbing singing which used to impress people a lot and caused their tears. I think his sobbing singing strongly influenced my own music…… My maternal grandmother was called Brusya, and she came from the family of Zeltsburg…..There were five children in the Zeltxburg family: three daughters –Livsa, Brusya and Hanna-Blumeh—and two sons—Aba-Dovid and Moyshe-Ekhiel. My grandmother Brusya was born in Ushatchy in 1892, and all her life she was a housewife. She had four children: my mother Raisa (born July 4, 1914), another daughter Yudasya (born in 1918, died of cancer is Los Angeles in 1984), sons Abraham (born in 1922, killed in WWII in 1941) and Isaak (born in 1926). In May of 1941 my mother went to Ushatchy to her parents with me and my baby sister Shulamit. My mother used to stay at her parents’ house every summer since her marriage. It was great joy to visit my grandparents and Ushatchy…….On June 22 the German army invaded the Soviet Union. In the afternoon of the same day, my mother was urged to leave Ushatchy immediately….” They were some of the last Jews to leave Ushatchy alive. My maternal grandparents were Orthodox Jews. They performed all religious rituals in Hebrew, but they spoke at home only in Yiddish; they knew very little Russian. They both died at the same time in 1942. They were shot by the SS Nazi soldiers together with all the Jews of Ushatchy. Before their execution, my grandparents dug their graves, which was the usual way in which the Nazis did their jobs. “ David passed away in December of 2021 but not until after giving an oral history interview to the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum. That interview can be heard at the link below: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn565856 The Jews of Ushachi in 1895: Thanks to the work of Ara Morenberg and the search for her Serper family, we now have a 1895 census of the 1052 Jews of Ushachi,: Surname First/Middle Name Father Mother Age Relationship to Head of Household Surname First/Middle Name Father Mother Age Relationship to Head of Household ABESGAUZ Mendel Shliomo - Gnesia Mina 28 Head of Household LEVIN Zalman Movsha - 36 Head of Household ABESGAUZ Gnesia Mina Yitsko - 50 Mendel Shliomo's mother LEVIN Movsha Shmuila - 70 Zalman's father ABESGAUZ Khava Berka - 25 Mendel Shliomo's wife LEVIN Tsipa Yehiel Noson - 34 Zalman's wife ABESGAUZ David Leiba - 41 Head of Household LEVIN Shmuila Noson Zalman Tsipa 15 Zalman's son ABESGAUZ Leiba Rakhmiel - 80 David's father LEVIN Dveira Freida Zalman Tsipa 10 Zalman's daughter ABESGAUZ Basia Leah Peisakh - 37 David's wife LEVIN Feiga Rivka Zalman Tsipa 6 Zalman's daughter ABESGAUZ Khevel Berka David Basia Leah 15 David's son LIFSHITS Sholom Yitska - 48 Head of Household ABESGAUZ Yitsik David Basia Leah 9 David's son LIFSHITS Khaia Kastriel - 45 Sholom's wife ABESGAUZ Shliomo David Basia Leah 2 David's son LIFSHITS Movsha Ber Sholom Khaia 12 Sholom's son ABESGAUZ Khaia Riva David Basia Leah 17 David's daughter LIFSHITS Beinal Sholom Khaia 8 Sholom's son ABESGAUZ Sheina Dveira David Basia Leah 4 David's daughter LIFSHITS Rokha Perla Sholom Khaia 5 Sholom's daughter AFROIMOVICH Yankel Yitsko