Rav Nossin Friedman
From Dokshitz to Newport, America
Gluboker Leben
March 4, 1932
translated by Aaron Ginsburg
more news from Dokshitz as printed in the Gluboker Leben, a yiddish newspaper, on March 4, 1932. Thank you to Margarita Kozhenevskaya
fro finding it. The article, "From Dokshitz to Newport, America was by
Rabbi Nathan Zalman Friedman. He and his wife Dora settled in Newport,
Rhode Island. In the 1930 US census in addition to English he spoke
Jewish and his occupation was listed as Rabbi, industry as Hebrew
teacher.At the end of this article we learn that at Rabbi Friedman's
wedding to Dvora Meirson, Rogatchover Rabbi Ilui officatiated. I mention
this to Rabbi Marc Mandel of Touro Synagogue, Newport, RI who told me
that the Rogatchover was very prominent Talmud interpreter. You can
learn more about him at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Rosen
His great-grandson Bernie Friedman
reports, "He retired in 1935 after 25 years of service to the
Congregation. He was the chazzan, ritual slaughterer, teacher, and
anything else the Rabbi delegated to him. He lived above my
Grandfather’s [Bernard C Friedman] Dental Office. My dad would tell
stories of his grandfather slaughtering the chickens in the basement and
how exciting that was at the time. There was a tribute dinner to Nathan
upon his retirement and a beautiful kiddush cup was given to him that
we use today. There are photos of the tribute dinner."
An imperfect translation follows:
Rav Nossin Friedman
From Dokshitz to Newport, America
The rabbis sent me out from Heder at the age of 16 years. I knew the Talmud quite well, was a good baal Kore, was versed in the entire Talmud, and the Hebrew language, I learned math well, and had studied a bit of accounting. I spoke the Russian language fluently; my Polish language skills weren't bad. I also studied after that to take the chancellor's exam which I took in the Russian language.
I
had fine friends, helped my parents with their business and was
familiar with the owners of the courtyards with which my parents used to
do business. I also was active in public Tzedakah, ?, talmud torah,
bikur holim [visiting and caring for the sick] and Shul activities.
We
worked hard to collect money for bikur holim. Hevra went with charity
boxes to different parts of town. I brought more money in than anyone
else because each time I raised money from my cousins, about 40-50
people. I was a hero in collecting donations.
I worked as a secretary in the Municipal government while my father was a magistrate? in the town. In
those times Jews were allowed to stand for the government’s “Galileo''
exam and they did well. [discussion of other examinations and awards]
Overcoming
my shyness, I became engaged in Dvinsk-Dinenberg to a beautiful woman
from a large family, Dvora daughter of Reb Yishiyahu Meirson. who was
born in Dokshitz and lived in Dvinsk-Dinenberg.
Being
in Dvinsk-Dinenberg to get married, I got to know young people who
were studying Russian from a teacher of Russian, a student in the sixth
class of the Realschule (name of school) which had given my bride a lecture in Russian.
I
persuaded him to go to Dokshitz as a teacher and indeed I immediately
brought him down to Dokshitz and all the young people of Dokshitz were
enthusiastic and thanked me.
But
the joy was not long away. It was seven weeks until my wedding on Erev
Shavuot 1887. The entire town of Dokshitz was upset when the teacher had
to depart for Glubokie.
It
was a second kind of learning… The teacher was named Robert Weiner. A
few Glubokers must remember him. Today he is a famous medical doctor in
America in New York City, and still my good comrade and friend.
I
had a big wedding in Dvinsk at a large hotel. Officiating at the
kiddushin was the well-known rabbi from Dvinsk, the Rogatchover Rabbi Ilui. (to be continued)
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