Evel - 60 Head of Household LIFSHITS Khana Sholom Khaia 3 Sholom's daughter AFROIMOVICH Mendel Yankel Yitsko - 26 Yankel Yitsko's son LIFSHITS Pesia Sholom Khaia 6 months Sholom's daughter AFROIMOVICH Yudelia Mikhel - 25 Yankel Yitsko son's wife MAGARSHAK Avsei Iosel - 60 Head of Household AFROIMOVICH Mikhel Faivysh Mendel Yudelia 3.6 Yankel Yitsko son's son MAGARSHAK Tsipa Iosel Khaim - 58 Avsei's wife AFROIMOVICH Ginda Yankel Yitsko - 20 Yankel Yitsko's daughter MAGARSHAK Iosel Khaim Avsei Tsipa 20 Avsei's son AFROIMOVICH Rokha Yankel Yitsko - 17 Yankel Yitsko's daughter MAIMIN Beinus Girsha Tevel - 30 Head of Household AIT Berko David - 40 Head of Household MAIMIN Khaia Golda Yitsko - 30 Beinus's wife AIT Ester Israil - 40 Berko's wife MAIMIN Rokha Leah Beinus Khaia Golda 3 Beinus's daughter ASMAN Abram Shmerko - 50 Head of Household MAIMIN Feiga Risia Beinus Khaia Golda 3 months Beinus's daughter ASMAN Keilia Rokha - - 60 Abram's wife MAIMIN Vulf Girsh - 22 Head of Household ASMAN Berko Leiba Abram Keilia Rokha 28 Abram's son MAIMIN Mordukh Girsh - 19 Vulf's brother ASMAN Riva Leah - - 23 Abram son's wife MAIMIN Sora Girsh - 20 Vulf's sister ASMAN Khasha Berko Leiba Riva Leah 2 months Abram son'sdaughter MAIMIN Khiena Rivka Girsh - 14 Vulf's sister ASMAN Kastriel Abram Keilia Rokha 25 Abram son's MAIMIN Tsivka Girsh - 11 Vulf's sister ASMAN Masha Meyer - 23 Abram son's wife MAZE Iosel Pinkhus - 70 Head of Household ASMAN Khasha Kastriel Masha 1 month Abram son's daughter MAZE Abram Israil Iosel - 42 Iosel's son ASMAN Shaia Khaim - 54 Head of Household MAZE Ita Bentsion - 45 Iosel son's wife ASMAN Vulf Shaia - 20 Shaia's son MAZE Bentsion Abram Ita 10 Iosel son's son ASMAN Rokha Bliuma Shaia - 18 Shaia's daughter MAZE Ester Abram Ita 25 Iosel son's daughter BASENOK Yitsel Mordukh - 28 Head of Household MAZE Faiga Abram Ita 22 Iosel son's daughter BASENOK Mirka Perets - 29 Yitsel's wife MAZE Masha Abram Ita 20 Iosel son's daughter BASENOK Mordukh Yitsel Mirka 7 Yitsel's son MAZE Doba Abram Ita 17 Iosel son's daughter BASENOK Rokha Leah Yitsel Mirka 5 Yitsel's daughter MAZE Beilia Rokha Abram Ita 14 Iosel son's daughter BASENOK Leizer Fiska - - 60 Head of Household MAZE Mirka Abram Ita 7 Iosel son's daughter BASENOK Sora Golda Yitska - 60 Leizer Fiska's wife MAZE Yankel Pinkhus - 73 Head of Household BASEVICH Berka Mendel - 57 Head of Household MAZE Dveira Shevel - 70 Yankel's wife BASEVICH Reiza Zalman - 50 Berka's wife MEERSON Gilka Shmuilo Sholom - 30 Head of Household BASEVICH Yitska Berka Reiza 17 Berka's son MEERSON Tauba - 23 Gilka Shmuilo's wife BASEVICH Leizer Berka Reiza 14 Berka's son MESERMAN Khaim Yankel - 42 Head of Household BASEVICH Movsha Girsha Berka Reiza 7 Berka's son MESERMAN Genia Gertsik - 29 Khaim's wife BASEVICH Mendel Berka Reiza 4 Berka's son MESERMAN Yankel Mordukh Khaim Genia 13 Khaim's son BASEVICH Sosia Dveira Berka Reiza 21 Berka's daughter MESERMAN Khonon Khaim Genia 12 Khaim's son BASEVICH Muska Berka Reiza 18 Berka's daughter MESERMAN Abel Khaim Genia 10 Khaim's son BEININSON Shaia Leiba Mikhel - 32 Head of Household MESERMAN Gertsel Khaim Genia 2 Khaim's son BEININSON Rokha Leah Abram - 28 Shaia Leiba's wife MESERMAN Rokha Khaim Genia 19 Khaim's daughter BEININSON Khasia Riva Shaia Leiba Rokha Leah 8 Shaia Leiba's daughter MESERMAN Mariasia Khaim Genia 16 Khaim's daughter BELKIND Simkha Nokhon - 63 Head of Household MESERMAN Etka Khaim Genia 14 Khaim's daughter BELKIND Merka Yitska - 65 Simkha's wife MESERMAN Faiga Khaim Genia 4 months Khaim's daughter BELKIND Masia Simkha Merka 20 Simkha's son MINDLIN Simon Mikhel - 52 Head of Household BELKIND Iosel Simkha - 38 Head of Household MINDLIN Mina Gisia Girsha - 50 Simon's wife BELKIND Khava Mina Movsha - 31 Iosel's wife MUSOLOVIN Menakhem Yitska - 37 Head of Household BELKIND Shmuilo Iosel Khava Mina 7 Iosel's son MUSOLOVIN Sosia Aaron - 33 Menakhem's wife BELKIND Nokhim Iosel Khava Mina 3 Iosel's son MUSOLOVIN Yitsik Menakhem Sosia 11 Menakhem's son BELKIND Nakhman Iosel Khava Mina 1 Iosel's son MUSOLOVIN Tuba Menakhem Sosia 9 Menakhem's daughter BELKIND Girsha Yankel Nokhom - 65 Head of Household MUSOLOVIN Rivka Menakhem Sosia 7 Menakhem's daughter BELKIND Ginda Shebshel - 62 Girsha Yankel's wife MUSOLOVIN Sheina Menakhem Sosia 4 Menakhem's daughter BELKIND Dvosha Girsha Yankel Ginda 25 Girsha Yankel's daughter NEDLIN Mordukh Zalman - 57 Head of Household BELKIND Dveira Girsha Yankel Ginda 13 Girsha Yankel's daughter NEDLIN Fraida Basha Abel - 56 Mordukh's wife BERMAN Shepsel Israil - 54 Head of Household NEDLIN Zalman Mendel Mordukh Fraida Basha 21 Mordukh's son BERMAN Musha Bliuma Shevel - 49 Shepsel's wife NEDLIN Meyer Mordukh Fraida Basha 16 Mordukh's son BERMAN Abel Gerts Shepsel Musha Bliuma 16 Shepsel's son NEIMAN Tevel Shakhna - 56 Head of Household BERMAN Movsha Shepsel Musha Bliuma 10 Shepsel's son NEIMAN Doba Riva Zalman - 55 Tevel's wife BERMAN Sheina Sora Shepsel Musha Bliuma 20 Shepsel's daughter NEIMAN Shakhna Leiba Tevel Doba Riva 21 Tevel's son BERSON Leiba Girsha - 51 Head of Household NEIMAN Abram Elia Tevel Doba Riva 16 Tevel's son BERSON Sima Shaia - 50 Leiba's wife NEIMAN Khana Leah Tevel Doba Riva 23 Tevel's daughter BERSON Iosel Leiba Sima 20 Leiba's son NIMTSOV Mordukh Berko - 48 Head of Household BERSON Girsha Leiba Sima 14 Leiba's son NIMTSOV Mina Tevel - 48 Mordukh's wife BERSON Ester Leah Leiba Sima 22 Leiba's daughter NIMTSOV Meyer Mordukh Mina 20 Mordukh's son BERSON Ginda Reiza Leiba Sima 16 Leiba's daughter NIMTSOV Abram Mordukh Mina 19 Mordukh's son BERSON Mariasia Leiba Sima 10 Leiba's daughter NIMTSOV Movsha Mordukh Mina 17 Mordukh's son CHUKHMAN Khaia Ester Zalman - 35 Head of Household NIMTSOV Girsha Mordukh Mina 8 Mordukh's son CHUKHMAN Leiba - Khaia Ester 7 Khaia Ester's son NIMTSOV Elia Mordukh Mina 6 Mordukh's son CHUKHMAN Mikhel Yitsik - Khaia Ester 3 Khaia Ester's son NIMTSOV Gnesia Khasia Mordukh Mina 13 Mordukh's daughter CHUKHMAN Mina Malra - Khaia Ester 11 Khaia Ester's daughter NIMTSOV Leiba Berka - 35 Head of Household CHUKHMAN Pesia - Khaia Ester 8 Khaia Ester's daughter NIMTSOV Malka Vulf - 30 Leiba's wife DISMAN Rafail Sholom - 45 Head of Household NIMTSOV Vulf Leiba Malka 4 Leiba's son DISMAN Sora Genia Israil - 40 Rafail's wife NIMTSOV Ester Gita Leiba Malka 10 Leiba's daughter DISMAN Sholom Rafail Sora Genia 17 Rafail's son NIMTSOV Khana Sora Leiba Malka 7 Leiba's daughter DISMAN Avsei Yankel Rafail Sora Genia 7 Rafail's son NIMTSOV Beilia Leiba Malka 6 Leiba's daughter DISMAN Yuda Rafail Sora Genia 2 Rafail's son NIMTSOV Yankel Ber - 40 Head of Household DISMAN Rokha Leah Rafail Sora Genia 13 Rafail's daughter NIMTSOV Zalman Yankel - 12 Yankel's son DISMAN Dveira Elka Rafail Sora Genia 9 Rafail's daughter NIMTSOV Khaim Yankel - 7 Yankel's son DISMAN Yankel Sholom - 46 Head of Household NIMTSOV Zelda Yankel - 19 Yankel's daughter DISMAN Keilia Dveira Abel - 45 Yankel's wife NIMTSOV Musia Yankel - 15 Yankel's daughter DISMAN Sholom Yankel Keilia Dveira 25 Yankel's son NIMTSOV Tevel Mordukh - 24 Head of Household DISMAN Khaim Elia Yankel Keilia Dveira 19 Yankel's son NIMTSOV Musia Yitska - 20 Tevel's wife DISMAN Leiba Yankel Keilia Dveira 19 Yankel's son PEISAKHOV Osher Yankel - 65 Head of Household DISMAN Vulf David Yankel Keilia Dveira 14 Yankel's son PEISAKHOV Khana Reiza Meilakh - 65 Osher's wife DISMAN Zelka Yankel Keilia Dveira 12 Yankel's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Girsha Yankel - 60 Head of Household DISMAN Merka Yankel Keilia Dveira 11 Yankel's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Gnesia Simon - 55 Girsha's wife DISMAN Guta Yitsko - 60 Head of Household PEISAKHOVICH Nison Girsha Gnesia 41 Girsha's son DISMAN Zalman Sholom - 21 Guta's son PEISAKHOVICH Rokha Leah Perets - 40 Girsha son's wife DISMAN Mendel Movsha - 25 Head of Household PEISAKHOVICH Nison Yankel Girsha Rokha Leah 16 Girsha son's son DISMAN Sora Israil - 67 Mengel's mother PEISAKHOVICH Iokhved Girsha Rokha Leah 13 Girsha son's son DISMAN Khiena Khaim - 20 Mengel's wife PEISAKHOVICH Meyer Girsha Rokha Leah 2 Girsha son's son DISMAN Khaia Basia Mendel Khiena 3 months Mengel's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Khasia Zelda Girsha Rokha Leah 5 Girsha son's daughter DISMAN Berko Movsha - 42 Head of Household PEISAKHOVICH Mikhiel Shaia - 64 Head of Household DISMAN Pesia Mina Zalman - 37 Berko's wife PEISAKHOVICH Dveira Yitska - 54 Mikhiel's wife DISMAN Israil Movsha Berko Pesia Mina 12 Berko's son PEISAKHOVICH Yitska Mikhiel Dveira 15 Mikhiel's son DISMAN Falko Berko Pesia Mina 6 Berko's son PEISAKHOVICH Sheina Mikhiel Dveira 21 Mikhiel's daughter DISMAN Khaia Leah Berko Pesia Mina 14 Berko's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Tsipa Mikhiel Dveira 19 Mikhiel's daughter DISMAN Beilia Rokha Berko Pesia Mina 4 Berko's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Mirka Mikhiel Dveira 17 Mikhiel's daughter DISMAN Tsipa Riva Berko Pesia Mina 2 months Berko's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Kalman Osher - 38 Head of Household DISMAN Klifman Kastriel - 46 Head of Household PEISAKHOVICH Risia Borukh - 35 Kalman's wife DISMAN Ginda Gavriel - 42 Klifman's wife PEISAKHOVICH Iosel Kalman Risia 7 Kalman's son DISMAN Yuda Klifman Ginda 12 Klifman's son PEISAKHOVICH Girsha Kalman Risia 3 Kalman's son DISMAN Gavriel Klifman Ginda 6 Klifman's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Khaia Sora Kalman Risia 1 Kalman's daughter DISMAN Kraina Klifman Ginda 20 Klifman's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Simon Osher - 29 Head of Household DISMAN Khaia Eta Klifman Ginda 18 Klifman's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Gita Movsha - 29 Simon's wife DISMAN Beilia Klifman Ginda 14 Klifman's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Girsha Yankel Simon Gita 4 Simon's son DISMAN Riva Leah Klifman Ginda 10 Klifman's daughter PEISAKHOVICH Movsha Yerakhmiel Simon Gita 1 months Simon's son DOVIDOV David Bunia - 35 Head of Household PERELMAN Abram Osher - 55 Head of Household DOVIDOV Rokha Movsha - 32 David's wife PERELMAN Malka Yankel - 40 Abram's wife DOVIDOV Girsha Bunia David Rokha 3 David's son PERELMAN Alter Abram Malka 21 Abram's son DOVIDOV Khaim David Rokha 1 month David's son PERELMAN Mikhel Abram Malka 16 Abram's son DOVIDOV Riva Leah David Rokha 8 David's daughter PERELMAN Israil Abram Malka 13 Abram's son DRUYAN Shmuila Movsha Aaron - 42 Head of Household PERELMAN Grisha Abram Malka 10 Abram's son DRUYAN Movsha Aaron - - 72 Movsha's father PERELMAN Berka Abram Malka 3 Abram's son DRUYAN Khasia Gilka - 71 Movsha's mother PERELMAN Sora Riva Abram Malka 8 Abram's daughter DRUYAN Itka Shmuila Khasia 40 Movsha's wife PERELMAN Masia Abram Malka 6 Abram's daughter DRUYAN Iser Gilia Shmuila Khasia 15 Movsha's son PERELMAN Tamara Abram Malka 1 Abram's daughter DRUYAN Leizer Shmuila Khasia 5 Movsha's son PERELSON Khaim - 42 Head of Household DRUYAN Feiga Rokha Shmuila Khasia 19 Movsha's daughter PERELSON Sora - 40 Khaim's wife DRUYAN Pesia Leah Shmuila Khasia 17 Movsha's daughter PERELSON Leiba Yitsik Khaim Sora 23 Khaim's son DRUYAN Bliuma Shmuila Khasia 16 Movsha's daughter PERELSON Leiba Khaim Sora 18 Khaim's son DRUYAN Riva Shmuila Khasia 8 Movsha's daughter PERELSON Mordukh Khaim Sora 16 Khaim's son DRUYAN Khlavna Movsha Aaron - 46 Head of Household PERELSON Gilka Khaim Sora 13 Khaim's son DRUYAN Elka Movsha - 25 Khlavna's wife PERELSON Ruvim Khaim Sora 9 Khaim's son DRUYAN Yitsko Ber Khlavna - 13 Khlavna's son PERELSON Shima Khaim Sora 21 Khaim's son DRUYAN Sora Riva Khlavna - 6 Khlavna's daughter PERELSON Asna Khaim Sora 19 Khaim's daughter ESMON Aodon Yitsik Yankel - 53 Head of Household PERELSON Rivka Khaim Sora 5 Khaim's daughter ESMON Dveira Ruvin - 48 Aodon Yitsik's wife PERELSON Genia Khaim Sora 1 Khaim's daughter ESMON Nakhman Aodon Yitsik Dveira 24 Aodon Yitsik's son PERELSON Khatskel Yuda - 74 Head of Household ESMON Berko Leiba Aodon Yitsik Dveira 17 Aodon Yitsik's son PERELSON Gilka Khatskel - 27 Khatskel's son ESMON Shmuila Aodon Yitsik Dveira 8 Aodon Yitsik's son PERELSON Ovsei Zalman Khatskel - 29 Khatskel's son ESMON Khana Sheina Aodon Yitsik Dveira 19 Aodon Yitsik's son PERELSON Ester Malka David - 26 Khatskel son's wife ESMON Etta Aodon Yitsik Dveira 13 Aodon Yitsik's daughter PERELSON Vulf David Ovsei Zalman Ester Malka 5 Khatskel son's son ESMON Nikhama Aodon Yitsik Dveira 1 Aodon Yitsik's daughter PERELSON Aaron Ovsei Zalman Ester Malka 2 Khatskel son's son FARBMAN Zlata - - 75 Shmuila Iosel wife's mother PLAVNIK Rakhmiel Genukh Khaim Berka - 42 Head of Household FURMAN Abram Noson - 51 Head of Household PLAVNIK Tsilia Sholom - 30 Rakhmiel Genukh's wife FURMAN Mirka Yitska - 44 Abram's wife PLAVNIK Khaim Berka Rakhmiel Genukh Tsilia 22 Rakhmiel Genukh's son FURMAN Yitska Abram Mirka 19 Abram's son PLAVNIK Shmuel Zalman Rakhmiel Genukh Tsilia 14 Rakhmiel Genukh's son FURMAN Israil Abram Mirka 12 Abram's son PLAVNIK Mikhel Rakhmiel Genukh Tsilia 12 Rakhmiel Genukh's son FURMAN Zalman Abram Mirka 7 Abram's son PLAVNIK Meyer Rakhmiel Genukh Tsilia 9 Rakhmiel Genukh's son FURMAN Faia Abram Mirka 21 Abram's daughter PLAVNIK Abram Simon Rakhmiel Genukh Tsilia 4 Rakhmiel Genukh's son FURMAN Rivka Abram Mirka 16 Abram's daughter PLAVNIK Mordukh Leizer - 50 Head of Household FURMAN Eidlia Abram Mirka 9 Abram's daughter PLAVNIK Basia Leah Mordukh - 50 Mordukh's wife FURMAN Khana Eta Abram Mirka 4 Abram's daughter PLAVNIK Khaia Rokha Mordukh Basia Leah 16 Mordukh'sdaughter FUTERMAN Shmuila Yitska Mordukh - 55 Head of Household PLAVNIK Zalman Leib Mordukh Basia Leah 13 Mordukh's son FUTERMAN Khana Leiba - 50 Shmuila Yitska's wife PLAVNIK Shmuila Mordukh Basia Leah 7 Mordukh's son FUTERMAN Girsha Shmuila Yitska Khana 20 Shmuila Yitska's son PLAVNIK Minka Mordukh Basia Leah 10 Mordukh's daughter FUTERMAN Dan Shmuila Yitska Khana 15 Shmuila Yitska's son PLAVNIK Reiza Mordukh Basia Leah 5 Mordukh's daughter FUTERMAN Vulf Shmuila Yitska Khana 12 Shmuila Yitska's son PTUSHKIN Khaim Leiba Gdalia - 36 Head of Household FUTERMAN Nakhman Shmuila Yitska Khana 9 Shmuila Yitska's son PTUSHKIN Khaia Golda Berka - 34 Khaim Leiba's wife FUTERMAN Rivka Shmuila Yitska Khana 21 Shmuila Yitska's daughter PTUSHKIN Isher Khaim Leiba Khaia Golda 6 Khaim Leiba's son FUTERMAN Liba Shmuila Yitska Khana 18 Shmuila Yitska's daughter PTUSHKIN Khasia Khaim Leiba Khaia Golda 14 Khaim Leiba's daughter FUTERMAN Mina Shmuila Yitska Khana 7 Shmuila Yitska's daughter RAIFMAN
David Finko (Finkelstein) is the eldest grandson of Zalmon Furman. A naval architect in the Soviet Union, who emigrated to the USA to pursue his true calling as a composer, Finko wrote the following in his memoirs:
“My maternal grandparents lived in Byelorussia (White Russia) in the small town of Ushatchy, which was in the Lepel district of the Vitebsk province. My maternal grandfather was Zalman Furman. He was born in 1886 in Ushatchy, and he owned a small one-story house where he also had a photographic studio….My grandfather was also a cantor in the local synagogue; he was not salaried, but was modestly paid for singing on holidays. I remember his very expressive sobbing singing which used to impress people a lot and caused their tears. I think his sobbing singing strongly influenced my own music…… My maternal grandmother was called Brusya, and she came from the family of Zeltsburg…..There were five children in the Zeltxburg family: three daughters –Livsa, Brusya and Hanna-Blumeh—and two sons—Aba-Dovid and Moyshe-Ekhiel. My grandmother Brusya was born in Ushatchy in 1892, and all her life she was a housewife. She had four children: my mother Raisa (born July 4, 1914), another daughter Yudasya (born in 1918, died of cancer is Los Angeles in 1984), sons Abraham (born in 1922, killed in WWII in 1941) and Isaak (born in 1926).
In May of 1941 my mother went to Ushatchy to her parents with me and my baby sister Shulamit. My mother used to stay at her parents’ house every summer since her marriage. It was great joy to visit my grandparents and Ushatchy…….On June 22 the German army invaded the Soviet Union. In the afternoon of the same day, my mother was urged to leave Ushatchy immediately….” They were some of the last Jews to leave Ushatchy alive.
My maternal grandparents were Orthodox Jews. They performed all religious rituals in Hebrew, but they spoke at home only in Yiddish; they knew very little Russian. They both died at the same time in 1942. They were shot by the SS Nazi soldiers together with all the Jews of Ushatchy. Before their execution, my grandparents dug their graves, which was the usual way in which the Nazis did their jobs. “
David passed away in December of 2021 but not until after giving an oral history interview to the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum. That interview can be heard at the link below:
https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn565856
The Jews of Ushachi in 1895:
Thanks to the work of Ara Morenberg and the search for her Serper family, we now have a 1895 census of the 1052 Jews of Ushachi,:
Surname
First/Middle Name
Father
Mother
Age
Relationship to Head of Household
ABESGAUZ
Mendel Shliomo
-
Gnesia Mina
28
Head of Household
LEVIN
Zalman
Movsha
36
Yitsko
50
Mendel Shliomo's mother
Shmuila
70
Zalman's father
Khava
Berka
25
Mendel Shliomo's wife
Tsipa
Yehiel Noson
34
Zalman's wife
David
Leiba
41
Shmuila Noson
15
Zalman's son
Rakhmiel
80
David's father
Dveira Freida
10
Zalman's daughter
Basia Leah
Peisakh
37
David's wife
Feiga Rivka
6
Khevel Berka
David's son
LIFSHITS
Sholom
Yitska
48
Yitsik
9
Khaia
Kastriel
45
Sholom's wife
Shliomo
2
Movsha Ber
12
Sholom's son
Khaia Riva
17
David's daughter
Beinal
8
Sheina Dveira
4
Rokha Perla
5
Sholom's daughter
AFROIMOVICH
Yankel Yitsko
Evel
60
Khana
3
Mendel
26
Yankel Yitsko's son
Pesia
6 months
Yudelia
Mikhel
Yankel Yitsko son's wife
MAGARSHAK
Avsei
Iosel
Mikhel Faivysh
3.6
Yankel Yitsko son's son
Iosel Khaim
58
Avsei's wife
Ginda
20
Yankel Yitsko's daughter
Avsei's son
Rokha
MAIMIN
Beinus
Girsha Tevel
30
AIT
Berko
40
Khaia Golda
Beinus's wife
Ester
Israil
Berko's wife
Rokha Leah
Beinus's daughter
ASMAN
Abram
Shmerko
Feiga Risia
3 months
Keilia Rokha
Abram's wife
Vulf
Girsh
22
Berko Leiba
Abram's son
Mordukh
19
Vulf's brother
Riva Leah
23
Abram son's wife
Sora
Vulf's sister
Khasha
2 months
Abram son'sdaughter
Khiena Rivka
14
Abram son's
Tsivka
11
Masha
Meyer
MAZE
Pinkhus
1 month
Abram son's daughter
Abram Israil
42
Iosel's son
Shaia
Khaim
54
Ita
Bentsion
Iosel son's wife
Shaia's son
Iosel son's son
Rokha Bliuma
18
Shaia's daughter
Iosel son's daughter
BASENOK
Yitsel
Faiga
Mirka
Perets
29
Yitsel's wife
7
Yitsel's son
Doba
Yitsel's daughter
Beilia Rokha
Leizer Fiska
Sora Golda
Leizer Fiska's wife
Yankel
73
BASEVICH
57
Dveira
Shevel
Yankel's wife
Reiza
Berka's wife
MEERSON
Gilka Shmuilo
Berka's son
Tauba
Gilka Shmuilo's wife
Leizer
MESERMAN
Movsha Girsha
Genia
Gertsik
Khaim's wife
Yankel Mordukh
13
Khaim's son
Sosia Dveira
21
Berka's daughter
Khonon
Muska
Abel
BEININSON
Shaia Leiba
32
Gertsel
Shaia Leiba's wife
Khaim's daughter
Khasia Riva
Shaia Leiba's daughter
Mariasia
16
BELKIND
Simkha
Nokhon
63
Etka
Merka
65
Simkha's wife
4 months
Masia
Simkha's son
MINDLIN
Simon
52
38
Mina Gisia
Girsha
Simon's wife
Khava Mina
31
Iosel's wife
MUSOLOVIN
Menakhem
Shmuilo
Sosia
Aaron
33
Menakhem's wife
Nokhim
Menakhem's son
Nakhman
1
Tuba
Menakhem's daughter
Girsha Yankel
Nokhom
Rivka
Shebshel
62
Girsha Yankel's wife
Sheina
Dvosha
Girsha Yankel's daughter
NEDLIN
Fraida Basha
56
Mordukh's wife
BERMAN
Shepsel
Zalman Mendel
Mordukh's son
Musha Bliuma
49
Shepsel's wife
Abel Gerts
Shepsel's son
NEIMAN
Tevel
Shakhna
Doba Riva
55
Tevel's wife
Sheina Sora
Shepsel's daughter
Shakhna Leiba
Tevel's son
BERSON
51
Abram Elia
Sima
Leiba's wife
Khana Leah
Tevel's daughter
Leiba's son
NIMTSOV
Mina
Ester Leah
Leiba's daughter
Ginda Reiza
CHUKHMAN
Khaia Ester
35
Khaia Ester's son
Elia
Mikhel Yitsik
Gnesia Khasia
Mordukh's daughter
Mina Malra
Khaia Ester's daughter
Malka
DISMAN
Rafail
Sora Genia
Rafail's wife
Ester Gita
Rafail's son
Khana Sora
Avsei Yankel
Beilia
Yuda
Ber
Rafail's daughter
Yankel's son
Dveira Elka
46
Zelda
Yankel's daughter
Keilia Dveira
Musia
24
Khaim Elia
PEISAKHOV
Osher
Vulf David
Khana Reiza
Meilakh
Osher's wife
Zelka
PEISAKHOVICH
Gnesia
Girsha's wife
Guta
Nison
Girsha's son
Guta's son
Girsha son's wife
Nison Yankel
Girsha son's son
67
Mengel's mother
Iokhved
Khiena
Mengel's wife
Khaia Basia
Mengel's daughter
Khasia Zelda
Girsha son's daughter
Mikhiel
64
Pesia Mina
Mikhiel's wife
Israil Movsha
Berko's son
Mikhiel's son
Falko
Mikhiel's daughter
Khaia Leah
Berko's daughter
Tsipa Riva
Kalman
Klifman
Risia
Borukh
Kalman's wife
Gavriel
Klifman's wife
Kalman's son
Klifman's son
Klifman's daughter
Khaia Sora
Kalman's daughter
Kraina
Khaia Eta
Gita
Simon's son
Movsha Yerakhmiel
1 months
DOVIDOV
Bunia
PERELMAN
Girsha Bunia
Alter
DRUYAN
Movsha Aaron
Grisha
72
Movsha's father
Khasia
Gilka
71
Movsha's mother
Sora Riva
Abram's daughter
Itka
Movsha's wife
Iser Gilia
Movsha's son
Tamara
PERELSON
Feiga Rokha
Movsha's daughter
Pesia Leah
Leiba Yitsik
Bliuma
Riva
Khlavna
Elka
Khlavna's wife
Ruvim
Yitsko Ber
Khlavna's son
Shima
Khlavna's daughter
Asna
ESMON
Aodon Yitsik
53
Ruvin
Aodon Yitsik's wife
Aodon Yitsik's son
Khatskel
74
27
Khatskel's son
Ovsei Zalman
Khana Sheina
Ester Malka
Khatskel son's wife
Etta
Aodon Yitsik's daughter
Khatskel son's son
Nikhama
FARBMAN
Zlata
75
Shmuila Iosel wife's mother
PLAVNIK
Rakhmiel Genukh
Khaim Berka
FURMAN
Noson
Tsilia
Rakhmiel Genukh's wife
44
Rakhmiel Genukh's son
Shmuel Zalman
Faia
Abram Simon
Eidlia
Khana Eta
Khaia Rokha
Mordukh'sdaughter
FUTERMAN
Shmuila Yitska
Zalman Leib
Shmuila Yitska's wife
Shmuila Yitska's son
Minka
Dan
PTUSHKIN
Khaim Leiba
Gdalia
Khaim Leiba's wife
Shmuila Yitska's daughter
Isher
Khaim Leiba's son
Liba
Khaim Leiba's daughter
RAIFMAN